Green and early age compressive strength of extruded cement mortar monitored with compression tests and ultrasonic techniques

Thomas Voigt*, Tim Malonn, Surendra P. Shah

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

Knowledge about the early age compressive strength development of cementitious materials is an important factor for the progress and safety of many construction projects. This paper uses cylindrical mortar specimens produced with a ram extruder to investigate the transition of the mortar from plastic and deformable to hardened state. In addition, wave transmission and reflection measurements with P- and S-waves were conducted to obtain further information about the microstructural changes during the setting and hardening process. The experiments have shown that uniaxial compression tests conducted on extruded mortar cylinders are a useful tool to evaluate the green strength as well as the initiation and further development of the compressive strength of the tested material. The propagation of P-waves was found to be indicative of the internal structure of the tested mortars as influenced, for example, by the addition of fine clay particles. S-waves used in transmission and reflection mode proved to be sensitive to the inter-particle bonding caused by the cement hydration and expressed by an increase in compressive strength.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)858-867
Number of pages10
JournalCement and Concrete Research
Volume36
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006

Funding

The research presented in this paper was funded by the Institute of Technology and Infrastructure of Northwestern University, the Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials and the National Science Foundation (CMS-0408427). The financial support received from these institutions is gratefully acknowledged.

Keywords

  • Compressive strength
  • Extrusion
  • Hydration
  • Mortar
  • Ultrasonic testing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Building and Construction
  • General Materials Science

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