• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.213-230
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• 2024

The use of waste tires and industrial wastes such as fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) in concrete is an important issue in terms of sustainability. In this study, the effect of parameters affecting the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of FA/GGBS-based geopolymer concretes with waste rubber fiber was investigated. For this purpose, the effects of rubber fiber percentage (0.6%, 0.9%, 1.2%), binder (75FA25GGBS, 50FA50GGBS, 25FA75GGBS) and curing temperature (75 ℃, 90 ℃ and 105 ℃) were investigated. The Taguchi-Grey Relational Analysis (TGRA) method was used to obtain optimum parameter levels of rubber fiber geopolymer concrete (RFGC). The slump, fresh and hardened density, compressive strength, flexural strength, static and dynamic modulus of elasticity, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were performed on the produced concretes. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) method was used to statistically determine the effects of the parameters on the experimental results. A confirmation test was performed to test the accuracy of the optimum values found by the TGRA method. With the increase of GGBS percentage, the compressive strength of RFGC increased up to 196%. The increase in rubber fiber percentage and curing temperature adversely affected the mechanical properties of RFGC. As a result of TGRA, the optimum value was found to be A1B3C1. ANOVA results showed that the most effective parameter on the experimental results was the binder with 99% contribution percentage. It is understood from the SEM images that the optimum concrete had a denser microstructure and less capillary cracks and voids. For this study, the use of the TGRA method in multiple optimization has proven to provide very useful and reliable results. In cases where many factors are effective on its strength and durability, such as geopolymer concrete, using the TGRA method allows for finding the optimum value of the parameters by saving both time and cost.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.293-312
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• 2024

Researchers are actively investigating the potential for utilizing alternative materials in construction to tackle the environmental and economic challenges linked to traditional concrete-based materials. Nevertheless, conventional laboratory methods for testing the mechanical properties of concrete are both costly and time-consuming. The limitations of traditional models in predicting the tensile strength of concrete composited with geopolymer have created a demand for more advanced models. Fortunately, the increasing availability of data has facilitated the use of machine learning methods, which offer powerful and cost-effective models. This paper aims to explore the potential of several machine learning methods in predicting the tensile strength of geopolymer concrete under different curing conditions. The study utilizes a dataset of 221 tensile strength test results for geopolymer concrete with varying mix ratios and curing conditions. The effectiveness of the machine learning models is evaluated using additional unseen datasets. Based on the values of loss functions and evaluation metrics, the results indicate that most models have the potential to estimate the tensile strength of geopolymer concrete satisfactorily. However, the Takagi Sugeno fuzzy model (TSF) and gene expression programming (GEP) models demonstrate the highest robustness. Both the laboratory tests and machine learning outcomes indicate that geopolymer concrete composed of 50% fly ash and 40% ground granulated blast slag, mixed with 10 mol of NaOH, and cured in an oven at 190°F for 28 days has superior tensile strength.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.415-424
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of sulfate (${SO_4}^{2-}$) and magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$) ions on sulfate resistance of Alkali-activated materials using Fly ash and Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). In this research, 30%, 50% and 100% of GGBFS was replaced by sodium silicate modules ($Ms(SiO_2/Na_2O)$, molar ratio, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0). In order to investigate the effects of $Mg^{2+}$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$, compression strength, weight change, lengh expansion of the samples were measured in 10% sodium sulfate ($Na_2SO_4$), 10%, 5% and 2.5% magnesium sulfate ($MgSO_4$), 10% magnesium nitrate ($Mg(NO_3)_2$), 10% [magnesium chloride ($MgCl_2$) + sodium sulfate ($Na_2SO_4$)] and 10% [magnesium nitrate $(Mg(NO_3)_2$ + sodium sulfate ($Na_2SO_4$)] solution, respectively and X-ray diffraction analysis was conducted after each experiment. As a result, when $Mg^{2+}$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$ coexist, degradation of compressive strength and expansion of the sample were caused by sulfate erosion. It was found that the reaction of $Mg^{2+}$ with Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H) occurred and $Ca^{2+}$ was produced. Then the Gypsum ($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$) was formed due to reaction between $Ca^{2+}$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and also Magnesium hydroxide ($Mg(OH)_2$, Brucite) was produced by the reaction between $Mg^{2+}$ and $OH^-$.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 2017

