Strength and Microstructure of Reactive Powder Concrete Using Ternary Pozzolanic Materials

Abstract

To consider the practicality and economic feasibility of developing reactive powder concrete (RPC), the strength and microstructure properties of RPC using ternary pozzolanic materials (silica fume, blast furnace slag, fly ash) were investigated in this study. Through the investigation, it was found that the compressive strength of RPC using ternary pozzolanic materials was increased significantly compared to that of the original RPC containing silica fume only. A considerable improvement in the flexural strength of RPC using ternary pozzolanic materials was found, and then the utilization of a structural member subjected to bending was expected. The X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis and Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) revealed that the microstructure of RPC was denser using the ternary pozzolanic materials than the original RPC.