Abstract
Compressive strength of cement based materials is affected by moisture states. There have been various discussions about the mechanism, but no consensus has yet been reached. In this study, the influence of moisture states on compressive strength of cement based materials was investigated from the perspective of surface energy. The relationship between compressive strength and surface tension of liquid saturating mortar specimen was experimentally examined. It was revealed that the bigger the surface tension, the smaller the compressive strength. It is considered that the reason of lowering of compressive strength of cement based materials in wet condition is attributed to decreasing of surface energy which is required to form new microcracks.
