Modulus Of Mixtures Research Articles

Carbonized seawater cement slurries for offshore deep cement mixing: Carbonation mechanism, strength enhancement and microstructure evolution

Seawater cement slurry (SCS) is a commonly used binder in offshore deep cement mixing (DCM) construction. Seawater cement slurries are usually prepared before they are grouted into the seabed and mixed with marine clay. The aim of this study is to explore the feasibility of applying carbonation technology to fabricate SCS suitable for offshore DCM while achieving carbon sequestration and obtaining better mechanical properties for stabilised marine sediments.This study demonstrated that after appropriate carbonation, carbonized SCS can be used in DCM to replace conventional SCS. Short-term carbonation promotes cement dissolution and hydration rates under seawater conditions rich in magnesium, calcium, and other inorganic ions. The carbonates include calcite, vaterite and amorphous carbonates, which provide additional nucleation sites for the hydration of SCS, resulting in an increment for amorphous CS(A)H gel with a dense pore structure and binding interaction with soil particles. After carbonation with 20 % CO2 for 5 min (0.5 wt% of cement), the UCS and secant modulus of cement-soil mixtures by 15.7 % and 111 % at the age of 1 day, and by 6.82 % and 10 % at the age of 28 days when treating marine clay with 80 % moisture content at a dosage of 260 kg/m3.

Investigation of Dynamic Viscoelastic Characteristics of Permeable Asphalt

In order to provide a basis for the structural analysis, design and maintenance of permeable asphalt pavements, and to promote their engineering promotion and application, this study investigated the dynamic viscoelastic properties of permeable asphalt mixtures (PAC-13) under complex stress states. A Simple Performance Tester (SPT) system was used to measure the dynamic modulus of the mix under complex stress states. The displacement factor and principal dynamic modulus curves were formed by fitting Sigmoidal functions and using 1stOpt (first optimization) software, the phase angle principal curves were further determined, and the dynamic modulus was predicted for the ambient phase (15–25 °C) using the Hirsch model. The results showed that the dynamic modulus of the mixtures decreases with an increasing temperature, and the maximum decrease in the dynamic modulus is 93% when the confining pressure is 100 kPa and the loading frequency is 10 Hz. The dynamic modulus increases with an increasing confining pressure and loading frequency, the maximum increase with an increasing confining pressure is 26.1% when the temperature is 25 °C and the loading frequency is 10 Hz, and the maximum increase with an increasing loading frequency is 411% when the temperature is 25 °C and the confining pressure is 100 Hz. The dynamic modulus has a strong frequency dependence at low temperatures, while it is stress-dependent at high temperatures. Meanwhile, based on the Hirsch model, a new modified prediction model was developed, which can well predict the dynamic modulus of permeable asphalt mixtures at room temperature.

Shear modulus of sand-rubber mixtures: element testing and constitutive modeling

In this study, a series of resonant column tests was conducted to measure the shear modulus of sand-rubber mixtures at small strain amplitudes (i.e. between 10−4% and 10−2%), considering different rubber percentages and confining stress levels. The results were then combined with data obtained by dynamic hollow cylinder tests to investigate shear modulus degradation of the mixtures over a wider shear strain range. Based on the test results, a new expression was proposed to improve the prediction of maximum shear modulus of sand-rubber mixtures using the modified equivalent void ratio concept. A new constitutive model was also developed for estimation of strain-dependent shear modulus of the mixtures based on the modified hyperbolic framework. The shear modulus of the mixtures was found to be a function of rubber percentage, confining stress, the modified equivalent void ratio and the relative shear stiffness of rubber and sand. The experimental data and the developed models showed that the shear modulus decreased with rubber percentage and increased with confining stress. Moreover, the reference shear strain of the modified hyperbolic model increased with both rubber percentage and confining stress while its curvature coefficient increased more considerably with rubber percentage compared to the confining stress.

Diffusion, viscosity, and linear rheology of valence-limited disordered fluids.

