The composition and structure of the inter facial zone between aggregate and paste of Portland cement as well as the orientation coefficient of portlandite ( Icn ) were preliminarily studied by XRD and SEM methods. Th...The composition and structure of the inter facial zone between aggregate and paste of Portland cement as well as the orientation coefficient of portlandite ( Icn ) were preliminarily studied by XRD and SEM methods. The main products in the zone are C -S-H gel, portlandite, AFt and pores, micro-cracks as welt as unhydrated portland cement clinker particles. Potlandite not only grows well but exists in orientating forms, and near the interface it exists in a state parallel to the surface of aggregate by its (001) lattice plane. Icn rises with the increase of cement water ratio (w/c) and the development of the cement hydration. The higher the w/c, the more the pores and micro-cracks in the zone. w/c bears an exact relation to the decrease of bond strength. Icn, is decreased when 5. 0% silica fume is added to cement. Bond strengths at early ages are reduced by adding 0. 5% FDN (one kind of water-reducing admixture) due to the retarded hydration of cement, but they will increase continually and become greater than those of other samples after 28 days.展开更多
1 he composition and structure of the interfacial zone be-tween aggregate and Portland slag cement paste as well as the orienta-tion coefficient of portlandite (ICH) have been studied by means of XRD and SEM. The resu...1 he composition and structure of the interfacial zone be-tween aggregate and Portland slag cement paste as well as the orienta-tion coefficient of portlandite (ICH) have been studied by means of XRD and SEM. The results show that the main components in the in-terfacial zone are C-S-H gel, portlandite and AFt as well as unhy-drated clinder particles. Compared with Portland cement, there are more C-S-H gel and less portlandite in the zone and the portlandite crystallizes badly with lower ICH in a narrower region . After adding 5. 0% silica fume to the cement , the orientation of portlandite in the zone disappears; after 90d, the bond strength between #425 Portland slag cement paste and aggregate approximately attains that between # 525 Portland ciment paste and aggregate.展开更多
In order to facilitate the development and application of air entraining agents (AEA) in the high performance concrete, entrained air void structure parameters (air void size range from 10 to 1 600 mu m) of 28 d sifte...In order to facilitate the development and application of air entraining agents (AEA) in the high performance concrete, entrained air void structure parameters (air void size range from 10 to 1 600 mu m) of 28 d sifted mortar were measured by image analysis method. The relationship between the air void size distribution and strength of mortar was studied by methods of grey connection analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The multiple linear regression equation was established with a correlation coefficient of 0.966. The weight of the affection of hierarchical porosity on the compressive strength ratio was also obtained. In addition, the effect of air voids on the paste-aggregate interfacial transition zone (ITZ) was analyzed by microhardness. The results show that the correlation between different pore size range and the compressive strength is negative. The effect of air void size distribution on 28 days compressive strength is different: under the condition of similar total porosity, with the increase of the porosity of the air void size, ranging from 10 to 200 mu m, and the decrease of the porosity, ranging from 200 to 1 600 mu m, the average air void diameter and mean free spacing are decreased; as well as the width of ITZ. On the contrary, the microhardness of the ITZ is increased while the compressive strength loss is decreased.展开更多
This study investigates the effects of nanofillers on the interfacial transition zone(ITZ)between aggregate and cement paste by using nanoindentation and statistical nanoindentation techniques.Moreover,the underlying ...This study investigates the effects of nanofillers on the interfacial transition zone(ITZ)between aggregate and cement paste by using nanoindentation and statistical nanoindentation techniques.Moreover,the underlying mechanisms are revealed through micromechanical modeling.The nanoindentation results indicate that incorporating nanofillers increases the degree of hydration in the ITZ,reduces the content of micropores and low-density calcium silicate hydrate(LD C-S-H),and increases the content of highdensity C-S-H(HD C-S-H)and ultra high-density C-S-H(UHD C-S-H).In particular,a new phase,namely nano-core-induced low-density C-S-H(NCILD C-S-H),with a superior hardness of 2.50 GPa and an indentation modulus similar to those of HD C-S-H or UHD C-S-H was identified in this study.The modeling results revealed that the presence of nanofillers increased the packing density of LD CS-H and significantly enhanced the interaction(adhesion and friction)among the basic building blocks of C-S-H gels owing to the formation of nano-core-shell elements,thereby facilitating the formation of NCILD C-S-H and further improving the performance of the ITZ.This study provides insight into the effects of nano fillers on the ITZ in concrete at the nanoscale.展开更多
Based on the nearest surface function formula, a quantitative formula to measure the overlapping degree between the interfacial transition zone （ITZ） of neighboring aggregate particles was put forward. The formula w...Based on the nearest surface function formula, a quantitative formula to measure the overlapping degree between the interfacial transition zone （ITZ） of neighboring aggregate particles was put forward. The formula was further deduced to quantitatively analyze the influence of the volume fraction of aggregate, ITZ thickness and the maximum aggregate diameter on the overlapping degree between neighboring ITZ. The volume of ITZ was quantitatively calculated in actual concrete by comparing the nearest surface function formula with an approximate method, that is the surface area of the aggregates multiplied by the uniform thickness of the ITZ layers. The results showed that the influencing order of these three factors on the overlapping degree between neighboring ITZ in turn was the interface thickness, aggregate volume fraction and the maximum aggregate diameter; As long as the interface thickness 50 μm and the aggregate volume fraction 50%, the calculated error between two methods mentioned above is about 10 %.展开更多
