![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-5-1024x256.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDuring freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) – in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freezing of liquid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-3.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThese snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-4.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7676,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_related_content_post":[],"_related_content_subject":[],"_related_content_author":[7592],"_related_content_category":[],"_related_content_folder":[7705],"_excerpt":"","_duration":2,"_manual_duration":false,"footnotes":""},"article-types":[13,27],"class_list":["post-7566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","article-types-article","article-types-folder"],"has_blocks":true,"block_data":[{"blockName":"enpc\/excerpt","attrs":{"lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"","innerContent":[],"rendered":""},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Micro-crack formation","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Micro-crack formation<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nMicro-crack formation<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nMicro-crack formation<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7616,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-5-1024x256.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nDuring freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Freezing of liquid","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Freezing of liquid<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nFreezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nFreezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7610,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-2.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7612,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-3.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nThese snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Cryo-suction in porous solids","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Cryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7614,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-4.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"Understanding freeze-thaw damage in materials: A molecular approach"},"media":{"img":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/freezing-of-liquid_1.jpg\")
","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/freezing-of-liquid_1.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/understanding-freeze-thaw-damage-in-materials-a-molecular-approach\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Xinping Zhu","url":"\/en\/authors\/xinping-zhu\/","id":"7592","media":"![\"XInping](\"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Xinping-Zhu-ingenius-60x60.png\")
","slug":"xinping-zhu"}],"subject":[],"category":[],"folder":[{"title":"Freezing and thawing: When winter puts our infrastructures to the test","url":"\/en\/folders\/freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test\/","id":"7705","media":"![\"Permafrost\"](\"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Permafrost_pattern.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThese snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7676,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_related_content_post":[],"_related_content_subject":[],"_related_content_author":[7592],"_related_content_category":[],"_related_content_folder":[7705],"_excerpt":"","_duration":2,"_manual_duration":false,"footnotes":""},"article-types":[13,27],"class_list":["post-7566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","article-types-article","article-types-folder"],"has_blocks":true,"block_data":[{"blockName":"enpc\/excerpt","attrs":{"lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"","innerContent":[],"rendered":""},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Micro-crack formation","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Micro-crack formation<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nMicro-crack formation<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nMicro-crack formation<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7616,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-5-1024x256.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nDuring freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Freezing of liquid","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Freezing of liquid<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nFreezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nFreezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7610,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-2.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7612,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-3.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nThese snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Cryo-suction in porous solids","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Cryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7614,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-4.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"Understanding freeze-thaw damage in materials: A molecular approach"},"media":{"img":"","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/freezing-of-liquid_1.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/understanding-freeze-thaw-damage-in-materials-a-molecular-approach\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Xinping Zhu","url":"\/en\/authors\/xinping-zhu\/","id":"7592","media":"","slug":"xinping-zhu"}],"subject":[],"category":[],"folder":[{"title":"Freezing and thawing: When winter puts our infrastructures to the test","url":"\/en\/folders\/freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test\/","id":"7705","media":"","slug":"freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/comprendre-les-dommages-lies-au-gel-degel-dans-les-materiaux-une-approche-moleculaire\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"2","custom_excerpt":"","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7566"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7703,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions\/7703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=7566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7676,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_related_content_post":[],"_related_content_subject":[],"_related_content_author":[7592],"_related_content_category":[],"_related_content_folder":[7705],"_excerpt":"","_duration":2,"_manual_duration":false,"footnotes":""},"article-types":[13,27],"class_list":["post-7566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","article-types-article","article-types-folder"],"has_blocks":true,"block_data":[{"blockName":"enpc\/excerpt","attrs":{"lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"","innerContent":[],"rendered":""},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