This paper describes the investigation into the durability alkali-activated materials(AAM) mortar and paste samples manufactured using fly-ash(FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBFS) exposed to a sulfate environment with different GGBFS replace ratios(30, 50 and 100%), sodium silicate modules($Ms[SiO_2/Na_2O]$ 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0). The tests involved immersions into 10% sodium sulfate solution($Na_2SO_4$), 10% magnesium sulfate solution($MgSO_4$), 10% magnesium nitrate solution($Mg(NO_3)_2$) and 5% magnesium nitrate($Mg(NO_3)_2$+5% sodium sulfate solution+$Na_2SO_4$). The evolution of compressive strength, weight, length expansion and microstructural observation such as x-ray diffraction were studied. As a results, in case of immersed in $Na_2SO_4$, $Mg(NO_3)_2$ and $Mg(NO_3)_2+Na_2SO_4$ shows increase in long-term strength. However, for samples immersed in $MgSO_4$, the general observation was that the compressive strength decreased after immersion. The most drastic reduction of compressive strength and expansion of weight and length occurred when GGBFS or Ms ratios were higher. Also, the XRD analysis of samples immersed in magnesium sulfate indicated that expansion of AAM caused by gypsum($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$) and brucite(MgOH). The results showed that, an additional condition $Mg^{2+}$ in which ${SO_4}^{2-}$ is the presence of a certain concentration, sulfate erosion has to be accelerated.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.481-490
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• 2012

Evaluation of chloride penetration is very important, because induced chloride ion causes corrosion in embedded steel. Diffusion coefficient obtained from rapid chloride penetration test is currently used, however this method cannot provide a correct prediction of chloride content since it shows only ion migration velocity in electrical field. Apparent diffusion coefficient of chloride ion based on simple Fick's Law can provide a total chloride penetration magnitude to engineers. This study proposes an analysis technique to predict chloride penetration using apparent diffusion coefficient of chloride ion from neural network (NN) algorithm and time-dependent diffusion phenomena. For this work, thirty mix proportions with the related diffusion coefficients are studied. The components of mix proportions such as w/b ratio, unit content of cement, slag, fly ash, silica fume, and fine/coarse aggregate are selected as neurons, then learning for apparent diffusion coefficient is trained. Considering time-dependent diffusion coefficient based on Fick's Law, the technique for chloride penetration analysis is proposed. The applicability of the technique is verified through test results from short, long term submerged test, and field investigations. The proposed technique can be improved through NN learning-training based on the acquisition of various mix proportions and the related diffusion coefficients of chloride ion.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.457-465
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• 2013

This study discussed the influence of mixtures and curing conditions on the development of strength and microstructure of RPC using ternary pozzolanic materials. Through pilot experiment, various RPC was manufactured by adding single or mixed ternary pozzolanic materials such as silica fume, blast furnace slag and fly ash by mass of cement, up to 0~65%, and cured by using 4 types of method which are water and air-dried curing at $20^{\circ}C$, steam and hot-water curing at $90^{\circ}C$. The results show that the use of ternary pozzolanic materials and a suitable curing method are an effective method for improving development of strength and microstructure of RPC. The unit volume of cement was greatly reduced in RPC with ternary pozzolanic materials and unlike hydration reaction in cement, the pozzolanic reaction noticeably contributes to a reduction in hydration heat and dry shrinkage. A considerable improvement was found in the flexural strength of RPC using ternary pozzolanic materials, and then the utilization of a structural member subjected to bending was expected. The X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis and Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) revealed that the microstructure of RPC was denser by using the ternary pozzolanic materials than the original RPC containing silica fume only.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.659-666
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• 2012

