Evaluation of the influence of an aggressive environment on the durability of the cement stone

The paper proposes methods for assessing the durability of building materials and structures based on Portland cement when exposed to aggressive environments that mimic the products of the vital activity of bacteria on building materials. To determine the main parameters of the model of degradation of building materials under the action of aggressive environments, a mathematical model has been developed in the form of integral and differential relations connecting these parameters. A technique for identifying the mechanical characteristics included in these models based on the solution of inverse biodegradation problems has been developed. The analysis of changes in the structure of the cement stone was carried out using the results of computed tomography, and the regularities of the distribution of pores in the cement stone from the time of exposure were obtained. Based on experimental and numerical studies, it has been established that the mechanism of destruction of cement stone obtained by the traditional method and activation in the vortex layer apparatus is different. The difference lies in the greater accumulation of cement stone interaction products in the activated sample, which is confirmed by a shift in porosity to less than 0.5 mm and a lower solubility value compared to the control composition. The compressive strength of the samples as a result of exposure for 28 days decreased by 37% and 20% for the control and activated compositions. The mass of the studied samples as a result of exposure decreased by 49% and 21%, respectively. On the basis of this mechanism, a mathematical model of the process of material degradation in an aggressive one is developed, taking into account changes in porosity and acidity concentration, and dependence of material strength reduction are obtained.