Conventional Mortar Research Articles

Feasebility of using waste hydrated cement paste and luminescent glass as aggregates for the production of mortar

This study examines feasibility of incorporating waste hydrated cement paste (WHCP) and luminescent glass (LG) as sand replacements in conventional mortars. Luminescent glass aggregates (LG) were produced by initially mixing luminescent powder with adhesive resin and subsequently adding glass pellets with size smaller than 2 cm. WHCP was produced by mixing cement and water and then cured at room temperature prior to be ground into aggregate with size smaller than 2 mm. Luminescent composite mortars (WLM) were produced by replacing 50–70% of sand by WHCP and LG in which LG replaced 40% of the sand content while WHCP replaced the remaining 10–30%. The feasibility of WLM samples were assessed by their physical and luminescent properties. As results, WLM samples met requirements for constructive mortar such as flowability, drying skrinkage and porosity. At 28d, all WLM samples achieved a strength of around 45 MPa at 28 days, satisfying the strength requirements for constructive mortar. Regarding luminescence properties, all WLM samples exhibited luminescent intensity higher than the threshold of human eyes up to 8h. Luminescent decay curves followed the trend observed in luminescent powders. As such, WLM can be utilized in building projects, particularly for the auxiliary tasks related to road and bridge structures.

Studies on the performance of alkali-activated aluminosilicate geopolymer mortar against exposure to acid, sulfate, and elevated temperature

An alkali-activated aluminosilicate is a group of materials that have the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry. Several combinations of materials have been explored for producing alkali-activated aluminosilicate geopolymer mortars, emphasizing the need to understand their resistance to chemical attack and elevated temperatures to ensure long-term durability. The present study prepared fly ash-based alkali-activated aluminosilicate mortar using fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) without heat curing. Properties such as compressive strength and weight loss were evaluated after chemical attack and exposure to high temperatures (200° to 1000°), and compared with PC mortars. The result shows that fly ash and GGBS-based alkali-activated aluminosilicate mortar (AAAM) exhibit better resistance to chemical attack and high temperatures than conventional mortar. Specifically, after 180 days of acid exposure, PCM showed a mass loss of 5.06% and compressive strength loss of 85%, while AAAM had a mass loss of 2.88% and compressive strength loss of 71%. Sulfate exposure led to a mass gain of 55.77% for PCM and 27.35% for AAAM, with compressive strength losses of 55.77% for PCM and 27.35% for AAAM. Elevated temperatures (1000°) resulted in a compressive strength loss of 68% for PCM and 45% for AAAM. To substantiate these results, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to study the changes in the bonding behavior of C-A-S-H (Calcium-Aluminate-Silicate-Hydrate) and N-A-S-H (Sodium-Aluminate-Silicate-Hydrate) when exposed to chemical attack and elevated temperatures.

Experimental investigation of the use of crushed clay brick on the properties of sustainable mortar

In the world, millions of tons of construction waste are generated annually, due to the boom of this sector, and brick waste is the most prominent. The purpose of the research was to study the properties of the mortar with the partial substitution of fine aggregate by brick residues (BR), using an experimental methodology based on mortar samples in doses of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% with brick residues, which were subjected to mortar tests and masonry tests. The results showed that the mortar sample with the best performance was 10% BR, achieving in the mortar tests an increase with respect to conventional mortar of 1.58% in compressive strength, 3.99% in flexural strength, 15.61% in tensile strength, while in the masonry tests the increase was 12.19% in compressive strength in prisms, 33.20% in bond strength and 3.82% in diagonal compressive strength. It was concluded that the substitution of fine aggregate by BR is feasible up to 10%, achieving an optimum improvement in the mechanical properties of the mortar.

Alkali-Activated Slag as Sustainable Binder for Pervious Concrete and Structural Plaster: A Feasibility Study.

