Key Engineering Materials Vols. 302-303

Abstract: The slag-alkali is used to activate the activity of higher calsium fly ash. By the designs of the mixture ratio and the quadratic regression orthogonal design, the best combination is sought out. Several mixture factors which affect the rule of the concrete material properties and long term performance are researched. The mathematic models which are set up by the mixture ratio design with the quadralic regression orthogonal design can be effective. The precision is high. The strength of the concrete of slag-alkali fly ash was still increasing after 8 year. The dispersion degree of those specimens is small. The SEM photo of cracked specimen and early concrete specimen shows the surface of fly ash in 7 days concrete is slick and that in 8 years old specimen has been enwrapped tightly by much hydrate plant.

Abstract: This paper investigated a new type of admixture which can be used to enhance the resistance of concrete surface to deicing salt deteriorating. Physical and mechanical properties of concrete incorporating this salt-scaling resistant admixture were measured. Practical application on site has proved that this admixture is effective for concrete to resist salt-scaling action.

Abstract: The mechanism of using mineral admixtures in concrete for suppressing alkali-silica reaction has been studied through analyzing pore solution and observing the surface of aggregates in mortar bars with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that when mineral admixtures are used in the concrete, not only the alkali concentration in the pore solution can be reduced, but also the diffusion of alkali ions from the outside of concrete to the inside can be prevented, and the diffusion of alkali ions from the pore solution to the surface of the aggregates can also be prevented. Thus the attack of alkalis to aggregates is reduced, and the alkali-silica reaction is suppressed.

Abstract: This paper presents a preliminary investigation on dry shrinkage, frost resistance and permeability of rubber included concrete. The results show that rubber particles from waste tires are beneficial to reduction of dry shrinkage of cement mortars due to their soft characteristics. The addition of rubber powder in cement concrete can greatly improve frost resistance of concrete. However, coarse rubber particles (3~4 mm in diameter) seem to have little positive effect to frost resistance. The addition of proper amount of rubber in concrete can reduce permeability of concrete, but excessive rubber can have negative effect.

Abstract: Frost resistance of plain concrete and air-entrained concrete subjected to freeze-thaw cycles in fresh water and 5 % and 7 % sodium sulfate solution are investigated in this paper. The test results show that the frost resistance of concrete is different in the different medium. The properties of concrete frozen in 5 % and 7 % sodium solution are different from that in fresh water, and entraining air into concrete properly can increase the frost resistance significantly whether in fresh water or in sulfate solution. Higher strength concrete could resist the degradation of freezing and thawing cycles in water, but some of them failed suddenly in midspan of specimens under the sulfate solution.

Abstract: In-situ inspection and lab study were combined to analyze the prestressed concrete girders of an existing railway bridge built in 1976 in North China. The reactive components in aggregates and the alkali content of concrete were investigated. Typical reaction product was found in site and was analyzed in lab. Residual expansion of concrete cores drilled from some girders was measured. From test results, it can be deducted that alkali silica reaction had affected the concrete girders and would continue to cause expansion in the future.

Abstract: This paper presents a review on the effect of fire on concrete, citing 43 references. It was found that most of them are on the behavior of concrete under high temperature conditions more or less different from the standard fire condition. The problem of spalling, which high-strength concrete encounters when exposed to fire, is especially urgent to solve. Since the literature on the behavior of concrete under fire conditions is very limited, the literature even under elevated temperature has to be used as a part of the base of further research. The further research needs urgently to be carried out under the standard fire condition. Residual mechanical properties reported in most previous literature might be overestimated, where natural cooling was usually employed. Proper evaluation of fire resistance of concrete needs more experimental data obtained under various cooling regimes such as water spraying or water quenching.

Abstract: As high strength concrete (HSC) is widely used in construction, more and more attention has been paid to crack resistance of it. In order to improve crack resistance of HSC, we study the influence of mineral admixtures (ground slag, silica fume and fly ash) on brittleness and characteristic length as crack resistance’ indexes. Testing researches shows, without admixture, crack resistance of HSC is the lowest; when one of the three mineral admixtures added, crack resistance increases dramatically; when two of the three mineral admixtures are added in the concrete, crack resistance increases a little more and it does not change very much no matter which two are mixed; crack resistance comes out the highest when the three mineral admixtures are added in concrete. Mechanism analysis shows, Adding fine and high active ground slag, silica fume and fly ash into concrete can greatly improve microstructure of transition zone, decrease Ca(OH)2, ettringite and porosity in concrete, increase C-S-H gel and greatly reduce the original micro-cracks in the transition zone.