Cement-stabilized fly ash base courses

Various demonstration projects have been carried out in The Netherlands with cement-stabilized fly ash as a base course. Usually these courses were made of 100 parts by mass of fly ash; 10 parts by mass of cement; 20 to 30 parts by mass of water. However, the projects were not quite successful since delamination was observed, and long-term strength, after a period of six years of performance, appears to be much smaller than expected on the basis of preliminary laboratory research. A model for pozzolanic reaction of fly ash recently developed by Fraay and Bijen pointed out that the reactivity of fly ash is influenced greatly by the pH value of the pore water. A pH of at least 13 is required to initiate fly ash pozzolanic reaction in a Portland cement environment. Pore water extraction measurements showed that the pH of cement-stabilized fly ash often has a substantially lower value. In this high-volume fly ash application the effect of the acidity of fly ash is much greater than in ordinary concrete with cement replaced by fly ash up to 30%. By addition of NaOH and/or sodium silicate to the mixing water, the pH value can be increased above the ‘threshold’ value.

Tests were carried out with different types of class-F fly ashes and with different NaOH concentrations in the mixing water. The results show an increase in compressive strength of up to 300% depending on the type of fly ash, and a substantial decrease in the rate of water absorption.