Graduation Semester and Year
Summer 2025
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
Department
Civil Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. Surendra P. Shah
Second Advisor
Dr. Maria S. Konsta-Gdoutos
Third Advisor
Dr. Melanie L. Sattler
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Yaowu Hao
Fifth Advisor
Dr. Panagiotis Danoglidis
Abstract
The transition of concrete from a fluid to solid state is a critical phase that determines workability, early-age performance, and long-term durability. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) enables continuous monitoring of electrical properties during early-age hydration, offering detailed insights into microstructural development and setting behavior. This thesis introduces an integrated methodology combining adaptive rheology and EIS to monitor the fluid-to-solid transition in cement-based materials during the initial hours of setting. The research examines the microstructural evolution of both plain and blended cement pastes, incorporating chemical additives such as accelerators and retarders, through simultaneous real-time rheological and electrical measurements. Continuous monitoring facilitates the assessment of hydration progression, identification of distinct setting stages, and accurate determination of setting times. Experimental results are compared with setting times obtained from the Vicat needle test. Comparative analysis using heat of hydration as a benchmark across various cementitious mixtures demonstrates that the rate of capacitance measurement provides high sensitivity and reliability, effectively identifying both early and delayed setting trends. The green strength of the material is evaluated using uniaxial compression testing, and the electrical energy stored within the matrix is quantified by calculating the area under the rate of capacitance curve. These findings support the development of an integrated, real-time sensing framework for predicting early-age concrete performance, with applications in quality control, precast concrete, cast-in-place construction, construction scheduling, and smart construction technologies.
Keywords
Viscosity, Capacitance, Rate of change of capacitance, Setting time, Green strength, Fluid-to-solid transition, Energy storage, Early-age changes in concrete, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Cement hydration
Disciplines
Civil Engineering | Structural Materials
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Anandhan, Ramya, "MONITORING EARLY AGE CEMENT HYDRATION USING STATISTICAL APPROACH THROUGH RHEOLOGICAL AND ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS" (2025). Civil Engineering Dissertations. 527.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/civilengineering_dissertations/527