Concrete Fill Research Articles

On the incorporation of waste ceramic powder into concrete

This study investigates the potential use of waste ceramic powder as a filler in concrete. Different percentages of waste ceramic powder were added to the concrete, and the compressive strength and water absorption properties were assessed. Failure mechanisms were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The findings revealed that incorporating 5% ceramic powder into concrete increased its compressive strength by approximately 12.5%. However, adding more than 5% ceramic powder led to a proportional decrease in strength. Additionally, water absorption increased when the ceramic content exceeded 5%. SEM analysis showed that higher ceramic content weakened the adhesion of the ceramic particles, and noticeable aggregation was observed.

РАЗРАБОТКА ГЕЛИОУСТРОЙСТВА ДЛЯ ТЕПЛОВОЙ ОБРАБОТКИ ПРИ ПРОИЗВОДСТВЕ БЕТОННЫХ ИЗДЕЛИЙ

The analysis of limestone shell waste from the Mangystau region of Kazakhstan was carried out and it was revealed that limestone shell waste can find its application in building materials, as a concrete filler. The mechanical properties of carbonate concrete have been investigated. In this regard, a technology for the production of concrete using limestone-shell was developed.

Pre-treatment of waste hydrated cement used for replacement of fine aggregate using amine-based CO2 solvent

In the realm of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, a small fraction of hydrated cement waste is typically repurposed to generate supplementary cementitious material or filler for concrete. However, the conventional method of utilizing it in powder form demands significant energy consumption to achieve the necessary fineness. Therefore, this study proposes a method to use a waste-hydrated cement paste as a fine aggregate as well as the pre-treatment method to enhance its properties. The pre-treatment involves carbonating hydrated cement in a fully CO2-dissolved amine-based CO2 solvent, specifically a monoethanolamine (MEA) solution. This process eliminates vulnerable phases, such as calcium hydroxide, resulting in a higher compressive strength of mortar when incorporating the treated hydrated cement as fine aggregate. Notably, the use of fully CO2-dissolved 1% and 10% MEA solutions during carbonation demonstrates superior performance and increased CO2 uptake. Additionally, the developed pre-treatment method uses MEA CO2 solvent directly, commonly utilized for CO2 capture in industrial flue gas. It is an alternative for solvent regeneration without the need for a heating process, potentially reducing overall energy consumption.

Rheology and hardened properties of eco-friendly ultra-high performance concrete paste: Role of waste stone powder fillers

Waste stone powder is the largest by-product generated during the production of manufactured sand, which causes environmental pollution and resource wastage due to its large accumulation and landfill disposal. In this study, the effectiveness of basalt powder (BP) was evaluated against that of limestone powder (LP) to verify its potential for use as a functional and environmentally-friendly filler in Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) compositions. The theories of wet packing density (WPD) and water film thickness (WFT) are introduced to investigate the effect of stone powder on hardened and rheological properties of UHPC. Results indicate that the WFT of the solid particle system (cement and stone powder) exhibits a direct correlation with the increase in stone powder content (up to 20 %). As the WFT increases, the shear resistance between particles is reduced, leading to a nonlinear decrease in the yield stress and plastic viscosity of the UHPC paste, thereby enhancing its flowability. More superplasticizer is adsorbed on the surface of BP, which weakens the gain effect of the superplasticizer in reducing the yield stress. Due to the increased WPD, a near-linear enhancement in the compressive strength of the paste is observed. Supplementary nucleation sites for C-S-H are provided by the surface of the stone powder, thus accelerating the early hydration kinetics of the UHPC paste and facilitating development of strength at an early age. When 20 % of cement is replaced by LP and BP, the carbon emission index of UHPC paste is reduced by 34.9 % and 21.7 %, respectively.

