• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2015

In this paper, the effects of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and aluminum potassium sulfate ($AlK(SO_4)_2{\cdot}12H_2O$) dosage on strength properties were investigated. For evaluating the property related to the dosage of alkali activator, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) of 4% (N1 series) and 8% (N2 series) was added to 1~5% (K1~K5) dosage of aluminum potassium sulfate ($AlK(SO_4)_2{\cdot}12H_2O$) and 1% (C1) and 2% (C2) dosage of calcium oxide (CaO). W/B ratio was 0.5 and binder/ fine aggregate ratio was 0.5, respectively. Test result clearly showed that the compressive strength development of alkali-activated slag cement (AASC) mortars were significantly dependent on the dosage of NaOH and $AlK(SO_4)_2{\cdot}12H_2O$. The result of XRD analysis indicated that the main hydration product of $NaOH+AlK (SO_4)_2{\cdot}12H_2O$ activated slag was ettringite and CSH. But at early ages, ettringite and sulfate coated the surface of unhydrated slag grains and inhibited the hydration reaction of slag in high dosage of $NaOH+AlK(SO_4)_2{\cdot}12H_2O$. The $SO_4{^{-2}}$ ions from $AlK(SO_4)_2{\cdot}12H_2O$ reacts with CaO in blast furnace slag or added CaO to form gypsum ($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$), which reacts with CaO and $Al_2O_3$ to from ettringite in $NaOH+AlK(SO_4)_2{\cdot}12H_2O$ activated slag cement system. Therefore, blast furnace slag can be activated by $NaOH+AlK(SO_4)_2{\cdot}12H_2O$.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

As part of a research dedicated to the field evaluation of the durability of concrete subjected to freezing-thawing, this study analyzes the relationship between the surface roughness and the relative dynamic elastic modulus through image analysis. Four mix compositions with water-to-binder ratios (W/B) of 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% and without AE agent were considered to provoke early freezing. The basic physical properties of the mixes including the relative dynamic elastic modulus and the compressive strength were first evaluated experimentally according to W/B. Then, tests were performed to measure the surface roughness followed by photographs and SEM image analysis. The measured surface roughness tended to increase with larger number of freezing-thawing cycles regardless of W/B. The relative dynamic elastic modulus appeared to increase gradually with the number of cycles for the relatively denser mixes with W/B of 40% and 50%. Besides, the surface roughness increased only at rupture for the mixes with W/B of 60% and 70%. Moreover, the analysis of the photographs of the surface of the mixes with W/B of 40% and 50% revealed that the degradation progressed gradually from the surface with the freezing-thawing cycles. However, for the mixes with W/B of 60% and 70%, apparent change of the surface remained very insignificant until rupture at which damage like cracking could be observed. Consequently, the analysis of surface photograph or the measurement of the surface roughness presented some limitation in assessing the degree of freezing-thawing-induced degradation in case of relatively porous specimens. On the other hand, the photograph and surface roughness appeared to be sufficient for assessing such degradation for the mixes with W/B of 40% and 50%. Accordingly, the image of the surface and the surface roughness are potentially applicable on site for the assessment of freezing-thawing damages in relatively dense mixes.