Influence of fly ash on strength and sorption characteristics of cold-bonded fly ash aggregate concrete

Cold-bonded fly ash aggregate concrete with fly ash as part of binder or fine aggregate facilitates high volume utilization of fly ash in concrete with minimum energy consumption. This paper investigates the influence of fly ash on strength and sorption behaviour of cold-bonded fly ash aggregate concrete due to partial replacement of cement and also as replacement material for sand. While cement replacement must be restricted based on the compressive strength requirement at desired age, replacement of sand with fly ash appears to be advantageous from early days onwards with higher enhancement in strength and higher utilization of fly ash in mixes of lower cement content. Microstructure of concrete was examined under BSEI mode. Replacement of sand with fly ash is effective in reducing water absorption and sorptivity attributable to the densification of both matrix and matrix–aggregate interfacial bond. Cold-bonded fly ash aggregate concrete with a cement content of 250 kg/m³, results in compressive strength of about 45 MPa, with a total inclusion of around 0.6 m³ of fly ash in unit volume of concrete.     

Properties of self-compacting concretes made with binary,ternary, and quaternary cementitious blends of fly ash,blast furnace slag,and silica fume

Self-compacting concretes (SCCs) have brought a promising insight into the concrete industry to provide environmental impact and cost reduction. However, the use of ternary and especially quaternary cementitious blends of mineral admixtures have not found sufficient applications in the production of SCCs. For this purpose, an experimental study was conducted to investigate properties of SCCs with mineral admixtures. Moreover, durability based multi-objective optimization of the mixtures were performed to achieve an optimal concrete mixture proportioning. A total of 22 concrete mixtures were designed having a constant water/binder ratio of 0.44 and a total binder content of 450 kg/m³. The control mixture included only a Portland cement (PC) as the binder while the remaining mixtures incorporated binary, ternary, and quaternary cementitious blends of PC, fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (S), and silica fume (SF). Fresh properties of the SCCs were tested for slump flow diameter, slump flow time, L-box height ratio, and V-funnel flow time. Furthermore, the hardened properties of the concretes were tested for sorptivity, water permeability, chloride permeability, electrical resistivity, drying shrinkage, compressive strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. The results indicated that when the durability properties of the concretes were taken into account, the ternary use of S and SF provided the best performance.     

The role of industrial by-products in self-compacting concrete

The development of self-compacting concrete is considered as a milestone achievement in concrete technology due to several advantages. In order to be self-compactable the fresh concrete must show high fluidity besides good cohesiveness. For the purpose of evaluating these properties, several concrete mixtures were prepared with a water to cement ratio of 0.45 in the presence of an acrylic-based superplasticizer at a dosage ranging from 1% to 2% by weight of very fine material fraction (maximum 150 μm). Either limestone powder or fly ash or recycled aggregate powder (that is a powder obtained from the rubble recycling process) were used as mineral addition, in order to assure adequate rheological properties, in terms of cohesiveness, in the self-compacting concretes. Preliminary rheological tests were carried out on cement pastes containing these mineral additions. In some cases, recycled instead of natural aggregate was used by substituting either the coarse or the fine aggregate fraction. The fresh concrete properties were evaluated through slump flow, L-box test and segregation resistance. Compressive strength of concrete was determined at 1, 3, 7 and 28 days of wet curing. Results obtained showed that an optimization of self-compacting concrete mixture seems to be achievable by the simultaneous use of rubble powder and coarse recycled aggregate with improved fresh concrete performance and unchanged concrete mechanical strength.     

Water absorption,permeability, and resistance to chloride-ion penetration of lightweight aggregate concrete

This paper presents an experimental study to evaluate effect of cumulative lightweight aggregate (LWA) content (including lightweight sand) in concrete [water/cement ratio (w/c) = 0.38] on its water absorption, water permeability, and resistance to chloride-ion penetration. Rapid chloride penetrability test (ASTM C 1202), rapid migration test (NT Build 492), and salt ponding test (AASHTO T 259) were conducted to evaluate the concrete resistance to chloride-ion penetration. The results were compared with those of a cement paste and a control normal weight aggregate concrete (NWAC) with the same w/c and a NWAC (w/c = 0.54) with 28-day compressive strength similar to some of the lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC). Results indicate that although the total charge passed, migration coefficient, and diffusion coefficient of the LWAC were not significantly different from those of NWAC with the same w/c of 0.38, resistance of the LWAC to chloride penetration decreased with increase in the cumulative LWA content in the concretes. The water penetration depth under pressure and water sorptivity showed, in general, similar trends. The LWAC with only coarse LWA had similar water sorptivity, water permeability coefficient, and resistance to chloride-ion penetration compared to NWAC with similar w/c. The LWAC had lower water sorptivity, water permeability and higher resistance to chloride-ion penetration than the NWAC with similar 28-day strength but higher w/c. Both the NWAC and LWAC had lower sorptivity and higher resistance to chloride-ion penetration than the cement paste with similar w/c.     