In the realm of sustainable construction materials, the quest for low-environmental-impact binders has gained momentum. Addressing the global demand for concrete, several alternatives have been proposed to mitigate the carbon footprint associated with traditional Portland cement production. Despite technological advancements, property inconsistencies and cost considerations, the wholesale replacement of Portland cement remains a challenge. This study investigates the feasibility of using alkali-activated slag (AAS)-based binders for two specific applications: structural plaster and pervious concrete. The research aims to develop an M10-grade AAS plaster with a 28-day compressive strength of at least 10 MPa for the retrofitting of masonry buildings. The plaster achieved suitable levels of workability and applicability by trowel as well as a 28-day compressive strength of 10.8 MPa, and the level shrinkage was reduced by up to 45% through the inclusion of shrinkage-reducing admixtures. Additionally, this study explores the use of tunnel muck as a recycled aggregate in AAS pervious concrete, achieving a compressive strength up to 20 MPa and a permeability rate from 500 to 3000 mm/min. The relationship between aggregate size and the physical and mechanical properties of no-fines concretes usually used for cement-based pervious concrete was also confirmed. Furthermore, the environmental impacts of these materials, including their global warming potential (GWP) and gross energy requirement (GER), are compared to those of conventional mortars and concretes. The findings highlight that AAS materials reduce the GWP from 50 to 75% and the GER by about 10-30% compared to their traditional counterparts.

Influence of The Type of Laying Joint on The Mechanical Behavior of Prisms Made With Ecological Bricks

Objective: This paper proposes the study of the influence of laying joints on the mechanical behavior of masonry prisms made with ecological bricks. Method: To this end, an experimental program was developed including prisms constructed with different types of joints: laying mortar, adhesive mortar and PVA glue (polyvinyl acetate). Results and Discussion: The adhesive mortar and the conventional mortar were characterized in terms of their compressive strength, obtaining a resistance approximately 1.36 times the compressive strength of the brick (6.92±0.51 MPa), while the settlement was close (0.99%). The average compressive strengths of the prisms were very different, demonstrating that the laying joint has a significant influence on cement-based masonry. It was found that the use of adhesive mortar made it possible to increase the resistance capacity of the prisms to compression by 75%, when compared to prisms made with joints that used PVA glue. However, the laying mortar showed a similar result, at 53%. The rupture mode observed in the prisms made with sticky and conventional mortar was due to traction cracking in the brick units. Research Implications: In this study, it can be concluded that when using ecological bricks with different types of joints, the thickness and type of mortar can have a significant influence on the final strength of the materials, however thin joints tend to maximize the effects defects and reduce the resistant capacity of these masonries.

Effect of rice husk ash and coconut coir fiber on cement mortar: Enhancing sustainability and efficiency in buildings

This research investigated energy efficiency, insulation properties together with strength properties and cost-effectiveness, focusing on developing a sustainable mortar. Cement: sand of 1: 2.25 (by weight) mortar with varying rice husk ash (RHA) and coconut coir (CC) fiber contents were prepared. Physical, microstructure, strength, durability, and thermal performances were experimentally examined. Life cycle assessment and cost analysis were numerically examined. Adding CC fiber reduced the longer final setting time found with the RHA-based mortar. With 20 % RHA and 0.5 % CC fiber, weight was reduced by 9.2 % (compared to the conventional mortar), promising a lightweight mortar. Flexural strength was increased by 8.6 % with 0.5 % CC fiber addition, this was further increased to 13.6 % with 10 % RHA in the mixture. 20 % RHA and 0.5 % CC fiber mortar exhibits a temperature difference of 8.7°C, whereas the conventional mortar exhibits a temperature difference of 2.5°C, indicating a reduced thermal conductivity of the RHA-CC fiber mortar. This mortar reduced the CO2 emission, energy consumption, and manufacturing cost by 17.7 %, 13.6 % and 7.0 %, respectively, indicating the sustainability. A cost-effective and energy-efficient lightweight mortar with enhanced thermal insulation and flexural strength was achieved by reinforcing the conventional mortar with 20 % RHA and 0.5 % CC fiber for the applications of dwellings.

A Comprehensive Approach for Designing Low Carbon Wood Bio-Concretes.

This paper presents a method for designing low carbon bio-based building materials, also named bio-concretes, produced with wood wastes in shavings form (WS) and cementitious pastes. As the aggregates phase of bio-concretes is composed of plant-based particles, known as porous and high water-absorbing materials, the bio-concretes cannot be designed by using the traditional design rules used for conventional mortar or concrete. Then, the method used in the current paper is an adaptation of a previous one that has been developed in a recent paper where bio-concretes were produced with a cement matrix, three types of bio-aggregates, and a proposal of a design abacus. However, when that abacus is used for designing WBC with low cement content in the matrix, the target compressive strength is not reached. In the present paper, the method is extended to low cement content matrix (up to 70% of cement substitution) and also considering the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of the WBC. To obtain data for proposing a new design abacus, an experimental program was carried out by producing nine workable WBCs, varying wood volumetric fractions (40-45-50%), and water-to-binder ratios. The bio-concretes produced presented adequate consistency, lightness (density between 715 and 1207 kg/m3), and compressive strength ranging from 0.64 to 12.27 MPa. In addition, the GHG emissions of the WBC were analysed through the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. From the relationships obtained between density, compressive strength, water-to-binder ratio, cement consumption, and GHG emissions of the WBC, calibration constants were proposed for developing the updated and more complete abacus regarding an integrated mix design methodology.

