Papers by Author: Robert Černý

Abstract: In this paper, the effect of elevated temperatures on the mechanical and basic properties of two different newly-designed high-strength concretes is studied. The studied materials were prepared from Portland cement, steel fibers, reactive finely milled quartz powder and quartz sand, silica fume, plasticizer, and with a relatively low water/cement ratio of 0.24. The samples were stored in water environment for the first 28 days of hydration to achieve better mechanical properties. Then, after pre-drying at 105 °C to constant mass, the materials were exposed to elevated temperatures of 600 °C and 1000 °C where they were kept for 2 hours. The basic physical properties, such as matrix density, bulk density and open porosity were determined as a function of temperature. Mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strength) were also studied. The measured parameters exhibited a high dependence on temperature and the obtained results pointed to the structural changes of the studied materials. Spalling was not observed because of the pre-drying treatment.

Abstract: The paper studies the basic physical, mechanical and thermal properties of concrete with three types of supplementary materials for use in waste repositories. The used supplementary materials were natural zeolite, brick dust and metashale. These have pozzolanic properties which modify the parameters of resulting matrix and the unreacted part of the material offers sites for sorption of hazardous species. Results showed rather negative influence of natural zeolite on compressive strength and porosity, as well as thermal properties when compared to brick dust and metashale.

Abstract: The paper presents the evaluation of the influence of supplementary materials on the porous structure and hygric properties of concrete for waste repositories. The used supplementary materials were natural zeolite, brick dust and metashale. Studied parameters were basic physical properties, distribution curves of pores obtained by mercury intrusion porosimetry and water absorption coefficient. Obtained results revealed worse behaviour of natural zeolite compared to brick dust and metashale, as there was significant rise in open porosities when higher amount of the material was added as well as rise in absorption coefficient.

Abstract: Residual parameters of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) exposed to high temperatures were experimentally accessed. The UHPC was provided by hybrid fibre reinforcement based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and steel fibres. Among the studied material properties, bulk density, matrix density, total open porosity, pore size distribution, water vapour transmission and liquid water transport properties were examined. The UHPC samples were exposed to the temperatures 400 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C, and 1000 °C respectively. For comparative purposes, the reference UHPC samples cured at laboratory temperature were tested as well. Based on the obtained results, correlation between concrete structural changes and tested parameters was found out. The applied temperature load highly affected the concrete porosity, pore size, and thus both liquid and gaseous moisture transport parameters. Disintegration of concrete structure, colour change, cracking, damage of steel fibres (melting), and failure of their cohesion was apparent from optical microscopy analysis.

Abstract: This article deals with the comparison of two different renovation plasters produced by different companies in the Czech Republic. The selected stuccos were Feinputz 212 supplied by HASIT Šumavské vápenice a omítkárny s.r.o and Kbelosan F from Knauf Praha spol. s.r.o. They were studied in the means of basic physical properties, mechanical properties, water transport properties and water vapour transport properties. Results revealed only slight variations in bulk density, matrix density and open porosity, but in the means of transport properties, the plaster Feinputz 212 showed much higher openness to water and water vapour transport.

Abstract: This article is focused on cement based composites. Two cements differing in mineralogical composition are utilised as main binder in composites mixtures. Results of measured physical parameters of studied materials are presented. For the sake of comparison, a reference material with Portland cement was also prepared. Basic physical properties (measured by water vacuum saturation method and by helium pycnometry), characterizations of pore system (determined by mercury porosimetry) and mechanical properties are the matter of this study. Composites show various open porosity; the results of open porosity of materials containing special cements show higher values, in comparison with composite based on Portland cement. This fact of course influences other material characteristics - mainly mechanical properties.

Abstract: Two different lime plasters with finely crushed brick are studied in this article. In the first plaster the pozzolan mixture was used as silica sand while in the second it was dosed as replacement of the lime substitute and silica sand (the substitution levels being 20% and 50%). Classic lime plaster was used as a reference material. Studied parameters were basic physical properties (measured by water vacuum saturation and by helium pycnometry), characterization of pore system (by mercury porosimetry) and transport of liquid water.

Abstract: Measurements of basic materials properties of building materials with pozzolanic waste admixture originated from grinding of thermally insulating bricks were performed by means of pycnometry method. Besides, the thermal conductivity dependence on the moisture content measurements were carried out by using a non-stationary pulse method. Obtained data were subsequently analyzed by simple Wiener’s bounds and sophisticated homogenization formula taking into account the shape of ellipsoidal pore inclusions. Validity of applied homogenization models were assessed by comparison of the measured and the calculated data. On the basis of experimental data and homogenization analysis, the shape effect on the thermal conductivity is discussed.

Abstract: The presented paper aims at thorough uncertainty analysis of combined experimental and computational approach for determination of equivalent thermal conductivity of highly perforated bricks. The thermal conductivity is determined using experimental guarded hot plate method. However, due to large dimensions of analyzed specimens, the measurement is influenced by experimental errors due to abnormal heat leakage. Therefore, numerical modeling of heat transfer is performed in order to quantify this leakage and the resulting value of thermal conductivity is subsequently corrected. The uncertainty analysis is essential part of presented approach leading to its justification. It involves statistical errors, measurement errors as well as results of merged sensitivity analysis. Within the frame of this paper, highly perforated clay brick without cavity fillings was investigated. The results indicated that accuracy of presented approach is very sufficient and combined standard uncertainty is lower than 10 %.

Abstract: An analytical approach to the determination of a varying salt diffusion coefficient is discussed. It is argued that the approach is fast and reliable and can be very convenient in various civil engineering applications dealing with the transport of salts in porous building materials. The advection-diffusion model of Bear and Bachmat is used to describe the salt transport, and the Bolztmann-Matano inverse analysis is applied to calculate the salt diffusion coefficient. Possible extensions to other models of transport are pointed out. The results are applied to a sandstone from the Msene quarry, Czech Republic.