Papers by Keyword: Sulfate Attack

Abstract: This study investigates the durability performance of local fly ash as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in reinforced concrete. In this paper the effect of the fly ash on the durability of reinforced concrete under combined chloride-sulfate penetration has been investigated. Two mixes made by tow formulations: a control mix made of ordinary cement OPC (M1) and a mix substituted with 17% of fly ash (M2) exposed to combined chloride-sulfate attack. The durability performances of these concrete mini pipes were experimentally investigated and evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results indicate that the concrete pipe substituted with fly ash shows a high mechanical polarisation resistance compared to the traditional concrete pipe. Moreover, the EDS analysis and visual inspection confirm the results found by the electrochemical measurements. Ultimately, the fly ash as a SCM could improve the service life of reinforced concrete pipe in combined chloride-sulfate attack.

Abstract: This paper investigates the valorization of slag in cement production in order to obtain a sustainable mortar and participate in protecting the environment. The study evaluated the setting time, hydration heat, mechanical strengths, drying shrinkage, sulfuric acid and sulfate attack of mortars. These mortars are based on Portland cement (PC), slag cements containing 10%, 30% and 50% slag and alkali-activated slag (AAS) using 6% and 9% of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The results show that the increase in slag replacement rate increases the setting time accompanied by a drop in initial mechanical strength such that the compressive strength decreased by 30% at two days for a 50% slag substitution; also, it considerably reduces the shrinkage and hydration heat. The resistance to sulfate and sulfuric acid attack increases with the slag replacement rate. NaOH-activated slag mortar is the most resistant binder to sulfate attack and sulfuric acid, but it develops a lower mechanical strength and a more significant shrinkage than PC mortar. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis carried out on binder paste shows the formation of the same main hydration products in PC and slag cement with a small amount of portlandite in the last binder. Calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) and Hydrotalcite are the main hydration products of AAS.

Abstract: It was defined that structural elements of a building made from electrically conductive concrete may reduce their performance characteristics due to the corrosion environment. The main reasons for that process are supplement corrosion factors such as a wide range of temperature, humidity as well as chemical agents in the environment. In this article results of different properties (mechanical, electrical) of electrically conductive concrete are discussed including their alterations due to sulphate attack. Also, microstructure as well as physical and chemical properties of modified concrete have been considered after being exposed to sulphate attack (Na₂SO₄) for 112 days. That component has been used for modeling the sulphate attack environment. Compressive strength, rate of the corrosion process, the volume of absorbed SO₄^2– ions from a water-based solution of Na₂SO₄ was defined in order to analyze the effect of sulphate attack. Scanning electron microscopic investigation, energy dispersive spectroscopy, differential thermal analyses were applied for observing morphology and properties changes of modified samples. To assess the influence of sulphate attack on mineral composite materials the approach was suggested and this method might be useful to foresee the durability of concrete while exposing it to the high corrosion environment. In addition to that, a possible method of protection for electrically conductive concrete from sulphate attack was also considered in the article.

Abstract: Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is one of the most widely used construction materials in civil engineering infrastructure construction but it is susceptible to sulfate attack. One of the ways to improve the sulfate resistance of an OPC mortar/concrete is to replace a certain amount of OPC with different pozzolanic materials such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and metakaolin. The use of pozzolanic materials to mortar/concrete not only enhances durability but also reduces carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission due to the less usage of OPC at the initial construction state. As considering these aspects, limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) has been developed in recent decades. However, the influence of LC3 on sulfate attack resistance has not been fully evaluated. Therefore, this study investigated the efficiency of LC3 mortar mixtures against sulfate attack at an early age (approximately 4.5 months) after two different curing periods, namely 1-day and 3-day curing, since the strength of the LC3 mixture is lower than OPC mixtures. To evaluate the synergistic effect of a combination of LC3 and GGBFS on the sulfate resistance, the LC3 and OPC mixtures containing 25% GGBFS were also assessed in terms of density, porosity, compressive strength, volumetric expansion, and weight changes. The experiment results show that the expansion of the LC3 mixture regardless of the addition of GGBFS and an initial curing strength made a plateau after a rapid increase up to 7 days, while the expansion of the OPC mixture kept increasing throughout the period. Furthermore, the addition of GGBFS to OPC or LC3 mixture provides the synergistic effect on reducing the expansion due to sulfate attack. Therefore, if LC3 mixture has high initial strength (min. 15 MPa) and dense microstructure to minimize the penetration of sulfate ion into the mixture, it is expected that LC3 mixture is more efficient than OPC mixture against the sulfate attack.

