Performance characteristics of high-volume Class F fly ash concrete

More than 88 million tonnes of fly ash is generated in India each year. Most of the fly ash is of Class F type. The percentage utilization is around 10 to 15%. To increase its percentage utilization, an extensive investigation was carried out to use it in concrete. This article presents the results of an experimental investigation dealing with concrete incorporating high volumes of Class F fly ash. Portland cement was replaced with three percentages (40%, 45%, and 50%) of Class F fly ash. Tests were performed for fresh concrete properties: slump, air content, unit weight, and temperature. Compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strengths, modulus of elasticity, and abrasion resistance were determined up to 365 days of testing.Test results indicated that the use of high volumes of Class F fly ash as a partial replacement of cement in concrete decreased its 28-day compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strengths, modulus of elasticity, and abrasion resistance of the concrete. However, all these strength properties and abrasion resistance showed continuous and significant improvement at the ages of 91 and 365 days, which was most probably due to the pozzolanic reaction of fly ash. Based on the test results, it was concluded that Class F fly ash can be suitably used up to 50% level of cement replacement in concrete for use in precast elements and reinforced cement concrete construction.     

Effect of fine aggregate replacement with Class F fly ash on the abrasion resistance of concrete

This paper presents the abrasion resistance of concrete proportioned to have four levels of fine aggregate replacement (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) with Class F fly ash. A control mixture with ordinary Portland cement was designed to have 28 days compressive strength of 26 MPa. Specimens were subjected to abrasion testing in accordance with Indian Standard Specifications (IS: 1237). Tests were also performed for fresh concrete properties and compressive strength. Tests on compressive strength and abrasion were performed up to 365 days.Test results indicated that abrasion resistance and compressive strength of concrete mixtures increased with the increase in percentage of fine aggregate replacement with fly ash. Abrasion resistance of concrete was improved approximately by 40% over control mixture with 40% replacement of fine aggregate with fly ash, and concrete with fine aggregate replacement could be suitably used.     

Use of ground coarse fly ash as a replacement of condensed silica fume in producing high-strength concrete

This paper presents a method of improving coarse fly ash in order to replace condensed silica fume in making high-strength concrete. The coarse fly ash, having the average median diameter about 90-100 μm, yields a very low pozzolanic reaction and should not be used in concrete. In order to improve its quality, the coarse fly ash was ground until the average particle size was reduced to 3.8 μm. Then, it was used to replace Portland cement type I by weights of 0%, 15%, 25%, 35%, and 50% to produce high-strength concrete. It was found that concrete containing the ground coarse fly ash (FAG) replacement between 15% and 50% can produce high-strength concrete and 25% cement replacement gave the highest compressive strength. In addition, the concrete containing FAG of 15-35% as cement replacement exhibited equal or higher compressive strengths after 60 days than those of condensed silica fume concretes. The results, therefore, suggest that the FAG with high fineness is suitable to use to replace condensed silica fume in producing high-strength concrete.     

掺粉煤灰的桥面铺装层混凝土的性能

用掺20％的C级粉煤灰水泥制备了一种新的粉煤灰混凝1（fly ash concrete,FAc）面层材料,总的胶凝材料（cementitious materials,CM）密度为394kg／m^3,并根据设计需要添加了一定量的纤维以增强材料的抗裂性能。本实验测试了面层材料的抗压和抗折强度、黏接强度、收缩率、渗透系数、残...     

