• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.185-194
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• 2022

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and is the second largest traded commodity after petroleum. Due to the great demand of this product, large amounts of waste is generated in the coffee industry, which are toxic and represent serious environmental problems. This study aims to study the possibility of recycling spent coffee grounds (SCG) as a mineral admixture by replacing the cement in the manufacturing of concrete. To recycle the coffee g rounds, the SCG was dried to remove moisture and fired in a kiln at 850 ℃ for 8 hours. Carbonized coffee grounds are produced as coffee grounds ash (CGA) through ball mill grinding. The chemical composition of the prepared coffee grounds ash was investigated using X-ray fluorescence (XFR). According to the chemical composition analysis, the major elements of coffee grounds ash are K₂O(51.74 %), CaO(15.92 %), P₂O₅(14.39 %), MgO(7.74 %) and SO₃(6.89 %), with small amounts of F₂O₃(0.66 %), SiO₂(0.59 %) and Al₂O₃(0.31 %) content. To evaluate quality and mechanical properties, substitutions of 5, 10, and 15 wt.% of coffee grounds ash (CGA) were tested. From the quality test results, the 28-day activity index of CGA5 reached 80 %, and the flow value ratio reached 96 %, which is comparable to the minimum requirement for second-grade FA. From the test results of the mortar, the optimal results have been found in specimens with 5 wt-% coffee grounds ash, showing good mechanical and physical properties.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2023

In order to maximize the utilization of recycled fine aggregate, high strength mortar made of 100 % recycled fine aggregate was prepared, and its physical properties were evaluated to determine the possibility of using recycled fine aggregate as structural aggregate. The effect caused by the amount of nanosilica on the physical properties of w/b 0.2 recycled fine aggregate mortar consisting of cement, silica fume, and blast furnace slag. To improve the dispersion of nanosilica inside mortar, an aqueously dispersed nanosilica solution by ultrasonic tip sonication was prepared, and incorporated into the mortar to evaluate changes in mortar flow, porosity and compressive strength depending on nanosilica content. According to the experimental results, mortar flow decreased as the replacement ratio of nano-silica increased. As the replacement ratio of nanosilica increased up to 0.75 %, the porosity decreased and the compressive strength increased, but, at a replacement ratio of 1 %, the porosity increased and the compressive strength decreased. It was confirmed that the nano-silica replacement ratio of 0.75 % was optimum proportion to maximize the mechanical performance of high-strength recycled fine aggregate mortar.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.5A
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• pp.433-442
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• 2010

A control of chloride diffusion coefficient is very essential for service life of reinforced concrete (RC) structures exposed to chloride attack so that much studies have been focused on this work. The purpose of this study is to derive the intended diffusion coefficient which satisfies intended service life and propose a technique for optimum concrete mixture through genetic algorithm(GA). For this study, 30 data with mixture proportions and related diffusion coefficients are analyzed. Utilizing 27 data, fitness function for diffusion coefficient is obtained with variables of water to binder ratio(W/B), weight of cement, mineral admixture(slag, flay ash, and silica fume), sand, and coarse aggregate. 3 data are used for verification of the results from GA. Average error from fitness function is observed to 18.7% for 27 data for diffusion coefficient with 16.0% of coefficient of variance. For the verification using 3 data, a range of error for mixture proportions through GA is evaluated to 0.3~9.3% in 3 given diffusion coefficients. Assuming the durability design parameters like intended service life, cover depth, surface chloride content, and replacement ratio of mineral admixture, target diffusion coefficient, where exterior conditions like relative humidity(R.H.) and temperature, is derived and optimum design mixtures for concrete are proposed. In this paper, applicability of GA is attempted for durability mixture design and the proposed technique would be improved with enhancement of comprehensive data set including wider range of diffusion coefficients.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.2C
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• pp.109-117
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• 2010

Gas hydrate dissociation can generate large amounts of gas and water in gas hydrate bearing sediments, which may eventually escape from a soil skeleton and form voids within the sediments. The loss of fine particles between coarse particles or collapse of cementation due to water flow during heavy or continuous rainfall may form large voids within soil structure. In this study, the effect of void formation resulting from gas hydrate dissociation or loss of some particles within soil structure on the strength of soil is examined. Glass beads with uniform gradation were used to simulate a gas hydrate bearing or washable soil structure. Glass beads were mixed with 2% cement ratio and 7% water content and then compacted into a cylindrical sample with five equal layers. Empty capsules for medicine are used to mimic large voids, which are bigger than soil particle, and embedded into the middle of five equal layers. The number, direction, and length of capsules embedded into each layer vary. After two days curing, a series of unconfined compression tests is performed on the capsule-embedded cemented glass beads. Unconfined compressive strength of cemented glass beads with capsules depends on the volume, direction and length of capsules. The volume and cross section formed by voids are most important factors in strength. An unconfined compressive strength of a specimen with large voids decreases up to 35% of a specimen without void. The results of this study can be used to predict the strength degradation of gas hydrate bearing sediments in the long term after dissociation and loss of fine particles within soil structure.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.17-30
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• 2023

