The "virtual cement" concept, as embedded in the Virtual Cement and Concrete Laboratory (VCCTL), cannot, and is not intended to, replace experimental testing. Instead, this chapter and the case studies illustrate that the models can significantly reduce the extent of trial-and-error experimentation by pointing toward those materials that are more likely to be beneficial for a given application. The user may freely explore a wide range of variables as a way of narrowing the search for desired performance.
The models comprising the VCCTL are being upgraded and improved continuously through collaborations between NIST and its partners in the VCCTL consortium. As the concept of the computational materials science of cement gains increasing acceptance within the industry, these kinds of tools are poised to help revolutionize the way cementitious materials are made, tested, and used.