Analysis of CCRL Proficiency Cements 135 and 136 Using CEMHYD3D

Published

August 1, 2000

Author(s)

Dale P. Bentz, X Feng, C Haecker, Paul E. Stutzman

Abstract

This NISTIR provides experimental and computer modeling results for cements 135 and 136 issued by the Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL) at NIST in January of 2000. The purposes of this report are to characterize the ability of the NIST computer model, CEMHYD3D, to predict the hydration kinetics, heat of hydration, and mortar strength development of Portland cements evaluated in the CCRL testing program. The general procedure to evaluate a new cement is as follows: 1) two-dimensional SEM backscattered electron and X-ray microanalysis images of the cement of interest are obtained, along with a measured particle size distribution (PSD), 2) based on analysis of these images and the measured PSD, three-dimensional microstructures of various water-to-cement ratios are created and hydrated using CEMHYD3D, and 3) the model predictions for degree of hydration under saturated and sealed conditions, heat of hydration (ASTM C186), and strength development of mortar cubes (ASTM C109) are compared to experimental measurements either performed at NIST or at the participating CCRL proficiency sample evaluation laboratories. For both cements, generally good agreement is observed between model predictions and the experimental data, demonstrating the predictive capabilities of CEMHYD3D.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 6545

Report Number

6545

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

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Keywords

building technology, cement, computer modeling, heat of hydration, hydration kinetics, particle size distribution, SEM imaging, strength development

Citation

Bentz, D. , Feng, X. , Haecker, C. and Stutzman, P. (2000), Analysis of CCRL Proficiency Cements 135 and 136 Using CEMHYD3D, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860281 (Accessed April 29, 2026)

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