This study investigates the impact of water immersion and high temperature on the shear strength of cemented sand through direct shear tests. Standard Jumunjin sand was used and cemented with binders, such as ultra-rapid hardening cement and an epoxy aqueous solution. The binder was mixed at concentrations of 4%, 8%, or 12%. Subsequently, cylindrical cemented specimens with a diameter of 64 mm and height of 25 mm were produced using compaction. The curing period was three days, and the specimens were cured under dry air, immersion, and heating conditions. The heating condition involved subjecting the immersed specimens to a microwave oven three times for three minutes to achieve an internal temperature of approximately 90℃. Regardless of the binder type, the cohesion of the cemented sand increased with higher binder content, whereas the internal friction angle exhibited a slight increase or decrease. Compared with ultra-rapid hardening cemented sand, epoxy-cemented sand displayed an average cohesion that was five times higher and an internal friction angle that was 10° higher. Overall, irrespective of binder type, the shear strength decreased during water immersion and increased during heating. Notably, the epoxy-cemented sand exhibited a three-fold increase in cohesion and a more than 20° increase in the internal friction angle during heating.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.260-266
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• 2023

In recent years, excessive emissions of carbon dioxide(CO₂) have become the cause of global climate change. Consequently, there has been significant research activity aimed at both removing and utilizing CO₂. This study assesses the potential utilization of railway tie concrete waste, generated from railway infrastructure, as a CO₂ absorption material and investigates the physicochemical properties before and after CO₂ absorption to understand the CO₂ removal mechanisms. Railway tie concrete waste primarily consists of Si(26.60 %) and contains 9.82 % of Ca. Compared to samples of Cement and Normal concrete waste, it demonstrated superior potential for use as a CO₂ absorption material, with approximately 98 % of the Ca content participating in CO₂ absorption reactions. Through Thermogravimetric Analysis(TGA) and X-ray Diffraction(XRD) analysis, it was confirmed that the carbonate reaction, where the Ca in railway tie concrete waste converts into CaCO₃ through reaction with CO₂ gas, is the primary mechanism for CO₂ removal. Furthermore, Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM) analysis revealed the formation of numerous CaCO₃ particles with sizes less than 0.1 ㎛ after the CO₂ absorption reaction. This transformation of large internal voids in the CO₂ absorption material into mesopores resulted in an increase in the specific surface area of the material.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.62-69
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• 2023

Re-damage is frequently occurring for various reasons, including material factors, external factors, and factors caused by poor construction in concrete cross-section restoration work, so it is necessary to identify the cause and improve it. Cement-based materials are the most commonly used maintenance materials for concrete structures, and in particular, additional cross-sectional restoration work may be carried out due to re-damage such as cracks and excitement due to dry contraction of the repair material. In this study, a basic study was conducted to identify the characteristics of concrete while diversifying the maximum dimensions and assembly rate of thick aggregates to examine the effects of using thick aggregates in repair materials. As a result, the slump of concrete increased as the maximum size of thick aggregates increased, and the amount of air content was measured 1.88 to 2.35 times higher in the mixing using aggregates with a maximum aggregate size of 5 mm or more compared to the mixing group with a maximum aggregate size of 10 mm or more. It was found that compressive strength was greatly affected by the performance rate of thick aggregates. The compressive strength was measured the highest in the mixture using thick aggregates with the highest performance rate of 20 mm, and the compressive strength of the mixture with the lowest performance rate was more than 45%. As a result of the dry shrinkage measurement, the dry shrinkage was the lowest as the performance rate of the thick aggregate increased according to the change in the maximum dimensions and assembly rate of the thick aggregate, and the lowest performance rate was the largest in the mix. Through this study, it was confirmed that adjusting the particle size by diversifying the maximum dimensions and assembly rate of thick aggregates used in concrete structure repair materials can improve strength and workability and reduce dry shrinkage.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.149-160
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• 2018

