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Title
Nano-Scale Investigation of Mechanical Characteristics of Main Phases of Hydrated Cement Paste
ORCID
N/A
Access Type
Open Access Thesis
Document Type
thesis
Degree Program
Civil Engineering
Degree Type
Master of Science (M.S.)
Year Degree Awarded
2015
Month Degree Awarded
February
Abstract
Hydrated cement paste (HCP), which is present in various cement-based materials, includes a number of constituents with distinct nano-structures. The elastic properties of the HCP crystals are calculated using molecular dynamics (MD) methods. The accuracy of estimated values is verified by comparing them with the results from experimental tests and other atomistic simulation methods. The outcome of MD simulations is then extended to predict the elastic properties of the C-S-H gel by rescaling the values calculated for the individual crystals. To take into account the contribution of porosity, a detailed microporomechanics study is conducted on low- and high-density types of C-S-H. The obtained results are verified by comparing the rescaled values with the predictions from nanoindentation tests. Moreover, the mechanical behavior of the HCP crystals is examined under uniaxial tensile strains. From the stress-strain curves obtained in the three orthogonal directions, elastic and plastic responses of the HCP crystals are investigated. A comprehensive chemical bond and structural damage analysis is also performed to characterize the failure mechanisms of the HCP crystals under high tensile strains. The outcome of this study provides detailed information about the nonlinear behavior, plastic deformation, and structural failure of the HCP phases and similar atomic structures.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/6464569
First Advisor
Behrouz Shafei
Recommended Citation
Hajilar, Shahin, "Nano-Scale Investigation of Mechanical Characteristics of Main Phases of Hydrated Cement Paste" (2015). Masters Theses. 151.
https://doi.org/10.7275/6464569
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2/151