• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.449-455
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• 2022

Concrete is the most widely used construction material. The heavy self-weight of concrete may offer an advantage when developing high compressive strength and good dimensional stability. However, it is limited in the construction of super-long bridges or very high skyscrapers owing to the substantially increased self-weight of the structure. For developing lightweight concrete, various lightweight aggregates have typically been utilized. However, due to the porous characteristics of lightweight aggregates, the strength at the composite level is generally decreased. To overcome this intrinsic limitation, this study aims to develop a construction material that satisfies both lightweight and high strength requirements. The developed cementitious composite was manufactured based on a high volume usage of hollow glass microspheres in a matrix with a low water-to-cement ratio. Regardless of the tested hollow glass microspheres from among four different types, compressive strength outcomes of more than 60 MPa and 80 MPa with a density of 1.7 g/cm³ were experimentally confirmed under ambient and high-temperature curing, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.413-418
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• 2021

In this study, as a basic study to use recycled limestone powder as a secondary product mixture for concrete, it was found that the compressive and flexural strengths were equal to or slightly improved compared to Plain up to 10% and 20% of the RLP mixing ratio, but the strength was rather decreased at 30% mixing. As a result of the heat of hydration experiment, as the RLP mixing rate increased, the heat of hydration decreased, and the elapsed time of the maximum heat was also delayed. As a result of the drying shrinkage test, as the fine powder RLP filled the internal pores of the cement mortar, the drying shrinkage decreased as the mixing rate increased. The compressive strength, water absorption rate, and compressive strength after freezing and thawing of the concrete block mixed with RLP 20% all satisfied the group standard criteria of the Korea Concrete Industry Cooperative Federation, confirming the possibility of use as a mixed material.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.149-163
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• 2023

One of the main design parameters traditionally utilized in projects of geotechnical engineering is the uniaxial compressive strength. The present paper employed three artificial intelligence methods, i.e., the stochastic fractal search (SFS), the multi-verse optimization (MVO), and the vortex search algorithm (VSA), in order to determine the compressive strength of concrete (CSC). For the same reason, 1030 concrete specimens were subjected to compressive strength tests. According to the obtained laboratory results, the fly ash, cement, water, slag, coarse aggregates, fine aggregates, and SP were subjected to tests as the input parameters of the model in order to decide the optimum input configuration for the estimation of the compressive strength. The performance was evaluated by employing three criteria, i.e., the root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and the determination coefficient (R²). The evaluation of the error criteria and the determination coefficient obtained from the above three techniques indicates that the SFS-MLP technique outperformed the MVO-MLP and VSA-MLP methods. The developed artificial neural network models exhibit higher amounts of errors and lower correlation coefficients in comparison with other models. Nonetheless, the use of the stochastic fractal search algorithm has resulted in considerable enhancement in precision and accuracy of the evaluations conducted through the artificial neural network and has enhanced its performance. According to the results, the utilized SFS-MLP technique showed a better performance in the estimation of the compressive strength of concrete (R²=0.99932 and 0.99942, and RMSE=0.32611 and 0.24922). The novelty of our study is the use of a large dataset composed of 1030 entries and optimization of the learning scheme of the neural prediction model via a data distribution of a 20:80 testing-to-training ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.407-415
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• 2023

In this study, a carbonation test was conducted on cementitious composites reinforced with recycled waste rope fibers (W series) according to EN 12390-12 standards. The test results were compared to those of commercially available polypropylene fibers (P series). In the carbonation test, both the carbonation depth and area were significantly influenced by the water-to-cement ratio. Notably, the carbonation resistance performance of cementitious composites containing waste rope fibers surpassed that of commercially available PP fibers under equivalent conditions. Throughout the 250-day test period, the W series exhibited higher compressive strength values than the P series, while both series displayed a similar trend of strength increase during the same duration. During the initial stage, the W series exhibited flexural strength levels similar to those of the P series. However, in the later stages, the P series showed a higher mean flexural strength by 1.0 MPa.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.19-31
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• 2007

