• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 2019

GGBFS(Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag) has been widely used in concrete for its excellent resistance chloride and chemical attack, however cracks due to hydration heat and dry shrinkage are reported. In many International Standards, GGBFS with low fineness of 3,000 grade is classified for wide commercialization and crack control. In this paper, the mechanical and durability performance of concrete were investigated through two mix proportions; One (BS) has 50% of w/b(water to binder) ratio and 60% replacement ratio with low-fineness GGBFS, and the other (TS) has 50% of w/b and 60% replacement ratio with 4000 grade and FA (Fly Ash). The strength difference between TS and BS concrete was not great from 3 day to 91 day of age, and BS showed excellent performance for chloride diffusion and carbonation resistance. Two mixtures also indicate a high durability index (more than 90.0) for freezing-thawing since they contain sufficient air content. Through improvement of strength in low fineness GGBFS concrete at early age, mass concrete with low hydration heat and high durability can be manufactured.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2016

This study examined the compressive strength development and pH values of alpha-calcium sulfate hemihydrate(${\alpha}-CH$)-based binders developed for vegetation concrete with neutral pH between 6~7. Considering cost down and strength enhancement of the prepared binders, the ${\alpha}-CH$ was partially replaced by ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBS), fly ash(FA), or ordinary Portland cement(OPC) by 25% and 50%. The compressive strength of mortars using 100% ${\alpha}-CH$ was 50% lower than that of 100% OPC mortars. With the increase of the replacement level of GGBS or FA, the compressive strength of ${\alpha}-CH$-based mortars tended to decrease, whereas the pH values were maintained to be 6.5~7.5. The main hydration products of ${\alpha}-CH$-based binders with GGBS or FA were a gypsum($CaSO_4$), whereas portlandite($Ca(OH)_2$) was not observed in such binders. Meanwhile, the pH values of ${\alpha}-CH$-based binders with OPC exceeded 11.5 due to the formation of $Ca(OH)_2$ phase as a hydration product. From the thermogravimetric analysis, the amount of $Ca(OH)_2$ in ${\alpha}-CH$-based binders with OPC was evaluated to be approximately 10% of the cement content.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2016

This paper presents an 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(0, 30, 50 and 100%), sodium silicate modules($Ms[SiO_2/Na_2O]$ 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0) and initial curing temperatures($23^{\circ}C$ and $70^{\circ}C$). The tests involved immersions for a period of 6 months into 10% solutions of sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate. The evolution of compressive strength, weight, length expansion and microstructural observation such as x-ray diffraction were studied. As a results, as higher GGBFS replace ratio or Ms shown higher compressive strengths on 28 days. In case of immersed in 10% sodium sulfate solution, the samples shows increase in long-term strength. However, for samples immersed in magnesium sulfate solutions, 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($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$); the gypsum increased up to 6 months continuously.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.268-275
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• 2021

The three factors that determine the strength of concrete are the strength of cement paste, aggregate and ITZ(Interfacial Transition Zone) between aggregate and cement paste. Out of these, the strength of ITZ is the most vulnerable. ITZ is formed in 10~50㎛, the ratio of calcium hydroxide is high, and CSH appears low ratio. A high calcium hydroxide ratio causes a decrease in the bond strength of ITZ. ITZ is due to further weak area. The problem of ITZ appears as a more disadvantageous factor when it used lightweight aggregate. The previous study of ITZ properties have measured interfacial toughness, identified influencing factors ITZ, and it progressed SEM and XRD analysis on cement matrix without using coarse aggregates. also it was identified microstructure using EMPA-BSE equipment. However, in previous studies, it is difficult to understand the microstructure and mechanical properties. Therefore, in this study, a method of measuring electrical resistance using EIS(Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) measuring equipment was adopted to identify the ITZ between natural aggregate and lightweight aggregate, and it was tested the change of ITZ by surface coating of lightweight aggregate with ground granulated blast furnace slag. As a result, the compressive strength of natural aggregate and lightweight aggregate appear high strength of natural aggregate with high density, surface coating lightweight aggregate appear strength higher than natural aggregate. The electrical resistivity of ITZ according to the aggregate appeared difference.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