Properties of concrete incorporating high volumes of class F fly ash and san fibers

The results of an experimental investigation to study the effects of replacement of cement (by mass) with three percentages of fly ash and the effects of addition of natural san fibers on the slump, Vebe time, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength of fly ash concrete are presented. San fibers belong to the category of “natural bast fibers.” It is also known as “sunn hemp.” Its scientific (botanical) name is Crotalaria juncea. It is mostly grown in the Indian subcontinent, Brazil, eastern and southern Africa and some parts of the United States (Hawaii and Florida). A control mixture of proportions 1:1.4:2.19 with W/Cm of 0.47 and superplasticizer/cementitious ratio of 0.015 was designed. Cement was replaced with three percentages (35%, 45% and 55%) of class F fly ash. Three percentages of san fibers (0.25%, 0.50% and 0.75%) having 25-mm length were used.The test results indicated that the replacement of cement with fly ash increased the workability (slump and Vebe time), decreased compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength and had no significant effect on the impact strength of plain (control) concrete. Addition of san fibers reduced the workability, did not significantly affect the compressive strength, increased the splitting tensile strength and flexural strength and tremendously enhanced the impact strength of fly ash concrete as the percentage of fibers increased.     

粉煤灰对再生骨料混凝土抗压性能影响研究*

研究用破碎、筛分处理后的建筑垃圾作为混凝土的粗骨料，代替天然粗骨料配制C20级再生混凝土，测试其抗压强度是否满足混凝土正常使用标准。再生骨料的取代率设计为0，35%，65%，100%，每个取代率做3组试件共24组试件，进行了混凝土的抗压强度试验，并探讨掺入粉煤灰对其抗压强度的影响。试验结果表明：C20级再生混凝土的抗压强度会随再生骨料取代率的增大而降低，粉煤灰可以减少水泥用量但对抗压强度影响不大。     

Strength properties of high-volume fly ash roller compacted and workable concrete, and influence of curing condition

A laboratory investigation was carried out to evaluate the strength properties of high-volume fly ash (HVFA) roller compacted and superplasticised workable concrete cured at moist and dry curing conditions. Concrete mixtures made with 0%, 50% and 70% replacement of normal Portland cement (NPC) with two different low-lime Class F fly ashes, good and low quality, were prepared. Water-cementitious material ratios ranged from 0.28 to 0.43. The compressive, flexural tensile and cylinder splitting tensile strengths were measured and presented. The relationship between the flexural tensile and compressive strengths was discussed. The influence of loss on ignition (LOI) content of fly ash on water demand and the strength of concrete was also discussed. The influence of moist and dry curing conditions on the high-volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete system was assessed through a proposed simple efficiency factor. The study showed that producing high-strength concrete was possible with high-volume fly ash content. LOI content increased the water demand of fresh concrete. HVFA concrete was found to be more vulnerable to dry curing conditions than was NPC concrete. It was concluded that HVFA concrete was an adequate material for both structural and pavement applications.     

粉煤灰掺量对氯氧镁水泥混凝土物理力学性能的影响

为了拓展氯氧镁水泥(MOC)材料的应用领域,以盐湖提钾肥副产物水氯镁石、轻烧氧化镁和粉煤灰为胶凝材料,制备了不同粉煤灰掺量的氯氧镁水泥混凝土(MOCC)。研究了粉煤灰掺量对MOCC抗压强度、物相组成、微观形貌和孔结构的影响。结果表明:随着粉煤灰掺量的增加,MOCC的抗压强度逐渐降低,当粉煤灰掺量为40%(质量分数)时,其300 d抗压强度降低至39.99 MPa,降低了22.52%。MOCC的主要水化产物为5Mg(OH)₂·MgCl₂·8H₂O(5·1·8)和Mg(OH)₂,掺加粉煤灰并没有产生新的晶相。掺入粉煤灰增加了MOCC的孔隙率和有害孔体积,从而降低了其抗压强度。采用相同水灰比制备了普通硅酸盐水泥混凝土,抗压强度对比测试结果表明:掺40%的粉煤灰MOCC的抗压强度虽然比未掺粉煤灰MOCC抗压强度低,但仍比普通硅酸盐水泥混凝土300 d龄期的抗压强度(33.42 MPa)高出19.66%,说明MOCC比普通硅酸盐水泥混凝土具有较高的抗压强度。     

