scholarly journals On the Shape Simulation of Aggregate and Cement Particles in a DEM System

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan He ◽  
Piet Stroeven ◽  
Eric Pirard ◽  
Luc Courard

Aggregate occupies at least three-quarters of the volume of concrete, so its impact on concrete’s properties is significant. Both size and shape of aggregate influence workability, mechanical properties, and durability of concrete. On the other hand, the shape of cement particles plays also an important role in the hydration process due to surface dissolution in the hardening process. Additionally, grain dispersion, shape, and size govern the pore percolation process that is of crucial importance for concrete durability. Discrete element modeling (DEM) is commonly employed for simulation of concrete structure. To be able to do so, the assessed grain shape should be implemented. The approaches for aggregate and cement structure simulation by a concurrent algorithm-based DEM system are discussed in this paper. Both aggregate and cement grains were experimentally analyzed by X-ray tomography method recently. The results provide a real experimental database, for example, surface area versus volume distribution, for simulation of particles in concrete technology. Optimum solutions are obtained by different simplified shapes proposed for aggregate and cement, respectively. In this way, more reliable concepts for aggregate structure and fresh cement paste can be simulated by a DEM system.

1992 ◽  
Vol 289 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.I.A. Malek ◽  
D.M. Roy

AbstractModem concrete technology projections indicate a great expansion in low-cost and time efficient construction. Mixture designers will likely be more concerned with the developments in concrete making materials. Among those is the effective use of chemical admixtures and superplasticizers which will lower the water to cement ratio but will still give a dense workable concrete. An investigation of the workability of fresh concrete and the effect of superplasticizers should, therefore, constitute an essential part of modem concrete durability studies.In this paper we report part of the work on rheological properties of fresh concrete. Various concrete samples covering a range of compositions that are commonly used for highway pavements are prepared. The proportioning parameters are: cement content, aggregate size, gradation and sphericity-roundness, and water and superplasticizer contents. The individual solid ingredients were characterized and the fresh concrete properties were assessed by the slump, two-point workability (Tattersall's) apparatus, air pressure and unit weight methods. The effects of superplasticizer on the apparent viscosity and yield stress of concrete are discussed and the relevance of the findings for field applications (handling of fresh concrete) are discussed. Also discussed are the implications for microstructural development.


2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet Stroeven ◽  
Nghi L.B. Le ◽  
Lambertus J Sluys ◽  
Huan He

Two different porosimetry methods are presented in two successive papers. Inspiration for the development came from the rapidly-exploring random tree (RRT) approach used in robotics. The novel methods are applied to virtual cementitious materials produced by a modern concurrent algorithm-based discrete element modeling system, HADES. This would render possible realistically simulating all aspects of particulate matter that influence structure-sensitive features of the pore network structure in maturing concrete, namely size, shape and dispersion of the aggregate and cement particles. Pore space is a complex tortuous entity. Practical methods conventionally applied for assessment of pore size distribution may fail or present biased information. Among them, mercury intrusion porosimetry and 2D quantitative image analysis are popular. The mathematical morphology operator “opening” can be applied to sections and even provide 3D information on pore size distribution, provided isotropy is guaranteed. However, aggregate grain surfaces lead to anisotropy in porosity. The presented methods allow exploration of pore space in the virtual material, after which pore size distribution is derived from star volume measurements. In addition to size of pores their continuity is of crucial importance for durability estimation. Double-random multiple tree structuring (DRaMuTS), introduced earlier in IA&S (Stroeven et al., 2011b) and random node structuring (RaNoS) provide such information.


2012 ◽  
Vol 450-451 ◽  
pp. 631-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.B Nghi Le ◽  
Piet Stroeven

This paper discusses the particle packing background of cementitious materials. On micro-level the Portland cement and eventually the mineral admixture grains can be considered packed in the watery environment. Particularly for (super) high performance materials, the packing density can be quite significant. An economic and due to fast computer developments reliable way to study packing of the binder, is by modern discrete element modeling (DEM) approach. In this paper use is made of a concurrent algorithm-based dynamic system, HADES. Hydration is simulated based on spherical grains. Thereupon strength can be studied on the basis of packing density. For durability issues, the complex and tortuous 3D pore structure has to be investigated. This paper uses for the assessment of pore characteristics the robotics-inspired DraMuTS system. Hydrated Portland cement is compared with gap-graded rice husk ash-(RHA)-blended (green) Portland cement. Experiments on gap-graded RHA-blended PC concrete are used as reference. Packing density is shown improved by gap-graded packing. What is more spectacular are the effects of gap-grading with RHA on the pore characteristics obtained on the DEM-produced virtual materials. This paper discusses the expected positive effects on transport-based durability issues due to gap-graded packing-induced changes in the pore system


