Experimental investigation on quantitative nanomechanical properties of cement paste

Wengui Li, Jianzhuang Xiao, Shiho Kawashima, Gajendra S. Shekhawat, Surendra P. Shah

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nanoindentation, quantitative modulus mapping, and PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping (QNM) are applied to investigate the quantitative nanomechanics of hardened cement paste at different spatial resolutions. The elastic modulus measured by static nanoindentation is slightly higher than those measured by the other methods. The average elastic modulus and probability obtained by PeakForce QNM are typically consistent with those found by modulus mapping. Both modulus mapping and PeakForce QNM can be used to discriminate different material phases in cement paste at the nanoscale. It concludes that cement paste is a granular material in which the sub-micron scale grains or basic nanoscale units pack together. Moreover, the high resolution Peak-Force QNM can provide an efficient tool for identifying nanomechanical properties, particle sizes, and thickness of the interface between different nanoscale grains.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)229-238
Number of pages10
JournalACI Materials Journal
Volume112
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2015

Keywords

  • Cement paste
  • Modulus mapping
  • Nanoindentation
  • Nanomechanical properties
  • PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping (QNM)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Building and Construction
  • General Materials Science
  • Civil and Structural Engineering

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