Supplementary cementitious materials for mitigating degradation of kraft pulp fiber-cement composites

Kraft pulp fiber reinforced cement-based materials are being increasingly used where performance after exposure to environmental conditions must be ensured. However, significant losses in mechanical performance due to wet/dry cycling have been observed in these composites, when portland cement is the only cementitious material used in the matrix. In this research program, the effects of partial portland cement replacement with various supplementary cementitious materials were investigated. Binary, ternary, and quaternary blends of silica fume, slag, Class C fly ash, Class F fly ash, metakaolin, and diatomaceous earth/volcanic ash blends were examined for their effect on the degradation of kraft pulp fiber-cement composite mechanical properties (i.e., strength and toughness) during wet/dry cycling. After 25 wet/dry cycles, it was shown that binary composites containing 90% slag, 30% metakaolin, or greater than 30% silica fume did not exhibit any signs of degradation, as measured through mechanical testing and microscopy. Ternary blends containing 70% slag/10% metakaolin or 70% slag/10% silica fume were also effective in preventing degradation. A reduction in calcium hydroxide content and the stability of the alkali content due to supplementary cementitious material addition were shown to be primary mechanisms for improved durability.     

Biomass fly ash in concrete: Mixture proportioning and mechanical properties

ASTM C 618 prohibits use of biomass fly ashes in concrete. This document compares the properties of biomass fly ashes from cofired (herbaceous with coal), pure wood combustion and blended (pure wood fly ash blended with coal fly ash) to those of coal fly ash in concrete. The results illustrate that with 25% replacement (wt%) of cement by fly ash, the compressive strength (one day to one year) and the flexure strength (at 56th day curing) of cofired and blended biomass fly ash concrete is statistically equal to that of two coal fly ash concrete in this investigation (at 95% confidence interval). This implies that biomass fly ash with co-firing concentration within the concentration interest to commercial coal-biomass co-firing operations at power plants and blended biomass fly ash within a certain blending ratio should be considered in concrete.     

Effect of fly ash and nanosilica on compressive strength of concrete at early age

The replacement of cement by mineral admixtures in concrete has been of increasing interest in the construction industry. Nevertheless, several of the potential replacements, such as fly ash class F, lower the compressive strength of concrete at early age. This project investigates the use of nanosilica to compensate for such loss of compressive strength. A statistical experimental design involving mixtures of Portland cement, fly ash and nanosilica, in addition to water/binder ratio as an external factor, is proposed to study their combined effect on the compressive strength of concrete. This design allows estimating a cubic regression model that properly accounts for the effects of the mixture components within a constrained experimental region. The range of each factor was selected according to levels normally used in the industry. Finally, an optimisation strategy permits to recommend the use of nanosilica when high percentages of cement replacement by fly ash are present.     

Optimization of fly ash content in concrete: Part I: Non-air-entrained concrete made without superplasticizer

This paper outlines the preliminary results of a research project aimed at optimizing the fly ash content in concrete. Such fly ash concrete would develop an adequate 1-day compressive strength and would be less expensive than the normal Portland cement concrete with similar 28-day compressive strength. The results show that, in a normal Portland cement concrete having a 28-day compressive strength of 40 MPa, it is possible to replace 50% of cement by a fine fly ash (∼3000 cm²/g) with a CaO content of ∼13%, yielding a concrete of similar 28-day compressive strength. This concrete can be designed to yield an early-age strength of 10 MPa and results in a cost reduction of about 20% in comparison to the control concrete. In a case of a coarser fly ash (∼2000 cm²/g) with a CaO content of ∼4%, substitution levels of cement by this ash could be from 30% to 40%. This concrete yields a 1-day compressive strength of 10 MPa and a 28-day compressive strength similar to that of the control concrete. The total cost of this concrete is about 10% lower than that of the control concrete.     

