Observations of microcracking in cement paste upon drying and rewetting by environmental scanning electron microscopy

This study reports some preliminary observations of microcracks in hardened high performance cement paste (i.e., cement paste of low water:binder ratio). Specimens were examined at high magnifications and at relative humidities ranging from 0 to 100% in an environmental scanning electron microscope...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inAdvanced cement based materials Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 14 - 19
Main Authors Kjellsen, Knut O., Jennings, Hamlin M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Ltd 1996
Subjects
Drying
Electron microscopy
Environmental scanning
High performance concrete
Microcracking
Rewetting
self-desiccation
Microcracking
self-desiccation
High performance concrete
Rewetting
Electron microscopy
Drying
Environmental scanning
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:This study reports some preliminary observations of microcracks in hardened high performance cement paste (i.e., cement paste of low water:binder ratio). Specimens were examined at high magnifications and at relative humidities ranging from 0 to 100% in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). Direct microcracks were observed in samples that had not been dried, indicating that microcracks are probably an intrinsic feature of high performance concrete. It was further observed that the microcracks widened upon drying and closed again upon rewetting. Some practical consequences of these findings are discussed briefly.
ISSN:1065-7355
1878-5948
DOI:10.1016/S1065-7355(96)90065-6