Steady state flows of fresh cement pastes and concretes: simplified underlying physics

Abstract

From rational and micromechanical arguments on energy levels of particle/particle and particle/ fluid interactions, we first provide here a conceptual diagram of predominant interactions within flowing cement pastes under simple shear in steady state as a function of shear rate and solid volume fraction. We focus then on what is universal and common to all polymers used in the cement construction industry and describe at first order the main changes in the underlying physics occurring when such molecules are added to a cement suspension. We finally discuss the upscaling between cement paste rheology and concrete fresh properties.

Keywords:

• Rheology
• Yield stress
• Viscosity
• Polymer