Rheological Properties of Cementitious Materials
Summary
The flow and deformation characteristics of cementitious suspensions are governed by complex interactions between solid phases, pore fluids and chemical admixtures. Key rheological parameters—yield stress, plastic viscosity and viscoelastic moduli—determine the workability, pumpability and buildability of fresh concrete and mortar. Yield stress quantifies the threshold stress to initiate flow, while plastic viscosity reflects resistance under steady shear. Viscoelastic measurements, such as storage modulus, reveal the transient structural build-up as hydration products form particulate networks. Thixotropy, the time-dependent recovery of structure under quiescent conditions, influences stability against segregation, formwork pressure and layer adhesion in additive manufacturing. Rheological control enables optimisation of casting processes, reduction of formwork risks and design of self-compacting or 3D-printable concretes. Advances in characterisation, modelling and active control are central to enhancing sustainability, reducing material waste and meeting the performance demands of modern infrastructures.
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Rheological Properties of Cementitious Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in rheological properties of cementitious materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Yield stress: The minimum shear stress required to initiate flow in a suspension.
Plastic viscosity: The constant of proportionality between shear stress and shear rate beyond the yield point, indicating flow resistance.
Storage modulus: A measure of the elastic response in oscillatory rheology, reflecting energy stored during deformation.
Thixotropy: Time-dependent decrease in viscosity under shear and gradual recovery of structure at rest.
Viscoelasticity: Material behaviour exhibiting both viscous flow and elastic deformation under stress.
References
- Thixotropic structural build-up of cement-based materials: A state-of-the-art review. Cement and Concrete Composites (2021).
- Structural build-up of cementitious paste with nano-Fe3O4 under time-varying magnetic fields. Cement and Concrete Research (2019).
- Interlaboratory study on rheological properties of cement pastes and reference substances: comparability of measurements performed with different rheometers and measurement geometries. Materials and Structures (2020).
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