Influence Of Inclusions On The Drying Cracking Of Cement-Based Composites

Drying process of cementitious materials leads to cracks, especially in the presence of aggregates restraint, which has important consequences on transport and mechanical properties. This paper presents different effect on cracks generated in the drying process of cementitious composites under different conditions of inclusions. The non-destructive method, X-ray microtomography, is used to visualise the crack propagation. Two conditions of inclusions, the surface roughness of the aggregates and the Young's modulus of aggregates, are considered to evaluate their influences on degree of cracking during drying. Based on the microtomographic observation, the distribution of cracks is identified and the characteristics of cracking in samples with different inclusions are well distinguished and analysed.