Our understanding of the "long range" electrodynamic, electrostatic, and polar interactions that dominate the organization of small objects at separations beyond an interatomic bond length is reviewed. From this basic-forces perspective, a large number of systems are described from which one can learn about these organizing forces and how to modulate them. The many practical systems that harness these nanoscale forces are then surveyed. The survey reveals not only the promise of new devices and materials, but also the possibility of designing them more effectively.

Long range interactions in nanoscale science

Effects of nano-SiO2 on early strength and microstructure of steam-cured high volume fly ash cement system

Water absorption and chloride diffusivity of concrete under the coupling effect of uniaxial compressive load and freeze–thaw cycles

Random aggregate model for mesoscopic structures and mechanical analysis of fully-graded concrete

Fractal dimension of concrete incorporating silica fume and its correlations to pore structure, strength and permeability

Pore-size resolved water vapor adsorption kinetics of white cement mortars as viewed from proton NMR relaxation

Why permeability to water is anomalously lower than that to many other fluids for cement-based material?

Predicting water permeability and relative gas permeability of unsaturated cement-based material from hydraulic diffusivity

Geometry of crack network and its impact on transport properties of concrete

This paper reports a comprehensive experimental investigation on the impact of mechanical cracking on transport-related properties of concrete, including air permeability, surface sorptivity and electrical resistance. Cylinder specimens of \(\phi150\,\hbox {mm}\times400\,\hbox{mm}\) are subject to cyclic axial compressive loading and different damage levels are generated by changing cyclic loading numbers under displacement control. The characterization parameters of cracking include scalar damage factor, residual strains and open porosity. Prior to and after loading, for each specimen, the ultrasonic pulse velocity is measured perpendicular to the loading direction and both residual axial and lateral strains are recorded by strain gauges. Two discs of 50 mm thick are cut out from the middle height of each unloaded concrete cylinder and dried to constant weight at 60°C. Thereafter, the discs are subject to gas permeability, water sorptivity, open porosity and electrical resistance tests. The correlations are discussed in depth for damage characterization indicators and damage-altered transport properties, in particular, the relation between altered gas permeability and ultrasonic damage is quantified. From the obtained data, it is found that ultrasonic damage factor is correlated strongly with altered gas permeability while open porosity is well correlated to altered sorptivity and electrical resistance.

Characterizing the effect of compressive damage on transport properties of cracked concretes

Chunsheng Zhou

Papers

Pore-size resolved water vapor adsorption kinetics of white cement mortars as viewed from proton NMR relaxation

Why permeability to water is anomalously lower than that to many other fluids for cement-based material?

Predicting water permeability and relative gas permeability of unsaturated cement-based material from hydraulic diffusivity

Geometry of crack network and its impact on transport properties of concrete

Characterizing the effect of compressive damage on transport properties of cracked concretes