Towards sustainable construction: Performance evaluation of slag-cenosphere geopolymers under different NaOH concentrations

The incorporation of industrial wastes into construction materials, such as geopolymers, is highly desirable to improve their environmental impact. The choice of source materials, such as slag and cenosphere, and the amount of activator used significantly impact the properties of geopolymers. For instance, including high-reactivity precursors and optimizing activator composition may enhance mechanical strength and durability. However, no studies have evaluated the effect of cenosphere addition on the properties of geopolymer composites. This research study aims to unveil the synthesis of a binary geopolymer material by integrating slag and cenosphere as precursors, activated by sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Geopolymer composites were prepared to assess the impact of cenosphere addition (by substituting the slag with cenosphere in different percentages of 25, 50, and 75 %) and NaOH concentration (specifically 6 M, 9 M, and 12 M) on the material's properties. Additionally, one conventional mortar with a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5 was also prepared. Compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), electrical resistivity, water absorption, density, and thermogravimetric analysis were conducted. Results showed that increasing the cenosphere percentage increased the water absorption and decreased the compressive strength, UPV, electrical resistivity, and density compared to the geopolymer mixture with 100 % slag content. However, up to 50 % substitution of cenosphere, the geopolymer mix performed better than conventional mortar. Notably, results suggest a potential increase in CO2 uptake due to the addition of cenosphere, further enhancing the environmental performance of geopolymer composites. The findings of this study suggest the potential use of slag-cenosphere geopolymer as an alternative and sustainable construction material.

Strength Properties of Blended Cement Mortar with Metakaolin and Rice Husk Ash

This study investigates the feasibility of using rice husk ash (RHA) and metakaolin as substitutes for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in mortar production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with construction. The study employs MM3 grade mortar, with RHA replacing cement at varying percentages (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%), while metakaolin consistently substitutes 10% of the cement. Compressive strength tests are conducted on specimens cured for 7, 14, and 28 days to assess performance. The study utilizes OPC 53-grade cement with a water-cement ratio of 0.4. In total, four mortar mixes are prepared, and each mix comprises nine specimens, totaling 45 specimens. Initially, conventional mortar is evaluated for its physical and mechanical properties. The study aims to contribute to ongoing efforts in the construction industry to explore sustainable alternatives to conventional materials, such as RHA and metakaolin, while ensuring the requisite strength properties of mortar are maintained. Key Words: Rice husk ash, metakaolin, cement, sand, mortar and compressive strength

Enhancing permeability and mechanical properties of rubber cement-based materials through surface modification of waste tire rubber powder

In this study, the authors present a detailed investigation into the surface mineralization of recycled rubber powder (RP) to enhance its performance in cement mortars. A modified rubber, referred to as RTC, is produced by employing a straightforward and efficient method involving the deposition of tannic acid (TA) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3, <5 μm) on the surface of RP. The main objective of this research is to elucidate the impact of RTC on the impermeability, mechanical properties, and pore structure of rubberized mortar. Through a comprehensive set of characterizations and tests, we demonstrate the successful deposition of TA and CaCO3 on the RP surface, resulting in RTC with excellent chemical activity and hydrophilicity, while also providing nucleation sites for hydration products. This modification process facilitated improved interfacial affinity with cement paste, enhancing bonding between rubber and cement paste. Remarkably, the incorporation of rubber into mortars with markedly enhanced resistance to permeation, with RTC mortars demonstrating particularly noticeable improvement. The marginal decrease in density in comparison to conventional mortars arises from the rubber's lightweight properties. Moreover, rubber exerts a minor adverse influence on hydration kinetics, yet this detrimental impact is alleviated in mortars incorporating RTC. Notably, the study elucidates the nuanced changes in porosity induced by rubber incorporation, underscoring its influence on the mechanical performance of rubberized cement mortars. The RTC5 mortar with a 5% content demonstrates the most remarkable enhancement compared to RP5 mortar. Overall, this study highlights the potential of surface mineralization of RP as a promising approach for improving the performance of rubberized cement mortars.

