Appraisal of long-term effects of fly ash and silica fume on compressive strength of concrete by neural networks

This study focuses on studying the effects of fly ash and silica fume replacement content on the strength of concrete cured for a long-term period of time by neural networks (NNs). Applicability of NNs to evaluate the effects of FA and SF for a long period of time is investigated. The investigations covered concrete mixes at different water cementitious materials ratio, which contained low and high volumes of FA, and with or without the additional small amount of SF. 24 different mixes with 144 different samples were gathered form the literature for this purpose. These samples consist concretes that were cured for 3, 7, 28, 56 and 180 days. A NN model is constructed trained and tested using these data. The data used in the NN model are arranged in a format of eight input parameters that cover the fly ash replacement ratio (FA), silica fume replacement ratio (SF), total cementitious material (TCM), fine aggregate (ssa), coarse aggregate (ca), water content (W), high rate water reducing agent (HRWRA) and age of samples (AS) and an output parameter which is compressive strength of concrete (f_c). A NN program was devised in MATLAB and the NN model was constructed in this program. The results showed that NNs have strong potential as a feasible tool for evaluation of the effect of cementitious material on the compressive strength of concrete. It was found that FA content contributed little at early ages but much at later ages to the strength of concrete. It can also be concluded that the enhancement effect of low content of SF on compressive strength was not significant.     

Production of high strength concrete by use of industrial by-products

Blast furnace slag aggregates (BFSA) were used to produce high-strength concretes (HSC). These concretes were made with total cementitious material content of 460–610 kg/m³. Different water/cement ratios (0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.45 and 0.50) were used to carry out 7- and 28-day compressive strength and other properties. Silica fume and a superplasticizer were used to improve BFSA concretes. Slump was kept constant throughout this study. Ten percent silica fume was added as a replacement for ordinary portland cement (OPC) in order to obtain HSC. The silica fume was used as highly effective micro-filler and pozzolanic admixture. Superplasticizer at dosages of 2%, 1.5%, 1%, 0.5% and 0% by OPC weight for 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.45 and 0.50 w/c ratios, respectively, were adopted. Results showed that compressive strength of BFSA concretes were approximately 60–80% higher than traditional (control) concretes for different w/c ratios. These concretes also had low absorption and high splitting tensile strength values. It is concluded that BFSA, in combination with other supplementary cementitious materials, can be utilized in making high strength concretes.     

Prediction of density and compressive strength for rubberized concrete blocks

The influence of rubber content within the range of 5–50% as the replacement for sand volume and water/cement (w/c) ratio (0.45–0.55) on the density and compressive strength of concrete blocks was investigated. All the mixtures were proportioned with a fixed aggregate/cement ratio of 5.6. A total of 50% of the total aggregate was fine aggregate. Based on the experimental results, the density and strength reduction factors for rubberized concrete blocks were calculated by considering the dependent factors of rubber content and w/c ratio. Linear and logarithm equations derived, based on the results from experimental work are proposed to predict the density and compressive strength of rubberized concrete blocks.     

Properties of concrete prepared with crushed fine stone,furnace bottom ash and fine recycled aggregate as fine aggregates

This paper presents the results of a study to compare the properties of concretes prepared with the use river sand, crushed fine stone (CFS), furnace bottom ash (FBA), and fine recycled aggregate (FRA) as fine aggregates. Two methods were used to design the concrete mixes: (i) fixed water–cement ratio (W/C) and (ii) fixed slump ranges. The investigation included testing of compressive strength, drying shrinkage and resistance to chloride-ion penetration of the concretes. The test results showed that, at fixed water–cement ratios, the compressive strength and the drying shrinkage decreased with the increase in the FBA content. FRA decreased the compressive strength and increased the drying shrinkage of the concrete. However, when designing the concrete mixes with a fixed slump value, at all the test ages, when FBA was used as the fine aggregates to replace natural aggregates, the concrete had higher compressive strength, lower drying shrinkage and higher resistance to the chloride-ion penetration. But the use of FRA led to a reduction in compressive strength but increase in shrinkage values. The results suggest that both FBA and FRA can be used as fine aggregates for concrete production.     

