Model of the Mechanical Behavior of Cementitious Matrices Reinforced with Nanomaterials

CNTs and CNFs have been introduced as a nanoscale reinforcing material to cementitious composites, for stiffening and strengthening the microstructure. This technology is motivated by the need to control crack initiation in the cementitious gel before it propagates into visible crack formations. Exp...

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Main Authors: Victor D. Balopoulos, Nikolaos Archontas, Stavroula J. Pantazopoulou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Journal of Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7329540
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author Victor D. Balopoulos
Nikolaos Archontas
Stavroula J. Pantazopoulou
author_facet Victor D. Balopoulos
Nikolaos Archontas
Stavroula J. Pantazopoulou
author_sort Victor D. Balopoulos
collection DOAJ
description CNTs and CNFs have been introduced as a nanoscale reinforcing material to cementitious composites, for stiffening and strengthening the microstructure. This technology is motivated by the need to control crack initiation in the cementitious gel before it propagates into visible crack formations. Experimental evidence supports this concept; however, testing at the nanoscale may only be conducted through nanoindentation, which has a limited range only providing localized results that cannot be extrapolated to general stress states. To evaluate the restraining action of nanomaterials in the gel microstructure, a computational mechanistic model has been developed where the material phases (gel, nanotubes, and pores) are modeled explicitly allowing for natural randomness in their distribution and orientation. Repeated analysis with identical input data reproduces the statistical scatter observed in laboratory tests on identical material samples. The formulation uses a discrete element approach; the gel structure is represented by a random network of hydrates and successfully reproduces the known trends in mechanical behavior of cementitious materials (pressure and restraint sensitive material behavior) and the small ratio of tensile to compressive strength. Simulations illustrate that it is possible to computationally reproduce the measured properties and behavior of fiber-reinforced cement composites using information from simple laboratory tests.
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spelling doaj-art-d19bde9e7d77419787b29f5ddbf041da2025-08-20T03:24:00ZengWileyJournal of Engineering2314-49042314-49122017-01-01201710.1155/2017/73295407329540Model of the Mechanical Behavior of Cementitious Matrices Reinforced with NanomaterialsVictor D. Balopoulos0Nikolaos Archontas1Stavroula J. Pantazopoulou2Civil Engineering Department, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTh), Xanthi, GreeceDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, CyprusCivil Engineering Department, The Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON, CanadaCNTs and CNFs have been introduced as a nanoscale reinforcing material to cementitious composites, for stiffening and strengthening the microstructure. This technology is motivated by the need to control crack initiation in the cementitious gel before it propagates into visible crack formations. Experimental evidence supports this concept; however, testing at the nanoscale may only be conducted through nanoindentation, which has a limited range only providing localized results that cannot be extrapolated to general stress states. To evaluate the restraining action of nanomaterials in the gel microstructure, a computational mechanistic model has been developed where the material phases (gel, nanotubes, and pores) are modeled explicitly allowing for natural randomness in their distribution and orientation. Repeated analysis with identical input data reproduces the statistical scatter observed in laboratory tests on identical material samples. The formulation uses a discrete element approach; the gel structure is represented by a random network of hydrates and successfully reproduces the known trends in mechanical behavior of cementitious materials (pressure and restraint sensitive material behavior) and the small ratio of tensile to compressive strength. Simulations illustrate that it is possible to computationally reproduce the measured properties and behavior of fiber-reinforced cement composites using information from simple laboratory tests.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7329540
spellingShingle Victor D. Balopoulos
Nikolaos Archontas
Stavroula J. Pantazopoulou
Model of the Mechanical Behavior of Cementitious Matrices Reinforced with Nanomaterials
Journal of Engineering
title Model of the Mechanical Behavior of Cementitious Matrices Reinforced with Nanomaterials
title_full Model of the Mechanical Behavior of Cementitious Matrices Reinforced with Nanomaterials
title_fullStr Model of the Mechanical Behavior of Cementitious Matrices Reinforced with Nanomaterials
title_full_unstemmed Model of the Mechanical Behavior of Cementitious Matrices Reinforced with Nanomaterials
title_short Model of the Mechanical Behavior of Cementitious Matrices Reinforced with Nanomaterials
title_sort model of the mechanical behavior of cementitious matrices reinforced with nanomaterials
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7329540
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