The mesoscale fiber-matrix interfacial transition zone(FM-ITZ) under induced curing pressure plays a key role in the effectiveness of fiber reinforcement and the engineering application of fiber-reinforced cementitiou...The mesoscale fiber-matrix interfacial transition zone(FM-ITZ) under induced curing pressure plays a key role in the effectiveness of fiber reinforcement and the engineering application of fiber-reinforced cementitious composites(FRCCs). This critical review establishes the link among induced curing pressure(i.e., external loading condition), multiphysics processes(i.e., internal governing mechanism), and interface behavior(i.e., material behavior) for FRCC materials through analysis of the state-of-the-art research findings on the FM-ITZ of FRCC materials. The following results are obtained. For the mechanical process, the induced curing pressure changes the stress state and enhances multicracking behavior, which can strengthen the FM-ITZ. For the hydraulic process, the strengthened seepage of the FM-ITZ under induced curing pressure weakens the effective stress and exaggerates the deficiency in water retention capacity between the bulk matrix and the FMITZ. For the thermal process, the induced curing pressure causes a steep temperature gradient in the FM-ITZ and thus influences the temperature evolution and thermally-induced microcracks in the FM-ITZ. For the chemical process, the induced curing pressure enhances hydration kinetics and results in the formation of additional hydration products in the FM-ITZ. Moreover, recommendations are proposed on the basis of findings from this review to facilitate the implementation of fiber reinforcement in cemented paste backfill technology.展开更多
Backscattered electron images（BSE） obtained by scanning electron microscope was used to quantitatively characterize the microstructure of interfacial transition zone（ITZ） in concrete. Influences of aggregate size...Backscattered electron images（BSE） obtained by scanning electron microscope was used to quantitatively characterize the microstructure of interfacial transition zone（ITZ） in concrete. Influences of aggregate size（5, 10, 20, and 30 mm）, water to cement ratio（0.23, 0.35 and 0.53） and curing time（from 3d to 90d） on the microstructure of interfacial transition zone between coarse aggregate and bulk cement matrix were investigated. The volume percentage of detectable porosity and unhydrated cement in ITZ was quantitatively analyzed and compared with that in the matrix of various concretes. Nanoindentation technology was applied to obtain the elastic properties of ITZ and matrix, and the elastic modulus of concrete was then calculated based on the Lu ＆ Torquato model and self-consistence scheme by using the ITZ thickness and elastic modulus obtained from this investigation. The experimental results demonstrated that the microstructure and thickness of ITZ in concrete vary with a variety of factors, like aggregate size, water to cement ratio and curing time. The relative low elastic properties of ITZ should be paid attention to, especially for early age concrete.展开更多
The nanostructure of cementitious materials has important effects on concrete properties. The effects of rice husk ash（RHA） on cement hydration product phases and interfacial transition zone（ITZ） in mortar were in...The nanostructure of cementitious materials has important effects on concrete properties. The effects of rice husk ash（RHA） on cement hydration product phases and interfacial transition zone（ITZ） in mortar were investigated from the nano-scale structure perspective. The experimental results indicate that, with the increase of RHA dosages of samples, the volume fraction of high-density calcium-silicate-hydrate（HD C-S-H） in porosity and hydration product phases increases. The volume fractions of HD C-S-H in C-S-H of samples show an increasing trend with the increase of RHA dosages. RHA decreases the thickness of ITZ and increases the matrix elastic moduli of samples, however, the RHA dosoges hardly affect the thickness and elastic moduli.展开更多
This study aims to clarify the effects of curing regimes and lightweight aggregate(LWA)on the morphology, width and mechanical properties of the interfacial transition zone(ITZ) of ultra-high performance concrete(UHPC...This study aims to clarify the effects of curing regimes and lightweight aggregate(LWA)on the morphology, width and mechanical properties of the interfacial transition zone(ITZ) of ultra-high performance concrete(UHPC), and provide reference for the selection of lightweight ultra-high performance concrete(L-UHPC) curing regimes and the pre-wetting degree LWA. The results show that, under the three curing regimes(standard curing, steam curing and autoclaved curing), LWA is tightly bound to the matrix without obvious boundaries. ITZ width increases with the water absorption of LWA and decreases with increasing curing temperature. The ITZ microhardness is the highest when water absorption is 3%, and the microhardness value is more stable with the distance from LWA. Steam and autoclaved curing increase ITZ microhardness compared to standard curing. As LWA pre-wetting and curing temperatures increase, the degree of hydration at the ITZ increases, generating high-density CSH(HD CSH) and ultra-high-density CSH(UHD CSH), and reducing unhydrated particles in ITZ. ITZ micro-mechanical properties are optimized due to hydration products being denser.展开更多
The rail transit in sulfate-rich areas faces the combined effects of stray current and salt corrosion;however,the sulfate ion transport and concrete degradation mechanisms under such conditions are still unclear.To ad...The rail transit in sulfate-rich areas faces the combined effects of stray current and salt corrosion;however,the sulfate ion transport and concrete degradation mechanisms under such conditions are still unclear.To address this issue,novel sulfate transport and mesoscale splitting tests were designed,with a focus on considering the differences between the interfacial transition zone(ITZ)and cement matrix.Under the influence of stray current,the ITZ played a pivotal role in regulating the transport and mechanical failure processes of sulfate attack,while the tortuous and blocking effects of aggregates almost disappeared.This phenomenon was termed the“stray current-induced ITZ effect.”The experimental data revealed that the difference in sulfate ion transport attributed to the ITZ ranged from 1.90 to 2.31 times,while the difference in splitting strength ranged from 1.56 to 1.64 times.Through the real-time synchronization of splitting experiments and microsecond-responsive particle image velocimetry(PIV)technology,the mechanical properties were exposed to the consequences of the stray currentinduced ITZ effect.The number of splitting cracks in the concrete increased,rather than along the central axis,which was significantly different from the conditions without stray current and the ideal Brazilian disk test.Furthermore,a sulfate ion mass transfer model that incorporates reactivity and electrodiffusion was meticulously constructed.The embedded finite element calculation exhibited excellent agreement with the experimental results,indicating its reliability and accuracy.Additionally,the stress field was determined utilizing analytical methods,and the mechanism underlying crack propagation was successfully obtained.Compared to the cement matrix,a stray current led to more sulfates,more microstructure degradation,and greater increases in thickness and porosity in the ITZ,which was considered to be the essence of the stray current-induced ITZ effect.展开更多
