Significant Decrease In Compressive Strength Research Articles

Long-term durability of iron-rich geopolymer concrete in sulphate, acidic and peat environments

This study assesses the behaviour of iron-rich type F fly ash geopolymer concretes (GC) exposed to simulated sulphate, acidic, and peat environments, typical of those encountered in tropical peatlands. GC and Portland cement (PC) concrete of comparable strengths were exposed to a range of simulated solutions for 18 months, including 5 % magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), 5 % sodium sulphate (Na2SO4), 1 % and 3 % sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and peat. The GC generally outperformed PC in all conditions. The GC showed a significant increase in strength in the first year, along with enhanced durability properties. Microstructural analysis indicated a decrease in total porosity and pore size. This was attributed to continuing geopolymerization leading to the foration of additional N-A-S-H gel, which filled the pores and solidified the concrete matrix. However, compressive strength decreased at 18 months due to crack propagation caused by drying shrinkage. In Na2SO4, GC attained an 8.9 % and 6.3 % increase in compressive strength at 12 and 18 months, respectively, again attributed to ongoing geopolymerization. GC exposed to MgSO4 exhibited a significant decrease in compressive strength of approximately 11 % at 12 months and 19.8 % at 18 months, attributed to the formation of lower-strength M-A-S-H from reaction between MgSO4 and N-A-S-H gel. After 12 months GC exposed to 1 % and 3 % H2SO4 demonstrated a decrease in compressive strength of approximately 1.2 % and 4.5 %, respectively, together with 2 % and 3 % mass loss. Chemical and microstructural data confirmed this strength reduction due to the vulnerability of N-A-S-H to when exposed to H2SO4. GC exposed to peat solution exhibited a 1.25 % increase in compressive strength at 12-month, but a decrease of 11.3 % at 18-month. Microstructural analysis observed a reduction in Na+ within GC matrix, and the presence of gypsum. The reduction in pore sizes and total porosity suggested generation of zeolite crystalline material was contributing to the pore filling.

Micromechanical modeling of longitudinal compression behavior and failure mechanism of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced aluminum composites involving initial fiber misalignment

AbstractA micromechanical model with realistic initial fiber misalignment (IFM) was developed to simulate the longitudinal compression behavior of unidirectional carbon fiber/aluminum composites. The matrix and fiber were modeled using ductile damage law and brittle fracture model, respectively. The interfacial properties were firstly determined by the single‐fiber push‐out and transverse tensile tests, and the cohesive zone model was adopted to capture the interfacial behavior. The calculated compressive response curve is in alignment with the experimental data. Compression failure can be attributed to fiber kinking, possibly triggered by the matrix shear damage. The increase of IFM angle makes the failure mode being transformed from fiber crushing to fiber kinking, along with a significant decrease in compressive strength. With the fiber content increasing, the compressive strength increases first and then decreases, while the compressive modulus increases monotonically. Increasing interfacial strength significantly improves the compressive strength, but this is limited by the matrix properties.

Advancing Sustainable Construction Materials: Wood, Rubber, and Cenospheres Geopolymer Masonry Units Development

As the environmental impact of modern society continues to escalate, the construction industry actively pursues environmentally friendly materials to revolutionize its practices. Recycling, especially repurposing end-of-service materials and industrial wastes, emerges as a pivotal strategy offering a promising path towards sustainable construction. This study focuses on the innovative reuse of end-of-service wood, crumb rubber, and cenosphere with geopolymer binder to produce sustainable alternatives to masonry units. The study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, cube samples were produced and tested to establish an optimal mix design. Results indicated that as the relative volume of waste increased, the compressive strength decreased. The compressive strength of the wood geopolymer composite decreased from 25 MPa to 4 MPa as the wood-to-binder ratio increased from 0.1 to 0.5. An increasing trend was observed for density with the increase of the rubber-to-wood ratio. The compressive strength also increased with the increase of the rubber-to-wood ratio for most of the investigated ranges. As fly ash is gradually replaced by cenospheres, a significant decrease in compressive strength was noted, about 70% and 80% for wood-to-binder (ratios of 0.2 and 0.3, respectively). In the second stage, three distinct types of masonry units were produced and tested based on the optimized mix design. The compressive strength results indicated promising performance, with wood-geopolymer masonry units exhibiting a strength of 8.39 MPa, wood-rubber-geopolymer masonry units achieving 8.32 MPa, and wood-cenosphere-geopolymer masonry units resulting in 7.33 MPa. While these values fell below the target 10 MPa, it is noteworthy that wood-geopolymer masonry units and wood-rubber-geopolymer masonry units met the minimum compressive strength requirements of some standards and demonstrated significantly better ductility compared to traditional masonry units. The results showcase significant promise in the viability and performance of these innovative masonry units.

