Modeling of Mechanical Properties of Concrete Mixed with Expansive Additive

This study modeled the compressive strength and elastic modulus of hardened cement that had been treated with an expansive additive to reduce shrinkage, in order to determine the mechanical properties of the material. In hardened cement paste with an expansive additive, hydrates are generated as a result of the hydration between the cement and expansive additive. These hydrates then fill up the pores in the hardened cement. Consequently, a dense, compact structure is formed through the contact between the particles of the expansive additive and the cement, which leads to the manifestation of the strength and elastic modulus. Hence, in this study, the compressive strength and elastic modulus were modeled based on the concept of the mutual contact area of the particles, taking into consideration the extent of the cohesion between particles and the structure formation by the particles. The compressive strength of the material was modeled by considering the relationship between the porosity and the distributional probability of the weakest points, i.e., points that could lead to fracture, in the continuum. The approach used for modeling the elastic modulus considered the pore structure between the particles, which are responsible for transmitting the tensile force, along with the state of compaction of the hydration products, as described by the coefficient of the effective radius. The results of an experimental verification of the model showed that the values predicted by the model correlated closely with the experimental values.