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Microstructural Origins of Cement Paste Degradation by External Sulfate Attack

Published

Author(s)

Pan Feng, Edward Garboczi, Pan Feng, Jeffrey W. Bullard

Abstract

A microstructure model has been applied to simulate near-surface degradation of portland cement paste in contact with a sodium sulfate solution. This new model uses thermodynamic equilibrium calculations to guide both compositional and microstructure changes. It predicts localized deformation and the onset of damage by coupling the confined growth of new solids with linear thermoelastic finite element calculations of stress and strain fields. Constrained ettringite growth happens primarily at the expense of calcium monosulfoaluminate, carboaluminate and aluminum-rich hydrotalcite, if any, respectively. Expansion and damage can be mitigated chemically by increasing carbonate and magnesium concentrations or microstructurally by inducing a finer dispersion of monosulfate.
Citation
Construction and Building Materials
Volume
96

Keywords

cement paste, microstructure, sulfate attack, computer modeling

Citation

Feng, P. , Garboczi, E. , Feng, P. and Bullard, J. (2015), Microstructural Origins of Cement Paste Degradation by External Sulfate Attack, Construction and Building Materials, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=916325 (Accessed December 10, 2024)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact reflib@nist.gov.

Created October 14, 2015, Updated October 12, 2021