Effects of carbonation on the compressive strength of autoclaved aerated concrete with different Ca/Si ratios

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is widely used for its lightweight, high thermal insulation, and superior machinability. However, its loose and porous microstructure can cause a significant decrease in compressive strength after carbonation and the mechanism of the deterioration remains uncertain. This study delved into the alteration trends of AAC's compressive strength and dry density within carbonation environments. Additionally, a variety of testing techniques were employed to elucidate the microscopic mechanisms. The results showed that when the calcium/silicon ratio (Ca/Si ratio) stood at 0.75, AAC exhibited its highest degree of resistance against carbonation. Microscopic analysis revealed a progression in hydration product characteristics as the Ca/Si ratio increased. The transformation journey encompassed a shift from the initial structure to a needle-like tobermorite configuration and, subsequently, to a flaky structure. The study offers invaluable insights that furnish guidance for enhancing the durability of AAC and broaden the horizons of its potential applications.

Influences of random imperfection distribution on the compressive properties of interlocking block wall

Block imperfections exist inevitably owing to manufacturing and construction quality control. For dry-stacked interlocking block structures, imperfections result in small gaps randomly distributed between blocks, which affect the compressive strength of the wall. In this study, stochastic analysis is conducted to predict the compressive properties of interlocking block walls with spatially varying randomly distributed block imperfections. Monte-Carlo simulation is conducted in the analysis. The number of block imperfections is assumed to follow the Binominal distribution in massive block production process; the imperfection sizes are assumed to follow the truncated normal distribution. Based on these hypotheses, the damage development mechanism and load-path of interlocking block walls with different imperfection distributions are investigated. It is found that the compressive strength of walls containing blocks with mixed imperfection levels is lower; for walls with a higher number of imperfections, a larger coefficient of variation of imperfections leads to a significant decrease in compressive strength, while the seating effect at the initial stage of compression is reduced. The results provide a guidance to the quality control of mortar-less interlocking block structures.

Effect of Particle Shape on The Behavior of Polymer-Improved Sandy Soil Used in Pavements Due to Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Freeze-thaw cycles have a significant negative effect on the engineering behaviour of soil in cold regions. In this study, the compressive strength of stabilized, poorly graded sandy soil used in road pavement that was subjected to different freeze-thaw cycles was studied. Samples with three different particle shapes were stabilized with a binder developed by mixing polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE). The PVAc/EGBE weight ratio was 2:1, and PVAc was added at 1%, 2%, and 3% of the dry weight of the soil, with the effect of up to ten freeze-thaw cycles evaluated. Results showed that the addition of binder decreased optimum moisture content and increased compressive strength. An increase in particle roundness results in a decrease in the magnitude of compressive strength but increases the soil composite ductility. Changing particle shape from angular to rounded resulted in a more significant decrease in compressive strength than changing from rounded to well-rounded. The decrease in compressive strength is most significant between the first and fourth freezing-thawing cycles and marginal between the fourth and tenth. The negative effect of increasing the roundness of particles is compensated by increasing binder percentages.