We numerically investigate the dynamics and linear rheology of disordered systems made of patchy particles, focusing on the role of valence, temperature, and bonding mechanism. We demonstrate that the dynamics is enslaved to bonding, giving rise to an activated behavior at low temperatures. By independently computing the diffusion constant and the viscosity from the simulations, we also confirm the validity of the Stokes-Einstein relation in valence-limited systems, with two caveats: (i) the diffusion constant requires a finite-size correction, at least at the intermediate density we investigate, and (ii) there is the onset of a breakdown that appears at the lowest temperatures considered. Finally, our results show that the storage and loss moduli of mixtures of divalent and M-valent particles exhibit an apparent power-law dependence on frequency, hinting at the possibility of using the composition to finely tune the rheological response of these materials. Our results compare well with literature experimental data on valence-limited DNA nanostars. In addition, the wealth of data we present and analyze here will help develop and test theoretical frameworks aimed at describing the dynamics of flexible limited-valence particles that self-assemble into disordered networks.

Laboratory and Environmental Assessment of Asphalt Mixture Modified with a Compound of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement and Waste Polyethylene

The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in manufacturing asphalt concrete has become indispensable all over the world. This is due to the limited number of areas that are required to stockpile scraped pavement, as well as a lack of natural aggregate, which is necessary in manufacturing asphalt concrete. Thus, this research aims to evaluate the mechanical characteristics and environmental impact of using RAP and waste polyethylene in hot mix asphalt (HMA). RAP was added to hot mix asphalt in proportions of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% instead of the same amount of coarse aggregate. Then, the optimum RAP hot mix asphalt was modified by adding polyethylene in proportions of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% into the hot mix asphalt. The Marshall mix design was used to define the optimum asphalt content. As a final point in this experimental work, tests on the loss of stability, indirect tensile strength, and wheel loading tracking were performed to assess the performance of asphalt mixes modified with RAP and polyethylene in different conditions. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was applied using the ReCipe 2016 Endpoint method to evaluate the environmental impacts of these mixtures using the SimaPro software, V9.1. The laboratory tests showed that the mixture containing 50% RAP instead of the same amount of coarse aggregate and 2% polyethylene recorded better Marshall characteristics than the control mixture and the mixture with RAP alone. Finally, the modified hot mix asphalt with added RAP and polyethylene not only achieved superior performance in rutting, water damage resistance, and the stiffness modulus of bituminous mixtures, but it has been verified that there is no serious risk to the environment.

Investigation on the influence of gradation design on the road performance of cold mixed epoxy asphalt mixture based on microstructure evaluation

Cold mixed epoxy asphalt mixture (CMEAM) has excellent anti-deformation and fatigue performance which shows remarkable superiority on bridge pavements. Previous studies have done comprehensive researches on its properties through macroscopic experiments. However, few studies revealed the impact of gradation design on the road property of CMEAM through microscopic method. Thus, in this paper, X-Ray computed tomography (X-ray CT), nanoindentation (NI), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) are introduced to investigate the coarse aggregates contact degree, the thickness and elastic modulus of interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and the pore diameter distribution of CMEAM. Results showed that the contact points of coarse aggregates in EA-05 mixture are around 40 while those in EA-10 mixture are around 20. (40°, 50°) is the key inclination angle interval for EA-10 mixture type while (70°, 80°) and (10°, 20°) are of significance for EA-05 mixture type. The contact points and inclination angles are positively and inversely proportional to Marshall stability, respectively. In addition, the ITZ thickness of EA-05 and EA-10 mixture is below 10 μm and above 40 μm, respectively. The ITZ elastic modulus of EA-10 mixture is approximately 1.5 times than that of EA-05. The thickness and elastic modulus of ITZ are inversely proportional to low-temperature indirect tensile strain (εT). Meanwhile, EA-05 mixture has higher proportion in gel micropores and middle capillary pores while EA-10 mixture has higher proportion in mesopores and large capillary pores. Mesopores has the highest correlation coefficients with tensile strength ratio (TSR), followed by large capillary pores. The suggested proportion for above two type pores is around 21.5% and 51.0%, respectively.

