Macrodefects and Microdefects within Porous Cement Pastes

Abstract

It is shown that the mechanical strength of cement matrix (hydrated cement paste) is a result of competitive interplay between macrodefects and microdefects. The dominance of one of these two kinds of defects depends not only on their sizes but also on their numbers. The cross-over between dominances of macrodefects or microdefects is determined both by a critical number of defects and by their critical size, which depends on the mechanical parameters of the materials.It is shown that the mechanical strength of cement matrix (hydrated cement paste) is a result of competitive interplay between macrodefects and microdefects. The dominance of one of these two kinds of defects depends not only on their sizes but also on their numbers. The cross-over between dominances of macrodefects or microdefects is determined both by a critical number of defects and by their critical size, which depends on the mechanical parameters of the materials.