Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Quantitative characterization and elastic properties of interfacial transition zone around coarse aggregate in concrete

  • Cementitious materials
  • Published:
Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Mater. Sci. Ed. Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Backscattered electron images (BSE) obtained by scanning electron microscope was used to quantitatively characterize the microstructure of interfacial transition zone (ITZ) in concrete. Influences of aggregate size (5, 10, 20, and 30 mm), water to cement ratio (0.23, 0.35 and 0.53) and curing time (from 3d to 90d) on the microstructure of interfacial transition zone between coarse aggregate and bulk cement matrix were investigated. The volume percentage of detectable porosity and unhydrated cement in ITZ was quantitatively analyzed and compared with that in the matrix of various concretes. Nanoindentation technology was applied to obtain the elastic properties of ITZ and matrix, and the elastic modulus of concrete was then calculated based on the Lu & Torquato model and self-consistence scheme by using the ITZ thickness and elastic modulus obtained from this investigation. The experimental results demonstrated that the microstructure and thickness of ITZ in concrete vary with a variety of factors, like aggregate size, water to cement ratio and curing time. The relative low elastic properties of ITZ should be paid attention to, especially for early age concrete.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Scrivener KL, Bentur A, Pratt PL. Quantitative Characterization of the Transition Zone in High Strength Concretes[J]. Advances in Cement Research, 1988, 1(4): 230–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Monteiro PJM, Maso JC, Ollivier JP. The Aggregate-mortar Inter-Face[J]. Cement and Concrete Research, 1985, 15(6): 953–958

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kjellsen KO, Wallevik OH, Fjällberg L. Microstructure and Microchemistry of the Paste-aggregate Interfacial Transition zone of High-performance Concrete[J]. Advances in Cement Research, 1998, 10(1): 33–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bentur A, Alexander MG. A Review of the Work of the RILEM TC 159-ETC: Engineering of the Interfacial Transition Zone in Cementitious Composites[J]. Materials and Structures, 2000, 33(2): 82–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Scrivener KL, Crumbie AK, Laugesen P. The Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) between Cement Paste and Aggregate in Concrete[J]. Interface Science, 2004, 12(4): 411–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Diamond S. Considerations in Image Analysis as Applied to Investigations of the ITZ in Concrete[J]. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2001, 23(2): 171–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Diamond S, Huang J. The ITZ in Concrete-A Different View based on Image Analysis and SEM Observations[J]. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2001, 23(2): 179–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Scrivener KL. Microstructure of Concrete[J]. Materials Science of Concrete III, I, 1, 1989: 127

    Google Scholar 

  9. Grondin F, Bouasker M, Mounanga P, et al. Physico-chemical Deformations of Solidifying Cementitious Systems: Multiscale Modelling[J]. Materials and Structures, 2010, 43(1-2): 151–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Sorelli L, Constantinides G, Ulm F J, et al. The Nano-mechanical Signature of Ultra High Performance Concrete by Statistical Nanoindentation Techniques[J]. Cement and Concrete Research, 2008, 38(12): 1447–1456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Jiang L, Zhang Y, Hu C, et al. Calculation of Elastic Modulus of Earlyage Cement Paste[J]. Advances in Cement Research, 2012, 24(4): 193–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Garboczi EJ, Bentz DP. Analytical Formulas for Interfacial Transition Zone Properties[J]. Advanced Cement Based Materials, 1997, 6(3): 99–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lu B, Torquato S. Nearest-surface Distribution Functions for Polydispersed Particle Systems[J]. Physical Review A, 1992, 45(8): 5530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Oliver WC, Pharr GM. An improved Technique for Determining Hardness and Elastic Modulus Using Load and Displacement Sensing Indentation Experiments[J]. Journal of Materials Research, 1992, 7(06): 1564–1583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Oliver WC, Pharr GM. Measurement of Hardness and Elastic Modulus by Instrumented Indentation: Advances in Understanding and Refinements to Methodology[J]. Journal of Materials Research, 2004, 19(1): 3–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Mitsui K, Li Z, Lang D, et al. Relationship between Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of The Paste-Aggregate Interface[J]. Aci Materials Journal, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jennings HM, Thomas JJ, Gevrenov JS, et al. A multi-technique Investigation of the Nanoporosity of Cement Paste[J]. Cement & Concrete Research, 2007, 37(3): 329–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Mondal P, Shah SP, Marks L. A Reliable Technique to Determine the Local Mechanical Properties at the Nanoscale for Cementitious Materials[J]. Cement & Concrete Research, 2007, 37(10): 1440–1444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Constantinides G, Ulm FJ. The Effect of Two Types of C-S-H on the Elasticity of Cement-based Materials: Results from Nanoindentation and Micromechanical Modeling[J]. Cement & Concrete Research, 2004, 34(1): 67–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Haha MB, Weerdt KD, Lothenbach B. Quantification of the Degree of Reaction of Fly Ash[J]. Cement & Concrete Research, 2010, 40(11): 1620–1629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Xiao J, Li W, Sun Z, et al. Properties of Interfacial Transition Zones in Recycled Aggregate Concrete Tested by Nanoindentation[J]. Cement & Concrete Composites, 2013, 37(3): 276–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ramesh G, Sotelino ED, Chen WF. Effect of Transition Zone on Elastic Moduli of Concrete Materials[J]. Cement & Concrete Research, 1996, 26(4): 611–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Mondal P, Shah SP, Marks LD. Nanoscale Characterization of Cementitious Materials[J]. Aci Materials Journal, 2008, 105(2):174–179

    Google Scholar 

  24. Elsharief A, Cohen MD, Olek J. Influence of Aggregate Size, Water Cement Ratio and Age on the Microstructure of the Interfacial Transition Zone[J]. Cement & Concrete Research, 2003, 33(11): 1837–1849

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Scrivener KL. Backscattered Electron Imaging of Cementitious Microstructures: Understanding and Quantification[J]. Cement & Concrete Composites, 2004, 26(8): 935–945

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Wong HS, Head MK, Buenfeld NR. Pore segmentation of Cement-based Materials from Backscattered Electron Images[J]. Cement & Concrete Research, 2006, 36(6): 1083–1090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Gao Y, Schutter GD, Ye G, et al. The ITZ Microstructure, Thickness and Porosity in Blended Cementitious Composite: Effects of Curing Age, Water to Binder ratio and Aggregate Content[J]. Composites Part B, Engineering, 2014, 60(4): 1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Erdem S, Dawson AR, Thom NH. Influence of the Micro-and Nanoscale Local Mechanical Properties of the Interfacial Transition Zone on Impact Behavior of Concrete Made with Different Aggregates[J]. Cement & Concrete Research, 2012, 42(2): 447–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Construction Materials, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China

    Zijian Jia  (贾子健), Yunge Han, Yamei Zhang  (张亚梅) & Chen Qiu

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China

    Chuanlin Hu & Zongjin Li

Authors
  1. Zijian Jia  (贾子健)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yunge Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yamei Zhang  (张亚梅)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chen Qiu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chuanlin Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zongjin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yamei Zhang  (张亚梅).

Additional information

Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51178105), the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China(973 Program) (No. 2015CB655104) and the Collaborative Innovation Centre for Advanced Civil Engineering Materials

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jia, Z., Han, Y., Zhang, Y. et al. Quantitative characterization and elastic properties of interfacial transition zone around coarse aggregate in concrete. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mat. Sci. Edit. 32, 838–844 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-017-1677-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-017-1677-8

Key words

Search

Navigation