Chloride diffusion coefficient and water penetration depth of 3 types concrete were studied. The experimental results show that the concrete permeability decreases itself in the order as follow: pure portland cement c...Chloride diffusion coefficient and water penetration depth of 3 types concrete were studied. The experimental results show that the concrete permeability decreases itself in the order as follow: pure portland cement concrete(CO), concrete added with fly ash(C1), concrete added with both fly ash and silica fume(C2). SEM and microhardness analyses show that the properties of interfacial zone are significantly influenced by silica fume. With the improvement of interfacial zone properties, the permeability especially the Chloride ion diffusivity of concrete significantly decreases.展开更多
Crushing waste coral concrete into recycled aggregates to create recycled coral aggregate concrete(RCAC)contributes to sustainable construction development on offshore islands and reefs.To investigate the impact of re...Crushing waste coral concrete into recycled aggregates to create recycled coral aggregate concrete(RCAC)contributes to sustainable construction development on offshore islands and reefs.To investigate the impact of recycled coral aggregate on concrete properties,this study performed a comprehensive analysis of the physical properties of recycled coral aggregate and the basic mechanical properties and microstructure of RCAC.The test results indicate that,compared to coral debris,the crushing index of recycled coral aggregate was reduced by 9.4%,while porosity decreased by 33.5%.Furthermore,RCAC retained the early strength characteristics of coral concrete,with compressive strength and flexural strength exhibiting a notable increase as the water-cement ratio decreased.Under identical conditions,the compressive strength and flexural strength of RCAC were 12.7% and 2.5% higher than coral concrete's,respectively,with porosity correspondingly reduced from 3.13% to 5.11%.This enhancement could be attributed to the new mortar filling the recycled coral aggregate.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)analysis revealed three distinct interface transition zones within RCAC,with the‘new mortar-old mortar’interface identified as the weakest.The above findings provided a reference for the sustainable use of coral concrete in constructing offshore islands.展开更多
To investigate the effect of recycled sand on the compressive properties of recycled coarse aggregate concrete with different strength grades,an experimental study on the stress-strain curve under uniaxial compression...To investigate the effect of recycled sand on the compressive properties of recycled coarse aggregate concrete with different strength grades,an experimental study on the stress-strain curve under uniaxial compression was conducted.The failure processes and modes of recycled sand concrete(RSC)were studied,and the peak stress,peak strain,elastic modulus,ultimate strain,and toughness of RSC with different strength grades were studied.The interfacial transition zone(ITZ)of RSC was studied using microhardness and SEM,and its failure mechanism was studied.The results indicate that the addition of recycled sand has a significant impact on the descending segment of the stress-strain curve for the same strength grade.Based on Chinese standards,the relationship between the parameters of the descending segment and the peak stress of RSC was determined.A constitutive relationship for the stress-strain behavior of RSC under uniaxial compression was proposed.The microhardness of the ITZ increases with the decrease in the water-binder ratio and first increases and then decreases with the replacement ratio.This is due to the gelation activity of recycled powder,which reacts with hydration products to fill pores.However,when the content of recycled powder is excessive,the alkaline environment that maintains the stability of the C-S-H gel is disrupted,leading to a decrease in microhardness.展开更多
Interstitial fluid(ISF)flow through vascular adventitia has been discovered recently.However,its kinetic pattern was unclear.We used histological and topographical identification to observe ISF flow along venous vesse...Interstitial fluid(ISF)flow through vascular adventitia has been discovered recently.However,its kinetic pattern was unclear.We used histological and topographical identification to observe ISF flow along venous vessels in rabbits.By magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in live subjects,the inherent pathways of ISF flow from the ankle dermis through the legs,abdomen,and thorax were enhanced by paramagnetic contrast.By fluorescence stereomicroscopy and layer-by-layer dissection after the rabbits were sacrificed,the perivascular and adventitial connective tissues(PACTs)along the saphenous veins and inferior vena cava were found to be stained by sodium fluorescein from the ankle dermis,which coincided with the findings by MRI.The direction of ISF transport in a venous PACT pathway was the same as that of venous blood flow.By confocal microscopy and histological analysis,the stained PACT pathways were verified to be the fibrous connective tissues,consisting of longitudinally assembled fibers.Real-time observations by fluorescence stereomicroscopy revealed at least two types of spaces for ISF flow:one along adventitial fibers and another one between the vascular adventitia and its covering fascia.Using nanoparticles and surfactants,a PACT pathway was found to be accessible by a nanoparticle of<100 nm and contained two parts:a transport channel and an absorptive part.The calculated velocity of continuous ISF flow along fibers of the PACT pathway was 3.6-15.6 mm/s.These data revealed that a PACT pathway was a"slit-shaped"porous biomaterial,comprising a longitudinal transport channel and an absorptive part for imbibition.The use of surfactants suggested that interfacial tension might play an essential role in layers of continuous ISF flow along vascular vessels.A hypothetical"gel pump"is proposed based on interfacial tension and interactions to regulate ISF flow.These experimental findings may inspire future studies to explore the physiological and pathophysiological functions of vascular ISF or interfacial fluid flow among interstitial connective tissues throughout the body.展开更多
Al 7075 and Mg AZ31 alloys were joined by diffusion bonding method. Joining process was performed in pressure range of 10-35 MPa at temperatures of 430-450 ℃ for 60 min under a vacuum of 13.3 MPa. The microstructure ...Al 7075 and Mg AZ31 alloys were joined by diffusion bonding method. Joining process was performed in pressure range of 10-35 MPa at temperatures of 430-450 ℃ for 60 min under a vacuum of 13.3 MPa. The microstructure evaluation, phase analysis and distribution of elements at the interface were done using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDS） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The pressure of 25 MPa was determined as the optimum pressure in which the minimum amount of plastic deformation takes place at the joint. Different reaction layers containing intermetallic compounds, such as Al12Mg17, Al3Mg2 andα（Al） solid solution, were observed, in interfacial transition zone （ITZ）. Thickness of layers was increased with increasing the operating temperature. According to the results, diffusion of aluminum atoms into magnesium alloy was more and the interface movement towards the Al alloy was observed. The maximum bond strength of 38 MPa was achieved at the temperature of 440 ℃ and pressure of 25 MPa. Fractography studies indicated that the brittle fracture originated from Al3Mg2 phase.展开更多
