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- 2016 (7) (entfernen)
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- Englisch (7)
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- alkali-silica-reaction (2)
- ASR (1)
- Alkali-silica-reaction (1)
- Building Materials (1)
- C-S-H (1)
- Cement paste (1)
- Compressive strength (1)
- Concrete pavements (1)
- Concrete's porosity (1)
- Cyclic traffic loading and mechanical pre-damage (1)
- Durability (1)
- Mineral additions (1)
- Portland cement (1)
- Portland cement Initial hydration (1)
- Stabilizer (1)
- Sulphate-chloride attack (1)
- Superplasticizer (1)
- Synchrotron (1)
- Thermal treatment (1)
- Tobermorite (1)
- Ultra-high performance concrete (1)
- XRD (1)
- building materials (1)
- concrete (1)
- concrete pavements (1)
- damage monitoring (1)
- durability (1)
- end-of-life phase (1)
- fatigue (1)
- masonry (1)
- sustainability (1)
In recent years the German motorway network has seen an increase in the occurrence of damage to concrete road surfaces which can be attributed to the alkali-silica reaction (ASR). In view of the often drastically reduced life expectancy of road surfaces due to ASR, research activity in this field has notably increased. Alongside preventative measures in concrete technology, the main research focus up to now has been the development of performance-oriented testing procedures for ASR prevention. This included more specifically the accelerated simulation of climatic effects and external alkali penetration on road surfaces. The effects of mechanical pre-damage resulting from cyclic traffic loading and climatic impact had previously not been taken into consideration. Since 2011, the five-partner research group 1498 sponsored by the German Research Foundation (DFG) has been pursuing research on how simultaneous cyclic loading and external alkali penetration impacts destructive ASR in road surface concretes. The depiction of the myriad degradation and transport processes necessary for an understanding of these effects requires close interaction between experiments and their multi-scale modelling. This paper aims to focus on the aforementioned experiments by means of innovative testing techniques. The research is founded on a series of cyclic fatigue tests performed on large-format beams, both with and without previous application of a sodium chloride (NaCl) solution, with simultaneous tracking of crack development. Subsequently, smaller test specimens were extracted from the pre-damaged beams for further experiments. These included the spatial visualization and quantification of fatigue-induced cracks using micro X-ray 3D-computed tomography (3D-CT). Additionally, the effects of fatigue-induced cracks on alkali transport were investigated using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Subsequent storage of the small-format test specimens, with and without cyclic pre-damage, in an ASR-conducive environment then provided initial findings on the influence of fatigue-induced predamage on the ASR.
The susceptibility of different aggregate types used in concrete to ASR is strongly associated with their petrography. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of the aggregate size on the ASR potential, in particular applied to the sand fractions in the size range of 0.125-4 mm. The investigation concept is based on the hypothesis that at a specific particle size reactive aggregates could change their characteristic influence in mitigating ASR instead of promoting it. For the study of the size dependent behaviour mortars are prepared, considering aggregates of different reactivity, including very reactive, slow-late and quasi non-reactive types. The analysis is based on a stepwise substitution concept, in which mortars with a constant overall grain size distribution are compared, while only one size fraction of the non-reactive base aggregate is substituted by a reactive aggregate type of this specific size fraction. For the expansion experiments an accelerated mortar bar test (80°C, immersed in NaOH solution) was applied. The results show that the slow-late reactive greywacke yielded a strong reduction of the expansion below an aggregate size in the range of 0.5-1 mm. On the other side with the very reactive borosilicate glass, the expansions increased steadily with decreasing size. To validate if the acquired expansions were caused by ASR, thin sections were analysed. Mainly, higher expansion values were consistent with extensively more amounts of ASR indicators.
Thermal treatment improves the excellent properties of UHPC. Recent studies have shown that an increase in compressive strength of more than 30 % is possible. However, the accurate conditions of thermal treatment for a maximal strength are considered as yet undetermined. A multitude of parameters can be varied: temperature, pressure, water saturation, and duration of the process steps. These parameters influence the phase development and in consequence the macroscopic properties of UHPC. The primary objective of the presented study was the optimisation of the conditions for thermal treatment, concerning compressive strength. It focuses on pre-storage time and duration of the treatment at defined temperatures and pressures (90 °C and 185 °C/1.1MPa).
As expected, experimental results showed a fundamental change of phase composition in hydrothermally treated UHPC in comparison to standard cured UHPC: Ettringite decomposes at higher temperatures and is absent after thermal treatment; the amount of portlandite and clinker phases decreases. The change of phase composition is accompanied by increased compressive strength.