A STUDY ON BEHAVIOUR OF CONCRETE FILLED STEEL COLUMN IN FRAMED STRUCTURE

A STUDY ON BEHAVIOUR OF CONCRETE FILLED STEEL COLUMN IN FRAMED STRUCTURE

Fabrication of a Concrete Roof Tile by Geopolymerization of Red Clay with Container Glass Wastes

We report the production of concrete roof tiles using a red clay-based geopolymer binder with container glass waste and river sand as a concrete filler. Clear and colored container glass wastes were separately ground to powder and blended with low-grade red clay to achieve a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of approximately 7.0. The powder blends were converted to geopastes with a solid-to-alkali solution ratio of approximately 0.8 using a 12-molar alkali activator solution containing a mixture of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide. Rheological analysis showed that the geopaste binders with transparent and colored glass powders exhibited high shear thinning behavior. A higher viscosity was observed for the geopaste with colored glass powder due to the presence of colorants. Fine and coarse particles of river sand were prepared and mixed with different ratios of geopaste binder to river sand of 1:2.0, 1:2.5, and 1:3.0, respectively. All geopaste and river sand formulations were poured into acetate molds and heated in a metal chamber at 80 °C for 24 h, then aged at room temperature for 14 d. The highest flexural strength of 2.33 MPa was obtained from the formulation with a 1:2 ratio of geopaste with transparent glass powder and fine sand. The measured strength corresponded to an apparent porosity of 6.30% and a water absorption of 4.50%. The bulk density was approximately 1.16 g/cm³, which is classified as a lightweight material. A prototype geopolymer concrete roof tile was successfully produced with a sorption coefficient of approximately 0.170 mm/min1/2. This measured sorption coefficient and the physical properties indicate that the produced roof tile is a potential building material.

Valorization of glass powder as filler in self-compacting concrete

In Algeria, glass waste is underutilized in the industrial sector; however, its potential use in civil engineering offers a significant ecological and economic opportunity. This approach could be a solution to eliminating illegal dumping sites, reduce pollution, and provide a new source of sustainable construction materials. In this context, this research aimed to produce self-compacting concrete (SCC) mixtures using recycled glass powder as a replacement for limestone filler. This research presents an experimental study investigating the impact of glass powder waste as a replacement for the traditionally used limestone filler in self-compacting concrete. To investigate the workability and compressive strength of the SCC studied, eleven concrete mixtures were prepared with varying substitution rates of limestone filler (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%) with powder glass. The use of powdered glass waste has beneficial effects, as the pozzolanic reaction generates an additional amount of hydrated calcium silicates. The results of the investigation showed an increase in compressive strength compared to the control concrete specimen (without glass powder). The best results were observed when incorporation ranged between 10% and 50%, with the optimal level being 30%, resulting in an 8.47% strength gain. This study contributes to the valorization of glass powder as a substitute for limestone filler. The results demonstrate positive effects on both fresh and hardened characteristics when using glass powder in proportions ranging from 10% to 50% of the filler mass.

Effective impact of nano-plastic-waste incorporated with nanotitina on the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of white cement pastes composites for progressing towards sustainability

Plastic waste (PW) has received a lot of attention as a possible additional material for industrial and environmental applications, particularly cement and/or concrete production for a more environmentally and economically sound use of raw materials and energy sources. PW has been investigated as an inert and/or active hydraulic filler for cement and/or concrete by numerous scientists. Plastic garbage is cheap, abundant, and takes long period of time to degrade in the eco-system (soil and water). The main goal of the ongoing research is to offer safety and efficacy by partially substituting nano-plastic waste (NPW), incorporated with nano-titania (NT), for the composition of white cement (WC). Blends are built up by substitution of WC with different ratios of NPW incorporated with fixed ratios of nano-titania (1.0 wt.%). Workability, physical, mechanical and microstructural properties have gone through laboratory and instrumental analysis. The results showed improvement in the compressive strength, density and microstructure due to the effective impact of fillers. Consequently, a decrease in total porosity, whiteness reflection (Ry) and early-rapid expansion. Eventually, the outcomes may reduce the pandemic strength, especially in the external environment, and other epidemics.

Screening as an Alternative to the Used Aggregates for Concrete

The relevance of economy – rational use of material around the world has been gaining momentum in recent years, so-called man-made materials are increasingly being used. The screening used in this work refers to such materials. The essence of the study was to find out the suitability of screening as a filler for concrete. As part of the study, grain compositions of crushing screening from gravel-boulder rock, river sand and mineral (limestone) filler were determined. The ratio of screaming (Sc):sand (S),filler (F) in the mixture is determined taking into account the “ideal” Fuller granulometric curve. The optimal ratio Sc:S:F has a deviation from the ideal curve of 5.88%. Samples were made and tested for strength from washed screening, unwashed screening, from a mixture with an optimal ratio Sc:S:F. Upon completion of the work, it was found out how the screening in concrete can be used.

