Durability Of Self-compacting Concrete Research Articles

Influence of recycled steel fiber on the properties of self-compacting concrete with high fly ash content


 
 
 The recycled steel fibers from waste steel cables have properties suitable for enhancing the load-bearing capacity, impact resistance, and shrinkage reduction of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC). The use of a high content of fly ash in SCC reduces production costs and is environment friendly by minimizing the amount of cement in the mix. This article presents the experimental research results on the influence of the content of recycled steel fibers on the properties of high-fly-ash SCC. The research utilized recycled steel fibers from elevator steel cables with volume percentages of 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% respectively in SCC, with a fly ash content in the SCC mix of 50% by volume of powder. The evaluated properties included workability, plastic shrinkage, drying shrinkage compressive strength, and tensile strength. The results indicate that using recycled steel fibers with a maximum content of 1% enables the production of SCC that meets European standards for workability. In addition, when comparing SCC with 0.5% and 1% recycled steel fiber content to control SCC samples (without steel fibers), the compressive strength of SCC increased by 5.04% and 7.56% respectively, the tensile strength increased by 2.99% and 5.97% respectively, plastic shrinkage decreased by 27.34% and 30.47% respectively, and 28-day drying shrinkage decreased by 3.2% and 4.6% respectively. Using recycled steel fibers combined with high-volume fly ash is a reasonable solution to save production costs and be environmentally friendly. Additionally, this solution not only improves the compressive and tensile strength but also limits plastic and drying shrinkage deformations of SCC. As a result, the durability of SCC is enhanced.
 
 

Waste marble based self compacting concrete reinforced with steel fiber exposed to aggressive environment

Degradation of self-compacting concrete (SCC) exposure to the aggressive environment is a key issue that decreases the service life of the SCC structure. To reduce the amount of damage produced by the acid, the fibers bridge the cracks and restrict their spread. Therefore, SCC is reinforced with steel fibers at varying percentages from 0 to 2.0 %. Marble waste as filler materials (10 % by weight of sand) was also added to improve the microstructure. The SCC is exposed to a 4 % sulfuric acid solution for a specified period. The mechanical performance of SCC was evaluated through visual inspection, mass loss, compressive, and tensile strength. Furthermore, the durability of SCC was judged by dry density, water absorption, and permeability tests. Cracking behavior and performance at elevated temperatures of SCC exposed to the acid environment were also evaluated. Microstructure analysis was evaluated through scan electronic microscopy and simultaneous thermal analysis. Results indicate that the SCC performance under an aggressive environment was considerably improved with the addition of steel fiber and marble waste. The synergic effect of steel fiber as a reinforcement and marble waste as filler shows a positive impact on strength, durability, performance at elevated temperatures, and the microstructure of SCC. Maximum mechanical improvement was observed at a 1.5 % addition of steel fiber which shows 10 and 20 % more compressive and tensile strength respectively. Furthermore, steel fiber improved ductile failure by allowing warning (cracks) and avoiding abrupt failure. However, a higher dose of steel fiber (beyond 1.5 %) decreased the SCC performance due to a lack of flowability. Therefore, the study concluded that steel fiber should be used up to 1.5 % addition.

Synergistic effects of asphalt emulsion and fiber reinforcement on fracture properties and energy absorption of self-compacting concrete

The stability and durability of concrete structures are determined by various factors, including fracture properties. In this study, self-compacting concrete (SCC) was prepared by incorporating asphalt emulsion (AE) and fiber to improve its fracture properties and energy absorption capacity. Basalt fiber (BF) and polypropylene fiber (PPF) were used at 0.2% volume fraction, and the content of AE was 10%. Fracture parameters, including fracture energy, ductility index, and fracture toughness were evaluated by analyzing the load-crack mouth opening displacement (P-CMOD) curves obtained through a three-point bending test. In addition, quasi-static compression and gas permeability tests were conducted to evaluate the compressive energy absorption and durability, respectively. Results show that fracture energy, ductility index and fracture toughness were significantly improved after adding AE and fiber, and the specimens with PPF generally exhibited higher fracture parameters. Although the compressive strength was slightly decreased, the compressive toughness ratio was greatly improved. The stress–strain curves of specimens with AE and fiber show an obvious plastic behavior and exhibited a more gentle descending section, indicating a ductile failure mode. Moreover, gas permeability was reduced due to the filling effect of asphalt and the bridging action of fiber. Overall, incorporating AE and fiber into SCC could improve the matrix structure by creating a network with excellent toughening and bridging effects. This, in turn, optimizes crack resistance, energy absorption capacity, and durability of SCC.

Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete Produced with Optimized Volumes of Calcined Clay and Rice Husk Ash-Emphasis on Rheology, Flowability Retention and Durability.

The durability of concrete requires a dense microstructure which can be achieved by using self-compacting concrete (SCC). Both calcined clay (CC) and rice husk ash (RHA) are promising supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) that can partially replace cement, but their use in SCC is critical due to their higher water demand (WD) and specific surface area (SSA) compared to cement. The effect of partial substitution of cement at 20 vol-% with binary and ternary blends of CC and RHA on flowability retention and durability of SCC was investigated. The empirical method of SCC design was adopted considering the physical properties of both CC and RHA. The deformability of the SCC was evaluated using the slump flow and J-ring tests. The T500 time and the V-funnel test were used to assess the viscosity of the SCC. The flowability retention was monitored by the plunger method, and flow resistance was determined based on the rheological measurements of SCC. The evolution of the hydrate phases of the binder in SCC was determined by thermogravimetric analysis, while the durability was evaluated by a rapid chloride migration test. Cement partial replacement with 20 vol-% CC has no significant effect on fresh SCC, flowability retention, compressive strength and durability properties. On the other hand, 20 vol-% RHA requires a higher dosage of SP to achieve self-compactability and increase the viscosity of SCC. Its flowability retention is only up to 30 min after mixing and exhibited higher flow resistance. It consumes more calcium hydroxide (CH) and improves the compressive strength and chloride resistance of SCC. The ternary blending with CC and RHA yielded better fresh SCC properties compared to the binary blend with RHA, while an improved chloride penetration resistance could be achieved compared to the binary CC blend.

Influence of calcium carbonate on green self-compacting concrete incorporating porcelain tile waste as coarse aggregate replacement

The disposal of ceramic tile waste poses a significant environmental challenge in the construction industry. This study aims to explore the influence of calcium carbonate (CC) on the properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) incorporating porcelain tile waste as a coarse aggregate replacement. The objective is to enhance the performance of SCC while addressing the limitations of recycled ceramic aggregates and achieving the desired strength class. SCC specimens were cast by partially and completely substituting natural crushed rock with varying percentages of porcelain tile aggregates (PTA-0, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 %) and cement with calcium carbonate (CC-10 %, 20 %, and 30 %). Workability assessments, mechanical properties, and durability were evaluated and compared against those of reference concrete. The experimental findings revealed that the incorporation of CC and PTA positively influenced the workability, mechanical properties and durability of SCC. Notably, the SCC mixture incorporating 10 %CC and 25 %PTA demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving the highest compressive strength of 64.9 MPa at 28 days. Moreover, even with complete substitution, the compressive strength reduction remained below 5 %. These results highlight the potential of PTA and CC-based SCC mixtures as an efficient and sustainable approach for utilizing porcelain tile waste in high performance concrete production. The findings contribute to addressing environmental concerns, promoting waste management practices, and reducing the reliance on natural resources in the construction industry.