Effect of cooling methods on residual compressive strength and cracking behavior of fly ash concretes exposed at elevated temperatures

This paper presents the effects of cooling methods on residual compressive strength and cracking behavior of concretes containing four different class F fly ash contents of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% as partial replacement of cement at various elevated temperatures. The residual compressive strength of the aforementioned fly ash concretes is measured after being exposed to 200, 400, 600 and 800 °C temperatures and two different cooling methods, for example, slow cooling and rapid water cooling. Results show that the residual compressive strengths of all fly ash concretes decrease with increase in temperatures irrespective of cooling regimes, which is similar to that of ordinary concrete. Generally, control ordinary concrete and all fly ash concretes exhibited between 10% and 35% more reduction in residual compressive strength because of rapid cooling than slow cooling except few cases. Cracks are observed over concrete specimens after being exposed to temperatures ranging from 400 to 800 °C. Samples that are slowly cooled developed smaller cracks than those rapidly cooled. At 800 °C, all fly ash concretes that are exposed to rapid cooling showed the most severe cracking. X‐ray diffraction analysis shows reduction of Ca(OH)₂ peak and formation of new calcium silicate peak in concretes containing 20% and 40% fly ash when subjected to 800 °C in both cooling methods. Thermo gravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis results show increase in thermal stability of concrete with increase in fly ash contents. The existing Eurocode also predicted the compressive strength of fly ash concretes with reasonable accuracy when subjected to the aforementioned elevated temperatures and cooling methods. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

粉煤灰掺量对高性能自密实混凝土抗压强度发展影响分析

粉煤灰对自密实混凝土的工作性能、抗压强度和耐久性能等有着显著的影响。为了探究粉煤灰掺量对自密实混凝土抗压强度发展规律的影响,配制了粉煤灰掺量为30%、45%、60%(体积分数),水灰比为1.05、1.15、1.25(体积比)的自密实混凝土并进行立方体抗压强度试验,对其3 d、7 d、28 d、90 d抗压强度的变化规律进行了分析。结果表明,随着粉煤灰掺量的增加,混凝土抗压强度逐渐减小。然后对3 d/28 d、7 d/28 d、90 d/28 d的强度比值进行分析,结果表明,粉煤灰对混凝土早期强度影响较小,对后期影响较大。最后借鉴欧洲规范CEB-FIP探究了粉煤灰与水泥混合下的复合粉体对自密实混凝土抗压强度影响系数,为相关工程应用提供理论依据。     

掺合料对硫铝酸盐水泥基混凝土耐久性影响的研究

研究了掺合料复掺(矿渣∶粉煤灰=2∶1)、单掺矿渣、单掺粉煤灰对硫铝酸盐水泥基混凝土强度、抗渗性、抗冻性的影响,并与相同水灰比下掺合料复掺对普通硅酸盐水泥基混凝土对应性能的影响进行对比。结果表明:在硫铝酸盐水泥基混凝土中,掺合料的加入使混凝土的早期和后期强度都明显降低,抗渗性稍微降低,抗冻性明显降低,且掺量越高,其强度、抗渗性、抗冻性降低越明显;但复掺时的效果比单掺时的效果好,粉煤灰的效果最差;而在普通硅酸盐水泥基混凝土中,掺合料的加入使混凝土的早期强度降低,但后期强度超过空白样的强度,抗渗性、抗冻性明显提高,但是,在无掺合料时其抗渗性、抗冻性大大低于相同水灰比下硫铝酸盐水泥基混凝土的抗渗性、抗冻性。     

An experimental study on strength development of concrete containing fly ash and optimum usage of fly ash in concrete

