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Insights into C–S–H aging from rigidity theory

Aging of cement, a critical issue in the degradation of concrete materials, is of great importance for the engineering community as it directly affects the structural integrity in various applications. The problem, however, poses major challenges for research due to the complexity of cement structure at the molecular level. Rigidity theory, a theory linking molecular structure to material properties for non-crystalline materials, was recently shown to provide pivotal information for the aging of chalcogenide glasses. In this study, the rigidity theory was applied to silicate glasses to establish the relationship between the aging behavior and composition. Based on the results, the method was extended to the calcium–silicate–hydrate phases in cement in an effort to identify weakly-aging cement compositions. This study shows that the rigidity theory is an effective tool for designing high-performance cementitious materials.

Author(s):

Bu Wang    
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
United States

Yingtian Yu    
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
United States

Dawei Zhang    
United States

Mathieu Bauchy    
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
United States