Microstructure development of the cement paste based on the unit cell mode

Abstract

Microstructure development of the cement paste is closely associated with internal processes such as self-desiccation, shrinkage, creep and other internal processes throughout service life of cement-based materials. The ability to accurately model microstructure parameters is key to predicting internal processes of the cement paste. Currently, the most frequently used approaches to microstructural modeling of cement paste are vector and discrete. Both approaches generate and process a random structure of the cement paste, but at the same time are characterized by high computational complexity and time-consuming. It accounts for the fact, that simplified structural models still remain relevant. A unit cell model, which can be considered as a particular case of the vector approach, is a geometrically simple model that describes microstructure development based on a representative hydrated cement particle. The paper presents an advanced microstructural model of the cement paste based on the unit cell model.