GGBFS(Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag), one of the representative concrete mineral admixtures, improves the long-term durability and engineering performance of concrete by latent hydraulic activity. In this study, considering 3 levels of W/B(0.37, 0.42, 0.47) and GGBFS replacement ratio(0 %, 30 %, 50 %), durability performances for chloride attack are evaluated, and equations which predict behavior of accelerated chloride diffusion are proposed. Also, the relationship between accelerated chloride diffusion coefficient and passed charge is evaluated. In target curing day, accelerated chloride diffusion tests(Tang's method, ASTM C 1202) and compressive strength(KS F 2405) are performed. In the 730 day's results of accelerated chloride diffusion coefficient, GGBFS concrete has up to 28 % of decreasing ratio compared to OPC concrete, and in those of passed charge, GGBFS concrete has up to 29 % of decreasing ratio compared to OPC concrete. Also, it is deemed that the impact of variation of W/B is less in GGBFS concrete than in OPC concrete. The equations which predict accelerated chloride diffusion coefficient and passed charge are drawn, based on the characteristics of mixture and test results. The equation which predicts passed charge shows slightly higher coefficient of determination than that which predicts accelerated chloride diffusion coefficient.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.28-36
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• 2019

The adhered mortars in recycled aggregate may lower the performance of the concrete, such as by reducing in strength and durability, and cracking. In the present study, the effects of nylon fiber (NF) on the mechanical and durable properties of 100% ordinary portland cement (OPC) and 50% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) concretes incorporating recycled coarse aggregate (RA) were experimentally investigated. Concrete was produced by adding 0 and $0.6kg/m^3$ of NF and then cured in water for the predetermined period. Measurements of compressive and split tensile strength, water permeable pore and total charge passed through concrete were carried out, and the corresponding test results were compared with those of concrete incorporating crushed coarse aggregate (CA). In addition, the microstructures of 28-day concretes were observed by using SEM technique. Test results revealed that the RA concrete showed lower performance than CA concrete because of the adhered mortars in RA. However, it was obvious that the addition of NF in RA concrete was much effective in enhancing the performance of the concretes due to the bridge effect from NF. In particular, the application of NF2 (19 mm) exhibited a somewhat beneficial effect compared with concrete incorporating NF1 with respect to mechanical properties, especially for RA concrete.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.230-237
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• 2022

It is essential that service life of reinforced concrete structures in economic and safety aspects should be secured. It is well-known that chloride attack is a typical deterioration mechanism in field concrete structures. To prevent serious accidents like collapse, many studies have been conducted to increase resistance of chloride ingress using concrete mixed with GGBS. The usage of GGBS concrete is nowadays mandatory. Since most concretes in the field are unsaturated, study regarding chloride absorption is necessary, but many studies have focused on the chloride diffusion phenomenon. Methods for evaluating chloride absorption are cost and improper in the field. It is necessary to develop a simple method for evaluating chloride absorption in practice. This study evaluated resistance of chloride ingress in GGBS concretes with impedance measurement and absorption test. From the results, it was confirmed that the contents of absorbed chloride were linearly correlated with the measured electrical resistivities (or conductivities) in the concrete. At the end of the test, the electrical conductivities were 250.8 S/m (w/b=0.4) and 303.1 S/m (w/b=0.6) for PC concretes, and 2.6 S/m (w/b=0.4) and 64.4 S/m (w/b=0.6) for GGBS concretes, respectively. Considering influencing factors for chloride absorption and impedance measurement, chloride ingress into concrete is mainly affected by pore structures due to replacement of GGBS. Especially, formations of pore structure are different with binder, thereby binders should be considered in building reinforced concrete structures exposed to chloride environments.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.1A
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• pp.75-84
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• 2009

