Title:
Frost Resistance of Alkali-Activated Combined Slag and Fly Ash Concrete Cured at Ambient Temperature
Author(s):
Alexandre Rodrigue, Josée Duchesne, Benoit Fournier, and Benoit Bissonnette
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
119
Issue:
3
Appears on pages(s):
3-13
Keywords:
alkali-activated concrete; deicing salts; durability; fly ash; freezing; scaling; slag; thawing
DOI:
10.14359/51734600
Date:
5/1/2022
Abstract:
Alkali-activated slag/fly ash concretes were tested regarding their resistance to freezing-and-thawing cycles and deicing salt scaling. Different fly ash contents, added water dosages, and air-entraining admixture (AEA) dosages were tested. The deicing salt-scaling resistance tests were conducted on different types of surfaces (troweled, formed, saw cut). The tested alkali-activated slag/fly ash concretes showed excellent performances to freezing and thawing (300 cycles) with statistically identical values of relative dynamic modulus of elasticity averaging 100%. The performance was also good for specimens tested without addition of AEA. However, they exhibited poor scaling resistance to deicing salts with only one mixture satisfying the 0.50 kg/m2 (0.102 lb/ft2) limit of the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) test procedure, with a value of 0.49 kg/m2 (0.100 lb/ft2). Finished surfaces underwent more scaling than formed or saw-cut surfaces. The curing of the specimens and the scaling test itself may not be suitable to test alkali-activated concrete.
Related References:
1. Powers, T. C., “The Air Requirement of Frost-Resistant Concrete,” Highway Research Board, V. 29, 1949, pp. 184-211.
2. Petersson, P. E., “Scaling Resistance Tests of Concretes: Experience from Practical Use in Sweden,” Atelier international sur la résistance des bétons aux cycles de gel-dégel en présence de sels fondants, Comité RILEM TC 117, Québec, QC, Canada, 1993, pp. 249-259.
3. Cai, L.; Wang, H.; and Fu, Y., “Freeze-Thaw Resistance of Alkali-
Slag Concrete Based on Response Surface Methodology,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 49, 2013, pp. 70-76. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.07.045
4. Gifford, P. M., and Gillott, J. E., “Freeze-Thaw Durability of Activated Blast-Furnace Slag Cement Concrete,” ACI Materials Journal, V. 93, No. 3, May-June 1996, pp. 1994-1997.
5. Rodrigue, A.; Duchesne, J.; Fournier, B.; and Bissonnette, B., “Influence of Added Water and Fly Ash Content on the Characteristics, Properties and Early-Age Cracking Sensitivity of Alkali-Activated Slag/Fly Ash Concrete Cured at Ambient Temperature,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 171, 2018, pp. 929-941. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.03.176
6. Fu, Y.; Cai, L.; and Wu, Y., “Freeze-Thaw Cycle Test and Damage Mechanics Models of Alkali-Activated Slag Concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 25, No. 7, 2011, pp. 3144-3148. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.12.006
7. Sun, P., and Wu, H. C., “Chemical and Freeze-Thaw Resistance of Fly Ash-Based Inorganic Mortars,” Fuel, V. 111, 2013, pp. 740-745. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2013.04.070
8. Pigeon, M.; Marchand, J.; and Pleau, R., “Frost Resistant Concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 10, No. 5, 1996, pp. 339-348. doi: 10.1016/0950-0618(95)00067-4
9. Fagerlund, G., “Effect of Air-Entraining and Other Admixtures on the Salt-Scaling Resistance of Concrete,” International Seminar on Some Aspects of Admixtures and Industrial By-Products on the Durability of Concrete, L.O. Nilsson, ed., Göteborg, Sweden, 1986.