Sorptivity and rapid chloride ion penetration of self-compacting concrete using fly ash and copper slag

This paper represents experimental work on the mechanical and durability parameters of self-compacting concrete (SCC) with copper slag (CS) and fly ash (FA). In the first phase of the experiment, certain SCC mixes are prepared with six percentages of FA replacing the cement ranging from 5% to 30%. In the second phase, copper slag replaces fine aggregate at an interval of 20% to 100% by taking the optimum percentage value of FA. The performance of SCC mixes containing FA and copper slag is measured with fresh properties, compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths. SCC durability metrics, such as resistance against chloride and voids in the concrete matrix, is measured with rapid chloride ion penetration test (RCPT) and sorptivity techniques. The microstructure of the SCC is analyzed by using SEM and various phases available in the concrete matrix identified with XRD analysis. It is found that when replacing cement with 20% of FA and replacing fine aggregate with 40% of copper slag in SCC, higher mechanical strengths will be delivered. Resistance of chloride and voids in the concrete matrix reaches the optimum value at 40%; and with the increase of dosage, the quality of SCC will be improved. Therefore, it is recommended that copper slag be used as a sustainable material for replacement of fine aggregate.

Impact analysis of ceramic tile powder aggregates on self-compacting concrete

Waste ceramic tile (CT) powders are used to improve the workability, mechanical properties, and durability of self-compacting concrete (SCC). The waste CT powder is prepared by mixing construction tiles, sanitary fittings, and electrical insulators, with different weight percentages mixed into the SCC. Experiments have been conducted to evaluate the workability, mechanical, and durability of SCC. The optimum compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths were predicted to be 52.5 MPa, 8.5 MPa, and 7.8 MPa. SCC’s durability and workability characteristics are achieved by mixing 50% CT powder, which increases interlocking properties and meets EFNARC standards. It is concluded that CT powder can be substituted for conventional fine aggregate in concrete, increasing compressive, flexural, and split tensile strengths by 12.5%, 9.33%, and 28.76% compared to conventional SCC. The 50% CT powder mixed SCC is the optimum value for achieving optimal mechanical, durability, and workability characteristics. Samples of 50% CT powder-mixed SCC with 7, 28, and 90 days of curing processes and microstructure are also illustrated.

Properties of fresh and hardened self-compacting concrete incorporating rice husk ash: A review

Abstract Rice husk is considered as a waste product of farming. However, rice husk ash (RHA) has a good pozzolanic activity, which can be used in cement-based materials as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM), and it is also suitable for self-compacting concrete (SCC). This study reviews the physical and chemical properties of RHA and the properties of RHA–SCC mixtures such as fresh properties (crucial factors and evaluation methods of workability for fresh SCC), mechanical properties (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity), and durability (water absorption and sorptivity, acid resistance, chloride penetration resistance, electrical resistivity, and alkali silica reaction). It was observed that the workability of SCC decreases with an increase in the incorporation rate of RHA. An incorporation rate of RHA in the range of approximately 15–20% enhances the mechanical properties and durability of SCC. The incorporation of RHA into SCC can reduce the environmental burden of rice husk treatment, and promote sustainable development of cement industries and reduce the cost of SCC.

Evaluation of use of marble and granite cutting waste to the production of self-compacting concrete

Due to the continuous storage of large quantities of marble and granite waste (MGW), generated during the processing of ornamental stones, researchers have been using this material in a sustainable way to reduce its adverse impacts on the ecosystem. In this study, the main objective was to evaluate the effect of using MGW on mechanical properties and durability of self-compacting concretes (SCC), as part of the fines required to ensure self-compacting characteristics. Also, it was investigated this material as a new possibility in the composition of a ternary cement modality. For this, an experimental program was developed with four SCC mixtures, in which tests were performed to determine the properties in the fresh state, hardened properties, durability, and microstructural analyses. The test results indicated that all mixtures complied the self-compacting requirements and the incorporation of MGW contributed to the stabilization of the concretes. The mixture with CPV-ARI cement and MGW incorporated as fine in the concrete, and the mixture with MGW both incorporated as fines in the concrete and in the composition of ternary cement CP-MMG did not present statistically significant differences for some results of the mechanical properties. Besides, these mixtures provided improvements and similar results of some durability and microstructural tests, respectively. In general, the different possibilities of utilization of the residue proposed in this study, generate an appropriate destination for MGW and propose a viable alternative for the reduction of clinker consumption in cement production.