Preliminary Study on the Use of Recycled Glass, Ceramics, and Granite as Fillers in Ultra-High Performance Fiber Concrete

Preliminary Study on the Use of Recycled Glass, Ceramics, and Granite as Fillers in Ultra-High Performance Fiber Concrete

The riverbank vegetation for mitigating the adverse effects of sediment dredging

AbstractSediment dredging has been an ever‐growing issue, especially in developing nations with high demand for concrete filler material. River systems are adversely affected by sediment mining, resulting in decreased stability of the riverbed and riverbanks. Nature‐based solutions for riverbank erosion have been a research topic that has led to the proposal of vegetation on the riverbanks. However, little is known about the extent of riverbank vegetation required to negate the devastating effects of sediment mining because dense vegetation severely affects the flow structure and becomes a waste trap. This experimental study uses sparsely dense, flexible, and bladed vegetation to study the annulment effects of vegetation against the existing mining pit. Near‐bed turbulence and sediment transport have increased in the test section in the presence of a mining pit. The increase in near‐bed streamwise and transverse Reynolds shear stresses helped us understand the increased sediment movement in streamwise and lateral directions. The morphology of the test section showed increased riverbed erosion at the beginning of the test segment. The entire cross‐section was levelled at the end of the test section, and aggradation was downstream of the test segment. In contrast, in the vegetated riverbank case, the initial profile of the bank was almost unchanged for the same discharge of flow and upstream sand pit. The sparse vegetation overperformed the intended negation effects. This study establishes that sparse vegetation would perform better in maintaining the channel morphology, which otherwise in dense vegetation would have faced a high erosion rate in the main channel while giving the same protection to the riverbanks.

Bending behavior and design of tapered lightweight CFDSST with large hollow ratio

Given the tremendous potential of tapered lightweight concrete-filled double-skin stiffened steel tubular members with large hollow ratio in engineering structures, such as building structures and wind turbine tower, the bending behavior of these members, distinguished by their large hollow ratio, lightweight concrete fill, and longitudinal stiffeners, was the focus of this study. Eleven specimens were tested under four-point bending loading. The failure modes, deflection curve distributions, moment-deflection curves, and strain development of specimens were discussed. The results indicate that the maximum deformation of the specimens is located near the smaller section in the constant moment region. Cracking was observed in the tension side concrete, and the outer edge of the compression side concrete was crushed. The validated finite element model was used for mechanical analysis and parametric study, where the stress development process in the member and the influence of parameters such as hollow ratio, steel tube diameter-to-thickness ratio, material strength, and tapered angle on the bending strength of the member were explained and discussed. Based on the results of experimental and numerical analyses, a novel method for predicting the bending strength was proposed. This method was shown to accurately predict the bending strength of concrete-filled double-skin steel tubular members.

Performance evaluation of marble dust as a filler material in asphalt concrete in Peshawar, Pakistan

Marble dust generated during cutting, grinding, carving, and polishing is one of the significant sources of marble production. Due to its high production, it can be used as an alternative material and has been used as a filler replacement to retain outstanding usability. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of marble dust as filler in asphalt concrete. A mixed design was developed for asphalt concrete with marble dust. To assess the impact of various percentages of these industrial waste on the qualities of the asphalt filler matrix by contrasting it with the properties of the mix, including stone dust as filler, various tests like Marshall stability and flow, indirect tensile, wheel tracker and Resilience Modulus (RM) were carried out. The comparison results reveal that modified asphalt concrete has 1.63% more stability than normal concrete. Similarly, the indirect tensile test shows 23% more strength, the wheel tracker test shows low rutting depth for modified HMA and a 44% increase in MR. The bitumen extender marble dust infill reduces the ideal binder by 4.05%. As a result, marble dust can be used as a filler in asphalt concrete up to 4.5% with success, creating a stable, economical, and eco-friendly pavement.