The present study assesses the chloride threshold level for corrosion of steel in concrete by examining the properties of four different binders used for blended concrete in terms of chloride binding, buffering of cement matrix to a pH fall and the corrosion behaviour. As binders, ordinary Portland cement (OPC), 30% pulverised fuel ash (PFA), 60% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and 10% silica fume (SF) were used in a concrete mix. Testing for chloride binding was carried out using the water extraction method, the buffering of cement matrix was assessed by measuring the resistance to an artificial acidification of nitric acid, and the corrosion rate of steel in mortar with chlorides in cast was measured at 28 days using an anodic polarisation technique. Results show that the chloride binding capacity was much affected by $C_{3}A$ content and physical adsorption, and its order was 60% GGBS>30% PFA>OPC>10% SF. The buffering of cement matrix to a pH fall was varied with binder type and given values of the pH. From the result of corrosion test, it was found that the chloride threshold ranged 1.03, 0.65, 0.45 and 0.98% by weight of cement for OPC, 30% PFA, 60% GGBS and 10% SF respectively, assuming that corrosion starts at the corrosion rate of $0.1-0.2{\mu}A/cm^{2}$. The mole ratio of [$Cl^{-}$]:[$H^{+}$], as a new presentation of the chloride threshold, indicated the value of 0.008-0.009, irrespective of binder, which would be indicative of the inhibitive characteristic of binder.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.37-46
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• 2024

This study investigates the evolution of concrete damage due to chloride-induced steel corrosion through Impact-echo (IE) testing. Three reinforced concrete specimens, each measuring 1500 mm in length, 400 mm in width, and 200 mm in thickness, were fabricated using three concrete mixture proportions of blended cement types: ordinary Portland cement, ground granulated blast-furnace slag and fly ash. Steel corrosion in the concrete was accelerated by impressing a 0.5 A current following a 35-day cycle of wet-and-dry saturation in a 3% NaCl solution. Initial IE data collected during the saturation phase showed no significant changes, indicating that moisture had a minimal impact on IE signals and highlighting the slow progress of corrosion under natural conditions. Post-application of current, however, there was a noticeable decline in both IE peak frequency and the P-wave velocity in the concrete as the duration of the impressed current increased. Remarkably, progressive monitoring of IE proves highly effective in capturing the critical features of steel-corrosion induced concrete deterioration, such as the onset of internal damages and the rate of damage propagation. These results demonstrate the potential of progressive IE data monitoring to enhance the reliability of diagnosing and prognosticating the evolution of concrete damage in marine environment.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.104-111
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• 2015

This study shows the mechanical properties of alkali-activated slag cement (AASC) synthesized using sulfate with NaOH solution. The used sulfates were calcium sulfate ($CaSO_4$, denoted CS) and sodium sulfate ($Na_2SO_4$, denoted SS). The replacement ratio of sulfates was 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0% by weight of slag. NaOH solution of 2M and 4M concentration was used. A sample was activated with sulfate and activated with blended activator (blending NaOH solution with sulfate) respectively. 24 mix ratios were used and the water-binder weight ratio for the test was set 0.5. This research carried out the compressive strength, flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), absorption and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In the case of samples with CS, sample with 7.5% CS, sample with 2M NaOH+5.0% CS and sample with 4M NaOH+5.0% CS showed the good performance in the strength development. In the case of samples with SS, sample with 10.0% SS, sample with 2M NaOH+7.5% SS and sample with 4M NaOH+2.5% SS obtained good performance in strength. The results of UPV and water absorption showed a similar tendency to the strength properties. The XRD analysis of samples indicated that the hydration products formed in samples were ettringite, CSH and silicate phases. In this study, it is indicated that when compared to the use of sulfate only, the use of both sulfate and NaOH solution makes mechanical properties of AASC better.