Effect of Sodium Hydroxide Additive on Mechanical Properties and Durability of Self-Compacting Concrete with Sulfate Aggregates in Chloride Environment

Effect of Sodium Hydroxide Additive on Mechanical Properties and Durability of Self-Compacting Concrete with Sulfate Aggregates in Chloride Environment

Strength assessment and durability of self-compacting concrete manufactured with various fine aggregates subjected to acidic curing environment

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to contribute with experimental study of the effects of binary and ternary combinations of river sand (RS), crushed sand (CS) and dune sand (DS) on the physical and mechanical performances of self-compacting concrete (SCC) subjected to acidic curing environments, HCl and H2SO4 solutions.Design/methodology/approachFive SCCs were prepared with the combinations 100% RS, 0.8RS + 0.2CS, 0.6RS + 0.2CS + 0.2DS, 0.6RS + 0.4DS and 0.6CS + 0.4DS. The porosity of sand, fluidity, deformability, stability, compressive strength and sorptivity coefficient were tested. SCCs cubic specimens with a side length of 10 cm were submerged in HCl and H2SO4 acids, wherein the concentration was 5%, for periods of 28, 90 and 180 days. The resistance to acid attack was evaluated by visual examination, mass loss and compressive strength loss.FindingsThe results showed that it is possible to partially substitute the RS with CS and DS in the SCC, without strongly affecting the fluidity, deformability, stability, compressive strength and durability against HCl and H2SO4 attack. The two combinations, 0.8RS + 0.2CS and 0.6RS + 0.2CS + 0.2DS, improved the compactness and the resistance to acid attacks of SCC. Consequently, the improvement in SCC compactness, by the combination of RS, CS and DS, decreased the sorptivity coefficient of SCC and increased its resistance to acid attacks, in comparison with that made only by RS.Originality/valueThe use of RS is experiencing a considerable increase in line with the development of the country. To satisfy this demand, it is necessary to substitute this sand with other materials more abundant. The use of locally available materials is a very effective way to protect the environment, improve the physico-mechanical properties and durability of SCC and it can be a beneficial economical alternative. Few studies have addressed the effect of the binary and ternary combination of RS, CS and DS on the resistance to acid attacks of SCC.

Effects of asphalt emulsion on the durability of self-compacting concrete

Asphalt emulsion (AE) is the alternative raw material for self-compacting concrete (SCC), some researchers have reported on the composition design, workability, and strength properties recently. But few attempts have be made on the durability. For a better understanding on the effects of AE on SCC durability and its microscopic mechanism, the SCC specimens were prepared with various AE contents, and the self-compacting workability was confirmed via slump flow test. Then, three kinds of durability tests were performed to evaluate the chloride-penetration resistance, frost resistance and sulfate-corrosion resistance, and the scan electronic microscope (SEM) test and X-ray diffraction (XRD) test were performed to discuss the microscopic mechanism. The results show that the chloride-penetration resistance, frost resistance and sulfate-corrosion resistance of SCC were enhanced by adding AE. Observed from SEM test, the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of SCC is mainly filled with the C-S-H gel and AE, and the SCC microstructure tends to be compact, resulting that the concrete durability was improved by using appropriate AE. However, the excessive AE may lead to more pores in SCC because of the retardation effect on cement hydration. The AE with the content of 10% given the most desirable effect for durability.