Preparation and Mechanism Analysis of Stainless Steel AOD Slag Mixture Base Materials.

To promote resourceful utilization of argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag, this research developed a new three-ash stabilized recycled aggregate with AOD slag, cement, fly ash (FA), and recycled aggregate (RA) as raw materials. The AOD slag was adopted as an equal mass replacement for fly ash. The application of this aggregate in a road base layer was investigated in terms of its mechanical properties and mechanistic analysis. First, based on a cement: FA ratio of 1:4, 20 sets of mixed proportion schemes were designed for four kinds of cement dosage and AOD slag replacement rates (R/%). Through compaction tests and the 7-day unconfined compressive strength test, it was found that a 3% cement dosage met the engineering requirements. Then, the unconfined compressive strength test, indirect tensile strength test, compressive rebound modulus test, and expansion rate test were carried out at different age thresholds. The results showed that the mixture's strength, modulus, and expansion rate increased initially and then stabilized with age, while the strength and modulus initially increased and then decreased with increasing R. Secondly, based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) used to analyze the mechanism, it was found that the strength, modulus, and expansion rate of the new material can be promoted by blending AOD slag, due to its ability to fully stimulate the hydration reaction and pozzolanic reaction of the binder. Finally, based on the strength and modulus results, R = 3% was identified as the optimal ratio, which provides a reference point for the effective application of AOD slag and RA in road base materials.

Effect of reactive coarse recycled aggregate with different expansion history on alkali silica reactivity and mechanical properties of new concrete

AbstractRecycled concrete aggregates (RCA) provide an environmentally friendly solution by reducing the depletion of natural resources. This study investigates the impact of the expansion history of RCA on its reactivity with alkalis in newly produced concrete. Parent concrete samples were collected from the RILEM AAR‐4 curing cabinet (60°C and >90% RH) to produce coarse RCA with four different expansion levels (0.00%, 0.05%, 0.12%, and 0.20%). The results show that the expansion levels of the new concrete mixtures decreased as the ASR expansion history of parent concrete increased. The 20‐week compressive strength and elastic modulus of the reactive aggregate concrete containing no mineral admixture and exposed to AAR‐4 test conditions were lower than those of their water‐cured counterparts. However, no decrease was observed in the elastic modulus of concrete mixtures that showed an expansion level lower than 0.03% (the maximum expansion for nonreactive aggregate as recommended by the RILEM AAR‐4 standard).

A comparison of magneto-responsive particles and testing protocols for active rheology control of cementitious materials

Magneto-responsive cementitious materials with magnetic interventions enable on-demand and real-time adjustment of rheology. This research aims to elaborate the early-stage magneto response of cement pastes using different types of Fe3O4 particles and carbonyl iron particles. A series of methods to evaluate the magnetorheological response of cementitious materials were established. The magneto-responsive cement pastes were tested by shear test and small amplitude oscillatory shear test at constant and time-varying magnetic fields. The increase of static yield stress and storage modulus after applying a magnetic field was a time-dependent process, while the decrease of static yield stress and storage modulus was an instant process at the moment of removing magnetic fields. Such a procedure can be reversibly controlled in real time. The cement pastes containing different magneto-responsive particles showed significant difference in the onset of flow and structural build-up. With the intervention of a magnetic field, the static yield stress and storage modulus of mixtures with carbonyl iron particles were able to increase with one order of magnitude. Compared with the particle size distribution and particle morphology, the magnetic parameters of magneto-responsive particles dominated the magnetorheological properties of cementitious materials. Shear tests were found the most effective to evaluate the magneto response of cement pastes with the intervention of a magnetic field.