Effectiveness of Biological Mortars with Bacterial Glycocalyx on Service Life of Concrete Structures Exposed to Salt Attack

This study investigated the effectiveness and limitations of newly developed biological mortars regarding chloride ion diffusion resistance. Through several tests on the glycocalyx production capacity and growth potentials of bacteria cells under marine environments, Bacillus licheniformis was isolated and immobilized in the expanded vermiculites together with a bacterial culture medium for producing biological mortars. The chloride ion diffusion coefficient of the mortars up to 91 days was determined through natural diffusion cell tests. Subsequently, the service life of RC structure repaired with biological mortars under chloride attack was evaluated considering multilayer theory and time-dependent diffusion. The addition of expanded vermiculites immobilizing Bacillus licheniformis significantly reduced the chloride ion diffusion coefficient. When its addition increased from 10 to 30%, the chloride ion diffusion coefficient decreased by 50–90% compared to that of mortars without bacteria. The service life of reinforced concrete structures repaired with biological mortars containing 30% expanded vermiculite concentration and thickness of 50 mm was evaluated to be six times longer than that of repaired with conventional mortar. Overall, this novel approach holds significant potential in addressing the salt-induced deterioration challenges faced by RC structures.

Building a sustainable future: The role of additive manufacturing in civil construction

With the advent of Industry 4.0, 3D printing is emerging as a revolutionary technology in various industrial sectors. The ability to gradually deposit material allows the creation of complex shapes without waste and the need for molds. This, coupled with cost reduction, opens up significant opportunities in the construction sector. To minimize waste on the construction site, optimize construction time, and positively contribute to the environment, this work focuses on developing a system capable of three-dimensional printing of objects composed of a desktop-scale 3D printer prototype. The 3D printer developed in this project is integrated with two other crucial subsystems. The first is responsible for extruding a cementitious composite, while the second performs the homogenization of the mixture during material preparation. The Cartesian robot, essential for 3D printing, was constructed based on mechanical and electrical designs and connected to the pumping subsystem via a 1⁄2-inch diameter hose. To ensure the system's viability, it was essential to define flow and printing speed parameters to ensure the extrudability and constructibility of composite materials. The process included preparing a conventional mortar with mixing ratios of 1:0.33:1.33:0.01 (cement, water, sand, and superplasticizer additive). The pumping subsystem was calibrated through flow tests on the injection pump, resulting in mass flows of 4 and 5 Kg/min. Printing speeds on the Cartesian robot were parameterized at 10, 30, and 50 mm/s. This led to the creation of samples named AE1 – 10, AE1 – 30, AE1 – 50 mm/s (for a flow rate of 5 Kg/min) and AE2 – 30, AE2 – 50 mm/s (for a flow rate of 4 Kg/min), along with AR – 1 and AR – 2 samples, which were collected in the mixer without extrusion. The system's validation involved printing an object with dimensions of 400 ×400×80 mm (length x width x height). After printing, the object's measurements were analyzed to assess the cementitious material's extrudability and the constructibility of the layers. Tests were conducted in the fresh and hardened states of the mortar, including measurements of consistency index and tensile and compressive strength. The results demonstrated that replacing traditional methods with 3D printing on the construction site is feasible, reducing waste and decreasing construction time. This directly contributes to a cleaner and more sustainable construction process. 3D printing represents a promising innovation in the construction sector, offering significant advantages in terms of efficiency, waste reduction, and positive environmental impact. This work demonstrates the viability of this technology and its potential to transform the construction industry toward more sustainable and effective practices.

Residual impact resistance behavior of PVA fiber reinforced cement mortar containing Nano-SiO2 after exposure to chloride erosion

High-performance cement-based composite materials are commonly employed in marine structural engineering. However, the deterioration of mechanical and durability properties of composite structures caused by chloride erosion in marine environments is a typical engineering problem. This study aims to assess the impact of NS and PVA fibers on the strength, chloride resistance, and impact resistance of NS-PVA fiber mortar. The impact frequency distribution of NS-PVA fiber mortar was analyzed under two conditions: natural environment and after chloride erosion, utilizing both log-normal and two-parameter Weibull distribution models. The findings indicate that the impact energy consumption of NS-PVA fiber mortar increases after 28 days of chloride erosion compared to the natural environment, primarily due to the formation of a compact pore structure attributed to the reaction product Friedel's salt. The optimal composite dosage is determined to be 1.8% for NS and 1 vol% for PVA fiber. At this dosage, the PS18 mortar exhibits a 44.8% and 53.7% increase in initial cracking and failure impact energy, respectively, compared to conventional mortar in the natural environment. Furthermore, these enhancements are further amplified to 53.4% and 64.6% after chloride erosion. Concurrently, a negative correlation is observed between accelerated impact energy consumption and chloride diffusion depth in NS-PVA fiber mortar. A predictive model for impact energy consumption of NS-PVA fiber mortar following chloride erosion, considering various failure probabilities, is established, offering valuable insights for the practical application of NS-PVA fiber mortar in marine engineering.