Comparison of compressive and splitting tensile strength of high-strength concrete with and without polypropylene fibers heated to high temperatures

This paper presents the results of an extensive experimental study on the compressive and splitting tensile strength of high-strength concrete with and without polypropylene (PP) fibers after heating to 600 °C. Mixtures were prepared with water to cementitious materials ratios of 0.40, 0.35, and 0.30 containing silica fume at 0%, 6%, and 10% cement replacement and polypropylene fibers content of 0, 1, 2, and 3 kg/m³. A severe strength loss was observed for all of the concretes after exposure to 600 °C, particularly the concretes containing silica fume despite their good mechanical properties at room temperature. The range of 300–600 °C was more critical for concrete having higher strength. The relative compressive strengths of concretes containing PP fibers were higher than those of concretes without PP fibers. The splitting tensile strength of concrete was more sensitive to high temperatures than the compressive strength. Furthermore, the presence of PP fibers was more effective for compressive strength than splitting tensile strength above 200 °C. Based on the test results, it can be concluded that the addition of 2 kg/m³ PP fibers can significantly promote the residual mechanical properties of HSC during heating.     

基于正交试验设计的发泡聚苯乙烯混凝土强度研究

发泡聚苯乙烯混凝土具有应用于地上地面和地下工程的潜力,但由于发泡聚苯乙烯自身具有疏水性,在制备过程中容易发生浮起,因此其强度无法得到良好控制。为此,基于制备及抗压强度试验,采用正交试验设计表L18(37)分析了水灰比、颗粒掺量比、高效减水剂用量、添加剂Ⅰ、Ⅱ用量、砂率、纤维含量的不同配合比对发泡聚苯乙烯混凝土抗压强度的影响。试验结果表明,水灰比和颗粒掺量比是影响发泡聚苯乙烯混凝土抗压强度的两个关键因素。为得到聚苯乙烯膨胀混凝土的最佳抗压强度,基于方差分析提出了最优配合比,即当水灰比为0.3、颗粒掺量比为4∶1、高效减水剂用量为1.5%、添加剂Ⅰ为1%、添加剂Ⅱ为0.08%、砂率为32%、纤维含量为0.9 kg/m^3时,发泡聚苯乙烯混凝土的抗压强度大于35 MPa,达到满足地上地面及地下工程要求发泡聚苯乙烯混凝土的最佳状态。     

Durability design and performance of self-consolidating lightweight concrete

In terms of the durability, the reduction in cement paste is crucial to both volume stability and long-term performance of concrete. The objective of this paper is to compare the performance of lightweight concrete under different w/cm ratio and different cement paste content. The slump and slump flow spread of fresh self-consolidating lightweight concrete (SCLWC) are designed to be within 230–270 and 550–650 mm, respectively. The test results indicate that the 91-day compressive strength of SCLWC is up to 56 MPa when cement content is 386 kg/m³ and water content is 150 kg/m³. If enough cement paste is used, then the less the paste amount and the denser the packing of aggregate, the higher the strength efficiency of cement and the electric resistance, and the lower the chloride ion penetrability capacity of SCLWC.     

Strength and drying shrinkage properties of concrete containing furnace bottom ash as fine aggregate

The strength and drying shrinkage of concretes with the natural sand replaced with furnace bottom ash (FBA) at 0%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 100% by mass, were studied at fixed water–cement ratios (W/C) and fixed slump ranges.The results showed that, at fixed water–cement ratios, the compressive strength and the drying shrinkage decreased with the increase of the FBA sand content. However, at fixed workability, the compressive strength was comparable with that of the control concrete, while the drying shrinkage increased with the increase of the FBA sand content beyond 30% replacement level. Nevertheless, 30% of the natural sand can be beneficially replaced with the FBA sand to produce concrete in the compressive strength range from 40 to 60 N/mm² without detrimentally affecting drying shrinkage properties of the concrete.     

