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Porosity estimation of aged mortar using a micromechanical model
M G Hernández1, J J Anaya, T Sanchez
1Instituto de Automática Industrial, (CSIC) La Poveda, 28500 Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain. marga@iai.csic.es <marga@iai.csic.es>
Ultrasonics
|July 4, 2006
Summary
This study presents an ultrasonic method to assess aged mortar, predicting its behavior using a micromechanical model. The non-destructive technique accurately estimates porosity, matching traditional destructive methods for concrete degradation analysis.
Area of Science:
- Civil Engineering
- Materials Science
- Structural Health Monitoring
Background:
- Concrete degradation in humid or wet environments is a critical issue for infrastructure.
- Understanding mortar aging is essential for predicting structural integrity.
- Existing methods for characterizing aged concrete can be destructive and time-consuming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an ultrasonic non-destructive characterization method for aged mortar.
- To predict the behavior of aged mortar using a three-phase micromechanical model.
- To compare the accuracy of the proposed non-destructive method with traditional destructive techniques.
Main Methods:
- Accelerated aging of mortar samples by immersion in ammonium nitrate solution.
- Non-destructive characterization using ultrasonic velocity measurements.
- Destructive characterization of porosity via vacuum saturation.
Main Results:
- Ultrasonic measurements, combined with a micromechanical model, can predict aged mortar behavior.
- Mortar degradation involves increased porosity and microstructural changes in the cement matrix.
- The proposed non-destructive porosity estimation showed comparable performance to destructive methods.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasonic non-destructive testing offers a viable alternative for characterizing aged mortar.
- The micromechanical model effectively integrates ultrasonic data for predicting material behavior.
- This approach can aid in assessing the health of concrete structures in challenging environments.
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