The Effect of Substituting Metakaolin for Sand on the Thermomechanical Behaviour of Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC)

Abstract:

The weakening of the behavior of reactive powder concrete (RPC) under high temperature is a major drawback; therefore, it is necessary to find an ingredient that improves their resistance under rising temperatures. The present work involves the use of metakaolin as a substitute for sand in a reactive powder concrete (RPC) in order to assess its effect on the mechanical strength at high temperatures. The test specimens are preheated up to 100°, 300°, 500°, 700° and 900°C, respectively following a well-defined cycle, thereafter subjected to a three-point bending followed by compression tests. Samples of the tested specimens were used for thermal, mineralogical and microstructural analyses using the thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG / DTA), the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the scanning electron microscopic Analysis (SEM).The heating tests revealed that all the specimens exploded before reaching 500°C. However, they can withstand 300°C before exploding for different exposure durations depending on the metakaolin substitution ratio. Therefore, the mechanical tests were applied only on unheated specimens and those heated up to 100°C. The results showed that the use of metakaolin improves the mechanical strength of the RPC, both at room temperature (25°C±1°C) and at 100°C. This result is confirmed by the microstructure analysis, which revealed the absence of portlandite. The latter did react with the metakaolin silica to form new calcium silicate hydrates (CSH) enhancing the mechanical strength.

• Periodical: International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa (Volume 41)
• Pages: 115-130
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/JERA.41.115
• Online since: February 2019
• Authors: Nawal Siham Adamou Doumi, Hadjila Bournine Amrane*, Ali Ahmed Benyahia
• Keywords: Heating, Metakaolin (MK), Microstructure Analysis, RPC

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