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Todays superplasticizers for self-compacting concrete and high Performance cementitious materials are very versatile. Typically superplasticizers are composed of a polycarboxylic backbone equipped with polyethylene oxide graft chains of variable length and grafting degree. The mode of operation of these admixtures is based on the steric repulsion of the particles upon adsorption. The adsorption is strongly depending upon the charge density of a superplasticizer and the time dependent Adsorption processes control the retention of the flow performance – an important issue particularly for ready-mix and construction site concrete. However, the properties of polycarboxylic superplasticizers typically remain a black box for users. The paper suggests a simple and rapid test method, which can be conducted without sophisticated equipment, to qualitatively distinguish between two types of superplasticizers based on the adsorption mechanism. Interpreting the results in the right way provides a powerful tool to choose the right admixture for individual time dependent flow specifications.
The existing cement and concrete standards are not capable of making full use of the current technology capacity due to strong focus on conventional concrete and thus they are not fit for the current and future challenges of construction industry. The paper highlights shortcomings with regard to the implementation of the existing standards. It can be seen that future-oriented standards are generally required to contribute to a lower-carbon footprint of the industry. These changes are significantly more relevant in sub-Saharan Africa, due to the rapidly increasing urbanisation challenge and the enormous potentials to develop lower-carbon technologies than elsewhere in the world.
Organic/inorganic mixtures were prepared from ordinary Portland cement (OPC), water (w/c 0.22), a fluorescent dye in aqueous solution (stable at alkaline pH; BAM-I), and two different comb shape polycarboxylates (PCEs), i.e., high charge (PCE-HC) and low charge (PCE-LC), respectively. Rheological and calorimetric measurements were performed prior to optical studies in order to select PCE concentrations. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of the system OPC + BAM-I (CBAM-I) revealed maxima of dye BAM-I located at 645 nm and 663 nm, respectively. In presence of PCE-HC and PCE-LC, these mixtures displayed a small red shift in reflectance and a faster decrease in intensity compared to studies with CBAM-I; however, only slight differences were observed between the different PCEs. With time, all systems exhibited a decrease in intensity of BAM-I in absorption/reflectance and emission. This could be caused by dye adsorption and possibly decomposition when in contact with cement particles or hydration products.
Organic/inorganic mixtures were prepared from ordinary Portland cement (OPC), water (w/c 0.22), a fluorescent dye in aqueous solution (stable at alkaline pH; BAM-I), and two different comb shape polycarboxylates (PCEs), i.e., high charge (PCE-HC) and low charge (PCE-LC), respectively. Rheological and calorimetric measurements were performed prior to optical studies in order to select PCE concentrations. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of the system OPC + BAM-I (CBAM-I) revealed maxima of dye BAM-I located at 645 nm and 663 nm, respectively. In presence of PCE-HC and PCE-LC, these mixtures displayed a small red shift in reflectance and a faster decrease in intensity compared to studies with CBAM-I; however, only slight differences were observed between the different PCEs. With time, all systems exhibited a decrease in intensity of BAM-I in absorption/reflectance and emission. This could be caused by dye adsorption and possibly decomposition when in contact with cement particles or hydration products.
Rwanda is a landlocked country in the East Africa. It is surrounded by Uganda, Tanzania, Congo and Burundi. Rwanda is a fast developing country and it spends most of its revenues to import fossil fuels from either through Mombasa Port in Kenya or Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania because the energy production in Rwanda is not sufficient for its development.
Transporting the fuels from these ports, add on to the cost of all materials, cement industry being no exception. There are three cement companies in Rwanda. The cement industries could not run in full production due to the shortage of fuel. Moreover, Rwanda is importing all the construction materials such as steel, roofing materials, etc from its neighbouring countries. This increases the cost of construction and the common man find difficult to own a house. In order to sustain the energy needs of Rwanda, different sources of energies should be focused. They are Peat, Geothermal, Methane gas, solar, wind, waste materials and Municipal wastes. Without affecting the environment, there is an urgent need to find a solution on sustainable energy in Rwanda. This paper discusses about the possible sources of energy in Rwanda which will improve the energy sustainability and turn the economy of Rwanda.
