Prediction of Cement-based Materials' Water Content with the Use of Electromagnetic Homogenization Schemes

Measuring water content in concrete and cement based materials is of critical importance to improve structures delayed behaviour prediction. The study presents the application of electromagnetic homogenization schemes like the Symmetric Bruggeman model to connect measured complex permittivities with material's saturation. These models enable to take into account microstructure specificities depending on the material under test. A model taking into account the complex microstructure of cement paste is described. The combination of those analytical processes at the different scales of the material enables great improvement in water content prediction compared to classical empirical or calibration laws.