NMR-based analysis of fractal characteristics of the pore structure of fully aeolian sand concrete under carbonation-dry-wet cycles

Abstract

The evolution law of the pore structure of concrete is important for the study of concrete durability. To study the quantitative relationship between pore structure and macroscopic mechanics of aeolian sand concrete(ASC) under carbonation-dry-wet cycle(DWCs), the fractal characteristics of ASC under carbonation DWCs were analyzed by means of nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) technology. The results showed that the carbonization product CaCO3 filled the pores and the compressive strength of ASC increased as the carbonization time increasing. When the DWCs was 0 times, the compressive strength of C1 and C2 groups increased by 9% and 13.6%, respectively, compared with C0. The compressive strength of C0 and C1 groups reached the maximum value when the DWCs was 40 times, while the C2 group reached the maximum value when the DWCs was 20 times. Compared with C0, the compressive strength of C1 and C2 increased by only 4% and 6%, respectively, after 100 DWCs. The fractal dimension Dmax reflected the proportion of harmless and multiple harmful pores in the damaged ASC. The fractal dimension Dmax was proportional to the proportion of harmless pores, and the correlation coefficient was 0.9303. The fractal dimension Dmax was inversely proportional to the proportion of harmful pores, and the correlation coefficient was 0.9565. The macroscopic mechanical properties were mainly affected by harmless pores and harmful pores, while the influence of less harmful pores and harmful pores was weak. This study will provide a theoretical justification for the use of ASC in practical engineering.