Measuring the coefficient of thermal expansion of cement paste at early age

Title: Measuring the coefficient of thermal expansion of cement paste at early age
Author(s): Roman Loser, Carmelo Di Bella, Beat Münch, Pietro Lura
Paper category : conference
Book title: 2nd International Symposium on Service Life Design for Infrastructures
Editor(s): K. van Breugel, Guang Ye, Yong Yuan
Print-ISBN: 978-2-35158-096-7
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-097-4
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2010
Pages: 707 - 714
Total Pages: 8
Nb references: 19
Language: English

Abstract: In this study, a novel technique which is suitable to measure the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of hardening materials with high accuracy is presented. The main application of the technique is the measurement of the CTE at early age of cement pastes or mortars. Knowledge of CTE is of paramount importance for the determination of the cracking risk of concrete structures.
The technique consists of casting a small amount of cement paste or mortar into flexible membranes. The specimens are then immersed in an oil bath, whose temperature can be precisely regulated and rapidly altered in cycles. By suspending the sample from a high-precision balance and reading the change of mass after each temperature step, the CTE is calculated with high accuracy from the measured temperature and strain. Results on cement pastes showed good repeatability. In particular, sudden decreases in the CTE at setting time, as well as a gradual increase due to self-desiccation were observed.

Online publication: 2011-04-20
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00