South Africa and recently Nigeria are the only net exporter of cement in Africa, yet cements are imported into the country mainly on the basis of price competitiveness. This poses potential for scatter in the properties of the cements in the South African market as pricing seems to be the only determining factor that affects Portland cements imported. A survey of cements of grade 42.5N in the South African cement market was carried out to identify major players in the industry. The identified cements, which included four locally produced and one imported cement were then analysed for both chemical composition and physical properties in line with the Eurocode EN 196. Tests carried out include loss on ignition, chloride content, sulphate content, specific surface (Blaine), standard consistence, initial setting time, final setting time, soundness and flexural and compressive strength at 2, 7 and 28 days. The testing program was initiated as part of on-going Africa-wide cement testing competency program in partnership with BAM and PTB in Germany. The performance of the identified cements from the different local manufacturers and the imported cement were analysed and are presented in this paper. These results reveal some similarities and differences in the properties. Particularly of interest is the marked difference in the 28 days compressive strength of the cements. This paper shows that there is need for further tests across the cement industry as some of the cements failed to meet certain requirement as set by EN 196. The paper also recommends the use of proficiency testing schemes in the cement industry of the country to ensure the cement laboratories are providing results of high quality and at the same time act as a check to make sure these laboratories are not failing to meet standard requirements.
In many regions of the world the urbanisation process is accelerating dramatically. This puts pressure on urban planners but also politics to develop strategies for sustainable city growth. With the rapidly increasing demand for living space in urban areas, cities typically grow vertically. This is largely driven by real estate markets and sometimes also by the desire for status symbols.
Certainly, vertical urban growth makes sense, when horizontal growth destroys important flora and Fauna (e.g. in rain forest regions), but in many cases vertical growth is result of real-estate business and Expansion limitation due to state or country borders. However, economics and borders are made by humans. They follow human-made rules. Gravity does not. Therefore, from a point of view of sustainable materials and resourceuse, the trending vertical growth of cities may come under scrutiny.
The following aspects should be considered, when a decision is taken between a new quarter with limited number of storeys or a new skyscraper.
This paper presents the analysis of crack propagation in strain-hardening cement-based composite (SHCC) under tensile and flexural load by using acoustic emission (AE). AE is a non-destructive technique to monitor the development of structural damage due to external forces. The main objective of this research was to characterise the cracking behaviour in SHCC in direct tensile and flexural tests by using AE. A better understanding of the development of microcracks in SHCC will lead to a better understanding of pseudo strain-hardening behaviour of SHCC and its general performance. ARAMIS optical deformation analysis was also used in direct tensile tests to observe crack propagation in SHCC materials. For the direct tensile tests, SHCC specimens were prepared with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibre with three different volume percentages (1%, 1.85% and 2.5%). For the flexural test beam specimens, only a fibre dosage of 1.85% was applied. It was found that the application of AE in SHCC can be a good option to analyse the crack growth in the specimens under increasing load, the location of the cracks and most importantly the identification of matrix cracking and fibre rupture or slippage.
The economic use of chemical admixtures depends on supply chains. Therefore, in most regions ins sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the use of admixtures is not common practice. This amplifies the unfavorable framework for concrete construction such as fragmentary supply chains, high local cement prices, and unfavorable construction site facilities in this region significantly. The use of superplasticizer (SP) and stabilizing agents (STA) can enhance the concrete technology in SSA, since they can disassociate the concrete quality from external boundary influences. After providing a general overview of the peculiarities of the SSA boundary framework, economic concepts are provided, how existing material solutions can be significantly improved by the use of SPs and STAs based on locally available materials such as lignosulphonates and cassava starch. Finally a three step optimization process is described that helps developing flowable concrete based on materials that can be accessed in most locations in SSA.
Pipelines and industrial piping systems are particularly relevant regarding technical safety, availability and maintenance. Large flow rates of hazardous substances imply that even smallest leakages can lead to high environmental impacts. Therefore, and to ensure the availability of infrastructure, an early detection and localization of potentially hazardous degradations to the walls (e.g. cracks, pittings, sedimentation, etc.) of the containments is necessary. However, in many cases it is not feasible to equip pipelines with a large number of point sensors at reasonable expense.
The principle of distributed fibre optic sensing relies on one single optical fibre, which simultaneously acts as a spatially continuous sensor as well as the signal transducer. Therefore, extensive structures can be provided with this type of sensor with comparatively low efforts.
As a consequence, monitoring oil and gas pipelines using distributed fibre optic sensors is on the upswing. Besides the established methods to measure temperature and strain, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has lately received considerable attention as a means to detect and localize third party threats to pipelines (approach of vehicles, digging, mechanical manipulation).
