Compressive Strength of Jordanian Cement Mortars

Mortars have been prepared from six cement Jordanian brands and tested for their compressive strengths at 2, 7 and 28 days. The strength has been related to some physical parameters. It has been concluded that the compressive strength and its development with age has some variations between the different cement brands. There is an inverse linear relationship between compressive strength and water absorption, and a weaker positive relation with density. There is no clear relation between consistency and compressive strength. Inverse linear relations exist between less than 63 microns size fraction and strength. To account for the differences in compressive strength at different ages and using different cement brands, it is very important to identify the type and amount of cement mineral phases using concrete petrography and X-ray diffraction and fluorescence techniques.