Imaging of reactive transport in fractured cement-based materials with X-ray CT
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Kuusela, P
Pour-Ghaz, M
Pini, Ronny
Voss, A
Seppanen, A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The need to improve the understanding of the properties of cement-based materials calls for the development of tools for visualizing and quantifying chemical
reactions and flows of fluids within them. In this paper, we report the results of
an experimental study where a sample of fractured cement-paste was subjected
to injection of fluids (krypton, CO2 and water) and imaged simultaneously by
X-ray computed tomography (CT). Initial porosity of the sample was estimated
using a subtraction method based on CT scans taken initially and during krypton injection. The CT reconstructions were segmented to visualize crack patterns and fluid flow in three-dimensions and to quantify the evolution of porosity
during the experiment. The results show that CT captures the formation of a
carbonate phase in the sample during CO2 injection, and the flow of water in
the fractured media. We quantify the reduction of porosity resulting from the
carbonation reaction. We observe that the newly formed carbonated layer impedes water flow and, locally, can lead to crack healing. The results demonstrate
the ability of CT to image reactive transport in cement-based materials, and
support the feasibility of this imaging tool for their characterization.
reactions and flows of fluids within them. In this paper, we report the results of
an experimental study where a sample of fractured cement-paste was subjected
to injection of fluids (krypton, CO2 and water) and imaged simultaneously by
X-ray computed tomography (CT). Initial porosity of the sample was estimated
using a subtraction method based on CT scans taken initially and during krypton injection. The CT reconstructions were segmented to visualize crack patterns and fluid flow in three-dimensions and to quantify the evolution of porosity
during the experiment. The results show that CT captures the formation of a
carbonate phase in the sample during CO2 injection, and the flow of water in
the fractured media. We quantify the reduction of porosity resulting from the
carbonation reaction. We observe that the newly formed carbonated layer impedes water flow and, locally, can lead to crack healing. The results demonstrate
the ability of CT to image reactive transport in cement-based materials, and
support the feasibility of this imaging tool for their characterization.
Date Issued
2021-11
Date Acceptance
2021-08-03
Citation
Cement and Concrete Composites, 2021, 124, pp.1-12
ISSN
0958-9465
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1
End Page
12
Journal / Book Title
Cement and Concrete Composites
Volume
124
Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958946521002791?via%3Dihub
Grant Number
764810
Subjects
Building & Construction
0904 Chemical Engineering
0905 Civil Engineering
1202 Building
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-08-14