Effects of tensile reinforcement ratio and compressive strength on the behaviour of over-reinforced helically confined HSC beams

The technology of high strength concrete has improved over the last decade. High strength concrete (HSC) is more brittle than normal strength concrete. The brittleness increases with the use of over-reinforced section, which fails suddenly without warning. Use of over reinforced sections is restricted in codes of practice of concrete design. This paper presents an experimental study of the behaviour of five HSC beams confined with helical reinforcement. Concrete compressive strength in the range 72–95 MPa and tensile reinforcement ratio in the range 5.24–7.86% were used. The main results indicate that as the concrete compressive strength increases the displacement ductility index decreases and the load at spalling-off the concrete cover increases. Also, the displacement ductility index increases as the longitudinal reinforcement ratio increases and the load at spalling-off the concrete cover decreases.     

Genetic programming based formulation for fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete containing pulverised fuel ash

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) flows into place and around obstructions under its own weight to fill the formwork completely and self-compact without any segregation and blocking. Elimination of the need for compaction leads to better quality concrete and substantial improvement of working conditions. This investigation aimed to show possible applicability of genetic programming (GP) to model and formulate the fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) containing pulverised fuel ash (PFA) based on experimental data. Twenty-six mixes were made with 0.38 to 0.72 water-to-binder ratio (W/B), 183–317 kg/m³ of cement content, 29–261 kg/m³ of PFA, and 0 to 1% of superplasticizer, by mass of powder. Parameters of SCC mixes modelled by genetic programming were the slump flow, JRing combined to the Orimet, JRing combined to cone, and the compressive strength at 7, 28 and 90 days. GP is constructed of training and testing data using the experimental results obtained in this study. The results of genetic programming models are compared with experimental results and are found to be quite accurate. GP has showed a strong potential as a feasible tool for modelling the fresh properties and the compressive strength of SCC containing PFA and produced analytical prediction of these properties as a function as the mix ingredients. Results showed that the GP model thus developed is not only capable of accurately predicting the slump flow, JRing combined to the Orimet, JRing combined to cone, and the compressive strength used in the training process, but it can also effectively predict the above properties for new mixes designed within the practical range with the variation of mix ingredients.     

Strength reduction factors for structural rubbercrete

Many researches have been carried out to study the fresh and hardened properties of concrete containing crumb rubber as replacement to fine aggregate by volume, yet there is no specific guideline has been developed on the mix design of the rubbercrete. The experimental program, which has been developed and reported in this paper, is designed and executed to provide such mix design guidelines. A total of 45 concrete mixes with three different water to cement ratio (0.41, 0.57 and 0.68) were cast and tested for fresh and mechanical properties of rubbercrete such as slump, air content, unit weight, compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. Influence of mix design parameters such as percentage of crumb rubber replacement, cement content, water content, fine aggregate content, and coarse aggregate content were investigated. Three levels of slump value (for conventional concrete mixes) has been selected; low, medium and high slump. In each slump level, water content was kept constant. Equations for the reduction factors (RFs) for compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of elasticity have been developed. These RFs can be used to design rubbercrete mixes based on the conventional mix (0% crumb rubber content)     

不同取代率再生粗骨料混凝土的力学性能

系统研究了坍落度相同的情况下再生粗骨料取代率对混凝土基本性能的影响.试验中再生粗骨料的掺入量分别为0,30%,50%,70%和100%,通过调节用水量使各组混凝土达到相同的坍落度.主要研究了达到相同坍落度时混凝土的用水量以及再生粗骨料取代率对混凝土坍落度、立方体抗压强度、棱柱体抗压强度、峰值应变和泊松比、弹性模量、劈裂抗拉强度以及抗折强度的影响.试验结果表明,再生粗骨料取代率对上述各性能指标均有一定影响,但程度不同.同时发现,除劈裂抗拉强度和抗折强度外,普通混凝土各基本力学性能指标间的关系不适用各种再生骨料取代率的混凝土.     