Research and Development of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Filling Material and Its Application in Gob-Side Entry Retaining Technology in Deep Mines

Against the background of the prevailing green development paradigm, numerous coal mines have embraced the adoption of gob-side entry retaining mining technology. The most commonly employed form of gob-side entry retaining involves building an artificial wall along the edge of the goaf behind the working face to maintain the roadway. The pivotal challenge in gob-side entry retaining lies in the roadside support. Currently, commonplace concrete serves as the predominant material for the roadside filling body. Nevertheless, traditional concrete exhibits drawbacks, including inadequate tensile strength and poor toughness, leading to wall cracks or even collapses in the retaining wall. Steel fiber, a frequently employed reinforcement and toughening agent in concrete, has found widespread application in the construction sector and other fields. However, its use as a roadside filling material in underground coal mines remains infrequent. Therefore, in this paper, the flow and mechanical properties of steel fiber concrete were tested and analyzed, and field industrial tests were conducted. Results of indoor experiments show that steel fibers reduce the slump of concrete. The addition of steel fibers shifted the pore compacting stage, linear elasticity stage, and destabilization stage forward and improved the post-peak bearing capacity. The addition of steel fibers makes the concrete compressive and tensile strength show a “first increase and then decrease” trend; both peaked at 1.5%, and the increase in tensile strength is more pronounced. Steel fibers enhance the strength of compressive strength of concrete at an early age, weaker at a late age, and tensile strength inversely. The addition of steel fiber can change the concrete matrix from tensile damage to shear damage, and the toughness index shows the trend of “first increase and then decrease”, and reaches the peak value when the dosage is 1.5%. Industrial test results show that steel fiber concrete as a roadside filling body can reduce the surrounding rock surface displacement and bolt (cable) force.

Numerical Analysis of Differential Settlement in Road Due to Widening Considering Different Reinforcement Techniques

Embankment and pavement widening of an existing road is a viable option to cope with increased traffic volume. One of the common challenges in road expansion is the occurrence of differential settlement between the old and the new portions. This article pertains to the field case study of the National Highway-120, where pavement distresses developed in the weak sections of the highway following the operation of traffic within a few months. Field monitoring and geotechnical tests, including the requisite in situ as well as laboratory tests, were conducted on soil specimens from the study area, followed by the performance of a numerical analysis using the two-dimensional finite element software Abaqus CAE 2021 to investigate the weak section of the road. Different techniques such as geogrid reinforcement, installation of cement–fly-ash–gravel (CFG) piles, and lightweight foamed concrete (LWFC) embankment fill were used to analyze the reduction in differential settlement between the old and the widened portions. Among the applied reinforcement techniques, the use of LWFC as embankment fill in the widened portion was determined to be most effective in minimizing the differential settlement in the weak section of the highway.

Physical and thermal insulation properties of foam concrete with the use of lime sludge (chemical waste)

The article investigates the physical and thermal insulation, the physical display of sand and lime sludge (waste), the electron microscopic analysis of foam concrete of the application of lime sludge (waste) to foam concrete. The results of a study of the physical and thermal insulation of foam concrete with lime waste and the compressive strength of structural foam concrete are presented.. For more efficient use in the development of new energy-saving foam concrete building products, laboratory experiments have established that lime slurry can be used as a filler for foam concrete.

Study and valorization of a new bituminous concrete based on natural dune sand for hot and arid environments

The trans-desert road network is exposed to enormous degradation of asphalt concrete pavements due to the high temperatures of these arid regions, which considerably accelerate asphalt ageing. Common bituminous mixes generally use quarry sand fillers, the proportions of which are poorly controlled due to the diversity of rock deposits and their manufacturing conditions. This article responds to this problem by proposing dune sand as a source of filler by grinding it and then introducing it into pure bitumen to obtain the bitumen-filler mix. In this paper, two types of analysis were carried out, one thermal and the other mechanical to study the influence of the substitution of quarry sand filler by dune sand filler in asphalt concrete. In the thermal analysis, the study evaluates the stiffening power (?TBA) of three types of fillers incorporated into a pure bitumen, namely quarry sand, dune sand and standardized filler. The results of these analyses reveal that at a normative percentage of 57% filler with 43% pure bitumen, the stiffening power (?TBA) of dune sand filler and normalized filler comply with established standards (between 8 and 16°C), unlike quarry sand filler, which does not meet standards. The mechanical analysis carried out on quarry sand filler and dune sand filler revealed an improvement in mechanical performance when dune sand filler was used, with MARSHALL stability values indicating an average increase from 3.9 to 4.9, and better resistance to water with a greater than 99% ratio for the DURIEZ test well above the 75% threshold. These results offer the potential to optimize bituminous mixes by incorporating dune sand fillers, thereby enabling Saharan roads to be built more quickly, at lower cost and, above all, to extend their lifespan, making a positive contribution to the development of road infrastructure in hot, arid environments.

Effect of Weathering on Steel Converter Slag Used as an Oxygen Carrier.