Durability of self-compacting concrete containing waste bottle glass and granulated slag

This paper presents an experimental study to study the effect of two mineral additives to limestone filler (LF) on the strength and durability of self-compacting concrete. These are glass powder (GP) from the recovery of glass bottles of the same color and the granulated slag of blast furnaces (GS), a by-product of the steel industry of the El-Hadjar complex of the Annaba region (eastern Algeria). Two series of concrete mixes were prepared with two different resistance classes. Self-compacting concrete (SCC) and self-compacting high-performance concrete (SCHPC) were evaluated on the basis of mechanical resistance at different times, capillary water absorption, permeability to oxygen, water-accessible porosity, chloride migration, accelerated carbonation and ammonium nitrate leaching. The results of the tests showed that the incorporation of GP and GS improves the mechanical strength of concretes and reduces capillary water absorption, chloride ion diffusion, gas permeability and leaching kinetics compared to LF. However, the GP does not appear to improve the strength of concrete to carbonation, unlike the GS, which has not carbonated. The study also highlighted the enhanced effect of the combination of silica fume (SF), and in particular with the LF and the GP, for their best resistance with the action of carbon dioxide.

Properties and Durability of Self-Compacting Concrete Incorporated with Nanosilica, Silica Fume and Fly Ash

Properties and Durability of Self-Compacting Concrete Incorporated with Nanosilica, Silica Fume and Fly Ash

Effect of Wet Curing and Hot Climate on Strength and Durability of SCC with Natural Pozzolan

Aims: The aim of this study is to discuss the performance of SCC with natural pozzolana under hot climate conditions. Background: The performance of vibrated concrete under hot climate is well investigated. However, the effect of hot climate on SCC is tittle investigated. North African and Middle Eastern countries are subjected to hot and dry environments especially during summer periods. Hence there is a need to investigate the performance of SCC under hot climate. Objective: The objective of this paper is to study the effect of water curing duration followed by natural hot climate exposure on the performance of SCC with Natural Pozzolan (NP). Methods: It is an experimental investigation where Concrete specimens were exposed to a standard curing environment (relative humidity RH = 100% and Temperature T°= 20°C ± 2°C) for 0, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days, followed by a second cure in a hot environment in open air on a laboratory terrace in North Africa area during summer time with a temperature of 35°C to 45°C and a relative humidity of 65% to 75%. The cement was substituted by NP in weigh at three substitution levels (0%, 15% and 25%). Results: The experimental results show the importance of the wet curing in hot climate, especially when NP is used. Substituting cement by NP improves the self-compacting concrete durability for the long term. Conclusion: The substitution of cement by natural pozzolan reduced water permeability and capillary absorption. The hot climate has no negative effect on the evolution of the mechanical strength and durability of the SCC with natural pozzolan when undergoing a long initial wet cure.

Mechanical and durability properties of self-compacting concrete with marble fine aggregate

Abstract Self-compacting concrete (SCC) enhances qualities and working conditions due to the elimination of compaction during construction. The usage of river sand in concrete affects natural resources and groundwater. This the paper deals the different testing methods to test high-flow ability, resistance against segregation, and passing ability of self- compacting concrete for M60 grade of concrete with a partial replacement of marble waste as a fine aggregate. Slump flow, V-funnel, L-box and U-box tests were carried out to examine the performance of fresh state SCC. In hardened state, the tests were conducted and cured at different periods to find compressive strength, tensile strength and flexure strength test with the replacement of marble fine aggregate percentage of 0%, 25%, 50% and 100% in SCC for 14, 28 and 56 curing days. The chemical admixture super plasticizer master Glenium sky 8233 and the viscosity modifying agent are used. The specimens are cast with 0.28 water-powder ratio. And also durability of SCC is tested by RCPT, WPT, chemical attack tests like acid and sulphate attack are conducted at the age of 28 and 56 days in SCC specimens. The results are compared with the conventional SCC and found satisfied up to 25% of partial replacement of fine aggregate as a marble aggregate for 28 and 56 curing days.

