Impact of materials science and stereology on the design of experiments in concrete technology
by Piet Stroeven
International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties (IJMMP), Vol. 4, No. 2, 2009

Abstract: Experimentation in concrete technology relies heavily on correct fulfilment of the various sampling principles from stereology and materials science. Random sampling is uneconomical and technically difficult, hence in this paper it is replaced by orthogonal tripod (orthrip) sampling. It is indicated how the efforts can be minimised. The cases of dispersed fibres and cracks are elaborated, making use of projections and sections. Size sampling is a major issue in the paper, requiring introduction of the materials science principles of stochastic heterogeneity and structural sensitivity. Samples are generally of subrepresentative size in concrete technology, so that the estimated characteristics of material structure or properties that are to some degree dependent on configuration (instead of solely on composition) will be biased. Yet comparison of the effects of technological parameters can be achieved in an unbiased way when sample size and sensitivity of observations are fixed proportions of the respective representative elements. This is illustrated with two examples.

Online publication date: Mon, 21-Sep-2009

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties (IJMMP):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com