Systematic research on compucrete can shed light on some controversial issues in concrete technology

Kai Li, P. Stroeven

Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands

Realistically simulating fresh and hardening cementitious materials renders possible understanding controversial issues existing in the field of concrete. The experimental studies on the impact of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) on permeability of concrete reveal two controversial results. The first involves the concept of promoting the permeability by increasing the aggregate fraction of concrete that will lead to (more) ITZ percolation. This is supported by some experiments reported in the literature. However, contradictory data are also published by other researchers. This paper aims at explaining by an advanced modelling technique why these conflictive observations are experimentally obtained.

Key words: Permeability, concrete, saturation degree, interfacial transition zone