Characteristics of High-Strength Concrete Reinforced with Steel Fibers Recovered from Waste Tires

A large quantum of vehicle waste is produced annually, of which tires pose the topmost hazard to the planet if not disposed of duly. only in Egypt, the approximately total number of tires generated annually could be about 10 million tires. Demand for tires is expected to increase each year, and in emerging economies, rising profits may increase the vehicles used and drive greater demand for tires. In 2017, approximately 287 million synthetic tires were produced in the United States and approximately 60 million tires were stored in warehouses . The disposal of those tires in landfills when they attain their end life and turn to waste is one of the essential difficult troubles inflicting numerous environmental problems . Therefore, some countries have passed laws to ban landfilling of tires and encourage the reuse of used tires for other purposes . Fiber Reinforced Concrete is a composite material composed primarily of concrete or mortar and randomly distributed with short, discontinuous, distinct fine fibers of defined geometry . The main fibers used in concrete include glass, rubber, steel, aramid and other synthetic fibers. The effectiveness of fiber-reinforced concrete depends on the nature and geometry of the fibers . One possible solution to recover waste steel fibers from the tire manufacturing process is to add them to concrete . In terms of various initiatives around the world to convert waste into new products, the purpose of this article is to quantify the steel fiber contribution of recycled tires used in the production of high-strength concrete. Steel fibers in recycled tires are extracted through mechanical recycling from used tires. In this process, rubber is crushed and granulated, iron is removed with a magnet, and cloth is removed with a vacuum. As a result, recycled tiers steel fibers are irregular in shape and come in a variety of lengths and diameters, but are highly resistant to bending because they are made of high-quality steel.. Recycled steel fibers can be used as cement reinforcing additives or reused as reclaimed steel. . However, fibers extracted from tires are contaminated with rubber particles (15-60% by weight), making them difficult to use directly for any purposeand a cleaning process is required. Also, due to its low density, it is expensive to transport. As a result, these textile fibers are often sent to landfills or incinerators. Adding steel fibers or other fibers to concrete can not only improve the toughness and ductility of concrete, but also improve the crack resistance and durability of concrete . Adding steel fibers to concrete can improve the concrete's deformation properties. Cracks in concrete develop slowly and the crack width is smaller than that of normal concrete. Concrete mixtures containing steel balls recovered from scrap tires had higher workability at less than 4%, and no significant decrease in compressive strength was observed at less than 2%. Although the effect of steel fibers on the compressive strength of concrete is negligible, the tensile and bending strengths increase significantly, but the resistance decreases when the fibers are mixed in an optimal ratio and increase slightly. There have been many studies on the use of waste tire steel fibers in conventional concrete. However, more research is needed on the effect of steel fibers from waste tires on high-strength concrete. In this study, the effect of steel fibers extracted from tires on high-strength concrete was investigated.

KAJIAN AWAL PEMBUATAN BETON POROUS UNTUK PAVING BLOCK RAMAH LINGKUNGAN

In heavily populated urban areas, high rainfall can cause inundation and even flooding because the catchment area is decreasing. To reduce rainwater runoff and increase groundwater recharge, porous concrete can be used in housing area, in parking lots and roads with low traffic loads. Porous concrete is an environmentally friendly and sustainable building material. This study aims to examine the effect of aggregate composition on the porosity and tensile strength of porous concrete. The composition of the concrete mixture is determined based on the weight ratio between portland cement type I (PC) and coarse aggregate (AK), i.e. 1 PC : 3 AK, 1 PC : 4 AK, and 1 PC : 5 AK and the ratio of fine aggregate weight (AH) of 0 ; 0.5 ; 1, and the w/c is 0.5. For each variation, six 150 mm cubes were made. The parameters tested were slump, volume weight, porosity and compressive strength at day 28. The results show that the more coarse aggregate, the lower the volume weight and its compressive strength, and the higher the porosity and slump. Fine aggregate addition increases the compressive strength and volume weight and decrease slump value and porosity. The highest slump value (205 mm) and the smallest volume weight and compressive strength were obtained from concrete mixture with PC/AK=1/5 without AH content. The smallest slump (170 mm) and porosity values were obtained from concrete mixture with PC/AK=1:3 and AH/AK=1 and the largest volume weight and compressive strength. In this study, the slump value tends to be directly proportional to porosity and inversely proportional to volume weight and compressive strength. For further research, it is recommended that the w/c value be reduced to get a larger porosity value but without a significant decrease in compressive strength.

