ASSESSING THE ITZ MICROCRACKING VIA SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE AND ITS EFFECT ON THE FAILURE BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE

The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of concrete plays a critical role in determining the mechanical properties and failure behavior of concrete composites. This article reports on a study of the influence of aggregate size and water-to-cement (w/c) ratio of the matrix on the structure of interfacial transition zone (ITZ). The study also considered the interaction between the ITZ and the matrix on the failure process of concrete under uniaxial compression. The results showed that at low w/c ratios, the rigid and smooth surface texture aggregates made by the ITZ have a significant structural difference compared to the mortar. With larger aggregates, lower w/c ratio matrices resulted in more critical ITZs with a large difference in strength compared to the matrix. This was promoted by the adverse effect of the rigid and smooth aggregate with increased matrix quality. The authors conclude that the interfacial bond was the deciding factor for the tensile strength and played little role on the compressive strength. Higher structural differences between the mortar matrix and ITZ in low w/c ratio composites resulted in accelerated ITZ microcracking at high stress level.

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• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

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• Authors:
  • Akcaoglu, T
  • Tokyay, M
  • Celik, T
• Publication Date: 2005-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 358-363
• Serial:
  • Cement and Concrete Research
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0008-8846
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00088846

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Cement; Compressive strength; Cracking; Durability; Microstructure; Tensile properties; Tensile strength; Uniaxial stress; Water cement ratio
• Uncontrolled Terms: Interfacial transition zone; Transition zones
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00989033
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 29 2005 12:00AM