Humidity and strain were estimated for understanding the relation between humidity change by self-desiccation and shrinkage in high-performance concrete with low water binder ratio and containing fly ash and blast furnace slag. Internal humidity change and shrinkage strain were about 10%, 10%, 7%, 11%, 11% and $320{\times}10^{-6}$, $270{\times}10^{-6}$, $231{\times}10^{-6}$, $371{\times}10^{-6}$, $350{\times}10^{-6}$ respectively on OPC30, O30F10, O30F20, O30G40, O30G50 and from the results, fly ash made humidity change and strain decrease but slag increase comparing with ordinary portland cement. Considering only relation internal humidity and shrinkage by self-desiccation, humidity change and shrinkage represented the strong linear relation regardless of mineral admixture. For specifying the relation on internal humidity change and autogenous shrinkage strain, shrinkage model was established which is driven by capillary pressure in pore water and surface energy in hydrates on the assumption of a single network and extended meniscus in pore system of concrete. This model and experimental results had a similar tendency so it would be concluded that the internal humidity change by self-desiccation in HPC originated in small pores less than 20nm, therefore controlling plan on autogenous shrinkage might be focused on surface tension of water and degree of saturation in small pore.

• 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 Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2009

The importance of chloride ions in the corrosion of steel in concrete has led to the concept for chloride threshold level (CTL). The CTL can be defined as the content of chlorides at the steel depth that is necessary to sustain local passive film breakdown and hence initiate the corrosion process. Despite the importance of the CTL, due to the uncertainty determining the actual limits in various environments for chloride-induced corrosion, conservative values such as 0.4% by weight of cement or 1.2 kg in 1 $m^3$ concrete have been used in predicting the corrosion-free service life of reinforced concrete structures. The paper studies the CTL for blended cement concrete by comparing the resistance of cementitious binder to the onset of chloride-induced corrosion of steel. Mortar specimens were cast with centrally located steel rebar of 10 mm in diameter using cementitious mortars with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and mixed mortars replaced with 30% pulverized fuel ash (PFA), 60% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and 10% silica fume (SF), respectively, at 0.4 of a free W/B ratio. Chlorides were admixed in mixing water ranging 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% by weight of binder(Based on $C1^-$). Specimens were curd 28 days at the room temperature, wrapped in polyethylene film to avoid leaching out of chloride and hydroxyl ions. Then the corrosion rate was measured using the polarization resistance method and the order of CTL for binder was determined. Thus, CTL of OPC, 60%GGBS, 30%PFA and 10%SF were determined by 1.6%, 0.45%, 0.8% and 2.15%, respectively.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.136-144
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• 2013

In this study, in order to establish a plan that will enable safe use of renewable resources such as diverse industrial by-products and urban recycled materials, we conducted experiments that focused on flow, bleeding, compressive strength and environmental pollution evaluation to evaluate the material properties of low strength concrete using BFS and SS. In the case of low strength concrete using BFS and SS, blending of at least BFS 6000 within a 30% range regardless of the type of sand used was found to be the most effective approach for improving the workability by securing the minimum unit quantity of water, restraining the bleeding ratio and establishing compressive strength by taking account of the applicability at the work site. In particular, in view of the efficient use of SS, the optimal mixing condition was found to be the mixing of BFS 8000 with in the 30% range, not only for improving the workability restraining the bleeding ratio and establishing the compressive strength but also for application to the work site. Further, the results of tests on hazardous substance content and those of elution tests conducted on soil cement using SS indicated that all values satisfied the environmental standards without any harmful effects on the surrounding environment.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2012

This article aims to find method to mix a harmless hardening agent and soil generated during construction to make paving materials. The main purpose of this research is to get rid of the harmfulness(Chromium (VI), etc.) of cement which has been generally and frequently used as a hardening agent and strengthen it so that it can be used for the general foundation solidification and stabilization of civil engineering/construction structures such as dredging soil treatment, marine structure foundation treatment, surface soil stabilization, and river bank erosion prevention. NSS(Natural Stabilizer Soil) used for this study takes as its chief ingredient the mixture of lime and staple fibers extracted from natural fibers. It increases the shearing strength of soil that it improves the support and durability of the foundation and prevents flooding and frost as well. The pH measured to know its eco-friendliness was 6.67~7.15, and according to the migration testing, only Pb and CN were lower than the standards, so it can be said that NSS has almost no harmful components in it. According to the result of uniaxial strength testing, when the mixture ratio of weathered soil to NSS was 6%, about 1,850kpa strength was expressed. And according to the result of CBR. testing to figure out its appropriateness as a paving material, the CBR of the foundation was 4%~6%. But when the mixture ratio of NSS is over 6%, the water immersion CBR. is over 100%; thus, it is expected that it will show great utility as a paving material.