• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2020

In this paper, 18 single-sized pervious concrete mixtures were tested. The mixtures were prepared by altering: the amount and type of binder, type of aggregate, and the method of compaction. Concrete was compacted in layers in one of five different consolidation techniques: with standard tamping rod, wooden lath, concrete cylinder, or vibration of 12 and 40 s. Tests carried out on the specimens were: slump, density, porosity, coefficients of permeability, compressive strength and splitting strength. The relationships between porosity-density and porosity-strength were established. Two mixtures were selected for the preparation of test slabs on different subgrades and their permeability was tested according to ASTM C 1701-09 Standard. By comparing laboratory and field tests of permeability, it was concluded that the subgrade affects the test results. Measurements on the test slabs were repeated after 1 and 2 years of installation.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2020

Past research efforts already established geopolymer as an environment-friendly alternative binder system for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and recycled aggregate is also one of the promising alternative for natural aggregates. In this study, an effort was made to produce eco-friendly mortar mixes using geopolymer as binder and recycled fine aggregate (RFA) partially and study the resistance ability of these mortar mixes against the aggressive environments. To form the geopolymer binder, 70% fly ash, 30% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and alkaline solution comprising of sodium silicate solution and 14M sodium hydroxide solution with a ratio of 1.5 were used. The ratio of alkaline liquid to binder (AL/B) was also considered as 0.4 and 0.6. In order to determine the resistance ability against aggressive environmental conditions, acid attack test, sulphate attack test and rapid chloride permeability test were conducted. Change in mass, change in compressive strength of the specimens after the immersion in acid/sulphate solution for a period of 28, 56, 90 and 120 days has been presented and discussed in this study. Results indicated that the incorporation of RFA leads to the reduction in compressive strength. Even though strength reduction was observed, eco-friendly mortar mixes containing geopolymer as binder and RFA as fine aggregate performed better when it was produced with AL/B ratio of 0.6.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.257-269
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• 2020

The aim of this study is to investigate the flexural performance of hybrid fiber reinforced self-compacting concrete (HFRSCC) having different ratio of micro and macro steel fiber. A total of five mixtures are prepared. In all mixtures, the sum of the steel fiber content is 1% and also water/binder ratio is kept constant. The amount of high range water reducer admixture (HRWRA) is arranged to satisfy the workability criteria of self-compacting concrete. Four-point bending test is carried out to analyze the flexural performance of the mixtures at 28 and 56 curing days. From the obtained load-deflection curves, the load carrying capacity, deflection and toughness values are investigated according to ASTM C1609, ASTM C1018 and JSCE standards. The mixtures containing higher ratio of macro steel fiber exhibit numerous micro-cracks and, thus, deflection-hardening response is observed. The mixture containing 1% micro steel fiber shows worst performance in the view of all flexural parameters. An improvement is observed in the aspect of toughness and load carrying capacity as the macro steel fiber content increases. The test results based on the standards are also compared taking account of abovementioned standards.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 2020

In this paper the possibility of using different regression models to predict the mechanical properties of limestone concrete after exposure to high temperatures, based on the results of non-destructive techniques, that could be easily used in-situ, is discussed. Extensive experimental work was carried out on limestone concrete mixtures, that differed in the water to cement (w/c) ratio, the type of cement and the quantity of superplasticizer added. After standard curing, the specimens were exposed to various high temperature levels, i.e., 200℃, 400℃, 600℃ or 800℃. Before heating, the reference mechanical properties of the concrete were determined at ambient temperature. After the heating process, the specimens were cooled naturally to ambient temperature and tested using non-destructive techniques. Among the mechanical properties of the specimens after heating, known also as the residual mechanical properties, the residual modulus of elasticity, compressive and flexural strengths were determined. The results show that residual modulus of elasticity, compressive and flexural strengths can be reliably predicted using an artificial neural network approach based on ultrasonic pulse velocity, residual surface strength, some mixture parameters and maximal temperature reached in concrete during heating.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.217-223
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• 2019

This paper presents the mechanical and microstructural properties of the geopolymer paste which was developed by utilizing the industrial by-products, rice husk ash (RHA) and ultra-fine slag. Ultra-fine slag particles with average particle size in the range of 4 to 5 microns. RHA is partially replaced with ultra-fine slag at different levels of 0 to 50%. Sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio of 1.0 and alkaline liquid to binder (AL/B) ratio of 0.60 is taken. Setting time, compressive, flexural strengths were studied up to the age of 90 days with different concentrations of NaOH. The microstructure of the hybrid geopolymer paste was studied by performing the SEM, EDS, and XRD on the broken samples. RHA based geopolymer paste blended with ultrafine slag resulted in high compressive and flexural strengths and increased setting times of the paste. Strength increased with the increase in NaOH concentration at all ages. The ultra-small particles of the slag acted as a micro-filler into the paste and enhanced the properties by improving the CASH, NASH, and CSH. The maximum compressive strength of 70MPa was achieved at 30% slag content with 16M NaOH. The results of XRD, SEM, and EDS at 30% replacement of RHA with ultra-fine slag densified the paste microstructure.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.77-90
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• 2019

