An inverse method to determine the elastic properties of the interphase between the aggregate and the cement paste

Abstract

Concrete is a three-phase material consisting of cement paste matrix, discrete inclusions of rock (aggregate), and an interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the matrix and the inclusions. We model the material as a composite formed by a matrix with embedded spherical particles; each surrounded by a concentric spherical shell. Effective elastic moduli of this composite are evaluated on the basis of the generalized self-consistent scheme (GSCS). This formulation is used to solve the inverse problem of determining the elastic moduli of the ITZ from experimentally known elastic properties of the composite. © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.