To secure the thermal crack resistance of mass concrete, researches and the field applications of low heat portland cement (LPC), ternary blended cement (TBC) which is produced by blending ordinary portland cement with blast furnace slag and fly ash, and early strength low heat blended cement (EBC) increased in recent years. Although the model for adiabatic temperature rise is necessary for estimating the risk of thermal cracking of concrete structures, sufficient data have not been accumulated for these mixtures. In addition, the differences in adiabatic test results have been reported for the volume of test specimens. Therefore, the present study evaluated the characteristics of adiabatic temperature rise based on the type of binder and the volume of the adiabatic test specimen. Test results indicated that the maximum temperature rise ($Q_{\infty}$) and the reaction factor (r) of TBC were the lowest. Test results also showed that $Q_{\infty}$ and r changed with respect to the volume of test specimen. $Q_{\infty}$ and r obtained from 6l equipment were lower than those of 50l equipment. Therefore, corrections with respect to this phenomenon was confirmed and the corrections factors are presented.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.715-726
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• 2012

Since strength and diffusion coefficient of concrete, representative concrete properties that in change with age, the time effect must be considered in the analysis of chloride penetration. In this study, an evaluation of correlation between accelerated diffusion coefficient, apparent diffusion coefficient, and compressive strength in high performance concrete with various mineral admixtures such as ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, and silica fume was performed. For this work, thirty mix proportions were prepared. Accelerated diffusion coefficients at the age of 28, 91, 180, and 270 days were evaluated. For apparent diffusion coefficient, submerging test for 6 months was performed. For evaluation of compressive strength with ages, the compressive strength test was carried out at an age of 7, 28, 91, 180 days. The results of accelerated diffusion coefficient, apparent diffusion coefficient, and strength were compared, and the correlation was analyzed considering time dependency. From this study, linear relationship between accelerated diffusion and apparent diffusion coefficient were obtained regardless of concrete age. The linear relations were also observed in strength-accelerated diffusion coefficient and strength-apparent diffusion coefficient regardless of concrete age.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.3 s.81
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• pp.319-326
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• 2004

This paper investigates the effect of the concrete containing mineral admixtures(pozzolanic materials such as fly-ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag, silica fume and meta kaolin) on the resistance properties to chloride ion invasion. The purposed testing procedure was applied to the concrete replaced mineral admixtures for 3${\~}$4 replacement ratios under water-binder ratios ranged from 0.40 to 0.55. For the electro-migration test, Tang and Nilsson's method was used to estimate the diffusion coefficient of chloride ion. As a results, the water-binder ratios, kinds of mineral admixtures and replacement ratios, water curing periods had a great effect on the diffusion coefficient of chloride ion, and the optimal replacement ratios had a limitation for each mineral admixtures. Also, the use of mineral admixtures by mass(replacement of OPC) enhance the resistance ability against chloride penetration compared with the plain concrete. The compressive strength was shown related to the diffusion coefficient of chloride ion, the compressive strength increases with the diffusion coefficient of chloride ion decreasing. Below the 50 MPa, the variation of diffusion coefficient of concrete replaced mineral admixtures was bigger than that of plain concrete.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2014

The present study prepared lightweight foam-soil concrete mixtures classified into three groups. Considering the sustainablility, workability, and compressive strength development of such concrete, high-volume supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) were used as follows: 20% cement, 15% fly ash, and 65% ground granulated blast-furnace slag. As main test parameters selected for achieving the compressive strength of 1MPa and dry density of $1,000kg/m^3$, the unit solid content (dredged soil and binder) ranged between 900 and $1,807kg/m^3$, and soil-to-binder ratio varied between 3.0 and 7.0. Test results revealed that the flow of the lightweight foam-soil concrete tended to decrease with the increase of unit soil content. The compressive strength of such concrete increased with the increase with the unit binder content, whereas it decreased as soil-to-binder ratio increased, indicating that the compressive strength can be formulated as a function of its dry density and soil-to-binder ratio.