For the purpose of providing references for further research and practical application about the quality improvement of RCA,in this paper,various treatment methods were firstly classified into four categories:removing...For the purpose of providing references for further research and practical application about the quality improvement of RCA,in this paper,various treatment methods were firstly classified into four categories:removing old mortar (OM),strengthening OM,multi-stage mixing methods,and combination methods.Thereafter,the improvement mechanisms and important conclusions of various treatment methods were elucidated and summarised respectively.In the section of discussion,the improved effects as well as advantages and disadvantages of various treatment methods were compared and discussed respectively,and recommendations for the selection of treatment methods were proposed.Finally,the further research directions were pointed out,and an integrative programme on the quality improvement of RCA was recommended.展开更多
The determination of volume fraction of interracial transition zone （ITZ） is very important for investigating the quantitative relationship between the microstructure and macroscopical property of concrete. In this ...The determination of volume fraction of interracial transition zone （ITZ） is very important for investigating the quantitative relationship between the microstructure and macroscopical property of concrete. In this paper, based on Lu and Torquato＇s most nearest surface distribution function, a calculating process of volume fraction of ITZ is given in detail according to the actual sieve curve in concrete. Then, quantitative formulas are put forward to measure the influencing factors on the ｜TZ vol- ume fraction. In order to validate the given model, the volume fractions of ITZ obtained by numerical calculation are compared with those by computer simulation. The results show that the two are in good agreement. The order of the factors influencing the ITZ volume fraction is the ITZ thickness, the volume fraction of aggregate and the maximum aggregate diameter for Fuller gradation in turn. The 1TZ volume fraction obtained from the equal volume fraction （EVF） gradation is always larger than that from the Fuller gradation for a given volume fraction of aggregate.展开更多
The feasibility of using coral reef sand（CRS） in Portland cement concrete is investigated by testing the mechanical property and microstructure of concrete. The composition, structure and properties of the CRS are a...The feasibility of using coral reef sand（CRS） in Portland cement concrete is investigated by testing the mechanical property and microstructure of concrete. The composition, structure and properties of the CRS are analyzed. Mechanical properties and microstructure of concrete with CRS are studied and compared to concrete with natural river sand. The relationship between the microstructure and performance of CRS concrete is established. The CRS has a porous surface with high water intake capacity, which contributes to the mechanical properties of concrete. The interfacial transition zone between the cement paste and CRS is densified compared to normal concrete with river sand. Hydration products form in the pore space of CRS and interlock with the matrix of cement paste, which increases the strength. The total porosity of concrete prepared with CRS is higher than that with natural sand. The main difference in pore size distribution is the fraction of fine pores in the range of 100 nm.展开更多
To clarify the work hardening discrepancy effect on the strengthening of laminated metals,we designed two laminated Cu/Cu4Zn and Cu/Cu32Zn samples with different layer thicknesses.Cu/Cu4Zn has larger work hardening di...To clarify the work hardening discrepancy effect on the strengthening of laminated metals,we designed two laminated Cu/Cu4Zn and Cu/Cu32Zn samples with different layer thicknesses.Cu/Cu4Zn has larger work hardening discrepancy between two constituent layers relative to Cu/Cu32Zn,but the yield strengths of two Cu Zn constituents are comparable.Uniaxial tensile results suggest Cu/Cu4Zn with larger work hardening discrepancy exhibits a significant strengthening at early deformation stage while Cu/Cu32Zn possesses a better ductility.The underlying mechanisms for the strengthening effect are attributed to more geometrically necessary dislocations accumulated at interfaces and severer strain localization due to the larger work hardening discrepancy.展开更多
The effect of carbonation treatment and mixing method on the mechanical properties and interfacial transition zone（ITZ） properties of recycled aggregate concrete（RAC） was investigated. Properties of recycled concr...The effect of carbonation treatment and mixing method on the mechanical properties and interfacial transition zone（ITZ） properties of recycled aggregate concrete（RAC） was investigated. Properties of recycled concrete aggregate（RCA） were tested firstly. Then, five types of concretes were made and slump of fresh concrete was measured immediately after mixing. Compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of hardened concrete were measured at 28 d. Meanwhile, the microstructure of RAC was analyzed by backscattered electron（BSE） image. It was found that the water absorption ratio of carbonated recycled concrete aggregate（CRCA） was much lower when compared to the untreated RCA. Comparatively, the apparent density of CRCA was not significantly modified. The concrete strength results indicate that the mix CRAC-2 prepared with CRCA by adopting two-stage mixing approach shows the highest compressive strength value compared to the other mixes. The microstructural analysis demonstrate that the mix CRAC-2 has a much denser old ITZ than the untreated RAC because of the chemical reaction between CO2 and the hydration products of RCA. This study confirms that the ITZ microstructure of RAC can be efficiently modified by carbonation treatment of RCA and encourages broadening the application of construction and demolition wastes.展开更多
文摘The composition and structure of the inter facial zone between aggregate and paste of Portland cement as well as the orientation coefficient of portlandite ( Icn ) were preliminarily studied by XRD and SEM methods. The main products in the zone are C -S-H gel, portlandite, AFt and pores, micro-cracks as welt as unhydrated portland cement clinker particles. Potlandite not only grows well but exists in orientating forms, and near the interface it exists in a state parallel to the surface of aggregate by its (001) lattice plane. Icn rises with the increase of cement water ratio (w/c) and the development of the cement hydration. The higher the w/c, the more the pores and micro-cracks in the zone. w/c bears an exact relation to the decrease of bond strength. Icn, is decreased when 5. 0% silica fume is added to cement. Bond strengths at early ages are reduced by adding 0. 5% FDN (one kind of water-reducing admixture) due to the retarded hydration of cement, but they will increase continually and become greater than those of other samples after 28 days.
