Modelling and experimental study on static yield stress evolution and structural build-up of cement paste in early stage of cement hydration

Static yield stress is crucial for concrete, especially for 3D printed concrete, as it determines whether the bottom layer can support the load of the subsequent layers or withstand any potential impulses. A better understanding of the evolution of the static yield stress and its changing mechanism is therefore needed. Under the assumption that hydrate formation follows fractal patterns, this work proposes a model for simulating static yield stress that links the hydration process and bridging possibility. To validate the model, parameters were first obtained from the BNG (Boundary Nucleation Growth) equation fitted with calorimetry data, and the relation of associated hydration rates to sound speed variation rate was analyzed. Results showed that the proposed model predicts well the static yield stress obtained with a penetration test, under varying water-cement ratios and accelerator conditions. The fitted parameter β was found to correlate with size and morphology of the hydration products, suggesting that the model can not only simulate the static yield stress, but also capture the structural build-up information. Furthermore, the decrease in fractal-related β implies that more compact hydrates are formed during hydration.