Effect of W/C ratio on covering depth of fly ash concrete in marine environment

This investigation studied the effect of W/C ratio on covering depth required against the corrosion of embedded steel of fly ash concrete in marine environment up to 4-year exposure. Fly ash was used to partially replace Portland cement type I at 0%, 15%, 25%, 35%, and 50% by weight of cementitious material. Water to cementitious material ratios (W/C) of fly ash concretes were varied at 0.45, 0.55, and 0.65. The 200-mm concrete cube specimens were cast and steel bars with 12-mm diameter and 50 mm in length were inserted in the concrete with the covering depth of 10, 20, 50, and 75 mm. The specimens were cured in water for 28 days, and then placed to the tidal zone of marine environment in the Gulf of Thailand. Subsequently, the concrete specimens were tested for the compressive strength, chloride penetration profile and corrosion of embedded steel bar after being exposed to tidal zone for 2, 3, and 4 years. The results showed that the concrete mixed with Portland cement type I exhibited higher rate of the chloride penetration than the fly ash concrete. The chloride penetration of fly ash concrete was comparatively low and decreased with the increasing of fly ash content. The increase of fly ash replacement and the decrease of W/C ratio could reduce the covering depth required for the initial corrosion of the steel bar. Interestingly, fly ash concretes with 35% and 50% cement replacement and having W/C ratio of 0.65 provided better corrosion resistance at 4-year exposure than the control concrete with W/C ratio of 0.45. In addition, the covering depth of concrete with compressive strength of 30 MPa (W/C ratio of 0.65) could be reduced from 50 to 30 mm by the addition of fly ash up to 50%.     

Effect of metakaolin and foundry sand on the near surface characteristics of concrete

This paper deals with the effect of foundry sand (FS) and metakaolin (MK) on the near surface characteristics of concrete. A control concrete having cement content 450 kg/m³ and w/c of 0.45 was designed. Cement was replaced with three percentages (5%, 10%, and 15%) of metakaolin weight, and fine aggregates were replaced with 20% foundry sand. Tests were conducted for initial surface absorption, sorptivity, water absorption and compressive strength at the ages of 35, 56, and 84 days.Test results indicated that with the increase in MK content from 5% to 15%, there was a decrease in the initial surface absorption, decrease in the sorptivity till 10% metakaolin replacement. But at 15% MK replacement an increase in sorptivity was observed. All mixtures showed low water absorption characteristic i.e. less than 10%. Compressive strength shared an inverse relation with sorptivity. Higher MK replacements of 15% are not helpful in improving inner core durability, even though it helps in improving surface durability characteristics. Inclusion of foundry sand resulted in reduction in compressive strength. This aspect cements the findings that addition of FS causes permeability of concrete to increase causing in an increase in sorptivity and water absorption of concrete.     

对自密实混凝土渗透性能的探讨

渗透性能包括氧的渗透性、毛细管水吸附作用、氯离子扩散性能等已经普遍地应用到混凝土耐久性的评价指标中。本文通过不同的自密实混凝土(SCC)与相同强度等级传统的普通振捣混凝土(REF)对比,分析自密实混凝土的渗透性能的试验研究。自密实混凝土的特性根据C40和C60的立方体强度掺有矿物掺合料或没有矿物掺合料但掺有粘性剂进行配合比设计。研究结果表明,自密实混凝土透氧率和吸附作用明显比相同强度基准的普通振捣混凝土低。但是氯离子扩散系数更多取决于矿物掺合料的种类;自密实混凝土中没有掺矿物掺合料但掺有粘性剂的比基准混凝土和其它自密实混凝土有更高的氯离子扩散系数。     

