International Concrete Abstracts Portal

The use of blast furnace slag aggregate (BFSA) is not new, but its application in the production of high-performance concrete (HPC) is nonexistent at least, in Australia. This paper presents the results of a preliminary optimization of the high-strength concretes made using BFSA, normal sand, portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), condensed silica fume (CSF), and a proprietary superplasticizer. The paper also describes some additional characteristics of the optimized concretes. In all, 15 types of concretes were made. The properties examined were workability, density, compressive strength, elastic modulus, shrinkage, and water penetration. The maximum strength achieved using the slag aggregate was 107 MPa, which placed the slag aggregate concrete well into the very high strength range of concretes. The workability was found to be unaffected by the use of the slag aggregate. The tensile strength of the concrete was relatively high (5.4 Mpa); the shrinkage was found to be lower than concretes produced with normal aggregates, as was the water penetration and absorption. Of particular importance, the elastic modulus was found to be markedly lower than that of concretes made with normal aggregates. It is concluded that the slag aggregate can be used successfully in the production of high-performance, high-strength concrete.

Describes chemical attack caused by a high concentration CaCl 2 solution and its preventive measures by the addition of a mineral admixture. Changes which occur in mechanical strengths and chemical properties in mortars with and without fly ash, blast furnace slag, and silica fume when immersed in a 30 percent CaCl 2 solution at different temperatures were investigated. Portland cement mortars seriously deteriorated at early ages of exposure to a high concentration CaCl 2 solution, its deterioration being associated with cracking and spalling on the surfaces of specimens. On the other hand, 10 percent silica fume and 50 percent blast furnace slag mortars showed a good resistance to calcium chloride attack, although 30 percent fly ash mortars slightly deteriorated at late ages of exposure. X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis indicated that the deterioration of portland cement mortars cause by the chemical attack of a high concentration CaCl 2 solution was attributed primarily to both the dissolution of calcium hydroxide and the simultaneous formation of a complex salt in the mortar. Thus, the combined effect of a decrease in calcium hydroxide content and a reduced chloride ion permeability by the addition of a mineral admixture effectively improved the resistance of mortar to calcium chloride attack.

Reports the results from a laboratory investigation of the effect of fly ash on the temperature rise and early-age tensile strain capacity of concrete. Twelve different fly ashes, with a wide range of chemical compositions, were used in various proportions (25, 40, and 56 percent) in the study. The results of conduction calorimeter tests show that the rate of heat development was strongly influenced by the composition of the ash. Generally, the rate and quantity of heat evolved increased with the calcium level of the fly ash. High-calcium ashes (>20 percent CaO) did not significantly reduce the seven-day heat of hydration when used at a replacement level of 25 percent. However, the heat of hydration decreased as the level of replacement was increased for all ashes tested, regardless of composition. Consequently, even high-calcium ashes may be effective in reducing the temperature rise in concrete, provided they are used at a sufficient level of replacement. Flexural tests were carried out on concrete prisms at early ages; the tensile strain capacity was determined as the strain (in the tensile fibers) at 90 percent of the flexural strength. The flexural strength decreased with higher levels of replacement; however, the strain capacity was similar or slightly higher in fly ash concretes (compared with control specimens) at three and seven days. These results imply that the beneficial effect of reduced temperature rise in fly ash concrete is not necessarily offset by a reduced capacity to resist thermal strains.

The authors have examined the lime-reactivity strength data of 14 samples of fly ash obtained from different thermal power plants of India. The sand-lime-fly ash mortars cured at 50 C and relative humidity of 90 percent were tested in compression at different ages up to 90 days. It was found that lime reactivity is best correlated with combined parameters of fineness and soluble silica content, rather than with each parameter considered individually. Also examined were the strength of concrete mixtures in which part of the cement is replaced by a low reactive fly ash. Fineness of fly ash and testing ages for strength were the variables. It is concluded that the soluble silica content was related to later-age strengths, while the early-age strength correlated better with fineness of fly ash. The mechanism for the latter may not be chemical, but physical, such as dispersion of cement particles or micro-filler effect.

Classified fly ash (CFA) is produced by separating the fine components of fly ash by means of air classification. CFA is made of fine particles of micro-meter size and spherical shape and is expected to improve the consistency of fresh concrete and the durability of hardened concrete. The use of CFA in roller compacted concrete (RCC) pavement has the effect of reducing the water content of RCC mixtures and, therefore, the drying shrinkage and number of joints in pavement. RCC pavements have become popular for roads and streets in Japan. The maximum thickness of RCC slabs that may be placed in one layer is limited to 25 cm, because of limitations in the compactibility of the concrete and control of the pavement surface profile. To increase the slab thickness of RCC placeable in one layer, an improved concrete that requires minimal energy for obtaining a high filled-volume ratio is desirable. In this paper, the effects of CFA additions to cement on compactibility and water content of RCC mixture were studied.