Compressive and flexural strength of cement mortar blended with cassava peel ash and high-range water-reducing (superplasticizing) admixtures

This paper presents the outcome of an experiment carried out by using cassava peel ash (CPA) of varying quantities to partially replace cement in mortar mix and the influence of adding superplasticizer in the mortar mix is further investigated. The experiment was carried out by partially replacing CPA in the range of 0 to 25 percent by weight of cement at 5% intervals. A water binder ratio (w/b) of 0.5 and superplasticizer dosage of 1.5l/100kg were used to produce the blended mortar of mix 1:3. The samples were cured and tested for compression and flexure at 7, 28, and 90 days after demolding. The results of the first experiment confirmed the suitability of the cassava peel ash (CPA) at not more than 15% replacement with cement for mortar and concrete works. In the second experiment, the superplasticizer has a linear relationship with the conventional mortar while the blended cement-cassava peel ash (CCPA) mortar retarded in strength at an early stage. However, 5% CPA mortar with superplasticizer gained 52 percent strength from 7 days to 28 days of the test. In addition, at the 90-day test, 5% CPA mortar with superplasticizer has almost an equivalent strength (96%) of the conventional mortar with superplasticizer. The flexural strength for blended CCPA mortar of 5-15% showed an acceptable value with that of mortar with a superplasticizer. Generally, the addition of admixture to the blended CCPA mortar showed a different trend compared to the conventional mortar.

Evaluation of the Thermomechanical Response of Geopolymeric Mortars Manufactured from Peruvian Mining Residues and its Comparison with Portland Cement Mortars

Geopolymeric mortars made from a mixture of waste from the Peruvian informal mining industry, sodium hydroxide activating solution, and fine sand were studied, comparing them physically and mechanically with conventional Portland cement mortars. Both conventional and geopolymeric mortars were prepared in parallel and then subjected to uniaxial compression tests at various temperatures (ambient, 200 °C and 500 °C). The mechanical results found revealed maximum average resistance values of 63, 84 and 79 MPa for conventional mortars, and 12, 32 and 36 MPa for geopolymeric mortars, when they were tested at room temperature, 200 °C and 500 °C, respectively. The best mechanical results in geopolymeric mortars were found when considering a binder: fine sand ratio of 1:2, molarity of the hardening solution of 12 M and a hardening solution: binder ratio of 0.6. It was possible to demonstrate a good agreement between the distribution of particle sizes observed microstructurally and those found by granulometry studies by laser light diffraction.

Effect of crack orientation on bacterial self-healing of bio-mortar in marine environment

The impact of crack orientation on healing in conventional mortar and bacteria-based bio-mortars was assessed under submerged marine conditions. The bacteria-based bio-mortar was prepared using Halobacillus Halophilus bacteria, expanded perlite aggregates and calcium lactate. Cracks were divided into five groups based on their orientation. Upward-faced and side-faced horizontal cracks in conventional mortar showed maximum overall healing of 77 %–90 % for the analysed crack range. Downward-faced and side-faced vertical cracks had three and four times less autogenous healing than upward-faced cracks, respectively; however, their healing doubled with the addition of bacteria. The variation in healing performance with orientation was explained by differences in the deposition of healing products under gravity. Additionally, healing products were also found within the cross-section of cracks in horizontally-placed bacteria-based specimens. Although their formation initiated away from the centre, after 35 days of exposure, the maximum healing was observed close to the centre spreading to the top surface of these bio-mortar specimens. These outcomes imply that results in literature must be carefully interpreted. This phenomenon of healing dependency on crack orientation is rarely studied and might have unknowingly affected the interpretation of the results in previous studies.

