Strength of a porous medium with a heterogeneous solid phase

Strength of a porous medium with a heterogeneous solid phase. The strength of a porous medium, the solid phase of which is made up of composite spheres is determined in the framework of a micromechanical self-consistent reasoning. The strength of the spherical cores is infinite while the surrounding layers are made up of a von Mises material. Application of the modified secant method yields an analytical expression of the macroscopic strength. Such results can be used in order to predict the setting and strength criterion of a cement paste during hydration.