Influence of Micro-Pore Connectivity and Micro-Fractures on Calcium Leaching of Cement Pastes
A Coupled Simulation Approach
Janez Perko (Belgian Nuclear Research Centre)
Neven Ukrainczyk (Technische Universität Darmstadt)
Branko Šavija (TU Delft - Materials and Environment)
Quoc Tri Phung (Belgian Nuclear Research Centre)
Eddie A. B. Koenders (Technische Universität Darmstadt)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
A coupled numerical approach is used to evaluate the influence of pore connectivity and microcracks on leaching kinetics in fully saturated cement paste. The unique advantage of the numerical model is the ability to construct and evaluate a material with controlled properties, which is very difficult under experimental conditions. Our analysis is based on two virtual microstructures, which are different in terms of pore connectivity but the same in terms of porosity and the amount of solid phases. Numerical fracturing was performed on these microstructures. The non-fractured and fractured microstructures were both subjected to chemical leaching. Results show that despite very different material physical properties, for example, pore connectivity and effective diffusivity, the leaching kinetics remain the same as long as the amount of soluble phases, i.e., buffering capacity, is the same. The leaching kinetics also remains the same in the presence of microcracks.
help_outline