Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Porosity and Absorption of Aggregate

Porosity and Absorption of Aggregate

Aggregates contain pores of varying sizes; while some are completely enclosed within the particles, others open onto the surface, allowing water to penetrate. The porosity of aggregates is a major factor contributing to the overall porosity of concrete, given that aggregates constitute about three-quarters of concrete's volume.
When all pores in an aggregate are filled with water, the aggregate is considered saturated and surface-dry. If left in dry air, water will evaporate until the aggregate...

Porosity in Cement Paste

Porosity in Cement Paste

The porosity of concrete is a measure of the void spaces within its structure. These spaces impact its strength and durability significantly. When water and cement interact, a chemical reaction called hydration creates a semi-solid paste. This paste includes combined water, making up approximately 23% of the cement's dry mass, and gel water, which fills minuscule voids known as gel pores, accounting for about 28% of the cement gel volume.
The balance of water to cement in the mix is critical—it...

Moisture Content and Bulking of Aggregate

Moisture Content and Bulking of Aggregate

The moisture content of aggregates is a crucial factor in construction, particularly in concrete mixing, as it influences the total water required in the mix. Moisture content represents the water coated on the exterior surface of the aggregate existing in a saturated and surface-dry condition. The total water content of a moist aggregate is the sum of its moisture content and water absorption.
When aggregates are exposed to rain or sit in stockpiles, they absorb moisture, which must be...

Aggregates Classification

Aggregates Classification

Aggregate classification is generally based on its size, petrographic characteristics, weight, and source. Size classification ranges from coarse to fine aggregates, defined by the size of the particles. Coarse aggregates are particles that do not pass through ASTM sieve No. 4, and aggregates that pass through the sieve are fine aggregates.
Petrographic classification groups aggregates based on common mineralogical characteristics. Some of the common mineral groups found in aggregates are...

Shape and Texture of Coarse Aggregate

Shape and Texture of Coarse Aggregate

Aggregate shape is classified based on the relative sharpness or roundness of the edges and corners. This classification includes categories like rounded, angular, elongated, and flaky, each with specific characteristics. Rounded aggregates, fully shaped by attrition, are typical of river or seashore gravel, while angular aggregates, such as crushed rock, have well-defined edges. Aggregates that are elongated and flaky are less desirable, as they can reduce the workability and strength of...

Specific Gravity of Aggregate

Specific Gravity of Aggregate

Aggregates typically contain pores, which can be either permeable or impermeable. Considering the pores in the aggregates, the specific gravity of aggregates is defined in three different forms, namely, bulk or gross specific gravity, apparent specific gravity, and absolute specific gravity.
Bulk or gross specific gravity is calculated by taking the ratio of the mass of aggregates in the saturated surface-dry state to the total volume that includes both the solids and the voids within the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A conserved tooth resorption mechanism in modern and fossil snakes.

Nature communications·2023

Same author

X-ray microtomography applied to mortars: Review of microstructural visualization and parameterization.

Micron (Oxford, England : 1993)·2022

Same author

All for One: The Role of Colony Morphology in Bryophyte Desiccation Tolerance.

Frontiers in plant science·2019

Same author

Mineralization of Sialoliths Investigated by Ex Vivo and In Vivo X-ray Computed Tomography.

Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada·2019

Same author

Local Response of Sialoliths to Lithotripsy: Cues on Fragmentation Outcome.

Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada·2017

Same author

Microscopic characterisation of black crusts on different substrates.

The Science of the total environment·2017

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Determination of Aggregate Surface Morphology at the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ)

Determination of Aggregate Surface Morphology at the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ)

Published on: December 16, 2019

Microstructural analysis of Iberian expanded clay aggregates.

J Alexandre Bogas¹, António Mauricio, M F C Pereira

¹Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georesources DECivil/ICIST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal. abogas@civil.ist.utl.pt

Microscopy and Microanalysis : the Official Journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada

|October 4, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study reveals the complex pore structure of expanded clay lightweight aggregates (LWA), detailing their dense outer shell and inner cellular network. Advanced imaging techniques highlight how microstructure influences LWA

More Related Videos

Laboratory Drop Towers for the Experimental Simulation of Dust-aggregate Collisions in the Early Solar System

Laboratory Drop Towers for the Experimental Simulation of Dust-aggregate Collisions in the Early Solar System

Published on: June 5, 2014

$Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples$

Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples

Published on: June 19, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Determination of Aggregate Surface Morphology at the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ)

Determination of Aggregate Surface Morphology at the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ)

Published on: December 16, 2019

Laboratory Drop Towers for the Experimental Simulation of Dust-aggregate Collisions in the Early Solar System

Laboratory Drop Towers for the Experimental Simulation of Dust-aggregate Collisions in the Early Solar System

Published on: June 5, 2014

$Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples$

Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples

Published on: June 19, 2018

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Civil Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering

Background:

Lightweight aggregates (LWA) are crucial in modern construction for reducing structural loads.
Understanding LWA microstructure is key to optimizing their physical and mechanical properties.
Existing methods like mercury porosimetry may not fully capture the complex pore structure of LWA.

Purpose of the Study:

To comprehensively characterize the microstructure of Iberian expanded clay lightweight aggregates (LWA).
To investigate the influence of pore structure on LWA density and water absorption.
To evaluate advanced imaging techniques for LWA microstructure analysis.

Main Methods:

Utilized optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and microtomography (μ-CT) for detailed microstructure analysis.
Compared results with traditional mercury porosimetry (MP) and water absorption methods.
Analyzed pore size distribution, connectivity, and spatial arrangement.

Main Results:

Identified a dense outer shell (up to 200 μm) surrounding an inner cellular structure with larger pores.
Determined typical pore sizes ranging from nanometers to over 1 mm, with 1-25 μm being most common.
Observed a significant fraction of closed pores, primarily up to 1 μm, and noted manufacturing process influence on macropore arrangement.

Conclusions:

The combined use of μ-CT and SEM provides a superior methodology for LWA microstructure assessment.
Microstructure, particularly the outer shell and inner pore network, significantly impacts LWA density and water absorption.
Mercury porosimetry may provide distorted pore spectrum assessments for LWA.