Mechanical and Durability Evaluation of Metakaolin as Cement Replacement Material in Concrete.

Due to the increasing prices of cement and its harmful effect on the environment, the use of cement has become highly unsustainable in concrete. There is a considerable need for promoting the use of cement replacement materials. This study investigates the effect of variable percentages of metakaolin (MK) on the mechanical and durability performance of concrete. Kaolin clay (KC) was used in the current research to prepare the MK by the calcination process; it was ground in a ball mill to its maximum achievable fineness value of 2550 m2/Kg. Four replacement levels of MK, i.e., 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight of cement, in addition to control samples, at a constant water-to-cement (w/c) ratio of 0.55 were used. For evaluating the mechanical and durability performance, 27 cubes (6 in. × 6 in. × 6 in.) and 6 cylinders (3.875 in. diameter, 2 in. height) were cast for each mix. These samples were tested for compressive strength under standard conditions and in an acidic environment, in addition to being subjected to water permeability, sorptivity, and water absorption tests. Chemical analysis revealed that MK could be used as pozzolana as per the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM C 618:2003). The results demonstrated an increased compressive strength of concrete owing to an increased percentage of MK in the mix with aging. In particular, the concrete having 20% MK after curing under standard conditions exhibited 33.43% higher compressive strength at 90 days as compared to similarly aged control concrete. However, with increasing MK, the workability of concrete decreased drastically. After being subjected to an acid attack (immersing concrete cubes in 2% sulfuric acid solution), the samples exhibited a significant decrease in compressive strength at 90 days in comparison to those without acid attack at the same age. The density of acid attack increased with increasing MK with a maximum corresponding to 5% MK concrete. The current findings suggest that the local MK has the potential to produce good-quality concrete in a normal environment.

Hydration kinetics and performance of sodium carbonate-activated slag-based systems containing reactive MgO and metakaolin under carbonation

The hydration mechanism and strength development of sodium carbonate-activated slag-based systems mainly depend on the additives used. Although the effects of mineral additives in such systems have been extensively investigated, the effects of Mg2+, Al3+, and Si4+ ions increasing with the addition of reactive MgO (Mg) and metakaolin (Mk) on the hydration mechanism of such systems have not been established yet. This study investigated the hydration kinetics and performance of sodium carbonate-activated ternary blended slag-based binder systems. The hydration mechanism was revealed by isothermal calorimetry and mechanical performance was evaluated with the measurement of compressive strength at different ages up to 56 days. The reaction mechanisms were investigated through X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and 29Si and 27Al solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). C-(A)-S-H, Na and Al-enriched C-(N,A)-S-H and hydrotalcite were the main reaction products responsible for the strength development of the samples, accompanied by the minor contribution of other carbonate-containing phases. Partial replacement of slag with Mg and Mk led to high early-age strengths compared to plain samples when Mk was used at 5%. Samples incorporating Mg and Mk achieved similar or higher strengths than ordinary Portland cement-based samples. However, an increase in replacement ratio of Mk beyond 5% led to a significant decrease in compressive strength. Furthermore, the performance of samples under accelerated carbonation was studied. The use of Mg and Mk enhanced carbonation resistance due to enhanced hydrotalcite and C-(N,A)-S-H gel formation, highlighting the potential of using slag-Mg-Mk blends as an alternative binder system.

Research Development in Silica Aerogel Incorporated Cementitious Composites-A Review.

