Papers by Author: Su Tae Kang

Abstract: This study, in order to identify the effects that the mixed-use of long and short fiber has on the mechanical characteristics of UHPC, we used a steel fiber of 65, 82 and 98 in a shape ratio (l/d) alternating from the length of 13, 16,3 and 19.5 mm respectively in the short fiber with a diameter of 0.2 mm and used the hooked-type high-elasticity steel fiber with a diameter of 0.375 and the length of 30 mm of the long fiber. As a result, it was found that, in constructability and compressive behavior in the same fiber mixing ratio, the more the mixed amount of short fiber, the higher the compressive strength, but it was analyzed that the increase of width was very narrow. According to the results from the review on the flexural tensile behavior of UHPC to make a hybrid from the straight-short and hooked-long fiber, it was analyzed that the use of hybrid fiber does not significantly contribute to the enhancement of the flexural strength of UHPC, however, it greatly contributes to the enhancement of the flexural toughness. In the case of using the fiber in this method, it was analyzed that it would be possible to manufacture UHPC which is superior in workability and mechanical characteristics and economically feasible.

Abstract: Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is a new generation of concrete developed through microstructure enhancement techniques for cementitious materials. UHPC exhibits extremely high compressive and flexural strengths exceeding 180 and 30 MPa, respectively, and remarkable durability compared to normal concretes. The fabrication of UHPC requires very low W/B ratio reaching merely 0.2, the use of large quantities of fine binder and superplasticizer without coarse aggregates, and the incorporation of steel micro-fibers. This study investigates the effect of the type of silica fume on the rheological and mechanical properties of UHPC. The adopted silica fume presents various contents of SiO₂ and surface areas. From the experimental results, UHPC using silica fume with 94% of SiO₂ 3% of ZrO₂, and surface area of 80,000 g/cm³ shows better flowability than UHPC using silica fume with 98% of SiO₂ and surface area of 200,000 g/cm³ by lowering the viscosity of the cementitious composites without decreasing the compressive strength. Therefore, the fabrication cost of UHPC can be reduced by smaller dosage of superplasticizer when using silica fume with Zr content .

Abstract: The fabrication of Portland cement causes numerous problems accompanying the large exhaustion of gas. Even if fly ash, an industrial by-product produced in thermoelectric power plants, is recycled in concrete by partial replacing of cement, more than 50% remains still discharged in marine and ashore landfills and, continue to provoke environmental problems. Recently, active research has been dedicated to alkali-activated concrete that does not use cement as binder. This alkali-activated concrete as a cement zero concrete activated by alkali solution using bottom ash rich in Si and Al instead of cement is effective in reducing gas exhaustion. This study is a basic research for the fabrication of concrete without cement and using 100% of bottom ash among the industrial by-products. Therefore, the purposes are to develop cement zero concrete by evaluating the mechanical properties by age according to the change of the molar concentration and ratio (SH/SS) of the alkali-activator and the curing temperature, and to investigate the reaction mechanism. From the test results, the compressive strength increased with larger molar concentration and the optimal curing temperature was 60°C. In addition, the measurement of the leaching according to the molar concentration of fly ash having similar chemical composition showed that the leaching of Si⁴⁺ and Al³⁺ increased. Compared to 6M, the leached quantities of Si⁴⁺ and Al³⁺ were twice larger for 9M and 12M. The formation of gel at the surface of fly ash indicated that fly ash was more activated in higher alkaline environment.

Abstract: This Study purposed to review on the strength of geopolymer mortar and the change in liquidity depending on the mixing ratio of alkali-activator in developing the geopolymer mortar using bottom ash as binder. Alkali-activator was used through mixing 9M-Sodium hydroxide (SH) and 3 kinds of Sodium sillicate(SS) and its strength was measured by material age after curing for 48 hours at 60°C. As a result, the pressure strength was shown as 40MP when the mass ratios of 9M-Sodium hydroxide and 3 kinds of Sodium sillicate were35 vs. 65 and 50 vs. 50, but the solution of the mass ratio of 50 vs. 50 showed the rapid solid phenomenon in the process of mortar manufacturing, thereby disadvantage in construction. In addition, in case of storing the mixed solution in room temperature, as the mix ratio of 9M-Sodium hydroxide increases, the solution solidified. Accordingly, when considering on strength, liquidity and storage, it’s most preferable to fix the mass ratio of 9M-Sodium hydroxide and 3 kinds of Sodium sillicate at 35 vs. 65.

