ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Page Count: 13

The Effects of Temperature and Relative Humidity on Static Strength of Hydrated Portland Cement

Barrick, JE
Assistant project engineer, E. D'Appolonia Consulting Engineers, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.

Krokosky, EM
Professor of civil engineering, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Abstract

This paper delineates the effects of temperature and relative humidity on static strength (fatigue) of hydrated portland cement mortar. An experimental program involving the static loading of small cement-sand beams at varying conditions of temperature and relative humidity was undertaken to obtain information on the time required for fracture. This data was analyzed with a statistical procedure developed for truncated, lognormal distributions. The results are presented as cumulative probability distributions. A stress-corrosion mechanism dependent on the presence of calcium hydroxide is postulated as a result of this study.

Keywords:
portland cements, humidity, temperature, time-delayed failure, static strength

Paper ID: JTE10509J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE10509J
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