Application of hybrid cement in passive fire protection of steel structures

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to determine the thermal conductivity of a protective layer of alkali-activated cement and the possibility of performing fire protection with fireclay sand and Lightweight mortar. Unprotected steel structures have generally low fire resistance and require surface protection. The design of passive protection of a steel element must consider the service life of the structure and the possible need to replace the fire protection layer. Currently, conventional passive protection options include intumescent coatings, which are subject to frequent inspection and renewal, gypsum and cement-based fire coatings and gypsum and cement board fire protection.Design/methodology/approachAlkali-activated cements provide an alternative to traditional Portland clinker-based materials for specific areas. This paper presents the properties of hybrid cement, its manufacturability for conventional mortars and the development of passive fire protection. Fire experiments were conducted with mortar with alkali-activated and fireclay sand and lightweight mortar with alkali-activated cement and expanded perlite. Fire experiment FE modelling.FindingsThe temperatures of the protected steel and the formation of cracks in the protective layer were investigated. Based on the experiments, the thermal conductivities of the two protective layers were determined. Conclusions are presented on the applicability of alkaline-activated cement mortars and the possibilities of applicability for the protection of steel structures. The functionality of the passive fire layer was confirmed and the strengths of the mortar used were determined. The use of alkali-activated cements was shown to be a suitable option for sustainable passive fire protection of steel structures.Originality/valueEco-friendly fire protection based on hybrid alkali-activated cement of steel members.

Investigation of pull-out characteristics of connections for post-installed rebar utilizing mortar-based binders and chemical adhesives

ABSTRACT In this study, various types of adhesives were tested for their ability to adhere steel reinforcement bars to old concrete during a pull-out test when they were used in connection to a post-installed re-bar. The cylinder samples were 150 mm in diameter and had anchors made of rebar that varied in diameter (8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 16 mm, and 20 mm) and embedded depth (10, 12.5, 15, and 20 times the rebar diameter). In contrast to the control group of (60 Nos.) cast-in-situ rebar concrete specimens, the other samples (240 samples) were post-installed-rebar concrete specimens with various bonding agents, epoxy-based chemical adhesive, vinyl-ester-based chemical adhesive, and cement-based binders (geopolymer mortar, conventional mortar). The results showed that while they all performed better than cement-based mortar-bonded specimens, the use of the epoxy-based chemical adhesive and vinyl-ester-based chemical adhesive pull-out load values were closely related. The anchorage depth and rebar diameter both improve the bond strength which reflects in terms of pull-out load. The anchorage depth and the region of contact with the adhesives or binder determine the failure mechanism of post-installed rebar connections. Due to the higher strength at the interface between the binder and the rebar in comparison to the binder-concrete, larger rebar diameters favour splitting or failure of concrete.

Mechanical Behavior of Nano Clay on Cement Mortar at Ambient Temperature

The Experimental studies prove that the use of cement as a partial replacement with Nano clay and polypropylene fibres along with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag improves the strength properties like compressive strength of cement mortar at ambient temperature. These Nano clay has been successfully recognized as promising advanced materials used for construction purpose due to their enhanced mechanical properties. The primary focus and purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Nano Clay and its properties on cube specimens. The test specimens consist of cubes (70.6 mm) as per IS specifications, the specimens were casted for 3 days and 7 days and tested with cement mortar mix 1:3, and polypropylene fibres (0.25% by weight of cement) all the test specimens are subjected to ambient temperature then, and strength properties at normal temperature were studied. The test result shows there is a significant improvement in 3 days and 7 days strength as compared to the conventional mortar. The inclusion of Nano clay will have significant improvement and high boning properties when it is added to the cement.

Material analysis for restoration application: a case study of the world’s first university Mor Yakup Church in Nusaybin, Mardin

The Mor Yakup Church, located in the Nusaybin District of Mardin, is known as the world’s first educational university in history and represents one of the oldest Christian medieval monuments. In this study, it is aimed to determine the factors of the strength problems of the structure by investigating the characterization of building materials and what kind of factors affect the material behavior with various observational and experimental methods. It was determined that the main deterioration types in the materials of the building were erosion, fractures, loss of parts and the dissolve of the joint mortars between the masonry work on the facades. Since the materials used in the construction of the building are unable in terms of physico-mechanics, it has been determined that the severe continental climate conditions prevailing in the region easily cause such physical deterioration on the construction materials. In addition, the presence of clays in the conventional mortar used in the building has been defined as an internal problem that causes the material to get tired with the osmotic pressure it creates by absorbing water. A very high rate of salinization was detected in the building materials of the building and it was observed that this salting was caused by the acid effect caused by air pollution and the portland cement used in the previous repairs in the building. Finally, this study presents restoration recommendations to repair the material deterioration in the building and to prevent its occurrence in the future.