Frost damage is a significant concern regarding the long-term durability of porous solids, such as concrete, clay, and rock, particularly in cold regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in partially submerged concrete subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw conditions, such as marine structures and concrete roads in cold regions, resulting in extensive deterioration of concrete structures. The phase transition, i.e., the freezing of liquid and the melting of ice, significantly contributes to the frost damage. Molecular simulations can help us visualize the physical phenomena related to the phase transition at the molecular level. A study at the Laboratoire Navier uses molecular simulations to capture the growth of ice in the confined nanopore (i.e. a nano-sized pore).<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Micro-crack formation","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Micro-crack formation<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nMicro-crack formation<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nMicro-crack formation<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7616,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-5-1024x256.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nDuring freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Freezing of liquid","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Freezing of liquid<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nFreezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nFreezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7610,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-2.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7612,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-3.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nThese snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Cryo-suction in porous solids","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Cryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7614,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-4.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"Understanding freeze-thaw damage in materials: A molecular approach"},"media":{"img":"","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/freezing-of-liquid_1.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/understanding-freeze-thaw-damage-in-materials-a-molecular-approach\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Xinping Zhu","url":"\/en\/authors\/xinping-zhu\/","id":"7592","media":"","slug":"xinping-zhu"}],"subject":[],"category":[],"folder":[{"title":"Freezing and thawing: When winter puts our infrastructures to the test","url":"\/en\/folders\/freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test\/","id":"7705","media":"","slug":"freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/comprendre-les-dommages-lies-au-gel-degel-dans-les-materiaux-une-approche-moleculaire\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"2","custom_excerpt":"","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7566"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7703,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions\/7703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=7566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Micro-crack formation<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7616,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-5-1024x256.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nDuring freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Freezing of liquid","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Freezing of liquid<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nFreezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nFreezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7610,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-2.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7612,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-3.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nThese snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Cryo-suction in porous solids","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Cryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7614,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-4.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"Understanding freeze-thaw damage in materials: A molecular approach"},"media":{"img":"","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/freezing-of-liquid_1.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/understanding-freeze-thaw-damage-in-materials-a-molecular-approach\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Xinping Zhu","url":"\/en\/authors\/xinping-zhu\/","id":"7592","media":"","slug":"xinping-zhu"}],"subject":[],"category":[],"folder":[{"title":"Freezing and thawing: When winter puts our infrastructures to the test","url":"\/en\/folders\/freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test\/","id":"7705","media":"","slug":"freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/comprendre-les-dommages-lies-au-gel-degel-dans-les-materiaux-une-approche-moleculaire\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"2","custom_excerpt":"","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7566"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7703,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions\/7703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=7566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nDuring freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
During freezing, pore water found in the empty spaces (or pores) between the cement grains and the other components (sand, gravel) - in cement-based materials expands, leading to the rise of internal pressure that stresses the solids and favors the propagation of internal micro-cracks. These images are obtained from a scanning electron microscope. They present the micro-cracks found in the cement-based materials with varying water content (3%, 4.2%, 5.8%).<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Freezing of liquid","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Freezing of liquid<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nFreezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nFreezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7610,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-2.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7612,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-3.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nThese snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Cryo-suction in porous solids","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Cryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7614,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-4.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"Understanding freeze-thaw damage in materials: A molecular approach"},"media":{"img":"","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/freezing-of-liquid_1.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/understanding-freeze-thaw-damage-in-materials-a-molecular-approach\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Xinping Zhu","url":"\/en\/authors\/xinping-zhu\/","id":"7592","media":"","slug":"xinping-zhu"}],"subject":[],"category":[],"folder":[{"title":"Freezing and thawing: When winter puts our infrastructures to the test","url":"\/en\/folders\/freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test\/","id":"7705","media":"","slug":"freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/comprendre-les-dommages-lies-au-gel-degel-dans-les-materiaux-une-approche-moleculaire\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"2","custom_excerpt":"","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7566"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7703,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions\/7703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=7566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Freezing of liquid<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7610,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-2.