A study on the distribution and movement of water in unsaturated cement paste by a multi-component multi-phase lattice Boltzmann simulation

The distribution of water inside concrete is a crucial factor that determines its mechanical performance and durability. In contrast to experimental investigation, numerical models provide a new way to visualize and characterize the actual situation of water in unsaturated cementitious materials. However, the interactions between different components are quite complex and they are rarely considered so far. In this work, a multi-component multi-phase (MCMP) lattice Boltzmann model is developed to distribute moisture in partially saturated cement paste, in which the interactions between water and air are fully taken into account. The transport of water flow in unsaturated cement paste is modelled and the permeability is thus computed. The simulation results show a satisfactory agreement with experimental data, validating the proposed approach. The obtained permeability is found to decline at a decreased water saturation degree and this is attributed to a reduced number of transport paths for water flow. Moreover, as the contact angle increases from 80 degrees to 100 degrees, large pores become the preferred place for water to accumulate and the formed clusters are observed. According to the results, a strong correlation between pore structure (i.e., pore size and pore connectivity) and water permeability is found and discussed.