Title:
Advancing Sustainability in UHPC: Enhancing SCM Dispersion Techniques for Improved Performance
Author(s):
Aagya Dahal
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_F25_AagyaDahal.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
10/26/2025
Abstract:
Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) offers exceptional properties but contributes to carbon emissions due to high cement content. To reduce cement usage and improve sustainability, Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) like silica fume, glass powder, limestone powder, and fly ash are used. However, SCM agglomeration can limit UHPC performance. This study investigates SCM dispersion and strategies for better integration into UHPC. Cement pore solutions were extracted using vacuum filtration and pressure squeezing to analyze ionic composition under varying cement types, w/b ratio, and pressures, with results indicating that these factors significantly affect ionic composition. SCM dispersion was then evaluated in deionized water, untreated pore solution, and PCE-treated solutions. Sedimentation and optical microscopy confirmed that PCE and ultrasonic treatment improve dispersion. Ongoing particle size analysis will provide further insights. Figure 1 shows the summary of the methodology used in this study.