Basic creep properties of hydrates in mature slag-based CEM II concretes: A micromechanical analysis

Abstract

The demand for accurate characterization of slag-based CEM II concretes is becoming increasingly important as the construction sector shifts towards eco-efficient materials. Here, the basic creep behavior of slag-based CEM II concretes is traced back to mixture-invariant hydrate properties. Therefore, an experimentally validated three-step micro-viscoelastic model for CEM I/OPC-concretes is complemented by a Powers-Acker-type hydration model for CEM II and extended towards long-term creep, temperature activation, and moisture sensitivity. This model is used for a strain rate-based, aging viscoelastic analysis of two creep tests on distinctively different CEM II concretes; revealing that the shear creep modulus of CEM II hydrates is half as large as the one of ordinary Portland cement hydrates. This makes slag-based CEM II concretes especially suitable for applications such as precast segmental tunnel linings, where a faster stress relaxation under displacement-controlled conditions is beneficial.