Micro-Cantilever Testing Of Cementitious Materials Under Various Loading Conditions

Abstract

Nanoindentation is usually used to investigate local elastic properties and hardness of materials. In this paper, the nanoindenter served as a loading tool to perform micro scale bending tests and measure the global response of micro-scale specimens. For testing, cement paste cantilever beams with a square cross-section of 300 μm × 300 μm were fabricated using a micro dicing saw. Monotonic, cyclic and sustained loading bending tests were conducted on the beams using the nanoindenter. The load-deflection behaviours of micro-cantilever beams subjected to various loading conditions are presented in this paper. The interpretation of experimental results regarding the measured deflection of beam is discussed. With this micro-scale test method, the fracture strength as well as time-dependent responses of cement paste at the micrometre level can be assessed in a straightforward manner.