Investigation and Application of Fractal Theory in Cement-Based Materials: A Review
Cement-based materials, including cement and concrete, are the most widely used construction materials in the world. In recent years, the investigation and application of fractal theory in cement-based materials have attracted a large amount of attention worldwide. The microstructures of cement-base...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Fractal and Fractional |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3110/5/4/247 |
| _version_ | 1797504482259501056 |
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| author | Lei Wang Xiaoman Zeng Huamei Yang Xingdong Lv Fanxing Guo Yan Shi Asad Hanif |
| author_facet | Lei Wang Xiaoman Zeng Huamei Yang Xingdong Lv Fanxing Guo Yan Shi Asad Hanif |
| author_sort | Lei Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cement-based materials, including cement and concrete, are the most widely used construction materials in the world. In recent years, the investigation and application of fractal theory in cement-based materials have attracted a large amount of attention worldwide. The microstructures of cement-based materials, such as the pore structures, the mesostructures, such as air voids, and the morphological features of powders, as well as the fracture surfaces and cracks, commonly present extremely complex and irregular characteristics that are difficult to describe in terms of geometry but that can be studied by fractal theory. This paper summarizes the latest progress in the investigation and application of fractal theory in cement-based materials. Firstly, this paper summarizes the principles and classification of the seven fractal dimensions commonly used in cement-based materials. These fractal dimensions have different physical meanings since they are obtained from various testing techniques and fractal models. Then, the testing techniques and fractal models for testing and calculating these fractal dimensions are introduced and analyzed individually, such as the mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP), nitrogen adsorption/desorption (NAD), and Zhang’s model, Neimark’s model, etc. Finally, the applications of these fractal dimensions in investigating the macroproperties of cement-based materials are summarized and discussed. These properties mainly include the mechanical properties, volumetric stability, durability (e.g., permeability, frost and corrosion resistance), fracture mechanics, as well as the evaluation of the pozzolanic reactivity of the mineral materials and the dispersion state of the powders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:05:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-422d2fcbb78d4c67b938a721f4cf2b03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-3110 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:05:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fractal and Fractional |
| spelling | doaj.art-422d2fcbb78d4c67b938a721f4cf2b032023-11-23T08:24:18ZengMDPI AGFractal and Fractional2504-31102021-12-015424710.3390/fractalfract5040247Investigation and Application of Fractal Theory in Cement-Based Materials: A ReviewLei Wang0Xiaoman Zeng1Huamei Yang2Xingdong Lv3Fanxing Guo4Yan Shi5Asad Hanif6College of Materials Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, ChinaSchool of Language, Literature and Law, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, ChinaSchool of Intelligent Construction, Wuchang University of Technology, Wuhan 430002, ChinaDepartment of Material and Structure, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan 430002, ChinaCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, ChinaDepartment of Material and Structure, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan 430002, ChinaCivil Engineering Department, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Allama Iqbal Road, Mirpur AJ&K 10250, PakistanCement-based materials, including cement and concrete, are the most widely used construction materials in the world. In recent years, the investigation and application of fractal theory in cement-based materials have attracted a large amount of attention worldwide. The microstructures of cement-based materials, such as the pore structures, the mesostructures, such as air voids, and the morphological features of powders, as well as the fracture surfaces and cracks, commonly present extremely complex and irregular characteristics that are difficult to describe in terms of geometry but that can be studied by fractal theory. This paper summarizes the latest progress in the investigation and application of fractal theory in cement-based materials. Firstly, this paper summarizes the principles and classification of the seven fractal dimensions commonly used in cement-based materials. These fractal dimensions have different physical meanings since they are obtained from various testing techniques and fractal models. Then, the testing techniques and fractal models for testing and calculating these fractal dimensions are introduced and analyzed individually, such as the mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP), nitrogen adsorption/desorption (NAD), and Zhang’s model, Neimark’s model, etc. Finally, the applications of these fractal dimensions in investigating the macroproperties of cement-based materials are summarized and discussed. These properties mainly include the mechanical properties, volumetric stability, durability (e.g., permeability, frost and corrosion resistance), fracture mechanics, as well as the evaluation of the pozzolanic reactivity of the mineral materials and the dispersion state of the powders.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3110/5/4/247cement-based materialsfractal theoryfractal dimensionmicrostructuremesostructuremacroproperty |
| spellingShingle | Lei Wang Xiaoman Zeng Huamei Yang Xingdong Lv Fanxing Guo Yan Shi Asad Hanif Investigation and Application of Fractal Theory in Cement-Based Materials: A Review Fractal and Fractional cement-based materials fractal theory fractal dimension microstructure mesostructure macroproperty |
| title | Investigation and Application of Fractal Theory in Cement-Based Materials: A Review |
| title_full | Investigation and Application of Fractal Theory in Cement-Based Materials: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Investigation and Application of Fractal Theory in Cement-Based Materials: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation and Application of Fractal Theory in Cement-Based Materials: A Review |
| title_short | Investigation and Application of Fractal Theory in Cement-Based Materials: A Review |
| title_sort | investigation and application of fractal theory in cement based materials a review |
| topic | cement-based materials fractal theory fractal dimension microstructure mesostructure macroproperty |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3110/5/4/247 |
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