文摘1 he composition and structure of the interfacial zone be-tween aggregate and Portland slag cement paste as well as the orienta-tion coefficient of portlandite (ICH) have been studied by means of XRD and SEM. The results show that the main components in the in-terfacial zone are C-S-H gel, portlandite and AFt as well as unhy-drated clinder particles. Compared with Portland cement, there are more C-S-H gel and less portlandite in the zone and the portlandite crystallizes badly with lower ICH in a narrower region . After adding 5. 0% silica fume to the cement , the orientation of portlandite in the zone disappears; after 90d, the bond strength between #425 Portland slag cement paste and aggregate approximately attains that between # 525 Portland ciment paste and aggregate.
基金Funded by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China(973 Program)(No.2009CB623100)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51378391)
文摘In order to facilitate the development and application of air entraining agents (AEA) in the high performance concrete, entrained air void structure parameters (air void size range from 10 to 1 600 mu m) of 28 d sifted mortar were measured by image analysis method. The relationship between the air void size distribution and strength of mortar was studied by methods of grey connection analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The multiple linear regression equation was established with a correlation coefficient of 0.966. The weight of the affection of hierarchical porosity on the compressive strength ratio was also obtained. In addition, the effect of air voids on the paste-aggregate interfacial transition zone (ITZ) was analyzed by microhardness. The results show that the correlation between different pore size range and the compressive strength is negative. The effect of air void size distribution on 28 days compressive strength is different: under the condition of similar total porosity, with the increase of the porosity of the air void size, ranging from 10 to 200 mu m, and the decrease of the porosity, ranging from 200 to 1 600 mu m, the average air void diameter and mean free spacing are decreased; as well as the width of ITZ. On the contrary, the microhardness of the ITZ is increased while the compressive strength loss is decreased.
基金funding offered by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51978127 and 51908103)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(DUT21RC(3)039)。
文摘This study investigates the effects of nanofillers on the interfacial transition zone(ITZ)between aggregate and cement paste by using nanoindentation and statistical nanoindentation techniques.Moreover,the underlying mechanisms are revealed through micromechanical modeling.The nanoindentation results indicate that incorporating nanofillers increases the degree of hydration in the ITZ,reduces the content of micropores and low-density calcium silicate hydrate(LD C-S-H),and increases the content of highdensity C-S-H(HD C-S-H)and ultra high-density C-S-H(UHD C-S-H).In particular,a new phase,namely nano-core-induced low-density C-S-H(NCILD C-S-H),with a superior hardness of 2.50 GPa and an indentation modulus similar to those of HD C-S-H or UHD C-S-H was identified in this study.The modeling results revealed that the presence of nanofillers increased the packing density of LD CS-H and significantly enhanced the interaction(adhesion and friction)among the basic building blocks of C-S-H gels owing to the formation of nano-core-shell elements,thereby facilitating the formation of NCILD C-S-H and further improving the performance of the ITZ.This study provides insight into the effects of nano fillers on the ITZ in concrete at the nanoscale.
基金Funded by the National Basic Research Program of China (No.2009CB623203)National High-tech R&D Program of China (No.2008AA030794)Postgraduates Research Innovation in University of Jiangsu Province in China (No.CX10B-064Z)
文摘Based on the nearest surface function formula, a quantitative formula to measure the overlapping degree between the interfacial transition zone （ITZ） of neighboring aggregate particles was put forward. The formula was further deduced to quantitatively analyze the influence of the volume fraction of aggregate, ITZ thickness and the maximum aggregate diameter on the overlapping degree between neighboring ITZ. The volume of ITZ was quantitatively calculated in actual concrete by comparing the nearest surface function formula with an approximate method, that is the surface area of the aggregates multiplied by the uniform thickness of the ITZ layers. The results showed that the influencing order of these three factors on the overlapping degree between neighboring ITZ in turn was the interface thickness, aggregate volume fraction and the maximum aggregate diameter; As long as the interface thickness 50 μm and the aggregate volume fraction 50%, the calculated error between two methods mentioned above is about 10 %.
