The kinetics of hydration and setting of cement are important for the ease of placement and for the subsequent evolution of properties. We are interested in modeling and measuring the rates, and understanding the early structural development. This research began with the efforts of post-doctoral researchers Sulapha Peethamparan and Jie Zhang, with important contributions from undergraduate Emily Weissinger. Our work on chemical shrinkage was done with a novel system invented by Joe Vocaturo. Now we are investigating the impact of fly ash on the behavior of concrete, through the research of Lori Tunstall and post-doctoral researcher Priscilla Fonseca.

Relevant papers:

“Effect of pressure on early hydration of class H and white cement”, G.W. Scherer, G.P. Funkhouser, and S. Peethamparan, Cement Concr. Res. 40 (2010) 845–850

“Monitoring Chemical Shrinkage Using Pressure Sensors”, S. Peethamparan, E. Weissinger, J. Vocaturo, J. Zhang, and G.W. Scherer, ACI Special Proceedings in CD on Advances in the Material Science of Concrete , SP-270, 2010,  pp. 77-88

“Early hydration and setting of oil well cement”, J. Zhang, E.A. Weissinger, S. Peethamparan, G.W. Scherer, Cement Concr. Res. 40 (2010) 1023–1033

“Mechanisms of Cement Hydration”, J.W. Bullard, H.M. Jennings, R.A. Livingstone, A. Nonat, G.W. Scherer, J.S. Schweitzer, K.L. Scrivener, J.J. Thomas, Cem. Concr. Res. 41 (2011) 1208–1223

“Modeling and simulation of cement hydration kinetics and microstructure development”, J.J. Thomas, J.J. Biernacki, J.W. Bullard, S. Bishnoi, J.S. Dolado, G.W. Scherer, and A. Luttge, Cem. Concr. Res. 41 (2011) 1257–1278

“Why alite stops hydrating below 80% relative humidity”, R.J. Flatt, G.W. Scherer, and J.W. Bullard, Cement Concr. Res. 41 (2011) 987–992

“Comparison of methods for arresting hydration of cement”, J. Zhang and G.W. Scherer, Cement Concr. Res. 41 (2011) 1024–1036

In press:

“Hydration and Percolation at the Setting Point”, G.W. Scherer, J. Zhang, J. Quintanilla, S. Torquato, submitted to Cement Concr. Res.

“Predicting Durability of Novel Cements”, G.W. Scherer, J. Chinese Ceramic Society

“Prediction of the degree of hydration at initial setting time of cement paste with particle agglomeration”, Jian-jun Zheng, Jie Zhang, George W. Scherer, Cement Concr. Res.

“Models of Confined Growth”, G.W. Scherer, submitted to Cement Concr. Res.