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7612,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-3.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nThese snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Cryo-suction in porous solids","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Cryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7614,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-4.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"Understanding freeze-thaw damage in materials: A molecular approach"},"media":{"img":"","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/freezing-of-liquid_1.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/understanding-freeze-thaw-damage-in-materials-a-molecular-approach\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Xinping Zhu","url":"\/en\/authors\/xinping-zhu\/","id":"7592","media":"","slug":"xinping-zhu"}],"subject":[],"category":[],"folder":[{"title":"Freezing and thawing: When winter puts our infrastructures to the test","url":"\/en\/folders\/freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test\/","id":"7705","media":"","slug":"freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/comprendre-les-dommages-lies-au-gel-degel-dans-les-materiaux-une-approche-moleculaire\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"2","custom_excerpt":"","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7566"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7703,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions\/7703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=7566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7612,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-3.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nThese snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
These snapshots show how ice forms in two different situations. At the top, in bulk water at -250 Kelvin (around \u2013 23 \u00b0C), ice forms very quickly, in 30 nanoseconds. At the bottom, in a confined slit pore, the ice crystallization is mostly completed in 60 nanoseconds at 260 K (around -13 \u00b0C) The colored balls represent different atoms present in the water and cement minerals: water oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), hydroxyl oxygen (blue), interlayer calcium (green), and intralayer calcium (cyan). Sticks are the skeleton of silicate chains. When the ice stops growing, a nanometric premelted film is observed between cement solids and ice. These snapshots are visualized by Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) package.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Cryo-suction in porous solids","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
Cryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\nCryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7614,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-4.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"Understanding freeze-thaw damage in materials: A molecular approach"},"media":{"img":"","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/freezing-of-liquid_1.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/understanding-freeze-thaw-damage-in-materials-a-molecular-approach\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Xinping Zhu","url":"\/en\/authors\/xinping-zhu\/","id":"7592","media":"","slug":"xinping-zhu"}],"subject":[],"category":[],"folder":[{"title":"Freezing and thawing: When winter puts our infrastructures to the test","url":"\/en\/folders\/freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test\/","id":"7705","media":"","slug":"freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/comprendre-les-dommages-lies-au-gel-degel-dans-les-materiaux-une-approche-moleculaire\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"2","custom_excerpt":"","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7566"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7703,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions\/7703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=7566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Cryo-suction in porous solids<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":7614,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-4.png","alt":"","caption":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-image size-full","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"Understanding freeze-thaw damage in materials: A molecular approach"},"media":{"img":"","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/freezing-of-liquid_1.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/understanding-freeze-thaw-damage-in-materials-a-molecular-approach\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Xinping Zhu","url":"\/en\/authors\/xinping-zhu\/","id":"7592","media":"","slug":"xinping-zhu"}],"subject":[],"category":[],"folder":[{"title":"Freezing and thawing: When winter puts our infrastructures to the test","url":"\/en\/folders\/freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test\/","id":"7705","media":"","slug":"freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/comprendre-les-dommages-lies-au-gel-degel-dans-les-materiaux-une-approche-moleculaire\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"2","custom_excerpt":"","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7566"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7703,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions\/7703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=7566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\nWhen it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
When it is very cold, the water inside the concrete freezes, but not in the same way everywhere. Here is what happens:<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(a) The air trapped (Air void) in the concrete acts like a pump, drawing the liquid water to the frozen spaces. It is called cryo-pump.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(b) Cryo-suction in element E0, at the interface between ice and liquid water. The liquid water remaining in a small area is sucked into a larger zone where ice has already formed.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n
(c) Molecular structure of the premelted film between cement solids and ice in element E1. On a microscopic scale, a very thin film of liquid water still exists between the concrete particles and the ice, allowing the water to move despite the freezing.<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"Understanding freeze-thaw damage in materials: A molecular approach"},"media":{"img":"","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/freezing-of-liquid_1.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/understanding-freeze-thaw-damage-in-materials-a-molecular-approach\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Xinping Zhu","url":"\/en\/authors\/xinping-zhu\/","id":"7592","media":"","slug":"xinping-zhu"}],"subject":[],"category":[],"folder":[{"title":"Freezing and thawing: When winter puts our infrastructures to the test","url":"\/en\/folders\/freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test\/","id":"7705","media":"","slug":"freezing-and-thawing-when-winter-puts-our-infrastructures-to-the-test"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/comprendre-les-dommages-lies-au-gel-degel-dans-les-materiaux-une-approche-moleculaire\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"2","custom_excerpt":"","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7566"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7703,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions\/7703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=7566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}