Multi-scale creep analysis of cement paste – Indentation prediction and time correspondence of mechanisms

Abstract

In this study, long-term uniaxial compression creep experiments and indentation tests were performed on cement paste (CP) under four relative humidity (RH) to investigate creep's multi-scale prediction and mechanism. The long-term creep kinetics of CP were predicted by homogenization calculations at two scales. The time correspondence between uniaxial compression creep and indentation creep of CP was studied by the discrete retardation spectrum (DRS). The results show that the multi-scale prediction of creep was more accurate than those measured by microindentation. DRS of macroscopic creep experiment and indentation test show there are two short-term and one long-term creep mechanisms. The peak time of the first mechanism occurs at 1.3 d of macroscopic uniaxial experiment and 1 s of indentation test, while the second mechanism occurs at 14 d and 10 s. The third mechanism is entered after 62 d in the uniaxial compression experiment and 22 s in the indentation test.