MICROSTRUCTURE

OF CONCRETE
By: Dr. Hana Aljewifi
 Mechanical behavior of concrete at different scales
Macroscopic mechanical behavior of concrete
The behavior of macroscopic concrete under monotonous uniaxial loading
(compression or traction) can be broken down into three different phases.
1. An elastic phase: linear stress-strain relationship (up to 30% of the rupture in
compression and 80% of the threshold in tension), the cracks initially present do
not spread, appearance of microcracks at the mortar-aggregate interfaces.
The slope of the stress/strain curve gives the Young's elastic modulus E (if the
behavior is isotropic).
2. A phase of initiation and development of microcracks: non-linear phase before
peak, propagation of microcracks which already existed, progressive degradation
and modification mechanical properties of concrete (loss of stiffness). There is a
curvature of the stress /deformation curve until a breaking threshold is reached.
3. A phase of propagation of the fracture: the microcracks propagate in the concrete
and allow consolidation and increase of contacts within the material and the
coalescence of micro-defects in macro-cracks perpendicular to the direction of
the main stress. The post-peak phase results in a softening behavior and ends in
the damage of the material.
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 Behavior of concrete in compression and tension

Behavior of concrete in compression (a) and in

tension (b).
(1) Elastic phase,
(2) Initiation and development phase of microcracks,
(3) Crack propagation phase. 3
 Mechanical behavior of concrete at different scales
Mesoscopic mechanical behavior of concrete
 In heterogeneous multiphasic materials such as concrete, the propagation of a
crack depends on the local toughness of the components (ability to resist the
propagation of a crack), the geometry and properties of the phases and interfaces.
 A crack, spreading in the solid matrix and reaching an interface with an aggregate,
can either penetrate the aggregate, either by pass it along the interface, depending
on the nature of the latter and the properties of the matrix and aggregate.
 In concrete, aggregates are less deformable than the cement matrix, this results in a
concentration of stresses most often in the area of interface and a micro-cracking
which could develop there preferentially.


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 Mesoscopic mechanical behavior

Penetration deflextion

Propagation of a crack in a granular inclusion material by penetration in the particle or by

deflection along the cracking simulation interface.

A complete study of the mechanical behavior of concrete would require taking into account
of the transition zone and the concrete material should be described on a mesoscopic
scale as a composite made up of three supposedly homogeneous phases:
aggregate-interphase-paste.
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 Mesoscopic mechanical behavior
 Characterization of the mechanical properties of the interface
 The mechanical properties and behavior of the interface: the cracks develop in the
most fragile area and the properties of the interface are considered to be the
weakest in concrete. However, the parameters used to characterize the interface are
empirical and determined experimentally. Experimental determination of
characteristics mechanics of the interface zone can be done according to two
approaches:
 1. a global approach based on direct tensile, bending, shear tests composites where
the interface is considered as a homogeneous medium,
 2. a local approach based on micro/nano indentation under SEM.

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Characterization of the mechanical properties of the interface
Global approach

The tensile strength of the cement-aggregate paste bond is less than that of the
strength of pure cement paste.

The bond varies considerably depending on the type of aggregate and the
roughness of the aggregate surface.

The mechanical properties of the interface between the aggregates and the
cementitious matrix by tensile and shear tests. The tensile strength of the interface
varied from 33% to 67% of the tensile strength of the mortar.

They also showed that resistance decreases with increasing water/cement ratio.

However, the shear strength of the interface was close to the shear strength of the
mortar.
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Interface tensile strength at different W/C ratios

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Characterization of the mechanical properties of the interface
Local approach

Some authors have measured the microhardness, a parameter indicating the

compactness of the cement paste, in the cement paste-aggregate interface for
different types of aggregate and cement). The results showed a variation in the
microhardness from the surface of the aggregates to the core of the paste.

The first 2 to 3 micrometers is characterized by high hardness while a dramatic

drop in hardness is observed in the transition zone. The paste core is characterized
by hardness almost constant.

The low value of microhardness in the transition zone was explained by the high
porosity and the small quantity of cement paste.

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 Mesoscopic mechanical behavior
Effects of the mechanical properties of interface on the properties of concrete
 The impact of interface on the mechanical compressive properties of concrete has
the subject of several studies in recent years. Some authors have found that the
cement paste-aggregate interface can significantly impact or modify the mechanical
behavior of concrete, by highlighting a relationship between compressive strength,
the tension or the bending of the concrete with that of the composite.
 To illustrate the effect of interface on the mechanical properties of concrete,
Alexander et al. [6] demonstrated the existence of a relationship linear between the
compressive and tensile strength of the cement paste and the strength of the
cement paste-aggregate bond.
 The concretes prepared from treated aggregates were less resistant to compression
and traction than those of concretes with untreated aggregates .
 The strength of the mortar-aggregate bond is about half that of the mortar.
 The compressive strength of concrete is proportional to the flexural strength of the
corresponding mortar-aggregate composite.
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The resistance of the aggregate-mortar composite vs concrete strength

The experimental results presented

show that the compressive strength
of concrete depends on that of the
cement matrix-aggregate interface.