The so far not utilized potential of DAS as a means for continuous condition monitoring of pipes by detecting and localizing acoustic signals that point to certain damage scenarios, is currently under investigation in an interdisciplinary research project at BAM (AGIFAMOR, Ageing Infrastructures – Fibre Optic Monitoring of Pipes).
In order to qualify distributed acoustic fibre optic sensors for this application area, we especially focus on detecting and identifying the relevant acoustic emissions of interesting degradations as well as on the optimal way of application of the optical fibres to the specimen to achieve an optimal signal transmission of acoustic signals.
Schäden an Rohrleitungen können zu hohen Umweltbelastungen und wirtschaftlichen Schäden führen. Um die dauerhafte Verfügbarkeit der Infrastruktur zu gewährleisten, wird im Rahmen des Projekts AGIFAMOR an der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) erprobt, inwiefern das Verfahren der verteilten akustischen faseroptischen Sensorik (Distributed acoustic sensing - DAS) zur kontinuierlichen Überwachung von Rohrleitungen verwendet werden kann. Neben der DAS werden erprobte Verfahren der zerstörungsfreien
Prüfung wie Schallemissionsanalyse (SEA) und Beschleunigungssensoren eingesetzt. An dieser Stelle soll detailliert auf die unterschiedlichen Messverfahren und deren spezifischen Einsatz im Rahmen des Projektes eingegangen werden.
In der Prozessindustrie werden häufig gefährliche Stoffe eingesetzt, so dass auch kleinste Leckagen der medienführenden Anlagenteile zu Gefährdungen der Arbeitnehmer sowie zur Belastung der Umwelt führen können. Für die Gewährleistung einer dauerhaften Verfügbarkeit der Infrastruktur ist die frühzeitige Erkennung und Ortung von potentiell gefährlichen Veränderungen an den Wandungen von Rohrleitungen und Behältern (in Form von Rissen, Pittings und Ablagerungen) erforderlich. Am Beispiel von Rohrleitungen, sollen im Rahmen des Projekts AGIFAMOR an der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), im Sinne einer Machbarkeitsstudie die Verfahren der verteilten akustischen und faseroptischen Sensorik zur kontinuierlichen Überwachung und Detektion potentiell gefährlicher Veränderungen in Industrieanlagen erprobt und qualifiziert werden. Dabei sollen die Applikation der optischen Sensorfasern hinsichtlich der Signalübertragung auf den Sensor optimiert und die Erkennung der für dieses Anwendungsgebiet relevanten Schallsignaturen entwickelt werden. Mithilfe eines solchen Messsystems können mit geringem Aufwand ausgedehnte Strukturen, auch unter erschwerten Bedingungen (z.B. hohe Temperatur, Einfluss von Chemikalien) kontinuierlich überwacht werden.
Schäden an Rohrleitungen können zu hohen Umweltbelastungen und wirtschaftlichen Schäden führen. Um die dauerhafte Verfügbarkeit der Infrastruktur zu gewährleisten, wird im Rahmen des Projekts AGIFAMOR an der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) erprobt, inwiefern das Verfahren der verteilten akustischen faseroptischen Sensorik (Distributed acoustic sensing – DAS) zur kontinuierlichen Überwachung von Rohrleitungen eingesetzt werden kann. Neben der DAS werden erprobte Verfahren der zerstörungsfreien Prüfung wie Schallemissionsanalyse (SEA) und Beschleunigungssensoren eingesetzt. An dieser Stelle soll detailliert auf die Hauptschadensursachen an Rohrleitungen, den Versuchsstand zur mechanischen Belastung von Rohren sowie die Möglichkeiten zu Untersuchungen im Realmaßstab eingegangen werden.
Hochduktiler Beton eröffnet neue Möglichkeiten bei der Instandsetzung von Bauwerken, der Herstellung dünnwandiger Bauelemente oder dem Einsatz von Dämpfungselementen in stoßartig beanspruchten Bauwerken (z.B. in Erdbebengebieten).
