• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• 제5권3호
• /
• pp.183-199
• /
• 2017

This paper reports an experimental study into the rheological behaviour of Smart Dynamic Concrete (SDC). The investigation is aimed at quantifying the effect of the varying amount of mineral admixtures on the rheology, setting time and compressive strength of SDC containing natural sand and crushed sand. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in conjunction with the mineral admixtures was used in different replacement ratio keeping the mix paste volume (35%) and water binder ratio (0.4) constant at controlled laboratory atmospheric temperature ($33^{\circ}C$ to $35^{\circ}C$). The results show that the properties and amount of fine aggregate have a strong influence on the admixture demand for similar initial workability, i.e., flow. The large amounts of fines and lower value of fineness modulus (FM) of natural sand primarily increases the yield stress of the SDC. The mineral admixtures at various replacement ratios strongly contribute to the yield stress and plastic viscosity of SDC due to inter particle friction and cohesion.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• 제6권1호
• /
• pp.69-85
• /
• 2018

In order to provide sufficient stability and resistance against bleeding and segregation during transportation and placing, mineral admixtures are often used in self-compacting concrete mixes (SCC). These fine materials also contribute to reducing the construction cost and the consumption of natural resources. Many studies have confirmed the benefits of these mineral admixtures on properties of SCC in standard curing conditions. However, there are few published reports regarding their effects at elevated curing temperatures. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of three different mineral admixtures namely limestone powder (LP), granulated blast furnace slag (GS) and natural pozzolana (PZ) on mechanical properties and porosity of SCC when exposed to different curing temperatures (20, 40, 60 and $80^{\circ}C$). The level of substitution of cement by mineral admixture was fixed at 15%. The results showed that increasing curing temperature causes an improvement in performance at an early age without penalizing its long-term properties. However the temperature of $40^{\circ}C$ is considered the optimal curing temperature to make economical and high performance SCC. On the other hand, GS is the most suitable mineral admixture for SCC under elevated curing temperature.

• 콘크리트학회논문집
• /
• 제16권1호
• /
• pp.130-138
• /
• 2004

The primary factors that affecting concrete sulfate resistance are the chemistry of the Portland cement and the chemistryandreplacementlevelofmineraladmixtures. In order to investigate the effect of those on the sulfate attack the testing program involved the testing of several different mortar mixes using the standardized test, ASTM C 1012. four different cements were evaluated including one Type I cement, two Type I-II cements, and one Type V cement. Mortar mixes were also made with mineral admixtures as each cement was combined with three different types of mineral admixtures. One Class F fly ash and one Class C fly ash was added in various percent volumetric replacement levels. The expansion measurements of mortar bars were taken and compared with expansion criteria recommended from past experience to investigate the effect of each factor.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• 제26권4호
• /
• pp.309-316
• /
• 2020

The application of multi-variable adaptive regression spline (MARS) in predicting he long-term compressive strength of a concrete with various admixtures has been investigated in this study. The compressive strength of concrete specimens, which were made based on 24 different mix designs using various mineral and chemical admixtures in different curing ages have been obtained. First, The values of fly ash (FA), micro-silica (MS), water-reducing admixture (WRA), coarse and fine aggregates, cement, water, age of samples and compressive strength were defined as inputs to the model, and MARS analysis was used to model the compressive strength of concrete and to evaluate the most important parameters affecting the estimation of compressive strength of the concrete. Next, the proposed equation by the MARS method using particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm has been optimized to have more efficient equation from the economical point of view. The proposed model in this study predicted the compressive strength of the concrete with various admixtures with a correlation coefficient of R=0.958 rather than the measured compressive strengths within the laboratory. The final model reduced the production cost and provided compressive strength by reducing the WRA and increasing the FA and curing days, simultaneously. It was also found that due to the use of the liquid membrane-forming compounds (LMFC) for its lower cost than water spraying method (SWM) and also for the longer operating time of the LMFC having positive mechanical effects on the final concrete, the final product had lower cost and better mechanical properties.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.11-23
• /
• 2022

Conventional concrete needs some improvement in the mechanical properties, which can be obtained by different admixtures. However, making concrete samples costume always time and money. In this paper, different types of hybrid algorithms are applied to develop predictive models for forecasting compressive strength (CS) of concretes containing metakaolin (MK) and fly ash (FA). In this regard, three different algorithms have been used, namely multilayer perceptron (MLP), radial basis function (RBF), and support vector machine (SVR), to predict CS of concretes by considering most influencers input variables. These algorithms integrated with the grey wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm to increase the model's accuracy in predicting (GWMLP, GWRBF, and GWSVR). The proposed MLP models were implemented and evaluated in three different layers, wherein each layer, GWO, fitted the best neuron number of the hidden layer. Correspondingly, the key parameters of the SVR model are identified using the GWO method. Also, the optimization algorithm determines the hidden neurons' number and the spread value to set the RBF structure. The results show that the developed models all provide accurate predictions of the CS of concrete incorporating MK and FA with R² larger than 0.9972 and 0.9976 in the learning and testing stage, respectively. Regarding GWMLP models, the GWMLP1 model outperforms other GWMLP networks. All in all, GWSVR has the worst performance with the lowest indices, while the highest score belongs to GWRBF.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제58권1호
• /
• pp.143-161
• /
• 2016

Utilization of mineral and chemical admixtures in concrete technology has led to changes in the formulation and mix design in recent decades, which has, in turn, made the concrete stronger and more durable. Lightweight concrete is an excellent solution in terms of decreasing the dead load of the structure, while self-compacting concrete eases the pouring and removes the construction problems. Combining the advantages of lightweight concrete and self-compacting concrete is a new and interesting research topic. Considering its light weight of structure and ease of placement, self-compacting lightweight concrete may be the answer to the increasing construction requirements of slender and more heavily reinforced structural elements. Twenty one laboratory experimental investigations published on the mix proportion, density and mechanical properties of lightweight self-compacting concrete from the last 12 years are analyzed in this study. The collected information is used to investigate the mix proportions including the chemical and mineral admixtures, light weight and normal weight aggregates, fillers, cement and water. Analyzed results are presented in terms of statistical expressions. It is very helpful for future research to choose the proper components with different ratios and curing conditions to attain the desired concrete grade according to the planned application.

