Unified solidification model of hardening concrete composite

The main objective of this study is to rationally predict the behavior of early age concrete. A solidification model, based on the microphysical information about temperature, porosity, saturation and other concrete properties, is presented. The proposed model considers the cement paste as solidified finite fictitious clusters having individual creep properties. Aggregates are considered as the suspended continuum media of perfect elasticity. The combination of both phases enables the simulation of the overall features of a concrete composite under the transient situations of the early age. The micro-scale surface tension is assumed as being the driving force for the shrinkage associated or not with water migration. Verification of the proposed model was conducted through comparison with some experimental data available in the literature. In addition, an application to the concrete tunnel-lining problem is also presented.