The strength of concrete is related

to the strengths of the cement paste-
aggregate, cement paste and rock
bond by a linear function.

Indeed, the cement paste-aggregate

bond contributes a lot (67%) to the
using several types of aggregates, it has
compressive strength of concrete.
shown that the compressive strength of
concrete is proportional to the flexural
strength of the corresponding mortar-
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aggregate composite.
 The concrete performance
To improve the concrete performance, the following three aspects should be
considered:
 Strengthening the hydrated cement paste: this can be achieved by:
adding the mineral additives :

 a crystalline C-S-H gel with lower gel porosity;

 reducing the gel porosity in addition to the reduction in capillary porosity.
 Lowering the porosity: this can be achieved by:

filling the empty spaces in cement paste, resulting in :

 lowering the pore connectivity

 reducing the total paste porosity.

 Toughening the ITZ: this can be done by using:

 a superplasticizer to reduce the w/c ratio
 improving the particle packing in this zone by adding the mineral admixture.
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The concrete performance

 In addition the chemical changes, an attention

should be paid to the the rheological properties of
freshly mixed cement paste.
 This is due to the flocusion phenomena, which
causes from entrapping large quantities of mixing
water by anhydrous particles of cement. Thus, the
resulted microstructure of high performance
concrete, the crystalline products of hydration, and
the volume, size, and shape of pores would be
different compared to the traditional concrete [*].
 The addition of silica fume and fly ash leads to
reduce the pore proportion in the enlarged ITZ,
reduced CH crystals and ettringites, as well as with
this addition, a denser C-S-H gel has been noticed.

[*] Mehta, P. K. and Monteiro, P. J. Concrete: Microstructure, Properties

and Materials. 3rd ed. London: McGraw-Hill; 2006. 13
Hydrated products in cement mortars by adding the mineral
additives
SEM images of the mortar specimens after
28 days of curing:
(a) ordinary Portland cement (reference),
magnification ×5000;
(b) nano silica, magnification ×15,000;
(c) silica fume, magnification ×5000;
(d) fly ash 10, magnification ×5000 .

The small and large crystals are dispersed

in the ordinary Portland mix and sometimes
in fly ash and silica fume mixes.
the texture of the hydration products of
nano silica mix is denser and more compact
without large crystals of CH.

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 Microstructure of high performance concrete
 The microstructure of high performance concrete (HPC) is more homogenous than
that of normal concrete (NC) due to the physical and chemical contribution of the
additives (SF and FA) as well as being less porous due to reduced w/c ratio with the
addition of a superplasticizer.
 As concrete has a highly heterogeneous and complex microstructure, it is very
difficult to reliably predict its behavior from constituting realistic models of its
microstructure.
 The following requirements should be considered in producing HPC:
 (i) low w/c ratio;
 (ii) fine aggregate;
 (iii) large quantity of mineral additives, silica fume and fly ash;
 (iv) high dosage of superplasticizer;

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 Microstructure characterization by SEM

Microstructure of high performance concrete:

C-S-H gel becomes denser with dense ettringites in the form of pike and flower [*].

[*] Gao, X. F., Lo, Y. T. and Tam, C. M. Investigation of micro-cracks and microstructure of high performance lightweight
aggregate concrete. Building and Environment. 2002; Vol. 37: pp. 485–489..
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 Reference
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strain curve. In Journal Proceedings, volume 60, pages 209– 224, 1963.

[2] Saito M. : Characteristics of microcracking in concrete under static and repeated tensile loading. Cement and concrete
research, 17(2):211–218, 1987.

[3] Hsu T. T. C. et Slate F. O.: Tensile bond strength between aggregate and cement paste or mortar. Journal of the
American Concrete Institute, 60(4):465–486, 1963.

[4] Kosaka Y., Tanigawa Y. et Kawakami M.: Effect of coarse aggregate on fracture of concrete (part 1). Journal of AIJ,
228:1–11, 1975.

[5] Gu X., Hong L., Wang Z. et Lin F.: Experimental study and application of mechanical properties for the interface between
cobblestone aggregate and mortar in concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 46:156–166, 2013.

[6] Alexander K. M. et Taplin J. H.: Analysis of the strength and fracture of concrete based on an unusual insensitivity of
cement-aggregate bond to curing temperature. Australian Journal of Applied Science, 15(3):160–170, 1964.

[7] Akçaoglu T., Tokyay M. et Çelik T. Effect of coarse aggregate size and matrix quality ˘ on itz and failure behavior of
concrete under uniaxial compression. Cement and concrete composites, 26(6):633–638, 2004.

[8] Patten B. J. F.: The effects of adhesive bond between coarse aggregate and mortar on the physical properties of
concrete. Institution of Engineers (Australia) Civ Eng Trans, (1, 2), 1973.

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