Durability of lightweight concretes with lightweight fly ash aggregates

This paper presents the effects of aggregate properties such as strength, porosity, water absorption, bulk density and specific gravity on the strength and durability of lightweight fly ash aggregate concrete (LWAC). The influence of properties of four aggregates (sintered lightweight fly ash aggregates, cold-bonded lightweight fly ash aggregate and normalweight aggregate) on mechanical and durability properties of concrete is discussed. Experimental results revealed that durable high-strength air-entrained lightweight concretes could be produced using sintered or cold-bonded lightweight fly ash aggregates, having comparable performance with the normalweight concretes. The use of lightweight aggregates (LWA) instead of normalweight aggregates in concrete production decreased the strength and stiffness due to the higher porosity and lower strength of the aggregate included in the concrete. However, permeability of sintered fly ash aggregate lightweight concretes was comparable and slightly lower than normalweight concrete whereas permeability of cold-bonded fly ash lightweight concrete was greater than the others. All concretes had a durability factor greater than 85, which met the requirements by showing quite perfect resistance to freeze–thaw.     

粉煤灰珊瑚骨料混凝土内掺氯离子扩散和吸水性能

研究了粉煤灰掺量对珊瑚骨料混凝土(CAC)内掺氯离子含量、氯离子结合能力及毛细吸水性能的影响,并采用X射线衍射(XRD)和热重(TG-DTG)分析了水化产物、理论孔体积及结合水含量.结果表明:随着养护龄期的延长,CAC中总氯离子浓度增大,粉煤灰降低了早龄期总氯离子含量,增大了后期总氯离子含量,而自由氯离子含量随养护龄期的变化规律正好相反,粉煤灰提高了CAC的氯离子结合能力;粉煤灰对28d时CAC的抗毛细吸水性能提升较小,显著降低了60d时CAC的毛细吸水量和吸水率,掺加20%的粉煤灰使28、60d时CAC的二次吸水率分别减少了6.1%、15.4%;粉煤灰对水化产物种类没有影响,但降低了CAC中Ca(OH)2的含量,结合珊瑚骨料携带的氯离子,生成了Friedel's盐.     

Effects of post-mercury-control fly ash on fresh and hardened concrete properties

Activated carbon injection is the most mature technology for mercury capture from coal burning power plants; however, this technology increases the carbon content and mercury concentration in the fly ash. This, in turn, may reduce the suitability of fly ash for use in concrete and call into question the safety of using fly ash derived from this process. The focus of this paper is to investigate the reuse potential of post-mercury-control fly ash in concrete by examining the influence of three fly ashes derived from the activated carbon injection on the air content, compressive strength, permeability, and resistance to freezing and thawing of concrete mixtures. Laboratory testing confirmed the influence of the carbon on the air content of the concrete. However there was no difficulty in entraining air in activated carbon injection fly ash concretes within the recommended dosage range of the air-entraining admixture. All air-entrained fly ash concretes exhibited excellent characteristics in compressive strength (?32.0 MPa, 4641 psi at 28 days), resistance to chloride-ion penetration (moderate to low at 28 days of age) and freeze–thaw (?90 average durability factor after 300 cycles). The possible leaching of toxic elements including mercury from one fly ash sample used in this study was also evaluated using the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure. The test results indicated that the leaching of toxic elements was much lower than the contamination level.     

Lightweight concretes of activated metakaolin-fly ash binders,with blast furnace slag aggregates

This work investigated geopolymeric lightweight concretes based on binders composed of metakaolin with 0% and 25% fly ash, activated with 15.2% of Na₂O using sodium silicate of modulus SiO₂/Na₂O = 1.2. Concretes of densities of 1200, 900 and 600 kg/m³ were obtained by aeration by adding aluminium powder, in some formulations lightweight aggregate of blast furnace slag was added at a ratio binder:aggregate 1:1; curing was carried out at 20 and 75 °C. The compressive and flexural strength development was monitored for up to 180 days. The strength diminished with the reduction of the density and high temperature curing accelerated strength development. The use of the slag had a positive effect on strength for 1200 kg/m³ concretes; reducing the amount of binder used. The thermal conductivity diminished from 1.65 to 0.47 W/mK for densities from 1800 to 600 kg/m³. The microstructures revealed dense cementitious matrices conformed of reaction products and unreacted metakaolin and fly ash. Energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction showed the formation of amorphous silicoaluminate reaction products.     

