Related papers: Contact point geometry governs structural build-up…
Calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H), the main components of hydrated cement, are known for being responsible of its cohesion. In this respect, they act as "glue" for the other solid components of mortar or concrete and thus strongly influence…
From soft polymeric gels to hardened cement paste, amorphous solids under constant load exhibit a pronounced time-dependent deformation called creep. The microscopic mechanism of such a phenomenon is poorly understood in amorphous materials…
Arguably the most ubiquitous construction material in modern civilization, concrete is enabling the development of megacities around the globe together with increasing living standards in developing nations. However, it can be argued that…
Celitement is a new type of cement that is based on hydraulic calcium-hydrosilicate (hCHS) that possesses a potential for minimizing the ratio C/S from above 3 in OPC down to 1, which significantly reduces the amount of CO$_2$ released…
CO$_2$ emissions originating from the construction industry have a significant impact on global warming where the production of ordinary Portland cement clinker is responsible for approximately 8\% of all human-made CO$_2$. Alkali doped…
Structural build-up in fresh cement paste at rest is characterized by time evolutions of storage modulus and yield stress, which both increase linearly in time during the induction period of hydration, followed by an exponential evolution…
Enhancement of thermal performance of concrete wall is nowadays of great importance in reducing the operational energy demand of buildings. We developed a new kind of inorganic coating material based on \ce{SiO2}-\ce{Al2O3}-rich minerals…
Cement is one of the most produced materials in the world. A major player in greenhouse gas emissions, it is the main binding agent in concrete, to which it provides a cohesive strength that rapidly increases during setting. Understanding…
The relationship between humidity and water content in a hydrating cement paste is largely controlled by the nanostructure of the C-S-H gel. Current hydration models do not describe this nanostructure, thus sorption isotherms and…
The structure and mechanical properties of a simple two-dimensional model of a cohesive powder are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. Micromechanical ingredients involve elasticity, friction, a short range attraction and,…
Cement is the most widely used manufacturing material in the world and improving its toughness would allow for the design of slender infrastructure, requiring less material. To this end, we investigate by means of molecular dynamics…
The roles of applied strain and temperature on the hydration dynamics of cement paste are uncovered in the present study. We find that the system hardens over time through two different aging processes. The first process dominates the…
The nature of Calcium--Silicate--Hydrate (C--S--H), the binding phase of cement, remains a controversial question. In particular, contrary to the former crystalline model, it was recently proposed that its nanoscale structure was actually…
Cohesive powders tend to form porous aggregates which can be compacted by applying an external pressure. This process is modelled using the Contact Dynamics method supplemented with a cohesion law and rolling friction. Starting with…
We study numerically local models for the mechanical contact between two solids with rough surfaces. When the solids softly touch either through adhesion or by a small normal load $L$, contact only forms at isolated patches and fluids can…
Partial substitution of the clinker in the cement by a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) is one of the main solutions to reduce the carbon footprint. Calcined kaolinite is a good candidate due to its availability and relatively high…
Long-term creep (i.e., deformation under sustained load) is a significant material response that needs to be accounted for in concrete structural design. However, the nature and origin of creep remains poorly understood, and controversial.…
Different contact regimes between a spherical lens and a periodically patterned substrate are observed, when they are pressed against each other. Top contact occurs when only the highest substrate sections touch the lens, whereas mixed…
Many environmental, energy, and industrial processes involve the flow of polymer solutions in three-dimensional (3D) porous media where fluid is confined to navigate through complex pore space geometries. As polymers are transported through…
Bio-cementation uses bacterially induced calcite to bind sand grains, offering a low-carbon approach to soil stabilization. However, the 3D morphology, orientation texture, and internal strain states of individual calcite bonds remain…