Contact parameters calibration of mixtures in different aerobic composting period: Focusing on establishment of particle model and its flow properties

In order to calibrate the contact parameters, particle models for mixtures of each period were established by simulation of repose angle using combined models in EDEM software, and then the flow properties of mixtures in different aerobic composting periods were clarified. Results showed that compared with the six-sphere model, the use of the double-sphere model to represent the compost mixtures of each period was not only closer to the ellipsoid of the actual particles but also simplified the calculation process. The contact parameters that mostly affected the repose angle were Poisson's ratio and shear modulus of mixture in the mesophilic period and JKR surface energy in thermophilic and cooling periods. The relative errors between the simulated repose angle using the optimal parameter combination and the actual measured value were less than 2.5% indicating the reliability of the regression models at each period representing the relationship among the repose angle and significant contact parameters. In addition, the flow properties of mixtures at the mesophilic period were better than those at the thermophilic and the cooling period of its smaller repose angle, the larger mass transformation, and the smaller Ek max value. Meanwhile, mixtures in thermophilic and cooling periods had similar flow properties. Hence, these could provide information for the further application of simulation to optimize the composting process (e.g., stirring frequency and ventilation time) to promote compost maturity.

Sustainable infrastructure: the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on road base materials comprising natural and recycled concrete aggregates

ABSTRACT This study investigated RCA as a sustainable, cost-effective NA substitute in road construction. Mixtures with 0–100% RCA were tested under freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles for resilience and deformation, compared to non-exposed controls. The F-T cycles, mix composition, and stiffness are interrelated. The resilient modulus of NA-RCA mixtures increased for up to 5 F-T cycles, then slightly dropped. The 50% NA + 50% RCA mixture showed improved stiffness, with average MR increasing from about 321 MPa to 420 MPa. The 100% NA sample’s average MR dropped from about 220 MPa to 196 MPa after 5 F-T cycles. As RCA content increased to 50%, plastic deformation decreased from about 0.085% and then slightly increased. The 50% NA and 50% RCA blend showed the least plastic deformation (0.065%) in all F-T cycles, demonstrating RCA’s effective use in road construction. This composition showed great stiffness and resilience even after multiple freeze-thaw cycles. These results support sustainable road construction without compromising performance. It is essential to note that the study’s scope was limited to laboratory conditions, which may not fully represent real-world conditions. Future research should field test RCA and NA mixtures in various environments to validate the findings and assess long-term performance.

Evaluation of the microscale structure and performance of asphalt mixtures under different design methods

Asphalt mixture design methods have an important influence on both the microscale structure formed and the corresponding properties. This research compared the performance of asphalt mixtures with the Balanced design method, Marshall design method, and Superpave design method. CT scans were performed on the mixture specimens under different design methods to analyze the mixtures' void distribution law and skeleton structure stability. Then, the water stability of asphalt mixtures with different skeleton structures was evaluated by the water immersion Marshall test and freeze–thaw splitting test, and the effects of temperature and loading frequency on the dynamic modulus of asphalt mixtures under different skeleton structures were assessed by uniaxial compression dynamic modulus test. Finally, based on the time–temperature equivalence principle and Sigmoid model, the master curves of the dynamic modulus of asphalt mixtures under different design methods were constructed. The results showed that the number of coarse aggregate contact points and the average coordination number of asphalt mixtures were relatively larger under the Balanced design method, and the residual strength ratio of asphalt mixture under the Marshall design method was 1.4% larger than that of the Balanced design method, and the residual strength ratio of specimens under Superpave design method was 6.1% larger than that of the Balanced design method. At the same time, based on the differences in the air void of the specimens under different design methods and the different skeleton structures, the dynamic modulus laws under the action of different frequencies were obtained, and the mechanism of the influence of the skeleton structure on the dynamic modulus of the mixture was revealed. This research has important implications for the durability improvement of asphalt mixtures.

