Study on reliability of concrete nano-mixture containing nano-silica

Abstract

The influence of nano-silica concentration on the reliability of concrete material was investigated experimentally. Four different nano-silica particle doses (0%, 1%, 3%, and 5%) were employed. The reliability of concrete (resistance to permeability, resistance to crack and resistance to freeze–thaw) is determined through the depth of water penetration, the quantity of fractures, the net cracked area per square meter of the samples, and the comparative dynamic modulus of elasticity of the samples following freeze–thaw cycles, correspondingly. The findings suggest that when the nano-silica percentage of concrete is kept within a specified limit, the inclusion of nano-silica particles greatly increases its reliability by enhancing the resistances to permeability, and concrete crack. The reliability of concrete rises initially and subsequently diminishes as the nano-silica concentration enhances above 3%. It can be ascertained that the depth of water permeability of the conventional concrete mixture was extended by 48.89% with 3% nano-silica addition. Likewise, the total crack area per unit specimen surface of concrete was diminished by 88.48% with 3% nano-silica addition. An excessive amount of nano-silica particles may have a detrimental influence on the concrete's reliability. The concrete mixture exhibits the higher reliability at the nano-silica fraction of 3%.