Effect of uniaxial compression on the nucleation of micro-damage in cement mortar under sulfate attack is investigated. Shape and size of micro-voids in cement mortar is detected using Micro Computed Tomography techniques. The formation of delayed ettringite crystal is analyzed using scanning electron microscope and energy disperse spectrum methods. Deformation of micro-voids and the distribution of stress at the surface of a micro-void are calculated. It is found that the nucleation of micro-cracks is caused by the tensile stress at the voids＇ surface, and such damage nucleation will be speeded up by the remote uniaxial compressive load.
In the present study, the average modulus of delayed ettringite is evaluated by an experimental method combined with theoretical analysis. Firstly, the delayed ettringite crystal is synthesized by chemical reaction of Aluminum sulfate and calcium hydroxide. Secondly, specimens are obtained by compressing the delayed ettringite crystal under different pre-loads. Thirdly, the variation of the modulus of the specimen with different pre-loads is tested using Instron material test machine and the SHPB technique, respectively. It is found that the experimental data may be suitably fitted by Boltzmann Function. Finally, the porosity of the specimen is detected using the saturation method, and the effect of the porosity on the modulus is analyzed by the Eshelby＇s equivalent inclusion method and the Mori-Tanaka＇s scheme. The static and dynamic modulli of the equivalent homogeneous ettringite obtained in present study are approximately 10.64 GPa and 24.61 GPa, respectively.