Assessment of the effects of rice husk ash particle size on strength,water permeability and workability of binary blended concrete

This study develops the compressive strength, water permeability and workability of concrete by partial replacement of cement with agro-waste rice husk ash. Two types of rice husk ash with average particle size of 5 micron (ultra fine particles) and 95 micron and with four different contents of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by weight were used. Replacement of cement up to maximum of 15% and 20% respectively by 95 and 5 μm rice husk ash, produces concrete with improved strength. However, the ultimate strength of concrete was gained at 10% of cement replacement by ultra fine rice husk ash particles. Also the percentage, velocity and coefficient of water absorption significantly decreased with 10% cement replacement by ultra fine rice husk ash. Moreover, the workability of fresh concrete was remarkably improved by increasing the content of rice husk ash especially in the case of coarser size. It is concluded that partial replacement of cement with rice husk ash improves the compressive strength and workability of concrete and decreases its water permeability. In addition, decreasing rice husk ash average particle size provides a positive effect on the compressive strength and water permeability of hardened concrete but indicates adverse effect on the workability of fresh concrete.     

Hydric, thermal and mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete containing different fillers

Water vapor diffusion coefficient, water absorption coefficient, water permeability, thermal conductivity, compressive strength and freeze resistance properties of two self-compacting concretes (SCC) containing limestone filler and fly ash are determined in the paper. The results indicate that strength development is faster in the material containing limestone filler but after 90 days the strength values in both materials are almost the same. Liquid water transport and heat transport are faster in SCC with limestone filler while the water vapor transport is faster in the material containing fly ash. This corresponds well with the much better freeze resistance of the material with fly ash compared to that with limestone filler and with the results of mercury intrusion porosimetry.     

Mechanical and durability properties of concrete made with dredged marine sand

The process of depletion of sources of natural aggregates challenges the production of technically and environmentally adequate concrete. Alternative material from marine sources, especially for concrete maritime structures, could represent an acceptable solution for this problem and it might also be of great interest for port management. This research work describes the study of the mechanical and durability properties of concretes fabricated with dredged marine sand (DMS) as a fine granular corrector in partial substitution of raw sand (from 15% to up to 50% by raw sand mass) designed for harbor pavements. Three DMS samples were extracted from the Port of Barcelona. The material was stockpiled in the open air and no washing, drying or decontamination process was carried out. Mineralogical, physical and chemical properties of DMS material were determined. Eight different mixtures were produced incorporating three types of DMS material as granular corrector in partial substitution of crushed limestone raw sand. The concretes were submitted to compressive strength tests after 7 and 28 days of moist curing, as well as density, absorption, accessible pores, elastic modulus, tensile and splitting tensile strength, abrasion, capillary suction, water penetration under pressure and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) tests, all of them after 28 days of moist curing. This study shows that dredged marine sand can be successfully used as a fine aggregate for concrete production. This is justified by the similar physical and mechanical properties of concrete made with DMS comparing to reference concrete. It was verified that the use of DMS in substitution of raw sand maintained or reduced the accessible pores, the sorptivity and the water penetration depth under pressure.     

Valorization of coarse rigid polyurethane foam waste in lightweight aggregate concrete

This study examines the mechanical properties and the durability parameters of lightweight aggregate concretes (LWAC) incorporating rigid polyurethane (PUR) foam waste as coarse aggregates (8/20 mm). The influence of both the increasing incorporation of PUR foam waste and the presence of superplasticizer on the workability, bulk density, mass loss, drying shrinkage, compressive strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, total porosity, gas permeability and chloride diffusion coefficient of the different concretes, has been investigated and analyzed. The results showed that the use of PUR foam waste enabled to reduce by 29–36% the dry density of concrete compared to that of the normal weight concrete (made without foam waste). The reduction of density was due to the increase of total porosity in the lightweight concretes, which also induced higher gas permeability and chloride diffusion coefficient. These negative effects on durability of concrete were lowered by improving the characteristics of the cementitious matrix. The mechanical properties of the LWAC ranged between 8 and 16 MPa for the compressive strength and between 10 and 15 GPa for the dynamic modulus of elasticity; the concrete mixture with the higher performances almost satisfied the mechanical and density criteria of structural lightweight concrete. These results consolidate the idea of the use of PUR foam waste for the manufacture of lightweight aggregate concretes.     