基金the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)Lakehead University for their financial support。
文摘The mesoscale fiber-matrix interfacial transition zone(FM-ITZ) under induced curing pressure plays a key role in the effectiveness of fiber reinforcement and the engineering application of fiber-reinforced cementitious composites(FRCCs). This critical review establishes the link among induced curing pressure(i.e., external loading condition), multiphysics processes(i.e., internal governing mechanism), and interface behavior(i.e., material behavior) for FRCC materials through analysis of the state-of-the-art research findings on the FM-ITZ of FRCC materials. The following results are obtained. For the mechanical process, the induced curing pressure changes the stress state and enhances multicracking behavior, which can strengthen the FM-ITZ. For the hydraulic process, the strengthened seepage of the FM-ITZ under induced curing pressure weakens the effective stress and exaggerates the deficiency in water retention capacity between the bulk matrix and the FMITZ. For the thermal process, the induced curing pressure causes a steep temperature gradient in the FM-ITZ and thus influences the temperature evolution and thermally-induced microcracks in the FM-ITZ. For the chemical process, the induced curing pressure enhances hydration kinetics and results in the formation of additional hydration products in the FM-ITZ. Moreover, recommendations are proposed on the basis of findings from this review to facilitate the implementation of fiber reinforcement in cemented paste backfill technology.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51178105)the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China(973 Program)(No.2015CB655104)the Collaborative Innovation Centre for Advanced Civil Engineering Materials
文摘Backscattered electron images（BSE） obtained by scanning electron microscope was used to quantitatively characterize the microstructure of interfacial transition zone（ITZ） in concrete. Influences of aggregate size（5, 10, 20, and 30 mm）, water to cement ratio（0.23, 0.35 and 0.53） and curing time（from 3d to 90d） on the microstructure of interfacial transition zone between coarse aggregate and bulk cement matrix were investigated. The volume percentage of detectable porosity and unhydrated cement in ITZ was quantitatively analyzed and compared with that in the matrix of various concretes. Nanoindentation technology was applied to obtain the elastic properties of ITZ and matrix, and the elastic modulus of concrete was then calculated based on the Lu ＆ Torquato model and self-consistence scheme by using the ITZ thickness and elastic modulus obtained from this investigation. The experimental results demonstrated that the microstructure and thickness of ITZ in concrete vary with a variety of factors, like aggregate size, water to cement ratio and curing time. The relative low elastic properties of ITZ should be paid attention to, especially for early age concrete.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51602198,41427802 and 41302257)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.LQ13D020001)the Shaoxing University Scientific Research Project(No.20145030)
文摘The nanostructure of cementitious materials has important effects on concrete properties. The effects of rice husk ash（RHA） on cement hydration product phases and interfacial transition zone（ITZ） in mortar were investigated from the nano-scale structure perspective. The experimental results indicate that, with the increase of RHA dosages of samples, the volume fraction of high-density calcium-silicate-hydrate（HD C-S-H） in porosity and hydration product phases increases. The volume fractions of HD C-S-H in C-S-H of samples show an increasing trend with the increase of RHA dosages. RHA decreases the thickness of ITZ and increases the matrix elastic moduli of samples, however, the RHA dosoges hardly affect the thickness and elastic moduli.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.U21A20149, 51878003, 51908378)Research Reserve of Anhui Jianzhu University (No.2022XMK01)Excellent Scientific Research and Innovation Team in Colleges and Universities of Anhui Province(No. 2022AH010017)。
文摘This study aims to clarify the effects of curing regimes and lightweight aggregate(LWA)on the morphology, width and mechanical properties of the interfacial transition zone(ITZ) of ultra-high performance concrete(UHPC), and provide reference for the selection of lightweight ultra-high performance concrete(L-UHPC) curing regimes and the pre-wetting degree LWA. The results show that, under the three curing regimes(standard curing, steam curing and autoclaved curing), LWA is tightly bound to the matrix without obvious boundaries. ITZ width increases with the water absorption of LWA and decreases with increasing curing temperature. The ITZ microhardness is the highest when water absorption is 3%, and the microhardness value is more stable with the distance from LWA. Steam and autoclaved curing increase ITZ microhardness compared to standard curing. As LWA pre-wetting and curing temperatures increase, the degree of hydration at the ITZ increases, generating high-density CSH(HD CSH) and ultra-high-density CSH(UHD CSH), and reducing unhydrated particles in ITZ. ITZ micro-mechanical properties are optimized due to hydration products being denser.
基金supported by the State Major Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(52090082)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFB2602200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52178423 and 52378398).
文摘The rail transit in sulfate-rich areas faces the combined effects of stray current and salt corrosion;however,the sulfate ion transport and concrete degradation mechanisms under such conditions are still unclear.To address this issue,novel sulfate transport and mesoscale splitting tests were designed,with a focus on considering the differences between the interfacial transition zone(ITZ)and cement matrix.Under the influence of stray current,the ITZ played a pivotal role in regulating the transport and mechanical failure processes of sulfate attack,while the tortuous and blocking effects of aggregates almost disappeared.This phenomenon was termed the“stray current-induced ITZ effect.”The experimental data revealed that the difference in sulfate ion transport attributed to the ITZ ranged from 1.90 to 2.31 times,while the difference in splitting strength ranged from 1.56 to 1.64 times.Through the real-time synchronization of splitting experiments and microsecond-responsive particle image velocimetry(PIV)technology,the mechanical properties were exposed to the consequences of the stray currentinduced ITZ effect.The number of splitting cracks in the concrete increased,rather than along the central axis,which was significantly different from the conditions without stray current and the ideal Brazilian disk test.Furthermore,a sulfate ion mass transfer model that incorporates reactivity and electrodiffusion was meticulously constructed.The embedded finite element calculation exhibited excellent agreement with the experimental results,indicating its reliability and accuracy.Additionally,the stress field was determined utilizing analytical methods,and the mechanism underlying crack propagation was successfully obtained.Compared to the cement matrix,a stray current led to more sulfates,more microstructure degradation,and greater increases in thickness and porosity in the ITZ,which was considered to be the essence of the stray current-induced ITZ effect.
