Fracture Toughness of Wood Fiber Gypsum Panels from Size Effect Law

This paper addresses the size effect of inplane bending strength as well as Mode I fracture toughness and process zone length of wood fiber-reinforced gypsum panels. Wood fiber gypsum panels represent an incombustible short fiber composite material composed of recycled paper fibers embedded in a gypsum matrix. The material, which is used for sheathing and bracing of timber frame constructions, exhibits marked fracture softening supposedly resulting in a considerable size effect. In the paper presented, in a first step Ba?ant’s size effect law for quasi-brittle materials is derived. The parameters of this size effect law are then determined by means of nonlinear regression analysis applied to a test series with scaled single edge notched beam specimens. Detailed consideration is given to the adequacy of linear confidence intervals of the model parameters in comparison to nonlinear inferential results. Finally, the probability densities of fracture toughness and fracture process zone length are determined from the distributions of the size effect parameters by means of theory of random variables.     

Strength Characteristics of Class F Fly Ash Modified with Lime and Gypsum

This paper presents the shear strength characteristics of a low lime class F fly ash modified with lime alone or in combination with gypsum. Unconfined compression tests were conducted for both unsoaked and soaked specimens cured up to 90 days. Addition of a small percentage of gypsum (0.5 and 1.0%) along with lime (4–10%) enhanced the shear strength of modified fly ash within short curing periods (7 and 28 days). The gain in unsoaked unconfined compressive strength (qu) of the fly ash was 2,853 and 3,567% at 28 and 90 days curing, respectively, for addition of 10% lime along with 1% gypsum to the fly ash. The effect of 24?h soaking showed reduction of qu varying from 30 to 2% depending on mix proportions and curing period. Unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests with pore-pressure measurements were conducted for 7 and 28 days cured specimens. The cohesion of the Class F fly ash increased up to 3,150% with addition of 10% lime along with 1% gypsum to the fly ash and cured for 28 days. The modified fly ash shows the values of Skempton’s pore-pressure parameter, Af similar to that of over consolidated soils. The effects of lime content, gypsum content, and curing period on the shear strength parameters of the fly ash are highlighted herein. Empirical relationships are proposed to estimate the design parameters like deviatoric stress at failure, and cohesion of the modified fly ash. Thus, this modified fly ash with considerable shear strength may find potential use in civil engineering construction fields.     

高温水泥浆体系研究与应用

针对土库曼斯坦南约洛坦气田膏盐层固井对高温抗盐水泥浆性能的要求,研究了高温缓凝剂GHN和高温抗盐降失水剂GFL.GHN由有机膦酸钠盐、有机酸组成,对水泥浆其它性能无不利影响,对水质和水泥品种适应性强,其加量与稠化时间具有良好的线性.GFL为单磺酸四元共聚物AA-AM-VP-AMPS,抗温达180℃,抗欠饱和盐水.为提高固井质量,在高温水泥浆中还使用了硅粉、稳定剂及微膨胀剂.该高温水泥浆性能优越,应用温度范围为100～180℃,失水量在100mL以内,在土库曼的7口井中进行了试验,现场施工顺利,固井质量合格率为100％,解决了该气田高温盐膏层固井技术难题及高压、多气层固井过程中井漏与气侵并存的问题.     

Mechanism of thaumasite formation in concrete slabs on grade in Southern California

Thaumasite formation has been observed in residential concrete slabs on grade in Southern California. The concrete examined did not contain any carbonate bearing aggregates or fillers. Microstructural analyses showed a carbonated layer with calcite and gypsum at the bottom of the concrete. Above the carbonation layer, deposits of intermixed gypsum and thaumasite were observed. Further into the concrete towards the upper surface, deposits of thaumasite alone or in combination with ettringite were observed. Most of the thaumasite deposits were observed in air voids. SEM–EDS analysis showed deposits of ettringite, thaumasite and intermediate phases within the same air voids. The formation of thaumasite, ettringite and gypsum was caused by ingress of sulfate and carbonate ions from ground water. The presence of thaumasite, ettringite and intermediate phases in the same air void indicates that ettringite is first formed followed by thaumasite with a series of solid solutions. In this reaction process the pH of the local environment and the balance between sulfate, silicate and carbonate ions are important parameters.     

