Effect of Aggregate Gradation with Fuller Distribution on Properties of Sulphoaluminate Cement Concrete

Experimental investigations on mechanical property and durability of sulphoaluminate cement concrete with aggregate gradations according to Fuller distribution are presented in this paper. Compressive strength, water impermeability and resistance capability to sulfate attack of SACC have the same trend of concrete with fine aggregates of Fuller distribution gradation<concrete with coarse aggregates of Fuller distribution gradation<concrete with total aggregates of Fuller distribution gradation. The relationship between bulk density of aggregate and water penetration depth obeyed the second-order polynomial y=0.002x2-6.863 8x +5 862.3, and had a notable correlation R2=0.979 9. The sulphoaluminate cement concrete with total aggregate gradation with Fuller distribution for h=0.50 had the best resistance capability to sulfate attack. It was a second-order polynomial relationship between bulk density of aggregates and water penetration depth of y=0.002x2-6.863 8x+5 862.3 with R2=0.979 9, which indicated notable correlation. The fitting formula between bulk density of aggregates and sulfate resistance coefficient of SACC was y=0.000 5x+0.370 4 with R2=0.958 5.

Quantitative Analysis and Affecting Factors of the Overlapping Degree of Interfacial Transition Zone between Neighboring Aggregates in Concrete

Based on the nearest surface function formula, a quantitative formula to measure the overlapping degree between the interfacial transition zone （ITZ） of neighboring aggregate particles was put forward. The formula was further deduced to quantitatively analyze the influence of the volume fraction of aggregate, ITZ thickness and the maximum aggregate diameter on the overlapping degree between neighboring ITZ. The volume of ITZ was quantitatively calculated in actual concrete by comparing the nearest surface function formula with an approximate method, that is the surface area of the aggregates multiplied by the uniform thickness of the ITZ layers. The results showed that the influencing order of these three factors on the overlapping degree between neighboring ITZ in turn was the interface thickness, aggregate volume fraction and the maximum aggregate diameter; As long as the interface thickness 50 μm and the aggregate volume fraction 50%, the calculated error between two methods mentioned above is about 10 %.

Numerical calculation and influencing factors of the volume fraction of interfacial transition zone in concrete

The determination of volume fraction of interracial transition zone （ITZ） is very important for investigating the quantitative relationship between the microstructure and macroscopical property of concrete. In this paper, based on Lu and Torquato＇s most nearest surface distribution function, a calculating process of volume fraction of ITZ is given in detail according to the actual sieve curve in concrete. Then, quantitative formulas are put forward to measure the influencing factors on the ｜TZ vol- ume fraction. In order to validate the given model, the volume fractions of ITZ obtained by numerical calculation are compared with those by computer simulation. The results show that the two are in good agreement. The order of the factors influencing the ITZ volume fraction is the ITZ thickness, the volume fraction of aggregate and the maximum aggregate diameter for Fuller gradation in turn. The 1TZ volume fraction obtained from the equal volume fraction （EVF） gradation is always larger than that from the Fuller gradation for a given volume fraction of aggregate.