This paper presents an analysis of research results for silica aerogel cement composites over the past twenty years. Recently, two trends in the development of these composites have been noted, towards structural applications and towards ultralight composites for coatings and renders. Ongoing research shows that important aspects of cementitious composites with good mechanical performance are the proper selection of aggregates and improved adhesion at the silica aerogel–cement binder interface, which will guarantee high compressive strength with the lowest possible thermal conductivity. The best physicomechanical performance of aerogel cement composites with low thermal conductivity below 0.03 W/(m·K) was obtained when cenospheres and aerogel were used in a weight percentage of 5%. In turn, the prerequisites for using aerogel cement composites as coatings for energy-efficient building façades are the use of large amounts of silica aerogel as a substitute for lightweight aggregates or the selection of an optimal composition of lightweight aggregates and aerogel, ensuring the lowest possible thermal conductivity coefficient. Other important standpoints are water transport and moisture protection of the silica aerogel-based coatings. Therefore, in recent years, more and more elements of the hygrothermal performance, porosity and durability of silica aerogel cement composites have been developed. The article also points out the weaknesses of the application of silica aerogel in the cement matrix, the most important of which are the lack of adhesion at the boundary of the aerogel–cement binder, the increased porosity of the composite, the high water absorption capacity and the significant decrease in compressive strength with large volumes of silica aerogel. Solving these issues will certainly contribute to the wider applicability of these materials in the construction industry.

The Effects of Mineral Wool Fly Ash on Cohesive Soil Strength Behaviour

This research work represents updated results of cohesive soil strength improvement with mineral wool fly ash. In the investigations, these materials were used: Portland cement CEM I 42.5 R, fly ash obtained from a mineral wool production process, sand and clay. Mixtures were prepared as follows: dry mixing of Portland cement and fly ash; dry mixing of sand and clay; adding water into Portland cement and fly ash; adding sand and clay mixture into already prepared Portland cement and fly ash suspension. The content of fly ash replacing Portland cement varied from 0% to 40%, and the content of sand mixture varied from 20% to 60%. After 24 hours, investigated samples were taken out from cylinder forms and kept in a desiccator with a humidity of 90% and at 20 °C temperature. Uniaxial compressive strength of the samples was determined after 548 days and compared to previous research results obtained after 7, 28 and 183 days. The most predictable compressive strength is for samples, which composition is 100% cement and 0% fly ash. In these samples, the highest compressive strength was obtained, comparing them to the other investigated samples. Compressive strength change is minimal for samples with a 10–30% amount of fly ash. The most significant decrease in compressive strength was obtained for samples with a 40% fly ash after 183 days. Nonetheless, the compressive strength of these samples increased after 548 days and is almost the same as for samples with 100% Portland cement.

Physical, Chemical and Geotechnical Characterization of Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum and Its Potential Application as Building Materials

In South Africa, coal represents the primary source of energy used for electricity generation. Coal power plants use the wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) process to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) from their flue gas. However, this technology produces a large amount of synthetic gypsum, resulting in waste disposal and environmental pollution. This study investigated the physical, chemical and geotechnical properties of WFGD gypsum and its potential application to develop cement-free bricks. WFGD gypsum was collected from a coal power plant in South Africa. It was found that the principal oxides of WFGD gypsum were sulfur trioxide (SO3) and calcium oxide (CaO), which represented more than 90% of the total weight. Calcium sulfate (CaSO4) and calcium di aluminate (CA2) were the predominant minerals in the raw material. The density of the WFGD gypsum was 2.43 g/cm3. The maximum dry density and optimum moisture content values were 1425 kg/m3 and 18.5%, respectively. WFGD gypsum had a liquid limit of 51% but did not display any plasticity characteristics. The optimum curing temperature of gypsum bricks was 40 °C. WFGD gypsum-based bricks exhibited compressive strength of up to 2.3 MPa and a density of about 28% less than that of typical clay bricks. Additionally, there was no significant decrease in compressive strength after seven wet/dry cycles. These results show that WFGD gypsum could be used to produce lightweight building materials with low strength requirements.

