International Concrete Abstracts Portal

The paper presents a critical review of the relationship between ettringite formation and sulfate attack. Ettringite formation is associated with expansion. However, not necessarily any ettringite-related expansion is related to sulfate attack. Early ettringite formation (EEF) which occurs immediately (within hours) in a plastic fresh mixture does not produce any damaging expansion and is associated with the regulation of setting time of portland cement paste. Expansion after the hardening of cement paste can be advantageously used for development of chemical prestress in expansive cements. Delayed ettringite formation (DEF) occurs at late ages and the related heterogeneous expansion in a very rigid hardened concrete can produce cracking and spalling. Two different types of DEF are examined depending on the sulfate source: DEF caused by external sulfate attack (EM) or internal sulfate attack (ISA). ESA, related to the interaction of environmental sulfate can be precluded by the use of impermeable concrete. with the cement matrix, On the other hand, ISA occurs in a sulfate-free environment due to the interaction of internal sulfate (from cement or gypsum contamined aggregate) with calcium-aluminate hydrates of the cement paste. Two different mechanisms of DEF caused by ISA are examined. The first one is based on the thermal decomposition of ettringite in high-temperature cured concrete elements and the subsequent re-formation of ettringite at ambient temperature in a saturated atmosphere. According to the second mechanism ISA is based on a chain of three essential events (microcracking, late sulfate release, and exposure to water) and DEF could occur even at room temperature.

High dosages of lignosulphonates for super-plasticizing are prohibited by the simultaneous setting retardation. However, the set retardation of lignosulphonates can be counteracted by calcium nitrate without destroying the rheology. Thus, such combinations can be cost-effective alternatives to super-plasticizers. The effect of different calcium nitrate dosages on 5 different lignosulphonates is documented by Fann viscosity, flow resistance and setting time on two different cement pastes. It has also been shown that calcium nitrate is capable of counteracting the effect of strong setting retarders like citric acid etc. Another application can thus be over-retardation of concrete for long transport from the concrete ready mix plant, followed by activation by adding calcium nitrate to the revolving drum of the concrete truck when arriving at, or being close to, the construction site.

The paper presents an experimental study on the performance of steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) joints under reversal cyclic loads. Five composite joint specimens comprising built-up steel-reinforced concrete column connecting to reinforced concrete (RC) beams were tested to failure. Three modes of failure were observed. They are (1) bending failure in beam. (2) bending-shear failure in beam and (3) shear failure in beam and joint. Test results indicated that energy absorption capacity of the SRC joint depends on the modes of failure as well as the levels of axial load imposed on the column. The latter also influence the shear capacity of the joint.

This paper deals with trial testing on concrete reinforced by different combinations of carbon-steel, polypropylene-steel or steel-steel hybrid fibres in the low volume content range to ensure high electrical resistivity of the fibre concrete. Optimum reinforcement composition is obtained for (compression, splitting tension, and flexural) strength testing conditions and for post-peak behaviour. The effect of various measures adopted to promote uniform fibre distribution are assessed by impedance measurements. During the testing program, fibre distribution is checked by microscopy and SEM.

The properties of concrete containing foundry sand as a partial replacement of fine aggregate were investigated. Three types of sand used in foundries were considered, the white fine sand without the addition of clay and coal, the foundry sand before casting (blended), and the foundry sand after casting (spent). The standard sand (Class M) was partially replaced by (O%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) these types of sand. Thirteen concrete mixtures were employed to conduct this study. Concrete strength up to 90 days and length change (drying shrinkage and expansion) up to 60 days were determined. As the replacement level of standard sand with sand used in foundries increased, the strength of concrete decreased. Concrete containing white sand showed somewhat similar strength to those containing spent sand at all replacement levels. The presence of high percentage of blended sand in the concrete mixture caused a reduction in strength as compared with concrete incorporating white sand or spent sand. The increase in strength was not observed at low replacement levels (less than 50%). The length change of concrete increased -as the replacement level of standard sand with the three types of sand increased. Drying shrinkage values were higher in concrete containing spent sand and lower in concrete containing white sand. Expansion was generally lower in concrete containing white sand as compared with the other two types (blended and spent) at a low sand replacement level of 25%; and, different trend was obtained at higher levels.