Influence of specimen geometry on torsion of bituminous mixtures

This investigation focuses on the measurement of linear viscoelastic properties of the bituminous mixture using different specimen geometries in Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR). Two different specimen geometries, cylindrical and prismoidal (rectangular cross-section) specimens are used for testing in torsion. The cylindrical specimen of 12 mm diameter and prismoidal specimen with width to thickness ratio of 1.3 are used in the study. The length of both specimen geometries is restricted to 50 mm. The linear viscoelastic limit for the bituminous mixtures was estimated by performing an amplitude sweep experiment. The linear viscoelastic parameters are measured using a strain amplitude of 0.001 % and at frequencies ranging from 45 to 0.1 Hz. The results show the difference in the linear viscoelastic parameters measured using cylindrical and rectangular specimens i.e., the absolute shear modulus of the prismoidal specimen is greater than the cylindrical specimen. Such an increase in absolute shear modulus is because of the end restraint in torsion for prismoidal specimen i.e., warping. This study has documented such results for a range of temperatures and frequencies. The difference in the linear viscoelastic properties is found to be insignificant at 15 °C for the frequencies above 0.5 Hz and predominant at 35 and 55 °C for all the frequencies. The absolute shear modulus of bituminous mixtures for prismoidal specimens is computed and it is seen that the difference in absolute shear modulus is contributed predominantly due to the restriction of the warping in the prismoidal specimen due to the end restraint. This study shows the necessity for the correction of the absolute shear modulus of the bituminous mixture measured using prismoidal specimen for a given aspect ratio.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Engineering Properties of Polymer-Coated Glass Beads.

Modern construction projects are often challenging, which has increased the demand for innovative materials that ensure improved safety, durability, and functionality. To explore the potential of enhancing soil material functionality, this study synthesized polyurethane on the surface of glass beads and evaluated their mechanical properties. The synthesis of polymer proceeded according to a predetermined procedure, where the polymerization was confirmed through analysis of chemical structure by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and microstructure observation by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) after complete synthesis. The constrained modulus (M) and the maximum shear modulus (Gmax) of mixtures with synthesized materials were examined by using an oedometer cell equipped with bender elements under a zero lateral strain condition. Both M and Gmax decreased with an increase in the contents of polymerized particles due to a decrease in the number of interparticle contacts and contact stiffness induced by the surface modification. The adhesion property of the polymer induced a stress-dependent change in M but was observed to have little effect on Gmax. Compared to the behavior of the rubber-sand mixtures, polymerized particles show the advantage of a smaller reduction of M.

The dependence of linear viscoelasticity limits of cold-recycled mixtures on time of curing and compaction method

Cold-recycled mixtures are currently among the most widely used and investigated methods that enable recycling of old pavement structures in an environmentally friendly manner. Upon milling, the old pavement structure – whose gradation can be improved with addition of virgin aggregate – is mixed and compacted at ambient temperature. The main binding agents are bituminous emulsion and cement. Due to their dual binding behaviour, cold-recycled mixtures present various problems and challenges in terms of correct testing. One of such challenges is the testing of stiffness modulus of cold-recycled mixtures. Apart from dependence of modulus on test temperature and time of curing, recent research proved its highly nonlinear behaviour, much wider than that of classical asphalt mixtures. The paper presents the results of research of linear viscoelasticity limits based on testing conducted in Simple Performance Tester (SPT) device for one cold-recycled mixture recipe, using samples prepared and compacted in different manner. One mixture was prepared in laboratory conditions from materials obtained from the field section. Second mixture was prepared on the basis of field-mixed materials (material prepared and mixed in field, compacted in laboratory). Additionally, cores obtained from the field at 28 and 180 days after compaction were tested. All mixtures were tested at the temperature of 20 °C. Tests were performed 7, 14, 28, 42, 90 and 180 days after compaction. The controlled strain mode was chosen, with strain ranging from 20 to 200 μstrain. Stiffness modulus and phase angle were measured. The test showed that the linear viscoelasticity limits for stiffness modulus testing changed with the time that had elapsed since the compaction for all specimens – the initially low values (of 45–55 μstrain) increased with time and reached constant values (of 75–95 μstrain), with different levels depending on the specimen preparation method.

