N-Phase micromechanical framework for the conductivity and elastic modulus of particulate composites: Design to microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCMs)-cementitious composites. (5th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Wenxiang; Jia, Mingkun; Zhu, Zhigang; Liu, Mingjun; Lei, Dong; Gou, Xiaofan
• Is Part Of: Materials & design. Volume 145(2018)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2018-05-05
• Subjects: Cementitious composites -- Phase change materials -- Interface -- Conductivity -- Elastic modulus -- Differential effective medium method; Materials -- Periodicals; Engineering design -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Conception technique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2018.02.065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-1275

Abstract

Highlights: n -phase differential model for effective properties is devised with a good accuracy. The n -phase model suits composites with multiple inclusions and interfaces. The advanced performance of MPCM-CC is smartly designed for the first time. The results can apply to the composite design of other particulate materials. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Abstract: The smart design of microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCMs) in cementitious composites requires an explicit understanding of effects of soft microcapsule particles, stiff aggregates and their surrounding weak interfaces on the physico-mechanical properties of particulate composites. This paper devises a n -phase micromechanical framework to predict the effective thermal conductivity and elastic modulus of multicomponent particulate composites that consist in stiff and soft anisotropic-shaped inclusions, their surrounding weak interfaces and matrix. In this micromechanical model, the volume fraction of weak interfaces treated as the interphase model is quantified and incorporated into the n -phase differential effective medium model. It is found that the structural configuration of interfaces has a significant effect on the effective physico-mechanical properties of particulate composites. The micromechanical model leads to predictions of the effective conductivity and elastic modulus of multicomponent particulate composites to a good accuracy by comparing with available experimental data for regular concrete, quartz mortar and MPCMs-cementitious composites. By utilizing the micromechanical model, the authors further develop a theoretical design rule for the robust overall performance of MPCMs-cementitious composites with the better thermal resistance and elastic modulus. These results can also be used to design other multiphase particulate composites and porous media with the cherry-pit structure.