Experimental studies of calcium-silicate-systems at hydrothermal conditions predict the formation of the crystalline C-S-H phase tobermorite. In fact, this is a typical phase occurring in other hydrothermally treated calcium-silicate-systems like Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC). Commonly, high strength is attributed to the presence of tobermorite; however, in the presented study tobermorite was not detected in the hydrothermally treated UHPC. Therefore, tobermorite cannot be responsible for the increased strength of hydrothermally treated UHPC.
In conclusion the development of phases and strength of UHPC at hydrothermal conditions differs fundamentally from AAC and the experimental studies with water saturation. Results of these systems cannot be transferred to UHPC. In thermally treated UHPC, the hydration of clinker is enhanced and the puzzolanic reaction is intensified. Hence, more C-S-H is formed that fills pores and cracks, leading to a denser structure and finally to higher strength.
In Germany, a quantity of more than 10 million metric tons of masonry rubble is generated per year. With regard to a sustainable closed substance cycle waste management, these rest masses have to be recovered if possible. The end-of-life (EOL) phase of masonry includes the planning steps of demolition, processing and application. The choice of the most sustainable solution raises questions regarding material technology, plant engineering, economic efficiency and ecological issues. For this purpose, a methodological concept for a holistic assessment of the EOL phase of masonry is developed within the scope of a doctoral thesis. For the assessment the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) is adapted. The assessment concept enables a holistic comparison of different EOL scenarios for masonry while integrating all planning steps. It combines Material Flow Analysis (MFA), Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Life Cycle Working Environment (LCWE), economic evaluation methods and material testing. In future, various scenarios can be evaluated with regard to the goals of the European and German waste management industry.
A significant number of German concrete motorway pavements have shown damage only a few years after construction. The alkali-silica-reaction (ASR) is often one of the reasons for this damage. German guidelines and regulations focus on the optimisation of the concrete composition to avoid damage due to ASR. Moreover, diverse research projects have dealt with the development and optimisation of ASR performance test methods with and without external alkali supply. However, the influence of other parameters on the occurrence and intensity of a damaging ASR had not yet been taken into account. Such parameters include, e.g., insufficient curing and the modifications of concrete’s porosity due to the use of slip form pavers. Likewise, the increased traffic loading had not yet been considered. The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) assesses these parameters and processes in a number of projects. These projects aim primarily to increase the durability of the concrete pavements, in particular by improving preventive measures that may be taken before or after the construction of concrete pavements. This paper gives a short overview of BAM’s projects concerning ASR in concrete pavements. Furthermore, results regarding the influence of the cyclic traffic loading on ASR are presented.
Time-resolved in situ investigation of Portland cement hydration influenced by chemical admixtures
(2016)
Numerous admixtures are used in the building practice to customize the properties of the cement paste during application. The influences of admixtures on the course of cement hydration and formation of hydrate phases have to be considered. Polycarboxylate ether (PCE) based polymeric superplasticizers (SPs) are known to retard the setting of the cement paste. The extent of the retardation differs depending on the molecular structure of the SP. Additionally, the presence of a stabilizing agent (SA) in the cement paste has a retarding side effect on the setting. The initial cement hydration processes and the detailed mechanisms of the retardation influenced by PCEs, as well as their interactions with particular SAs, are insufficiently understood. Up to now, only the results of phenomenological studies were taken into account to describe this retardation process. A detailed structure analysis monitoring the change of the phase composition during the hydration was never applied. Both SP and SA affect the adsorption of the sulphate ions on the clinker particles, causing changes in the formation of ettringite during the initial hydration, and are therefore a crucial part of the setting process itself. Here, the initial hydration of cement influenced by the interaction of SP and SA was monitored in situ by synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The high time resolution of the measurements allowed a continuous detection of the hydrates formed. The hydration was followed from the starting point of water addition and for couple of hours afterwards. The hydration of the levitated cement pellets containing starch as SA was initialized by adding aqueous solutions of different commercial SPs. Changes in the ettringite formation were detected in comparison to the reference hydration of pure cement.
The exact mechanisms of the phase transitions caused by a combined sulphate-chloride attack are discussed controversially. The main points concern the mutual influences of sulphate and chloride ions during the secondary binding processes of these anions within cement hydrate phases. We simulated combined sulphate-chloride attack under laboratory conditions using solutions containing NaCl and Na2SO4 in different concentrations. Three sample compositions were used for the preparation of the specimens. In two of them, 30% of Portland cement was replaced by supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash, slag). The phase distribution in the samples was determined using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The analysis with high spatial resolution allows the localisation of the secondary phase formation in the microstructural profile of the sample. A mechanism of the phase developments under combined sulphate-chloride attack is derived.