文摘Chloride diffusion coefficient and water penetration depth of 3 types concrete were studied. The experimental results show that the concrete permeability decreases itself in the order as follow: pure portland cement concrete(CO), concrete added with fly ash(C1), concrete added with both fly ash and silica fume(C2). SEM and microhardness analyses show that the properties of interfacial zone are significantly influenced by silica fume. With the improvement of interfacial zone properties, the permeability especially the Chloride ion diffusivity of concrete significantly decreases.
基金Funded by Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi(No.2025GXNSFBA069565)Guangxi Science and Technology Program(No.AD25069101)Guangxi Bagui Scholars Fund。
文摘Crushing waste coral concrete into recycled aggregates to create recycled coral aggregate concrete(RCAC)contributes to sustainable construction development on offshore islands and reefs.To investigate the impact of recycled coral aggregate on concrete properties,this study performed a comprehensive analysis of the physical properties of recycled coral aggregate and the basic mechanical properties and microstructure of RCAC.The test results indicate that,compared to coral debris,the crushing index of recycled coral aggregate was reduced by 9.4%,while porosity decreased by 33.5%.Furthermore,RCAC retained the early strength characteristics of coral concrete,with compressive strength and flexural strength exhibiting a notable increase as the water-cement ratio decreased.Under identical conditions,the compressive strength and flexural strength of RCAC were 12.7% and 2.5% higher than coral concrete's,respectively,with porosity correspondingly reduced from 3.13% to 5.11%.This enhancement could be attributed to the new mortar filling the recycled coral aggregate.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)analysis revealed three distinct interface transition zones within RCAC,with the‘new mortar-old mortar’interface identified as the weakest.The above findings provided a reference for the sustainable use of coral concrete in constructing offshore islands.
基金Funded by National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2020YFC1909905)Science and Technology Research and Development Plan of China National Railway Group Co.+2 种基金Ltd.(No.L2022G009)National Natural Science Foundation of China High-speed Rail Joint Fund(No.U1934206)New Cornerstone Science Foundation through the XPLORER PRIZE。
文摘To investigate the effect of recycled sand on the compressive properties of recycled coarse aggregate concrete with different strength grades,an experimental study on the stress-strain curve under uniaxial compression was conducted.The failure processes and modes of recycled sand concrete(RSC)were studied,and the peak stress,peak strain,elastic modulus,ultimate strain,and toughness of RSC with different strength grades were studied.The interfacial transition zone(ITZ)of RSC was studied using microhardness and SEM,and its failure mechanism was studied.The results indicate that the addition of recycled sand has a significant impact on the descending segment of the stress-strain curve for the same strength grade.Based on Chinese standards,the relationship between the parameters of the descending segment and the peak stress of RSC was determined.A constitutive relationship for the stress-strain behavior of RSC under uniaxial compression was proposed.The microhardness of the ITZ increases with the decrease in the water-binder ratio and first increases and then decreases with the replacement ratio.This is due to the gelation activity of recycled powder,which reacts with hydration products to fill pores.However,when the content of recycled powder is excessive,the alkaline environment that maintains the stability of the C-S-H gel is disrupted,leading to a decrease in microhardness.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82050004 and 81141118)the Beijing Hospital Clinical Research 121 Project(No.121-2016002)+1 种基金the National Basic Research Program of China(No.2015CB554507)Ms.Siu TUEN,Lucy Chan LAU,Mr.Waichun TIN,and Weiwu HU for their financial support。
文摘Interstitial fluid(ISF)flow through vascular adventitia has been discovered recently.However,its kinetic pattern was unclear.We used histological and topographical identification to observe ISF flow along venous vessels in rabbits.By magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in live subjects,the inherent pathways of ISF flow from the ankle dermis through the legs,abdomen,and thorax were enhanced by paramagnetic contrast.By fluorescence stereomicroscopy and layer-by-layer dissection after the rabbits were sacrificed,the perivascular and adventitial connective tissues(PACTs)along the saphenous veins and inferior vena cava were found to be stained by sodium fluorescein from the ankle dermis,which coincided with the findings by MRI.The direction of ISF transport in a venous PACT pathway was the same as that of venous blood flow.By confocal microscopy and histological analysis,the stained PACT pathways were verified to be the fibrous connective tissues,consisting of longitudinally assembled fibers.Real-time observations by fluorescence stereomicroscopy revealed at least two types of spaces for ISF flow:one along adventitial fibers and another one between the vascular adventitia and its covering fascia.Using nanoparticles and surfactants,a PACT pathway was found to be accessible by a nanoparticle of<100 nm and contained two parts:a transport channel and an absorptive part.The calculated velocity of continuous ISF flow along fibers of the PACT pathway was 3.6-15.6 mm/s.These data revealed that a PACT pathway was a"slit-shaped"porous biomaterial,comprising a longitudinal transport channel and an absorptive part for imbibition.The use of surfactants suggested that interfacial tension might play an essential role in layers of continuous ISF flow along vascular vessels.A hypothetical"gel pump"is proposed based on interfacial tension and interactions to regulate ISF flow.These experimental findings may inspire future studies to explore the physiological and pathophysiological functions of vascular ISF or interfacial fluid flow among interstitial connective tissues throughout the body.
