ABSTRACT
This study presents the development and experimental assessment of novel, high strength, cementless binders that incorporate alkali-activated local waste. A silica-rich diabase mud (DM), currently considered as waste, was previously investigated for geopolymerization, signifying that the DM lacked the necessary reactivity to provide a stable geopolymer binder alone. Moreover, even after incorporation of small amounts of cement and metakaolin, the DM mixtures still did not yield adequate mechanical properties. In this study, the local DM was instead combined with another industrial byproduct known as Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) in varying mixtures. The mixture design trials enabled the development of three high strength cementless geopolymer mixtures with 28-day compressive strengths ranging between 60 and 100 MPa, comparable to conventional concrete compressive strengths. The results indicate that the innovative geopolymer material is very promising for the manufacturing of pavement tiles and other precast construction products. Most importantly, this study presents the first successful development of a construction material of adequate compressive strength that can absorb large quantities of the abundant quarry waste, following a course of 10 years of unsuccessful attempts to valorize the local DM. Although difficulties were encountered due to a high reactivity rate, especially for the mix that included the highest GGBS content, prototype pavement tiles were manufactured and assessed experimentally. The results reveal a promising potential of valorizing the local DM in the development of precast geopolymer products, despite the effects of shrinkage cracking on the experimental evaluation of the material mechanical properties.
ABSTRACT
Diabase mud (DM) is a silica-rich residue yielding from aggregate crushing and washing operations in quarries. This work focuses on identifying the geopolymerization potential of a diabase mud through characterization of its mineralogical composition, investigation of its reactivity, and assessment of the early compressive strengths of alkali activated mixtures formulated based on the mud's dissolution results. The findings suggest that considerably low amounts of Al and Si metals were dissolved following the dissolution tests conducted on DM, however, the incorporation of small quantities of CEM I, gypsum, and metakaolin (MK) moderately at a Na2SiO3:NaOH ratio of 50:50 and with a molarity of NaOH of 4 M enhanced the geopolymerization compared to low L/S ratio mixtures cured at different conditions. When M was increasing, the high L/S ratio mixtures exhibited fluctuations in strengths, especially beyond a 10 M NaOH molarity. Maximum strengths of mixtures at equivalent molarity of 10 were achieved when the Na2SiO3:NaOH ratio reached 30:70, regardless of the ambient conditions and the presence of CEM I. The curing conditions, the ratio of Na2SO3:NaOH, and the presence of CEM I in the DM-based mixtures did not appear to significantly affect the mixture when NaOH concentration was between 2 M and 4 M; at higher molarities, however, these enhanced the strengths of the geopolymerized DM.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this research was to study the effect of an optimal mechanical treatment method to reduce the mortar adhered on recycled aggregates (RCA) on the long-term mechanical properties and durability of concretes containing RCA at different replacement levels. It was found that concretes incorporating treated RCA exhibited sharper and more significant increase on 90- and 365-day compressive strengths than any other investigated mixture. The same mixtures also benefitted from a 'shrinkage-controlling' effect, where strains and mass losses were reduced by almost 15% and 10%, respectively, compared to the reference concrete. While sulfate resistance and carbonation resistance are predominantly defined by the hydration products available within the cement paste and not to a large extent by the aggregate type and quality, the incorporation of either treated or untreated RCA in concrete did not appear to expose RACs to significant durability threats.
ABSTRACT
Recycle concrete aggregates (RCA) consist of natural aggregates and remnant mortar adhered to their surface. The amount, size, and morphology of the adherent remainder paste influences quality aspects of RCA, such as their bonding potential with new cement matrix in an RCA-based concrete, as well as the concrete's overall rheological and performance characteristics. The objective of this research was to study the effect of reducing the adhered mortar in RCA, by means of a mechanical treatment method, on the performance of concrete containing RCA at different percentages. The treatment process was conducted within a concrete mixer truck drum at specific time intervals, the effect of which was determined by means of image analysis, mass loss recordings, and circularity determinations. The effect of size of treated and field RCA, as well as replacement percentages on mechanical performance and durability of high and normal strength concrete mixes, were also investigated. It was concluded that the optimal treatment duration where no further significant removal of adhered paste occurred thereon was 3 h, and concrete mixes containing 3 h treated RCA exhibited comparable performance characteristics to those of the reference concrete mix.