2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet Stroeven ◽  
Zhanqi Guo

This paper concentrates on discrete element computer-simulation of concrete. It is argued on the basis of stochastic heterogeneity theory that modern concurrent-algorithm-based systems should be employed for the assessment of pore characteristics underlying durability performance of cementitious materials. The SPACE system was developed at Delft University of Technology for producing realistic schematizations of realcrete for a wide range of other particle packing problems, involving aggregate and fresh cement, and for the purpose of exploring characteristics in the hardened state of concrete, including of the pore network structure because of obvious durability problems. Since structure-sensitive properties are involved, schematization of reality should explicitly deal with the configuration of the cement particles in the fresh state. The paper concentrates on the stereological and mathematical morphology operations executed to acquire information on particle size, global porosity, and on distribution of porosity and of the connected pore fraction as a result of the near neighbourhood of aggregate grains. Goal is to provide information obtained along different exploration routes of concrete's pore space for setting up a pore network modelling approach. This type of methodological papers is scarce in concrete technology, if not missing at all. Technical publications that report on obtained results in our investigations are systematically referred to.


2021 ◽  
Vol 945 (1) ◽  
pp. 012037
Author(s):  
A A Dyg Siti Quraisyah ◽  
K Kartini ◽  
M S Hamidah

Abstract In construction industry nowadays, self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a concrete technology innovation which gives more benefits over conventional concrete. SCC was invented to improve concrete durability without using any vibrator while placing it into formwork. In order to conserve natural sand, quarry dust (QD) as a waste and sustainable material has been incorporated to replace fine aggregate in SCC. In this study, conventional concrete and quarry dust in self-compacting concrete (QDSCC) mixes consist of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% QD were prepared. The workability test was conducted to determine the performance of fresh concrete and ensuring all the QDSCC properties follow the acceptance criteria for SCC. Meanwhile, the hardened concrete specimens were water cured for 7, 28 and 60 days to conduct water absorption test. This research aim is to determine water absorption of incorporating sustainable QDSCC. Thus, it resulted that 50% of QDSCC has achieved the lowest water absorption of QDSCC as compared to other dosages. Finally, sustainability in concrete technology can be promoted by incorporating QDSCC.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duane T. Wegener ◽  
Leandre R. Fabrigar

AbstractReplications can make theoretical contributions, but are unlikely to do so if their findings are open to multiple interpretations (especially violations of psychometric invariance). Thus, just as studies demonstrating novel effects are often expected to empirically evaluate competing explanations, replications should be held to similar standards. Unfortunately, this is rarely done, thereby undermining the value of replication research.


Author(s):  
Keyvan Nazerian

A herpes-like virus has been isolated from duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) cultures inoculated with blood from Marek's disease (MD) infected birds. Cultures which contained this virus produced MD in susceptible chickens while virus negative cultures and control cultures failed to do so. This and other circumstantial evidence including similarities in properties of the virus and the MD agent implicate this virus in the etiology of MD.Histochemical studies demonstrated the presence of DNA-staining intranuclear inclusion bodies in polykarocytes in infected cultures. Distinct nucleo-plasmic aggregates were also seen in sections of similar multinucleated cells examined with the electron microscope. These aggregates are probably the same as the inclusion bodies seen with the light microscope. Naked viral particles were observed in the nucleus of infected cells within or on the edges of the nucleoplasmic aggregates. These particles measured 95-100mμ, in diameter and rarely escaped into the cytoplasm or nuclear vesicles by budding through the nuclear membrane (Fig. 1). The enveloped particles (Fig. 2) formed in this manner measured 150-170mμ in diameter and always had a densely stained nucleoid. The virus in supernatant fluids consisted of naked capsids with 162 hollow, cylindrical capsomeres (Fig. 3). Enveloped particles were not seen in such preparations.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 121-123
Author(s):  
Jeri A. Logemann

Evidence-based practice requires astute clinicians to blend our best clinical judgment with the best available external evidence and the patient's own values and expectations. Sometimes, we value one more than another during clinical decision-making, though it is never wise to do so, and sometimes other factors that we are unaware of produce unanticipated clinical outcomes. Sometimes, we feel very strongly about one clinical method or another, and hopefully that belief is founded in evidence. Some beliefs, however, are not founded in evidence. The sound use of evidence is the best way to navigate the debates within our field of practice.


Author(s):  
Alicia A. Stachowski ◽  
John T. Kulas

Abstract. The current paper explores whether self and observer reports of personality are properly viewed through a contrasting lens (as opposed to a more consonant framework). Specifically, we challenge the assumption that self-reports are more susceptible to certain forms of response bias than are informant reports. We do so by examining whether selves and observers are similarly or differently drawn to socially desirable and/or normative influences in personality assessment. Targets rated their own personalities and recommended another person to also do so along shared sets of items diversely contaminated with socially desirable content. The recommended informant then invited a third individual to additionally make ratings of the original target. Profile correlations, analysis of variances (ANOVAs), and simple patterns of agreement/disagreement consistently converged on a strong normative effect paralleling item desirability, with all three rater types exhibiting a tendency to reject socially undesirable descriptors while also endorsing desirable indicators. These tendencies were, in fact, more prominent for informants than they were for self-raters. In their entirety, our results provide a note of caution regarding the strategy of using non-self informants as a comforting comparative benchmark within psychological measurement applications.


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