COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE ELASTIC MODULUS IN CEMENT PASTES USING ULTRASONIC AND 3-MIN-CREEP TESTING

The elastic modulus E is a suitable material property for quantifying the influence of sample preparation, material age, and ambient conditions on the mechanical behavior of cement pastes, because E can be characterized efficiently using non-destructive methods. A comparison of results obtained from different independent test methods sheds light on the reliability and precision of the methods used, as well as on potentially necessary improvements and limitations in characterization. A comparative study is performed on cement pastes prepared from composite binders made of Portland cement, limestone, and calcined clay.