Mortar physical properties evolution in extrusion flow

The original publication is available at http://www.springerlink.com/content/fp6058601061p352/International audienceExtrusion is not a common way to form firm cement-based material. Due to material frictional behaviour, drainage phenomenon appears and leads to process blockage. The properties of the extrusion multiphase flow of such specific materials have to be highlighted to understand the properties of the process flow. An extrudible mortar is formulated according to extrusion criteria provided by literature tests developed to describe the evolution of the paste undergoing extrusion. To study the relationship between flow properties, extrusion force and material consolidation, a technique based on the measurement of paste hardness in the billet zone is developed. Measurements of the local paste density and flow visualisation are also performed. Results show that in the range of used ram velocities, filtration occurs between fluid and solid phases. This creates zones of preferential flow and of non-flowing consolidated material