Low-temperature flow-synthesis-assisted urethane-grafted zinc oxide-based dental composites: physical, mechanical, and antibacterial responses

A novel way was adopted to graft zinc oxide (ZnO) with urethane-modified dimethacrylate (UDMA) in order to utilize them as reinforcing agents in resin-based dental composites. Experimental novel composites were synthesized having UDMA-grafted and nongrafted ZnO, at a concentration of 0 wt.%, 5 wt.%, and 10 wt.%. The same concentrations of ZnO were also incorporated in Filtek Z250 XT (3 M ESPE, USA). The antibacterial behavior was evaluated against Streptococcus mutans by direct-contact test at one, three, and seven days of incubation. The compressive strength and Vickers microhardness were tested as per ISO 9917 and ISO/CD6507-1, respectively. For abrasive wear resistance, mass loss and roughness average after tooth-brushing cycles of 24,000 at custom-made tooth-brushing simulator were evaluated using noncontact profilometer. Data analysis was carried out using post hoc Tucky’s test and nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test. Direct contact test revealed that the antibacterial potential of novel and commercial composites was increased with an increase in the concentration of grafted ZnO as compared with nongrafted, whereby the potential was the highest at day seven. There was a significant decrease in compressive strength and Vickers hardness of commercial composites on addition of grafted ZnO while there was no significant difference in the strength of experimental novel composite. The abrasive wear of commercial and experimental composites was within clinical limits. Low-temperature flow-synthesis method was successfully employed to synthesize grafted and nongrafted ZnO. The UDMA-grafted ZnO can be incorporated into dental composites without decreasing their strength and these composites can be used to combat secondary caries.

Assessment of lightweight recycled crumb rubber-cement composite produced by preplaced method

The incorporation of non-biodegradable tyre waste in cement-based material has gained more interest towards sustainable construction these days. Crumb rubber (CR) from waste tyre is an alternative for sand replacement in low strength applications. Many researchers have studied CR cement-based materials produced by normal mixing (NM) method and reported a significant decrease in compressive strength due to CR. To compensate this strength loss, this research aims to study the innovative incorporation of CR in cement composite via the preplaced mixing (PM) method. In this investigation, cement composite was produced with NM and PM methods by replacing sand with 0%, 50%, and 100% CR by volume. The test results showed no significant difference in terms of densities of cement composite prepared with both mixing methods. However, cement composite prepared with PM method had lower strength reduction (about 10%) and lowered drying shrinkage (about 20%). In addition, the sound absorption coefficient and noise reduction coefficient of CR cement composite prepared by PM method were in similar range as those prepared with NM method. Overall, the results demonstrate that the PM method is promising, and the maximum replacement level of 50% is recommended for CR in the cement composite.

Effects of Gamma-Ray Irradiation on Hardened Cement Mortar

The effect of gamma-ray irradiation on cement mortar properties is investigated in this study in order to understand the mechanism behind the strength and stiffness reduction, which may be significant according to the available researches. 60Co irradiation facility with the generating dose rate of 0.1–10 Gy/s and the total activity of 4.4·1015 Bq (120 kCi) was used to perform the irradiation, so that the total observed dose of the irradiated samples reached the values ranging from 12.0 to 15.0 MGy. An identical set of control samples was placed in the same laboratory conditions away from gamma radiation. The results of nanoindentation, X-ray diffraction analysis and mercury intrusion porosimetry of the irradiated and the control samples are shown and explained in detail in this study. The nanoindentation creep compliance and the nanoindentation elastic modulus of the irradiated and the control samples do not show any significant difference. The mineral composition obtained using the X-ray diffraction analysis of the irradiated and the control samples is also similar. The pore structure rearrangement and microcrack occurrence, which were evidenced by the mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy, led to the porosity increase and may be attributed to the significant decrease of compressive strength.

An Economical Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) prepared with fine quarry sand and a nominal amount of PVA fibers

The production of conventional engineered cementitious composites – ECC consumes low-volume and expensive ultrafine silica sand [UFSS] – maximum size 250 μm, which negatively affecting dry shrinkage, cost and practical application of ECC. This study develops an economical ECC featuring ordinary quarry sand [QS] with a lower fineness modulus – FM = 2.2 and a maximum particle size of 2350 μm. The quarry sand particle size was ten times greater, and the price was 30 times lower than UFSS. The experimental finding was shown that ECC prepared with QS exhibited the strain hardening phenomenon, with multiple cracks produced, before failure. The performance of QS was also checked under different temperature regimes, and a minor decrease in the mass density and compressive strength was observed, up to 200°C. After 200°C, a significant decrease in compressive strength was found, due to the melting of the PVA fibers.