Investigating the effect of gravel content on the small-strain shear modulus of sand-gravel mixtures

Investigating the effect of gravel content on the small-strain shear modulus of sand-gravel mixtures

Study on the Influence Factors of Dynamic Modulus and Phase Angle of Dense Gradation Polyurethane Mixture

Polyurethane (PU) mixture is a new pavement material with excellent pavement performance, and most research was focused on the enhancement of pavement performance, but rarely on the dynamic property. This paper studied the factors including gradation, aggregate type, PU type, and PU content, which may influence the dynamic property of the PU mixture. Test results showed that the PU mixture is a kind of linear viscoelastic material, its dynamic modulus and phase angle changed with test temperature and loading frequency, the dynamic modulus would drop by 40%~50% with the temperature raised from 5 °C to 55 °C. All of the factors could affect the dynamic property of the PU mixture which was proved by the analysis of covariance. The effect of gradation did not change with the increase of the nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS), the dynamic modulus of the PU mixture with limestone was higher than that of the PU mixture with basalt, and the curing speed of PU could affect the ultimate stiffness of the PU mixture, and the increase of the PU content did not help in the increase of the dynamic modulus of the PU mixture. So, more consideration about the selection of gradation, aggregate type, PU type, and PU content should be taken into the design of the PU mixture, which could produce the best pavement structure combination and save more investment.

Effects of Wax Components and the Cooling Rate on Crystal Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Wax–Oil Mixtures

Crystal morphologies of different binary and ternary “model mixtures” were investigated using different cooling conditions (with cooling rates from 0.1 to more than 300 °C min–1). Needle-like crystals tend to form in binary mixtures under fast cooling, while uncommon spherulitic crystals were observed in ternary mixtures under slow cooling. These differences in crystal morphology lead to distinct mechanical behavior of the “model mixtures”. As shown by cone penetration tests, mixtures with spherulitic crystals exhibit a lower mechanical strength than those with densely arranged needle-like crystals. In addition, nanoindentation tests demonstrated that Young’s modulus and plasticity limit of mixtures are higher upon faster cooling. Lipstick-shaped cast samples were studied, in which cooling rates are much higher at the surface than at the center. A gradual change in crystal morphology was observed from surface to center, correlating to the hard surface and the soft center as revealed by nanoindentation tests. This work illustrates the relationship between process thermal control, microstructure morphology, and mechanical properties for wax–oil mixtures, paving the way to the monitoring of sensorial properties by control of mixture composition and process control.

Viscoelasticity of Recycled Asphalt Mixtures with High Content Reclaimed SBS Modified Asphalt Pavement

For the concerns of investigating the viscoelastic properties of recycled asphalt mixtures incorporating high content reclaimed styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified asphalt pavement (RAP-SBS), asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT) was applied to analyze the dynamic modulus and phase angle of recycled mixtures by the influence of RAP-SBS content, temperature, loading frequency, long-term aging (LOTA), and the incorporation of a rejuvenating agent. Master curves of recycled asphalt mixture regarding dynamic modulus and phase angle are developed, and the viscoelastic properties of recycled mixtures within a wide frequency range are characterized with the Christensen–Anderson–Marastean (CAM) model. Eventually, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to investigate the role of factors on the viscoelasticity of recycled mixtures. The research indicates that (1) the elastic component of recycled mixtures elevates with the increasing of RAP-SBS content and loading frequency; as a result, the high-temperature stability of it enhances, while it is prone to cracking at low temperatures; (2) RAP-SBS content should be selected according to specific characteristics of pavement. For most cases, a content of 50% is recommended; (3) the recycled mixtures incorporating high-content RAP-SBS mixed with a rejuvenating agent has outstanding aging resistance performance; (4) RAP-SBS content is observed to have a significant influence on the viscoelasticity of recycled mixtures.

Evaluation of Elastic Modulus of Mixtures of Wood-Polymer Composites with Mineral Filler

Evaluation of Elastic Modulus of Mixtures of Wood-Polymer Composites with Mineral Filler