This paper aims to investigate vibration frequency decrease (vibration period elongation) of reinforced concrete (RC) structure with unreinforced infill wall and reinforced infill wall exposed to progressively increased artificial earthquake load on shaking table. For this purpose, two shaking table experiments were selected as a case study. Shaking table experiments were carried on 1:1 scaled prototype one bay one storey RC structure with infill walls. The purpose of this shaking table experiment sequence is to assess local behavior and progressive collapse mechanism. Frequency decrease and eigen-vector evolution are directly related to in-plane and out-of-plane bearing capacities of infill wall enclosure with reinforced concrete frame. Firstly, frequency decrease-damage relationship was evaluated on the base of experiment results. Then, frequency decrease and stiffness degradation were evaluated with applied Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) by considering strength deterioration. Lastly, eigenvector evolution-local damage and eigenvector evolution-frequency decrease relationship was investigated. Five modes were considered while evaluating damage and frequency decrease of the tested specimens. The relationship between frequency decrease, stiffness degradation and damage level were presented while comparing with Unreinforced Brick Infill (URB) and Reinforced Infill wall with Bed Joint Reinforcement (BJR) on the base of natural vibration frequency.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2019

This paper reports an experimental investigation conducted to evaluate the durability performance of concrete mixtures prepared utilizing blends of Type I Portland cement (OPC) and natural pozzolans (NPs) obtained from three different sources in Saudi Arabia. The control concrete mixture containing OPC alone as the binder and three concrete mixtures incorporating NPs were prepared keeping water/binder ratio of 0.4 (by weight), binder content of $370kg/m^3$, and fine/total aggregate ratio of 0.38 (by weight) invariant. The compressive strength and durability properties that included depth of water penetration, depth of carbonation, chloride diffusion coefficient, and resistance to reinforcement corrosion and sulfate attack were determined. Results of this study indicate that at all ages, the compressive strength of NP-admixed concrete mixtures was slightly less than that of the concrete containing OPC alone. However, the concrete mixtures containing NP exhibited lower depth of water penetration and chloride diffusion coefficient and more resistance to reinforcement corrosion and sulfate attack as compared to OPC. NP-admixed concrete showed relatively more depth of carbonation than OPC when subjected to accelerated carbonation. The results of this investigation indicates the viability of utilizing of Saudi natural pozzolans for improving the durability characteristics of concrete subjected to chloride and sulfate exposures.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2019

Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) is a zero slump concrete consisting of a mixture of cementitious materials, sand, dense graded aggregates and water. In this study, an attempt has been made to investigate the effect of aggregate type on strength and abrasion resistance of RCC made by using granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) as partial replacement of cement. Mix proportions of RCC were finalized based upon the optimum water content achieved in compaction test. Two different series of RCC mixes were prepared with two different aggregates: crushed gravel and limestone aggregates. In both series, cement was partially replaced with GGBS at a replacement level of 20%, 40% and 60%. Strength Properties and abrasion resistance of the resultant mixes was investigated. Abrasion resistance becomes an essential parameter for understanding the acceptability of RCC for rigid pavements. Experimental results show that limestone aggregates, with optimum percentage of GGBS, perform better in compressive strength and abrasion resistance as compared to the use of crushed gravel aggregates. Observed results are further supported by stoichiometric analysis of the mixes by using basic stoichiometric equations for hydration of major cement compounds.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2019

In this study, the mechanical properties of reactive powder concrete (RPC) with a constant cement to silica fume ratio of 4 were investigated. In the experimental program, reactive powder concretes with steel fiber at different ratios were produced. Five productions using quartz sand with a maximum grain size of 0.6 mm were performed. A superplasticizer with a ratio of 3% of the cement was used for all productions. $40{\times}40{\times}160mm$ prismatic specimens were prepared and tested for flexural and compression. The specimens were exposed to two different curing conditions as autoclave and standard curing condition. Autoclave exposure was performed for 3 hours under a pressure of 2 MPa. It was observed that the compressive strength of concrete, along with the flexural strength exposed to autoclave was quite high compared to the strength of concretes subjected to standard curing. The results obtained indicated that the compressive strength, along with the flexural strength of autoclaved concrete increased as the amount of cement used increases. Approximately 15% increase in flexural strength was achieved with a 4% steel fiber addition. The maximum compressive strength that has been reached is over 210 MPa for reactive powder concrete for the same steel fiber ratio and with a cement content of $960kg/m^3$. The relationship between compressive strength and flexural strength of reactive powder concrete exposed to both curing conditions was also identified.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2019

The present experimental study addresses the structural response of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened in shear. Thirteen RC beams were divided into four different sets to investigate the effect of transverse and longitudinal steel reinforcement ratios, concrete compressive strength change and orientation for installing carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. Then, we employed a shear strengthening solution through externally bonded reinforcement in grooves (EBRIG) and externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) techniques. In this regard, rectangular beams of $200{\times}300{\times}2000mm$ dimensions were subjected to the 4-point static loading condition and their load-displacement curves, load-carrying capacity and ductility changes were compared. The results revealed that using EBRIG method, the gain percentage augmented with the increase in the longitudinal reinforcement ratio. Also, in the RC beams with stirrups, the gain in shear strength decreased as transverse reinforcement ratio increased. The results also revealed that the shear resistance obtained by the experimental tests were in acceptable agreement with the design equations. Besides, the results of this research indicated that using the EBRIG system through vertical grooves in RC beams with and without stirrups caused the energy absorption to increase about 85% and 97%, respectively, relative to the control.