NUMERICAL MODELLING OF THEWATER ISOTHERMS OF CEMENT PASTE: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE CAPILLARY AND C-S-H GEL PORES

Author(s): M. Zalzale, P.J. McDonald Karen L. Scrivener
Book Title: RILEM International Symposium on Concrete Modelling - CONMOD 2014
Editor: Kefei Li, Peiyu Yan and Rongwei Yang
ISBN: 978-2-35158-139-1
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-140-7
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2015
Pages: 222-226
Total Pages: 5
Language: English

Abstract: Despite the success of lattice Boltzmann models in simulating complex flows in a multitude of porous media, their application to cement paste remains rather limited. The main reasons appear to be the multi-scale nature of the porosity and the uncertain structure of the calcium silicate hydrate. In this work, a lattice Boltzmann effective media approach is extended from isothermal to non-ideal fluids. The liquid and vapour phases are linked by an equation of state and the interfaces between them are tracked automatically. The model allows the definition of multiple independent surface tensions (i.e. contact angles) between the fluid, C-S-H and solid phases. The novel part is the characterization of the C-S-H with effective transport and wetting properties. The model is used to calculate the water isotherms of a model cement paste composed of solids, nano-porous C-S-H and micron-sized capillary pores.

Online publication: 2015
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00