Influence of bacteria on the compressive strength, water absorption and rapid chloride permeability of fly ash concrete

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation carried out to evaluate the influence of Sporoscarcina pasteurii bacteria on the compressive strength and rapid chloride permeability of concrete made without and with fly ash. Cement was replaced with three percentages (10, 20 and 30) with fly ash by weight. Three different cell concentration (0, 10³,10⁵,10⁷ cells/ml) of bacteria were used in making the concrete mixes. Tests were performed for compressive strength, water absorption and rapid chloride permeability at the age of 28 days. Test results indicated that inclusion of S. pasteurii in fly ash concrete enhanced the compressive strength, reduced the porosity and permeability of fly ash concrete. Maximum increase (22%) in compressive strength and four-times reduction in water absorption was observed with 10⁵ cells/ml of bacteria. This improvement in compressive strength was due to deposition on the bacteria cell surfaces within the pores.Calcite deposition in concrete observed nearly eight times reduction in chloride permeability of fly ash concrete. The present work highlights the influence of bacteria on the properties of concrete made with supplementing cementing material such as like fly ash. Usage of bacteria like S. pasteurii improves strength and durability and strength of fly ash concrete through self-healing effect.     

短期持压载荷对高强混凝土毛细吸水性能的影响

利用改进的实时吸水试验装置,实现了持压载荷和水分传输的同步耦合过程,开展了短期持压荷载下高强混凝土(HSC)毛细吸水试验研究,分析了应力水平对粒化高炉矿渣(GBFS)掺量为0%、10%和20%的C60高强混凝土毛细吸水性能的影响.结果表明:在0%～60%应力水平下,随着应力水平的提高,不同矿渣掺量高强混凝土的累计吸水量和平均吸水率均先减小后增大;短期持压载荷作用下,荷载对混凝土吸水性能的影响主要在初始阶段,GBFS掺量引起混凝土吸水率的变化在后期更显著;C60高强混凝土毛细吸水性能变化的应力水平阈值约为40%,高于C40普通混凝土;随着GBFS掺量的增加,混凝土的吸水率先增大后减小,0%、20%掺量的高强混凝土都能较好地减缓毛细吸水速度.     

Characteristics of mortar and concrete containing fine aggregate manufactured from recycled waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles

This paper presents the development of lightweight aggregate concrete using fine aggregate that is manufactured from recycled waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. Investigations on waste PET lightweight aggregate concrete included three phases: examination of the properties of waste PET lightweight aggregates (WPLA), analysis of the properties of mortar when WPLA was used as fine aggregate, and analysis of the properties of concrete when WPLA was used as fine aggregate. The results of the first phase showed that the WPLA had a density of 1390 kg/m³, a water absorption of 0% and a bulk density of 844 kg/m³. WPLA fineness modulus (F.M.), however, was 4.11, which is higher than the F.M. of river sand. This is because the WPLA was single graded. The results of the second phase showed that for the mortar, in which the WPLA was used as a fine aggregate, the flow value increased, while the compressive strength decreased proportionally to the addition of WPLA with elapsed time. In addition, the amount of water absorption by unit area was higher than for the control mortar (without WPLA) when the WPLA content was either 40% or 60%. For the third phase, the results showed that the slump of the WPLA concrete increased as the WPLA content increased regardless of the water-cement ratio (W/C). In comparison to the control concrete, the 28-day WPLA concrete compressive strength decreased by 5%, 15% and 30%, with an increase of WPLA content of 25%, 50% and 75%, respectively. In addition, for a W/C of 0.49, the structural efficiency (compressive strength/density ratio) of the concrete containing 25% of WPLA was higher than that for the control concrete.     

