Comparison of Self-consistent Method and Mori Tanaka Method for Predicting Cement Paste Creep

To predict the creep behavior of cement paste and compare the accuracy of different prediction models, the creep modulus of cement paste was determined using microindentation test and the contact creep modulus of microscopic phases was obtained using grid nanoindentation test. The volume fraction of the phases was subsequently obtained based on a series of microscopic tests. The cement paste was divided into two scales and four combinations were used for the prediction of creep homogenization based on the self-consistent (SC) and Mori Tanaka methods, respectively. Results show that the long-term creep properties of cement paste are predicted with high accuracy when the Mori Tanaka method is used at the gel scale and the SC method is used at the slurry scale. This study provides a basis for selecting an appropriate calculation method when performing the creep homogenization of cement-based materials.