Fractals in construction material science

The application of the theory of fractal geometry in construction materials production allows revealing a new possibility to model the properties of materials and processes. The fractal theory can be used in the research of the processes of cement paste hardening as the formation of a cluster structure; the structure and properties of dispersed media; structural characteristics of the porous material; cracking caused by various factors, using data received at predicting the collapse of critical structures. The investigation of surface properties of aggregate, using a fractal approach, allowed one to reveal the direct dependence between the physical and mechanical characteristics of the concrete and the value of the fractal dimension of such aggregate. Thus, application of the method based on the determination of the fractal dimension of the aggregate, allows predicting the properties of concrete as well as to regulate its physical and mechanical properties by selecting or modifying the composition of the aggregate grain size, using the estimation of its fractal dimension. (paper)