This paper presents a laboratory study on the strength development of concrete containing fly ash and optimum use of fly ash in concrete. Fly ash was added according to the partial replacement method in mixtures. A total of 28 mixtures with different mix designs were prepared. 4 of them were prepared as control mixtures with 250, 300, 350, and 400 kg/m³ cement content in order to calculate the Bolomey and Feret coefficients (K_B, K_F). Four groups of mixtures were prepared, each group containing six mix designs and using the cement content of one of the control mixture as the base for the mix design. In each group 20% of the cement content of the control mixture was removed, resulting in starting mixtures with 200, 240, 280, and 320 kg/m³ cement content. Fly ash in the amount of approximately 15%, 25%, 33%, 42%, 50%, and 58% of the rest of the cement content was added as partial cement replacement. All specimens were moist cured for 28 and 180 days before compressive strength testing. The efficiency and the maximum content of fly ash that gives the maximum compressive strength were obtained by using Bolomey and Feret strength equations. Hence, the maximum amount of usable fly ash amount with the optimum efficiency was determined.This study showed that strength increases with increasing amount of fly ash up to an optimum value, beyond which strength starts to decrease with further addition of fly ash. The optimum value of fly ash for the four test groups is about 40% of cement. Fly ash/cement ratio is an important factor determining the efficiency of fly ash.     

改性氯氧镁水泥砂石混凝土强度的试验研究

基于不同的MgO/MgCl2 、H2O/MgCl2物质的量比,试验中混合不同量的氧化镁、砂子、石子、抗水剂以及三种传统矿物掺合料拌制氯氧镁水泥混凝土,并测定其早期(7～28 d)和后期(28 ～ 128 d)抗压强度.试验证明,添加不同矿物掺合科(硅灰,矿粉,粉煤灰)镁水泥强度发展趋势相同但强度发展程度不同,其中以粉煤灰混凝土强度最高.由于复合抗水剂的存在,早期吸潮返卤被抑制,强度发展良好.后期混凝土强度发生下降,随着养护进行,强度又恢复发展.通过微观手段(X射线衍射、扫描电镜和能谱图)发现,含有粉煤灰的镁水泥混凝土样品微观结构存在致密凝胶相.     

用低等级湿排灰配制中低强度混凝土的试验研究

以生石灰、生石膏为激发剂,采用化学激发、水热激发与机械磨细相结合的高效复合活化技术对低等级湿排粉煤灰进行活化处理,可得到高活性粉煤灰掺合料。用此掺合料,掺入高效减水剂,配制出高掺量粉煤灰C20~C40中低强度混凝土,粉煤灰取代水泥率可达到40%~50%,试样7d抗压强度与基准混凝土相当,28d与60d抗压强度达到或超过基准混凝土。     

Effect of fine aggregate replacement with Class F fly ash on the mechanical properties of concrete

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation carried out to evaluate the mechanical properties of concrete mixtures in which fine aggregate (sand) was partially replaced with Class F fly ash. Fine aggregate (sand) was replaced with five percentages (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) of Class F fly ash by weight. Tests were performed for properties of fresh concrete. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity were determined at 7, 14, 28, 56, 91, and 365 days. Test results indicate significant improvement in the strength properties of plain concrete by the inclusion of fly ash as partial replacement of fine aggregate (sand), and can be effectively used in structural concrete.     

Properties of fresh concrete containing large amounts of fly ash

The effect of replacing 35 to 50 percent of cement by fly ash on workability, water requirement, bleeding, and setting time of lean concrete mixtures was investigated, using two ASTM Class F and two ASTM Class C fly ashes.Workability of all concrete mixtures containing fly ash was found to be better than that of the control mixtures (without fly ash). The water requirement for obtaining the designated slump (2 in., 5cm) of all concrete mixtures containing fly ash was reduced by 5 to 10 percent. The rate and volume of the bleeding water was either higher or about the same compared with the control mixture, depending on the type of fly ash and the mix proportions.Setting time was delayed for both fly ash types and at all levels of fly ash substitution compared with the control mixture; initial setting time was delayed from 20 min up to 4 hrs and 20 min, and the final setting time from 1 hour up to 5 hrs and 15 min, depending on the type and the amount of fly ash used.