A large number of functional living products are being produced for eco-friendly or health-promoting purposes. In the manufacturing process, such products could be adulterated with raw materials with high radioactivity, such as monazite and tourmaline. Thus, it is essential to manage raw materials and products closely related to the public living. For proper management, an accurate radioactivity data of the processed products are needed. Therefore, it is essential to develop a rapid and validated analytical method. In this study, the concentration of the radioactive $^{238}U$ and $^{232}Th$ in building materials (e.g., tile, cement, paint, wall paper, and gypsum board) and living products (e.g., health products, textiles, and minerals) were determined and compared by ED-XRF and ICP-MS. By comparing the results of both methods, we confirmed the applicability of the rapid screening and precise analysis of ED-XRF and ICP-MS. In addition, $^{238}U$ and $^{232}Th$ levels were relatively lower in building materials than in living products. Particularly, $^{232}Th$ content in 6 of 47 living products exceeded (maximum $8.2Bq{\cdot}g^{-1}$) the standard limit of $^{232}Th$ content in raw material ($1.0Bq{\cdot}g^{-1}$).

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.212-224
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• 1989

This paper reports results of an investigation to determine properties of superplasticizered fly ash concrete. The mixture proportions of fly ash were 0, 10, 20 and 30%, by weight of cement, and superplasticizer was added as a percentage of fly ash, 0, 0.6, 12 and 1.8%. To investigate the effective use of the superplasticized fly ash concrete, the basic data were analyzed. The results obtained were summarized as follows : 1. The unit water content was decreased by 1%, 6% and increased by 2% to the ratio of addition of fly ash 10%, 20%, 30%, respectively, but in case of the superplasticized fly ash concrete, it was decreased by 3~16%, 4~14% and 10~17%, at 0.6, 12, and 1.8% dosage of superplasticizer, respectively. 2. In the properties of the fresh fly ash concrete, the slump loss was reduced with the ratio of replacement of fly ash increased, and with times went by. When using superplasticizer in fly ash substituting concrete, the fludity in the concrete was not decreased. 3. The compressive strength of fly ash concrete at early ages was lower than that of ordinary concrete. At the later age of 28 days, the compressive strength with 20% addition of fly ash was increased than that of ordinary concrete. In cased of 10%, 30% addition of fly ash, the compressive strength were reduced. From this, it was proved that the optimum amount of fly ash appears to be about 20%. The compressive strength at all ages of superplasticized fly ash concrete was significantly higher than that of fly ash concrete, with increasing fly ash content. 4. In case of the tensile strength, the effects of the increasing strength with the ages were similar to those of the compressive strtength, and at the later ages was seen a decreasing tendency of strengths. 5. The correlation between compressive and tensile strength of superplasticized fly ash concrete was highly significant. The multiple regression equations of compressive and tensile strength were obtained on a function of the mixture proportion of fly ash and the addition of superplasticizer. The relation between compressive and tensile strength is higher than for ordinary concrete. The strength ratio is 7~11, and it is higher than that of ordinary concrete, 8~10. 6. Bulk density was decreased by 1~3% compared with ordinary concrete with the mixture proportion of fly ash increased, 10~30%, and decreased by 1~2% with the superplasticizer added 0.6~1.8%.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.613-621
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• 2007

Due to the increasing significance of durability, much researches on carbonation, one of the major deterioration phenomena are carried out. However, conventional researches based on fully hardened concrete are focused on prediction of carbonation depth and they sometimes cause errors. In contrast with steel members, behaviors in early-aged concrete such as porosity and hydrates (calcium hydroxide) are very important and may be changed under carbonation process. Because transportation of deteriorating factors is mainly dependent on porosity and saturation, it is desirable to consider these changes in behaviors in early-aged concrete under carbonation for reasonable analysis of durability in long term exposure or combined deterioration. As for porosity, unless the decrease in $CO_2$ diffusion due to change in porosity is considered, the results from the prediction is overestimated. The carbonation depth and characteristics of pore water are mainly determined by amount of calcium hydroxide, and bound chloride content in carbonated concrete is also affected. So Analysis based on test for hydration and porosity is recently carried out for evaluation of carbonation characteristics. In this study, changes in porosity and hydrate $(Ca(OH)_2)$ under carbonation process are performed through the tests. Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) for changed porosity, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) for amount of $(Ca(OH)_2)$ are carried out respectively and analysis technique for porosity and hydrates under carbonation is developed utilizing modeling for behavior in early-aged concrete such as multi component hydration heat model (MCHHM) and micro pore structure formation model (MPSFM). The results from developed technique is in reasonable agreement with experimental data, respectively and they are evaluated to be used for analysis of chloride behavior in carbonated concrete.