The effect of mechanical activation of cements with mineral admixtures on the mechanical strength of concrete

Abstract

The objective of this experimental study consists in studying the influence of the fineness (specific surface) of cements with mineral additions on the mechanical strength of the concrete. This work is a contribution to the improvement of the properties of the concretes by mechanical activation of two types of cements (C.E.M II) manufactured in various cement factories (cements with various mineral additions : slag and tuff). The physical properties of cements (C.E.M II) activated mechanically at anhydrous state and the state hydrated (specific weight, consistency of the cement pastes, setting times and shrinkage) thus the characteristics of the concretes made at their bases, such as, the mechanical behavior (compressive strength for the concrete) were studied. According to the experimental results obtained, it comes that the increase of the specific surface and the chemical composition of cements to the mineral additions are the principal responsibles to the improvement of the latent reactivity of mineral additions and increase the mechanical strengths of the concretes. Journal of Civil Engineering Research and Practice Vol. 3(1) 2006: 65-74