Steel converter slag, also called LD slag, is a material that has been suggested for use as a low-cost oxygen carrier for chemical looping applications. Low-cost oxygen carriers are especially relevant for the conversion of solid fuels, which may contain large amounts of reactive ashes. Ash may limit the lifetime of the bed material, which is why a high-cost oxygen carrier will likely not be competitive. Applying LD slag on an industrial scale as an oxygen carrier makes the storage properties of the material highly interesting. LD slag has been known to be affected by weathering, thus limiting the possibilities of the material to be used in construction, e.g., as fillers in concrete. In this study, pretreated LD slag for use as an oxygen carrier was weathered outdoors for roughly 1.5 years in southwest Sweden. Afterward, the particles were characterized and used in a laboratory batch fluidized bed reactor system to evaluate the effects of storage on the oxygen carrier properties. It was found that the reactivity with the fuel of the weathered LD slag was similar to that of the original sample when used in a laboratory fluidized bed. However, the physical properties were severely degraded due to weathering. Dissolved CaO formed CaCO3, agglomerating the top layer of the sample. The particles in the bulk of the sample were found to have decreased density and increased attrition rate. This suggests that LD slag particles for use as oxygen carriers should be stored dry to avoid weathering of the particles.

Exploring the Utilization of PHC Pile Waste Concrete as Filler in Asphalt Mastics.

Using solid waste to replace limestone filler in asphalt concrete can not only reduce the cost of road construction, but also improve the utilization rate of solid waste. In this study, PHC pile waste concrete (PPWC) was innovatively used to replace limestone filler in asphalt mixture and its effect on the physical and rheological properties of asphalt mastics was studied. Firstly, PPWC was ground into filler particles with a diameter less than 0.075 mm. The physical properties, particle characteristics and chemical composition of PPWC filler and limestone filler were compared. Asphalt mastics were prepared with different filler-asphalt volume ratios (20%, 30% and 40%) and the physical properties, high-temperature rheological properties and low-temperature cracking resistance of asphalt mastics were tested. The experimental results showed that the surface of PPWC filler is rougher and has lower density and smaller particle size than limestone filler. When the filler content is the same, PPWC filler asphalt mastics have lower penetration and ductility, higher softening point than limestone filler asphalt mastics, and the viscosity of PPWC filler asphalt mastics is more sensitive than limestone filler asphalt mastics. PPWC filler asphalt mastics demonstrated superior high-temperature stability, but poorer low-temperature cracking resistance compared to limestone filler asphalt mastics. In conclusion, PPWC fillers can be used to replace limestone fillers in asphalt mixtures. The finding of this study will provide a new solution for the construction of eco-friendly roads.

Road performance evaluation of prestressed high-strength concrete pile waste powder as alternative filler in asphalt concrete

As a kind of solid waste, using Prestressed High-Strength Concrete Pile Waste Concrete (PPWC) as the replacement for limestone filler in asphalt concrete can not only reduce the accumulation of PPWC and increase its utilization but also avoid the increased road construction costs and environmental degradation associated with limestone mining. This study aims to investigate the effect of using PPWC filler to replace limestone filler on the road performance of asphalt concrete. Firstly, PPWC was ground into filler particles with a diameter less than 0.075 mm. The particle characteristics such as surface morphology, particle size distribution and chemical composition of PPWC filler and limestone filler were compared. Then, PPWC filler was used to replace limestone filler with different volume fractions to prepare asphalt concrete, and the water damage resistance, high-temperature rutting resistance, low-temperature crack resistance, fatigue resistance and adhesion performance of asphalt concrete were tested. The results showed that PPWC filler has a smaller particle size and rougher surface than limestone filler, and it contains Ca(OH)2 produced by hydration. The addition of PPWC filler can effectively improve the mechanical properties of asphalt concrete without reducing its water damage resistance. PPWC filler can improve the high-temperature rutting resistance and low-temperature crack resistance of asphalt concrete, but reduce its low-temperature fatigue resistance. The low content of PPWC filler will enhance the adhesion between asphalt mortar and aggregate. However, when the content of PPWC filler exceeds 50%, Ca (OH)2 in PPWC will reduce the adhesion between acid asphalt mortar and alkaline basalt aggregate. Therefore, the use of PPWC as filler in asphalt mixtures provides a reliable solution for the sustainable development of road materials.