The properties of concrete made with fine dune sand

This paper presents the results of a study that investigated the properties of concrete made with dune sand. Different control concrete mixtures using ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with a minimum design compressive strength of 40 N/mm² were prepared. The amount of fine aggregates constituted about 36% by weight of all the aggregates. The workability ranged from low of 16 mm to a high of 122 mm. For each control mix, other mixtures were prepared in which the fine aggregates were replaced by different percentages of dune sand ranging from 10% to 100%. The effect of dune sand on the workability, compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and initial surface absorption test (ISAT) was studied. Experimental results show an improvement in the workability of concrete when fine aggregates were partially replaced by dune sand. An increase in slump was measured with increase in dune sand content. However, at high dune sand contents (above 50%); the slump starts to decrease with an increase in dune sand. Generally, the strength values decrease with increase in dune sand replacement. The strength loss was not found considerable as the maximum reduction was less than 25% when fine aggregates were fully replaced by dune sand. The absorption characteristics of concrete made with OPC as measured by the (ISAT) generally increased with higher dune sand contents.     

A study of the workability and compressive strength characteristics of corn cob ash blended cement concrete

The study investigated the workability and compressive strength characteristics of corn cob ash (CCA) blended cement concrete. Nine classes of CCA-blended cements were employed with the CCA content ranging from 0% to 25%. The 0% CCA replacement involved the use of normal ordinary Portland cement and it served as the control. The mix proportions of cement:sand:granite used were 1:1½:3, 1:2:4 and 1:3:6 with 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7 water-to-cement ratios, respectively. The concrete cubes were tested at the curing ages of 3, 7, 28, 60, 120, and 180 days. Slump and compacting factor tests were carried out to check the effect of CCA on the workability of concrete. The results showed that the concrete slump and compacting factor decreased as the CCA content increased indicating that concrete becomes less workable (stiff) as the CCA percentage increases. The compressive strength of CCA-blended cement concrete was lower than the control at early ages, but improves significantly, and outperforms the control at later ages (120 days and above). The optimum compressive strength of 57.10 N/mm², 40.30 N/mm² and 28.07 N/mm² for 1:11/2:3, 1:2:4 and 1:3:6 mix proportions, respectively at 180 days were obtained at 8% CCA replacement level. It was concluded that only up to 8% CCA substitution is adequate where the blended cement is to be used for structural concrete.     

高强陶粒混凝土性能研究

陶粒混凝土具有无碱骨料反应、隔音和质轻等优点.本文采用松散体积法设计混凝土配合比.除抗压强度外,创新性通过应变片法,利用静态应力应变仪研究陶粒对混凝土的弹性模量和泊松比等力学性能的影响.结果表明,陶粒在使用前需进行浸水1h的预处理,以避免坍落度损失过大;10-15mm粒径陶粒可以使混凝土表观密度达到2000kg/m3,...     

高H元素含量防辐射混凝土制备与性能研究

近年来,防辐射防护混凝土设计要求越来越高,不再单一地要求密度等级。目前防辐射混凝土结合水含量均在4%左右,多为干硬性混凝土,坍落度小,施工不便,难以满足新的核设施辐射防护需要。通过研究制备得到了56d抗压强度C40,密度 3500kg/m3,坍落度(170～190)mm,H元素含量30kg/m3的防辐射混凝土。同时,通过高温处理、调整水灰比和用水量,研究了温度、水灰比和用水量对防辐射混凝土性能的影响。     

再生粗骨料取代率对混凝土基本性能的影响

系统研究了相同水灰比情况下再生粗骨料取代率对混凝土基本性能的影响。试验中再生粗骨料取代率分别为0，30％，50％，70％和100％，保持混凝土的水灰比不变。主要研究了再生粗骨料取代率对混凝土立方体坍落度、抗压强度、棱柱体抗压强度、峰值应变和泊松比、弹性模量、劈裂抗拉强度以及抗折强度的影响。试验结果表明，再生粗骨料取代率对上述各性能指标均有一定影响，但程度不同。同时发现，除抗折强度外，普通混凝土各基本力学性能指标问的关系均不适用各种再生骨料取代率混凝土。