Effect of Recycled Plastic Granules as a Partial Substitute for Natural Resource Sand on the Durability of SCC

This investigation is focused on durability studies of binary blended self-compacting concrete (SCC) with the replacement effect of electronic plastic waste, namely high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) granules as partial sand. In the current investigation, for all the SCC mixes, cement is replaced with pozzolanic material fly ash in the binder content of 497 kg/m3 and an adopted water-to-binder ratio of 0.36. Durability properties such as porosity, water absorption, and sorptivity are assessed for the curing periods of 28 and 90 days on SCC specimens produced with HIPS (0%–40% replacement by volume of sand). Both surface and internal water absorption rates were found to be minimal for SCC with HIPS. Replacement of HIPS up to 30% in SCC exhibited improved trends for all tests results. Reported durability parameter values were within permissible limits and revealed the excellent performance of HIPS in SCC. The optimum durability values can be attributed to the dense microstructure of SCC obtained with the combined effect of HIPS and fly ash. The continuous gradation of aggregates in the matrix reduced porosity due to the spherical shape of HIPS; additionally, the hydrophobicity of HIPS inhibits moisture migration in SCC. The additional benefits of fly ash, such as pozzolanic action and the filler effect at the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) are also major contributions to the long-term performance of durability. Electronic plastic waste replacement for fine aggregates in concrete compensates for the disposal problem and conserves natural sand.

Effects of Incorporation of Marble Powder Obtained by Recycling Waste Sludge and Limestone Powder on Rheology, Compressive Strength, and Durability of Self-Compacting Concrete

Marble has been commonly used as a building material since ancient times. The disposal of waste materials from the marble industry, consisting of sludge that is composed of powder mixed with water, is one of the current worldwide environmental problems. This experimental study aims to valorize marble powder, which is achieved by grinding the sludge as filler added to the cementitious matrix of self-compacting concrete (SCC). The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the marble filler effects on the rheology in the fresh state and on the hardened properties of SCCs compared to those of limestone filler. To this end, two SCCs, SCCM and SCCL, manufactured using marble powder and limestone filler, respectively, were prepared and tested. The fresh properties of the two SCCs’ mixtures were determined by slump flow, L-box, V-funnel, sieve stability, bulk density, and air content. Tests on hardened SCCs included compressive strength, homogeneity, and quality in terms of ultrasonic pulse velocity and durability against carbonation and water penetration. In addition, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the specimens.

Influence of natural pozzolana content on self-compacting concrete durability properties

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on the rheological properties, compressive strength and durability of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) containing local Pozzolana. Pozzolana with a fineness of 3500 cm2/g has been used at different percentages (0%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) as partial cement replacement. Cement content, water to binder ratio of 0.4, gravel to sand ratio of 1.0 and superplasticizer content of 1.8% (by weight of cement) were kept constant in all SCC mixtures. Workability, compressive strength, capillary water and water permeability are reported in this investigation. The substitution content of 10% natural pozzolan seems to give the most favorable effect on the rheological characteristics of SCC. However, the strength and the durability results of the SCC containing 10% of natural pozzolan showed a slight decrease compared to SCC control.

Durability of self-compacting concrete containing pumice and zeolite against acid attack, carbonation and marine environment

Due to their fluidity and simplicity of use, self-compacting concretes (SCCs) have undeniable advantages. Since the study on the behavior of SCC containing pumice or zeolite with respect to aggressive media as acid attack and carbonation is very rare in literature, the purpose of this study is to focus on this subject. In this study, the influence of the partial substitution of 10% and 15% of Portland cement by pumice and zeolite admixtures on the fresh state, compressive strength of self-compacting concrete (SCC) is investigated. For durability, resistance to acid attack, carbonation and marine environment is studied. The results show different behaviors depending on the nature of the pozzolan. SCCs containing pumice exhibit a compressive strength at least equal to that of control concrete at early ages and higher than the ones of the control mix at long term ages. In contrast, SCC based on zeolite has a lower resistance compared to the control concrete due to the presence of a large porosity formed during the preparation of the mixture. This study shows and quantifies the positive effect of the partial substitution of Portland cement by 10% and 15% of pumice and 15% of zeolite on improving chemical resistance in acid attack. The carbonation study showed a lower resistance of SCCs containing pozzolan, this effect is more important for SCC with zeolite. Additional studies on the formulation and the properties at the fresh state of concrete containing zeolite in order to improve the mechanical strength will surely make it possible to obtain better performance and thus better profits from this natural pozzolan.