Abstract: This intends to examine the flexural behavioral characteristics of hybrid UHPC using a mix of steel fibers with different lengths. Three types of fibers are adopted with fixed diameter of 0.2 mm and lengths of 13, 16.3 and 19.5 mm (aspect ratio of 65, 82 and 98, respectively). Comparative analysis of the flexural strength, load bearing capacity, deflection and toughness is performed adopting a mix use of these 3 types of steel fibers with ratio of 2% and 1.5%. The results show that the hybrid use of steel fibers improves significantly the flexural strength and flexural toughness compared to the use of a single type of fiber. When steel fibers with lengths of 16.3 mm and 19.5mm are admixed at a rate of 1% each, UHPC develops a flexural strength larger by 27% (maximum 50%) than conventional UHPC admixed with 2% of steel fiber with length of 13 mm. Moreover, flexural strength similar to that of conventional UHPC is secured when steel fibers with lengths of 16.3 mm and 19.5mm are admixed at respective rates of 0.5% and 1% (total rate of 1.5%).

Abstract: This paper evaluates the relationship between the compressive strength and microscopic structure of geopolymer mortar using 100% of fly ash instead of cement. The experimental variable is the curing temperature, which may influence the compressive strength of the geopolymer. The compressive strength, porosity, XRD, SEM and EDS are examined after 48 hours of curing at 30, 60 and 90°C. The resulting compressive strength at 60°C appeared to be the largest. In order to evaluate the voids produced during the polymerization, the porosity was measured and showed also the largest value after curing at 60°C during 48 hours. Furthermore, SEM and EDS analyses verified clear improvement of the microstructure after 48 hours of curing at 60°C. Such result can be explained by the variation of the Si-Al ratio according to the curing conditions, which revealed to be lower for curing at 30 and 90°C than at 60°C and demonstrated that the curing temperature has significantly effect on the compressive strength of the geopolymer.

Abstract: Bottom ash based alkali-activated mortar is prepared by incorporating sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate with some additional water if needed, and is activated with temperature curing. This research was conducted to derive an optimum mixture design of the bottom ash based alkali-activated mortar. The experimental studies were first performed to estimate the effect of the added water content, alkali activator to bottom ash ratio, sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio as well as curing temperature on workability and strength. In order to optimize the mix proportion, based on the experimental results, artificial neural networks were introduced.

Abstract: Recently, research on alkali-activated concrete that does not use cement as binder has been actively conducted. This alkali-activated concrete is a cement zero concrete which, instead of cement, is activated by alkali solution using fly ash known to be rich of Si and Al and enables to reduce effectively the emission of CO2 gas. This paper presents a basic study for the manufacture of cementless concrete using 100% of fly ash. To that goal, the mechanical characteristics of cementless concrete is evaluated according to the age and the variation of the molar concentration of the alkali activator with focus on the identification of the reaction mechanism. The experimental results show that larger molar concentration elutes larger quantities of Si4+ and Al3+. Specifically, approximately twice larger quantities of Si4+ and Al3+ were eluted for molar concentrations of 9M and 12M than 6M. The formation of gel at the surface of fly ash appeared to be caused by the stronger activation of fly ash in higher alkali environment. The resulting compressive strengths per age indicated that the strength of concrete could be controlled according to the molar concentration of NaOH. Moreover, results also demonstrated that a molar concentration of 9M for NaOH seems to be appropriate to secure a strength superior to 40MPa as the reference for high strength concrete in ordinary concrete.

Abstract: This paper intends to examine the effects if the length and shape of steel fibers on the mechanical characteristics of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). Accordingly, the length (l) of the steel fibers with diameter (d) of 0.2 mm is varied as 13 mm, 16.3 mm and 19.5 mm and their corresponding aspect ratios (l/d) are 65, 82 and 98. Straight and wave-shaped fibers are adopted to manufacture UHPC. Thereafter, the effects of the aspect ratio and characteristics of the wave-shape of the steel fibers on the strength characteristics of UHPC are examined through compressive and flexural strength tests. The results showed small differences in the workability and compressive behavior but revealed that changing the length of the fibers and increasing the aspect ratio are improving the flexural behavior of UHPC. Specifically, the flexural strength was enhanced by 25% and the flexural toughness by 30%. Compared to rectilinear fibers, the adoption of wave-shaped fibers is seen to degrade the flexural behavior regardless of the aspect ratio. Consequently, using straight steel fibers and adopting larger aspect ratio seems advisable to improve the toughness of UHPC.

Abstract: This study investigates the effects of alkaline activators and curing method on the compressive strength of mortar for the development of cementless alkali-activated concrete using 100% of fly ash as binder. Results reveal that the compressive strength improved according to the increase of the molar concentration of NaOH. In addition, molar ratio Na2O to SiO2 of 1.12 activated the reaction of fly ash with Si and Al constituents and resulted in the most remarkable development of strength. In the case of mortar requiring high strength at early age, higher curing temperatures appeared to be advantages. Curing at 60°C during 48 hours is recommended for requiring high strength at age 28days. Moreover, performing atmospheric curing after high temperature curing appeared to be more effective for the development of strength than water curing. Based on these results, it has been analyzed that alkaline activators fabricated with proportions of 1:1 of 9M NaOH and sodium silicate should be used and that atmospheric curing should be performed after curing at 60°C during 48 hours to produce high strength alkali-activated mortar exhibiting compressive strength of 70MPa at age 28 days.