Abstract: Portland-limestone cement materials are susceptible to sulfate attack at low temperature and high humidity, because such conditions facilitate the formation of thaumasite, detriment to the structural integrity of calcium silicate hydrates (C─S─H). In this work, the effect of the cation associated with sulfates, concentration of sulfate solution, and limestone content in cement, were thermodynamically simulated. MgSO₄ solution is of higher risk, degrading extensively the structural integrity of C─S─H. Although this phase is partially preserved under the effect of Na₂SO₄ and K₂SO₄ solutions, extensive expansion and thaumasite formation occur. The sulfate content of the corrosive solution and the limestone content in cement are the factors mostly intensifying the attack caused by MgSO₄ and Na₂SO₄/K₂SO₄ solutions, respectively.

Abstract: Recent experimental investigations on the nanoscale of hardened cement paste revealed that the tensile strengths of the microstructural phases present amount to several hundreds of MPa. Confrontation with macroscopic tensile strength testing, by e.g. Brazilian splitting, shows a decrease over two orders of magnitude. A computational model based on a hierarchical representation of hardened cement paste microstructure is presented in this paper, attempting to shed light on the factors affecting the scaling of strength from the nanoscopic scale up to the macroscopic scale. The model is validated on a case study featuring a Portland-limestone cement paste subjected to an external sulfate attack. Such conditions compromise the nanoscopic integrity of the C-S-H gel as a consequence of the progressive decalcification and affect the overall load-bearing capacity of the macroscopic cement paste specimen.

Abstract: . This investigation aims to improving mechanical properties of normal concrete such as compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength by using integral waterproof admixture (IWP) and also decreasing absorption of concrete, using different mix proportions of concrete, study shows a good increment of compressive strength for all mixes by using integral waterproof and also increasing the flexural and tensile strengths. The study contains also a sulfate attack study on normal mixes and integral waterproof mixes. Different percentages of IWP used in the study containing 0.0%, 1% ,1.5% and 2% for each 100 kg cement. Concrete mixes with 2% IWP admixture and 1:1:1.5 mix proportions give the highest values of compressive, tensile, and flexural strength in the study. compressive strength improved from 33.6MPa for reference 1:1:1.5 mix to 39.8 MPa by using IWP, also less absorption concrete obtained, the absorption was lowered from 3.5% to 1.7%, also deterioration in strength due to sulfate attack was small compared with reference mixes, same to other mixes 1:2:4, 1:1.5:3 that also improved by IWP admixture and lead to increasing mechanical properties and reducing absorption and sulfate attack.

Abstract: To explore the effect of mechanical activation on the particle size distribution of the composite admixture a self-designed test jet mill is used. We have studied the effects of different specific surface areas of composite admixtures on the workability, mechanical properties and durability of concrete and combined X-ray diffraction (XRD) with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze the mechanism of concrete performance improvement. Results showed that, mechanical activation can significantly increase the content of particles below 3 um; appropriate increase in the specific surface area of composite admixture is conducive to improving the performance of concrete; As the specific surface area increases, the hydration activity of the composite admixture increases first and then tends to be stable; during the hydration process, more thin-plate Ca(OH)₂ is converted into needle-shaped AFt, which improves the cement-based material and thereby improving the macro mechanical properties and durability.

Abstract: The brittleness and easiness to crack expose marine concrete to serious durability issues. Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC), as a new generation of ultra high performance concrete, is expected to overcome the strain-softening properties of traditional concrete and realize function of crack-width control. In this paper, the sulfate erosion of ECC under drying-wetting cycles was modelled in laboratory test. And the compression test on cylinders after exposure to different erosion cycles was implemented to obtain the stress-strain properties. The results disclose that sulfate erosion imposes significant influence on both the nonlinear ascending and descending portions of the stress-strain properties of ECC. As the erosion period extended, ECC strength undergoes an obvious increase. And the descending section of the eroded ECC shows a significant stress drop, which is quite different from that before erosion. Additionally, a simple analytical model was proposed to provide satisfactory prediction of the stress-strain properties of ECC exposed to sulfate erosion.

Abstract: A novel multi-phase carboxylate (MPC) salt was prepared by free radical polymerization. Influence of MPC salt on properties of mortar under sulfate environment was investigated. The results from static solution soaking and wet-dry cycling tests indicated that MPC would not bring negative effects on strength and shrinkage of mortar. In particular, MPC was able to reduce the strength loss as a result of inhibiting the generation and growth of ettringite in static solution soaking test. The crystal expansion of AFt was reduced since the Ca²⁺ dissolution and SO₄^2- ingress were less. Meanwhile, the strength loss of mortar under sulfate wet-dry cycling could be reduced as well by MPC. MPC inhibited the growth of CaSO₄·2H₂O crystals by replacing the functional groups. The growth of micro-cracks in cement paste was inhibted and the the risk of crystal expansion and destruction of mortar was reduced. It was believed that MPC exhibited an excellent sulfate attack resistance for mortar.