Abstract
ABSTRACT This article aims to clarify the composition and properties of early modern Chinese concrete to improve understanding for conservation purposes. Commencing with an exploration of early 20th-century Chinese publications on concrete, it delineates raw materials, mixing proportions, water–cement ratios, and admixtures. Concrete samples from representative historic buildings have been investigated through petrographic analysis, XRD, XRF, TG, and SEM-EDS. The findings illuminate significant variations in construction practices. Crushed stone predominates over gravel as coarse aggregate, with silicate aggregates being more commonly used than carbonate ones. Fine aggregates are primarily composed of quartz and feldspar derived from natural sands. The presence of residual cement grains and clay within the cement matrix hints at rudimentary grinding and cleaning practices. The aggregate–cement ratio has been found in the range between 2.33 and 5.39. Carbonation of cement is evident, with CaCO3 content varying between 11.48% and 25.49%. SEM-EDS illustrates the microstructure of the cement binder. This study sheds light on early modern concrete technology in China, unveiling the composition of concrete material in Shanghai for the first time.
Published Version
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