10. Rose, K.; Hope, B. B.; and Ip, A. K. C., “Statistical Analysis of Strength and Durability of Concrete Made with Different Cements,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 19, No. 3, 1989, pp. 476-486. doi: 10.1016/0008-8846(89)90036-7
11. Sarkar, S. L., “Effect of Blaine Fineness Reversal on Strength and Hydration of Cement,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 20, No. 3, 1990, pp. 398-406. doi: 10.1016/0008-8846(90)90030-2
12. Lee, N. K., and Lee, H. K., “Setting and Mechanical Properties of Alkali-Activated Fly Ash/Slag Concrete Manufactured at Room Temperature,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 47, 2013, pp. 1201-1209. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.05.107
13. Melo Neto, A. A.; Cincotto, M. A.; and Repette, W., “Drying and Autogenous Shrinkage of Pastes and Mortars with Activated Slag Cement,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 38, No. 4, 2008, pp. 565-574. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2007.11.002
14. Pasupathy, K.; Berndt, M.; Castel, A.; Sanjayan, J.; and Pathmanathan, R., “Carbonation of a Blended Slag-Fly Ash Geopolymer Concrete in Field Conditions after 8 Years,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 125, 2016, pp. 661-669. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.08.078
15. Li, Z., and Li, S., LI. “Carbonation Resistance of Fly Ash and Blast Furnace Slag Based Geopolymer Concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 163, 2018, pp. 668-680. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.12.127
16. Ye, H., and Radlinska, A., “Fly Ash-Slag Interaction during Alkaline Activation: Influence of Activators on Phase Assemblage and Microstructure Formation,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 122, 2016, pp. 594-606. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.06.099
17. Ismail, I.; Bernal, S. A.; Provis, J. L.; San Nicolas, R.; Hamdan, S.; and van Deventer, K. S. J., “Modification of Phase Evolution in Alkali-
Activated Blast Furnace Slag by the Incorporation of Fly Ash,” Cement and Concrete Composites, V. 45, 2014, pp. 125-135. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2013.09.006
18. Garcia-Lodeiro, I.; Palomo, A.; Fernández-Jiménez, A.; and MacPhee, D. E., “Compatibility Studies between N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H Gels. Study in the Ternary Diagram Na2O-CaO-Al2O3-SiO 2-H2O,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 41, No. 9, 2011, pp. 923-931. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.05.006
19. Bernal, S. A.; Provis, J. L.; Walkley, B.; San Nicolas, R.; Gehman, J. D.; Brice, D. G.; Kilcullen, A. R.; Duxson, P.; and van Deventer, J. S. J., “Gel Nanostructure in Alkali-Activated Binders Based on Slag and Fly Ash, and Effects Of Accelerated Carbonation,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 53, 2013, pp. 127-144. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2013.06.007
20. Tennakoon, C.; De Silva, P.; Sagoe-Crentsil, K.; and Sanjayan, J. G., “Influence and Role of Feedstock Si and Al Content in Geopolymer Synthesis,” Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials, V. 4, No. 2, 2014, pp. 129-139. doi: 10.1080/21650373.2014.979264
21. Thomas, R. J.; Ariyachandra, E.; Lezama, D.; and Peethamparan, S., “Comparison of Chloride Permeability Methods for Alkali-Activated Concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 165, 2018, pp. 104-111. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.01.016
22. Montgomery, D. C., and Runger, G. C., Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, third edition, John Wiley and Sons Inc., Phoenix, AZ, 2003, 455 pp.
23. Rodrigue, A.; Duchesne, J.; Fournier, B.; Champagne, M.; and Bissonnette, B., “Alkali-Silica Reaction in Alkali-Activated Combined Slag and Fly Ash Concretes: The Tempering Effect of Fly Ash on Expansion and Cracking,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 251, 2020, 20 pp.
24. Gebler, S. H., and Klieger, P., “Effect of Fly Ash on the Air-Void Stability of Concrete,” Research and Development Bulletin RD085, Portland Cement Association, Skokie, IL, 1983, 40 pp.
25. Provis, J. L.; Myers, R. J.; White, C. E.; Rose, V.; and van Deventer, J. S. J., “X-ray Microtomography Shows Pore Structure and Tortuosity in Alkali-Activated Binders,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 42, No. 6, 2012, pp. 855-864. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2012.03.004
26. Yao, X.; Yang, T.; and Zhang, Z., “Compressive Strength Development and Shrinkage of Alkali-Activated Fly Ash–Slag Blends Associated with Efflorescence,” Materials and Structures, V. 49, No. 7, 2016, pp. 2907-2918. doi: 10.1617/s11527-015-0694-3