Influence of red mud and waste glass on the microstructure, strength, and leaching behavior of bottom ash-based geopolymer composites

The influence of waste glass and red mud addition as alternative source of aluminosilicate precursors on the microstructural, mechanical, and leaching properties of bottom ash-based geopolymer was studied in this work through mineralogical, morphological, and spectroscopic analysis, as well as by conducting compressive strength and leaching tests. The bottom ash-based geopolymer composites were synthesized by adding a constant amount of waste glass (10% by weight) and increasing amounts of red mud (up to 30% by weight). The results derived from FTIR, 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR, and SEM–EDX revealed that adding up to 10% (by weight) red mud to the synthesis mixes leads to an increase in the degree of geopolymerization of the activated mixes. The compressive strength followed the same trend. An increase of more than 10% (by weight) red mud added to the synthesis mixes results in a significant decrease of compressive strength of the geopolymer composites. A low leachability of geopolymer composites in regard with their contaminants was revealed especially for those with good compressive strength.

Development of a cementless eco-binder as an alternative to traditional Portland cement in construction activities

In this research, the performance of a cementless eco-binder, a mixture of waste materials including slag, circulating fluidized bed combustion ash (CFA), and rice husk ash (RHA) was investigated, in which CFA acted as an activator. One hundred and twenty paste samples were prepared by using the RHA/(slag + RHA) ratios of 0, 15, 30, 45% while keeping a constant ratio of CFA/(slag + RHA) at 25%. The setting period, compressive strength, the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and drying shrinkage of paste samples were determined at the samples’ age of up to 91 days. In addition, the microstructures of all paste samples were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the use of cementless eco-binder significantly increased the setting times, lower compressive strength, drying shrinkage, and UPV values compared to the control OPC sample. The maximum 91-day-old compressive strength gained by the binary binder of slag and CFA (R00C25) was 90% of that of the control specimen. Incorporation of RHA with higher replacement levels up to 45% resulted in a significant decrease in compressive strength up to 50%. Moreover, the SEM analysis revealed that there was a large difference in the microstructures of the control and the cementless eco-binder samples, in which the main hydration products were C-S-H/C-A-S-H gels and ettringite (AFt) due to relatively high amount of SO3 and SiO2 in the CFA and RHA, respectively. Thus, it can be realized that the potential for the use of slag, CFA, and RHA as a sustainable cement-free binder is promising in the construction industry, especially for lower strength or no required early high strength structures.
 Keywords:
 cementless eco-binder; circulating fluidized bed combustion; rice husk ash; slag; microstructure; compressive strength; drying shrinkage; setting time; ultrasonic pulse velocity.

Influence of Starkeya novella on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Cement Mortars

Cement-based materials are subject to degradation during their service life. Most of the structural failures have been associated with corrosion of the rebar due to chloride ingress, alkali aggregate reaction, and/or sulfate attack. Microbial activities, especially in waste water collection points such as sewer lines, may compromise the integrity of concrete structures. This study reports an experimental work carried out to determine the effect of Starkeya novella bacteria species on mechanical and microstructural properties of cement mortars. Mortar prisms were prepared from selected ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and Portland pozzolana cement (PPC) in Kenyan markets. Bacterial solution of 1.0 × 107 cell/mL concentration was used as either mix water, curing media, or both. Distilled water was used to prepare mortar prisms for control samples. Compressive strength was determined after the 7th, 28th, 56th, and 90th day of curing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was tested on both bacterial and control mortar prisms after the 28th day of curing. Both PPC and OPC exhibited significant decrease in compressive strength for bacterial-prepared mortars as compared to controls. SEM analysis showed extreme erosion on the microstructure of the microbial mortars. This was denoted by massive formation of ettringite and gypsum which are injurious to mortar/concrete.