Exploring the relation between the flow of mortar and specific surface area of its constituents

Mortars can be studied as mixtures of solid and flowable phases. The volume of the flowable phase required for deformation depends on the solid phase surface area according to excess layer theories. This paper examines the relation between the specific surface area of constituents in mortars and their flow. The flowable phase volume was divided by the solid phase surface area to obtain the layer thickness surrounding the surface of the particles. The results suggested that the amount of water and paste needed to ensure flow could be estimated from the packing density and specific surface area of the particles. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.