文摘Al 7075 and Mg AZ31 alloys were joined by diffusion bonding method. Joining process was performed in pressure range of 10-35 MPa at temperatures of 430-450 ℃ for 60 min under a vacuum of 13.3 MPa. The microstructure evaluation, phase analysis and distribution of elements at the interface were done using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDS） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The pressure of 25 MPa was determined as the optimum pressure in which the minimum amount of plastic deformation takes place at the joint. Different reaction layers containing intermetallic compounds, such as Al12Mg17, Al3Mg2 andα（Al） solid solution, were observed, in interfacial transition zone （ITZ）. Thickness of layers was increased with increasing the operating temperature. According to the results, diffusion of aluminum atoms into magnesium alloy was more and the interface movement towards the Al alloy was observed. The maximum bond strength of 38 MPa was achieved at the temperature of 440 ℃ and pressure of 25 MPa. Fractography studies indicated that the brittle fracture originated from Al3Mg2 phase.
基金Funded by Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U1904188)National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars(No.51608179)the Key Science and Technology Program of Henan Province,China(No.202102310253)。
文摘For the purpose of providing references for further research and practical application about the quality improvement of RCA,in this paper,various treatment methods were firstly classified into four categories:removing old mortar (OM),strengthening OM,multi-stage mixing methods,and combination methods.Thereafter,the improvement mechanisms and important conclusions of various treatment methods were elucidated and summarised respectively.In the section of discussion,the improved effects as well as advantages and disadvantages of various treatment methods were compared and discussed respectively,and recommendations for the selection of treatment methods were proposed.Finally,the further research directions were pointed out,and an integrative programme on the quality improvement of RCA was recommended.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China ("973" Project) (Grant No. 2009CB623200)the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China ("863" Project)(Grant No. 2008AA030794)
文摘The determination of volume fraction of interracial transition zone （ITZ） is very important for investigating the quantitative relationship between the microstructure and macroscopical property of concrete. In this paper, based on Lu and Torquato＇s most nearest surface distribution function, a calculating process of volume fraction of ITZ is given in detail according to the actual sieve curve in concrete. Then, quantitative formulas are put forward to measure the influencing factors on the ｜TZ vol- ume fraction. In order to validate the given model, the volume fractions of ITZ obtained by numerical calculation are compared with those by computer simulation. The results show that the two are in good agreement. The order of the factors influencing the ITZ volume fraction is the ITZ thickness, the volume fraction of aggregate and the maximum aggregate diameter for Fuller gradation in turn. The 1TZ volume fraction obtained from the equal volume fraction （EVF） gradation is always larger than that from the Fuller gradation for a given volume fraction of aggregate.
基金Funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(WUT:142201001)
文摘The feasibility of using coral reef sand（CRS） in Portland cement concrete is investigated by testing the mechanical property and microstructure of concrete. The composition, structure and properties of the CRS are analyzed. Mechanical properties and microstructure of concrete with CRS are studied and compared to concrete with natural river sand. The relationship between the microstructure and performance of CRS concrete is established. The CRS has a porous surface with high water intake capacity, which contributes to the mechanical properties of concrete. The interfacial transition zone between the cement paste and CRS is densified compared to normal concrete with river sand. Hydration products form in the pore space of CRS and interlock with the matrix of cement paste, which increases the strength. The total porosity of concrete prepared with CRS is higher than that with natural sand. The main difference in pore size distribution is the fraction of fine pores in the range of 100 nm.
基金financial support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U1608257 and 51931010)the Key Research Program of Frontier Science and International Partnership Program(No.GJHZ2029)+3 种基金CAS,Liao Ning Revitalization Talents Program(No.XLYC1802026)financial support by the National Natural Science Foundatiosn of China(No.52001312)the Project Funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Nos.BX20190336 and 2019M661150)the Open Research Fund from the State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation,Northeastern University(No.2018RALKFKT002)。
文摘To clarify the work hardening discrepancy effect on the strengthening of laminated metals,we designed two laminated Cu/Cu4Zn and Cu/Cu32Zn samples with different layer thicknesses.Cu/Cu4Zn has larger work hardening discrepancy between two constituent layers relative to Cu/Cu32Zn,but the yield strengths of two Cu Zn constituents are comparable.Uniaxial tensile results suggest Cu/Cu4Zn with larger work hardening discrepancy exhibits a significant strengthening at early deformation stage while Cu/Cu32Zn possesses a better ductility.The underlying mechanisms for the strengthening effect are attributed to more geometrically necessary dislocations accumulated at interfaces and severer strain localization due to the larger work hardening discrepancy.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51278073,51678081,51678143)State Key Laboratory for Geo-mechanics and Deep Underground Engineering,China University of Mining&Technology(No.SKLGDUEK1704)
文摘The effect of carbonation treatment and mixing method on the mechanical properties and interfacial transition zone（ITZ） properties of recycled aggregate concrete（RAC） was investigated. Properties of recycled concrete aggregate（RCA） were tested firstly. Then, five types of concretes were made and slump of fresh concrete was measured immediately after mixing. Compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of hardened concrete were measured at 28 d. Meanwhile, the microstructure of RAC was analyzed by backscattered electron（BSE） image. It was found that the water absorption ratio of carbonated recycled concrete aggregate（CRCA） was much lower when compared to the untreated RCA. Comparatively, the apparent density of CRCA was not significantly modified. The concrete strength results indicate that the mix CRAC-2 prepared with CRCA by adopting two-stage mixing approach shows the highest compressive strength value compared to the other mixes. The microstructural analysis demonstrate that the mix CRAC-2 has a much denser old ITZ than the untreated RAC because of the chemical reaction between CO2 and the hydration products of RCA. This study confirms that the ITZ microstructure of RAC can be efficiently modified by carbonation treatment of RCA and encourages broadening the application of construction and demolition wastes.