Comparison on efficiency factors of F and C types of fly ashes

Fly ashes are obtained from thermal power plants and they are pozzolanic materials, which can act as partial replacement material for both portland cement and fine aggregate. With their economical advantages and potential for improving fresh and hardened concrete performance, they have some benefits for using in concrete industry. In this study, the objective was to find the efficiency factors of Turkish C and F-type fly ashes and to compare their properties. Three different cement dosages were used (260, 320, 400 kg/m³), two different ratios (10% and 17%) of cement reduced from the control concretes and three different ratios (depending on cement reduction ratio) of fly ash were added into the mixtures. At the ages of 28 and 90 days, compressive strength, modulus of elasticity and ultrasound velocity tests were carried out. From the compressive strength results, the k efficiency factors of C and F-type fly ashes were obtained. As a result, it is seen that efficiency factors of the concrete produced by the replacement of F and C type fly ashes with cement increase with the increase in cement dosage and concrete age.     

Effects of fly ash properties on characteristics of cold-bonded fly ash lightweight aggregates

The study presented herein provides a new insight into the effects of physical and chemical properties of the fly ash on the characteristics of the cold-bonded fly ash lightweight aggregates. LWAs were manufactured through the cold-bonding pelletization of two fly ashes differing in their physical and chemical properties. Moreover, one type of the LWAs was surface treated by water glass. The produced fly ash aggregates were then examined by means of ESEM micrograph, EDX spectrum, and XRD pattern to resolve the microstructural and the mineralogical characteristics of the LWAs. The findings of the study revealed that the fly ash with higher specific surface and with lower CaO content yielded higher strength LWAs. Furthermore, the surface treatment with water glass provided a marked increase in the aggregate strength and a reduction in the water absorption. The LWCs made with such LWAs had a compressive strength of as high as 60 MPa.     

Hybrid fiber reinforced self-compacting concrete with a high-volume coarse fly ash

This paper presents a study on the fresh and mechanical properties of a fiber reinforced self-compacting concrete incorporating high-volume fly ash that does not meet the fineness requirements of ASTM C 618. A polycarboxylic-based superplasticizer was used in combination with a viscosity modifying admixture. In mixtures containing fly ash, 50% of cement by weight was replaced with fly ash. Two different types of steel fibers were used in combination, keeping the total fiber content constant at 60 kg/m³. Slump flow time and diameter, V-funnel, and air content were performed to assess the fresh properties of the concrete. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity of the concrete were determined for the hardened properties. The results indicated that high-volume coarse fly ash can be used to produce fiber reinforced self-compacting concrete, even though there is some reduction in the concrete strength because of the use of high-volume coarse fly ash.     

Influence of high temperature on the properties of concretes made with industrial by-products as fine aggregate replacement

Influence of high temperature on the properties of concrete containing non-ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) and coal bottom ash (BA) as fine aggregate was presented. Six series of concrete mixtures were prepared by partially replacing fine aggregate separately with GBFS and BA. Replacement percentages were between 10 and 50% with an increment of 10% by dry weight of fine aggregate. Then 0.2% polypropylene fibres (PP) were added to last three mixtures that has the same mixture with the first three series. The first series is control concrete, the second series contained GBFS and the third series contained BA. All the concrete specimens were exposed to 800 °C temperature at the age of 90 days. Tests were conducted to determine loss in weight, compressive strength, and dynamic modulus of elasticity. Also surface crack observations were conducted with microscope. Test results showed that it is possible to partially replace fine aggregate with GBFS or BA even if such concretes were to be subjected to high temperature response. Performance of BA concrete was found to be better than GBFS as replacement material.     

Influence of mineral additions on the performance of 100% recycled aggregate concrete

A judicious use of resources, by using by-products and waste materials, and a lower environmental impact, by reducing carbon dioxide emission and virgin aggregate extraction, allow to approach sustainable building development. Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) containing supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), if satisfactory concrete properties are achieved, can be an example of such sustainable construction materials.In this work concrete specimens were manufactured by completely replacing fine and coarse aggregates with recycled aggregates from a rubble recycling plant. Also RAC with fly ash (RA + FA) or silica fume (RA + SF) were studied.Concrete properties were evaluated by means of compressive strength and modulus of elasticity in the first experimental part. In the second experimental part, compressive and tensile splitting strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, drying shrinkage, reinforcing bond strength, carbonation, chloride penetration were studied. Satisfactory concrete properties can be developed with recycled fine and coarse aggregates with proper selection and proportioning of the concrete materials.