Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Restrained Early Age Cracking based on Electrical Resistivity Using Eccentric Sample

Abstract

Crack potential and hydration processes of the cement pastes were monitored using an up-to-date eccentric steel cracking frame (ESCF), associated with the non-contact electrical resistivity apparatus, independently. The objective of employing the ESCF is to give a new method determining cracks of concrete at early age. The findings indicate that the lowest water-cement ratio paste reveals highest resistivity values, compasses an earlier inflection point and obtained higher stress. The eccentric restrained cracking test exhibited that lower water-cement ratio paste cracked at the earliest time, accordingly confirms cracking tendency is the highest. Tensile strength test and stresses utilizing ABAQUS simulation was performed. The crack initiation ages obtained are consistent with the experimental program results, which indicates that ABAQUS numerical analysis can well be utilized to predict the crack tendency of cement.

Keywords

eccentric steel cracking frame / electrical resistivity / cracking time / hydration / numerical analysis