• 콘크리트학회논문집
• /
• 제11권4호
• /
• pp.95-105
• /
• 1999

When superplasticizer is added to manufacture flowing concrete, the base concrete usually needs the adjustment to assure the sufficient fines contained to obtain flowable consistency without excessive bleeding or segregation. However, this may not only increase the cost, but also cause inconvenience in producing the base concrete. In this paper, the experiments are performed on normal base concrete to achieve a segregation-reducing flowing concrete by adding superplasticizer mixed with viscosity agents and AE admixtures. Three kinds of superplasticizer and two kinds of viscosity agent are selected. According to the results, with regard to the performance and cost of the admixtures, melamine type superplasticizer combined with the PEO viscosity agent and AE admixtures at the ratio 1:0.28:0.001 can acquire good quality and reduce the cost in producing the flowing concrete. With proper addition of combined superplasticizer, even though water to cement ratios of the base concrete are different, the segregation-reducing flowing concrete could be also achieved without reproportioning of the base concrete. However, it would be more desirable if the superplasticizer could be adjusted, before it is put into the practical use in order not to cause some other problems, such as rapid rate of slump loss and retarding of setting time.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• 제7권2호
• /
• pp.75-85
• /
• 2019

The present study is focused on the mechanical and durability properties of ternary blended cement concrete mix of different grades 30 MPa, 50 MPa and 70 MPa. Three mineral admixtures (fly ash, silica fume and lime sludge) were used as a partial replacement of cement in the preparation of blended concrete mix. The durability of ternary blended cement concrete mix was studied by exposing it to acids HCl and $H_2SO_4$ at 5% concentration. Acid mass loss factors (AMLF), acid strength loss factor (ASLF) and acid durability factor (ADF) were determined, and the results were compared with the control mix. Chloride ions penetration was investigated by conducting rapid chlorination penetration test and accelerated corrosion penetration test on control mix and ternary blended cement concrete. From the results, it was evident that the usage of these mineral admixtures is having a beneficiary role on the strength as well as durability properties. The results inferred that the utilization of these materials as a partial replacement of cement have significantly enhanced the compressive strength of blended concrete mix in 30 MPa, 50 MPa and 70 MPa by 42.95%, 32.48% and 22.79%. The blended concrete mix shown greater resistance to acid attack compared to control mix concrete. Chloride ion ingress of the blended cement concrete mix was low compared to control mix implying the beneficiary role of mineral admixtures.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• /
• 제7권3호
• /
• pp.239-249
• /
• 2013

In the present scenario to fulfill the demands of sustainable construction, concrete made with multi-blended cement system of OPC and different mineral admixtures, is the judicious choice for the construction industry. Silica fume (SF) and fly ash (FA) are the most commonly used mineral admixtures in ternary blend cement systems. Synergy between the contributions of both on the mechanical properties of the concrete is an important factor. This study reports the effect of replacement of OPC by fly ash (20, 30, 40 and 50 % replacement of OPC) and/or silica fume (7 and 10 %) on the mechanical properties of concrete like compressive strength and split tensile strength, with three different w/b ratio of 0.3, 0.4 and 0.45. The results indicate that, as the total replacement level of OPC in concrete using ternary blend of OPC + FA + SF increases, the strength with respect to control mix increases up to certain replacement level and thereafter decreases. If the cement content of control mixes at each w/b ratio is kept constant, then as w/b ratio decreases, higher percentage of OPC can be replaced with FA + SF to get 28 days strength comparable to the control mix. A new method was proposed to find the efficiency factor of SF and FA individually in ternary blend cement system, based on principle of modified Bolomey's equation for predicting compressive strength of concrete using binary blend cement system. Efficiency factor for SF and FA were always higher in ternary blend cement system than their respective binary blend cement system. Split tensile strength of concrete using binary and ternary cement system were higher than OPC for a given compressive strength level.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• 제14권1호
• /
• pp.71-77
• /
• 2022

Creep phenomenon affects the stability and integrity of concrete structures. An inaccurate prediction of these strains may lead to the appearance of cracks and excessive deflections which may cause in some cases the demolition of structures. In fact, the measured values of these uncontrolled strains appear often to be clearly different and larger than the expected ones. Therefore, an accurate prediction of concrete deformations is a necessity. As a matter of fact, the codified descriptions of this phenomenon are unreliable and don't consider the effect of admixtures. The physical nature of creep is not well understood and almost all creep models are mainly of empirical nature. To overcome this issue, a study of the correlation between different parameters affecting concrete creep is performed and a new model for predicting creep of concrete is elaborated. This new model considers the effect of admixtures, specifically the silica fume, in predicting concrete creep and allows an accurate prediction of this phenomenon. The proposed model is based on the observation of physical behavior of creep phenomenon. It targets at expressing creep compliance in terms of structural and environmental parameters. In fact, the experimental observations show that creep curves follow two kinetic regimes leading to a model called Phenomenological Creep Model. By adequate regressions and substitutions, and according to this model, we can express creep compliance in terms of structural, environmental parameters and admixture types and percentage. The proposed new Phenomenological Creep Model Silica Fume (PCM19SF) calculates accurately creep of concrete by considering the effect of silica fume.