Evaluation of the wettability of spherical cement particle surfaces using penetration rate method

The wettability of cement particles is related to the fluidity of cement paste. This paper describes the mechanism of the higher fluidity imparted by the spherical cement particles in light of their wettability. In addition, the effects of gypsum on the wettability were also studied. This study has shown the following: (1) The weight of water and water-reducing agent solution penetrating the spherical cement powder bed is 24-150% higher than that for the ordinary Portland cement powder bed. This results in the improvement of the wettability of the particle surfaces of spherical cement. The high wettability of spherical cement contributes to its high fluidity. (2) The presence of many fine gypsum particles on the spherical cement particle surface reduces the wettability. (3) To prepare spherical cement, the optimum amount of gypsum added is determined by the acceleration of the formation of spherical particles and the wettability of particle surfaces.     

Phase evolution during the low temperature formation of stoichiometric hydroxyapatite-gypsum composites

Both plaster of Paris (CaSO₄·(1/2)H₂O, POP) and bone-like synthetic calcium phosphates (CaP) have been used as bone-like cements. The current study investigated the formation of composites involving POP with each of three types of stoichiometric hydroxyapatites (abbreviated as SHAp, S-SH, and C-SH, each with a Ca/P molar ratio of 1.67). The kinetics, variations in solution chemistry during the formation of these composites and phase compositions of the formed products were investigated over a course of 24 h. Although the presence of gypsum precursors was shown to decrease the alkalinity of the medium involving SHAp formation from its precursors, a delay in the growth kinetics of gypsum was observed. The same behavior was observed in the presence of commercial apatite (C-SH), whereas in the presence of synthetic apatite (S-SH), no delay was observed. A possibility of formation of a calcium sulfate phosphate double salt, as an intermediate, was investigated and confirmed by XRD analysis.     

Moisture transport and dehydration in heated gypsum, an NMR study

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is used to non-destructively measure the moisture and dehydration profiles in gypsum during one sided heating to temperatures of 400 °C reflecting the conditions during fire. The temperature and moisture profiles are recorded simultaneously. The gypsum used in the experiments was extensively characterised using TGA, DSC, MIP, and NMR. The influence of the initial moisture content on the drying and dehydration processes was tested by varying the moisture content of the samples: capillary saturated, 50% RH, and 0% RH.By calibrating the NMR signal with moisture content we have shown that it is possible to not only measure free or absorbed water with NMR, but also measure the degree of hydration of the gypsum. Furthermore, by comparing the NMR signal decays it is possible to distinguish between these two water populations. The measured water profiles reveal that during one sided heating of a gypsum sample the dehydration inside is taking place in a two-step reaction. Furthermore, the profiles indicate that the vapour produce by the dehydration reactions condensates and thereby increases the local moisture content. The condensated water forms a so-called moisture peak behind the dehydration front.To our knowledge the measurements described in this article are the first quantitative in-situ evidence for the existence of two dehydration fronts in gypsum during one sided heating. Furthermore, the built up of a moisture peak in gypsum behind the dehydration front has not been reported in the literature to our knowledge. The NMR heating experiments presented in this paper can be used to evaluate and validate hygro-thermal models in the field of fire research on building materials.     

Effects of Process Parameters on Gypsum Scale Formation in Pipes

Scaling often leads to a series of technical and economical problems in industrial plants and equipments by blocking water flow in pipes or limiting heat transfer in heat exchangers. While most contemporary studies are focusing on crystallization at heat‐exchanger surfaces and scaling on nanofilters in desalination plants, very little work has been done investigating scale formation on pipe and vessel walls. A comprehensive investigation of the effects of various process parameters in controlling the formation of calcium sulfate scale in pipes was undertaken. Supersaturation ratio, run time, and operational hydrodynamics were altered systematically to determine their influence on the scale growth rate. The results confirmed that the deposition of gypsum on pipe walls was significantly affected by these process parameters.     

Effect of solution concentrations and replacement levels of metakaolin on the resistance of mortars exposed to magnesium sulfate solutions

This paper reports an experimental study on the magnesium sulfate resistance of mortar and paste specimens incorporating 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% metakaolin (MK). The resistance of mortar specimens was evaluated using visual examination, reduction in compressive strength and expansion measurements.Results confirmed that mortar specimens with a high replacement level of metakaolin showed lower resistance to a higher sulfate concentration of magnesium solution. However, in a lower concentration, there were no visibly remarkable differences in the deterioration of mortar specimens, even up to 360 days of exposure, regardless of replacement levels of metakaolin.The negative effect of metakaolin on the magnesium sulfate resistance is partially attributed to the formation of gypsum but not ettringite and thaumasite. In addition, the reduction of calcium hydroxide and the increase of secondary C-S-H in the cement matrix due to pozzolanic reaction of metakaolin provided an opportunity to lead to the conversion of primary and secondary C-S-H gel into the M-S-H gel.It is concluded that it is necessary to pay special attention when using metakaolin in concrete exposed to highly concentrated magnesium sulfate solution.