Die Steigerung der Duktilität kann durch die Zugabe von Kurzfasern erreicht werden. Im Falle einer Rissbildung in der Zementsteinmatrix überbrücken die Fasern den Riss, nehmen die Spannung vollständig auf und stoppen lokal das Risswachstum. Bei weiterer Steigerung der Last reißt die Matrix an anderer Stelle. Auf diese Weise wird die Rissbildung fein verteilt und es werden große Dehnungen erreicht, bevor das Bauteil versagt. Zur Optimierung der Festbetoneigenschaften müssen die Matrixfestigkeit und die Faserart sowie deren Gehalt aufeinander abgestimmt werden. Dabei sind auch die Verarbeitungseigenschaften des Frischbetons zu berücksichtigen.
Anhand der Schallemissionen kann die Rissbildung in der Matrix und die Interaktion mit den Fasern analysiert werden. So konnte in ersten Zugversuchen gezeigt werden, dass sich Schallereignisse dem Versagen der Zementsteinmatrix bzw. dem Auszug der Fasern aus der Matrix zuordnen lassen. Damit steht zur Beurteilung des mechanischen Verhaltens von hochduktilem Beton neben der Spannungs-Dehnungs-Linie ein weiteres Verfahren zur Verfügung.
Control chart systems are used in quality management systems to keep production processes stable. In concrete production they are often applied for the control of the compressive strength. The most efficient control chart systems are cumulated sums (cusum), which help to observe deviations from a targeted value. Unlike alternative observation chart systems that focus on process data evaluation, cusum observations react very rapidly on systematic process changes in processes. Therefore, the cusum method is particularly suitable if immediate counteractions have to be taken, like in the case of fresh concrete properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC), which can have severe influences on the durability and mechanical strength of concrete. The rheology of SCC can be affected by an enormous variety of influencing factors, from raw material properties to handling or environmental temperature. The present study shows that regardless of the material based influencing parameter for a rheology change, a steady slump flow can be achieved only by adding supplementary superplasticizer in case of loss of flow and adding stabilising agent (ST) in case of increased flow if the respective V-mask indicates a systematic change. A reference SCC was artificially manipulated in order to achieve realistic experimental data for flowability and flowability changes due to changes in the raw material properties. The results point out that productions with applied cusum methods were capable of keeping the target slump flow deviation within approximately 1% only, while productions without applied cusum method deviated up to 14% and more from the target.
In the last years flowable concrete has become increasingly important in applications such as, for systems with highly reinforced concrete with a complicated formwork, or sprayed concrete and 3D-printing of concrete. For all these applications it is necessary to have tailored rheological properties. Rheology can be described by values of yield stress and plastic viscosity, which can be determined for example by evaluation of rheometer measurements. But for different materials various rheometers with different geometries and stirrers are being used. To see the effects from paste in concrete, it is necessary to investigate mixes of paste, mortar and concrete, stepwise. But currently there exists no device, which is calibrated for these different systems at once. Due to this fact, conventional tests such as V-funnel efflux-time and flow diameter were determined, as well as rheometer data in different cell sizes and geometries.
In this study the assessment of rheological effects in the binder on the rheology of mortar and concrete was investigated by using combination of two rheometers.
Rohrleitungssysteme sind aufgrund ihrer Funktion und Ausdehnung für den Betrieb, die Verfügbarkeit und die Sicherheit von Industrieanlagen von besonderer Bedeutung. Die bisher in definierten Intervallen durchgeführten, wiederkehrenden Prüfungen zur Sicherstellung leckagefreier Rohrleitungen sind kostenintensiv und mit einem erhöhten Aufwand verbunden.
Mit dem interdisziplinären Forschungsprojekt AGIFAMOR (Ageing Infrastructures – Akustisches Monitoring von Rohrleitungen) arbeitet die BAM an der Entwicklung und Erprobung einer örtlich und zeitlich kontinuierlichen Zustandsüberwachung von Rohrleitungen basierend auf einem faseroptischen akustischen Messsystem, welches einen vergleichsweise geringen Installationsaufwand der Sensoren erfordert. Mit diesem Verfahren sollen vor allem betriebsbedingte Schädigungen infolge von Korrosion sowie daraus entstehende Pittings oder Risse erkannt und damit Leckagen verhindert werden.
Im Rahmen einer Machbarkeitsstudie zum Teilaspekt „Detektion von Risswachstum“ wurde ein 2,5 m langes, definiert vorgekerbtes Stahlrohr mit der faseroptischen Sensorik (FOS) ausgestattet und quasistatisch unter 4-Punkt-Biegung belastet. Mit fortschreitender Belastung wächst, ausgehend vom vorhandenen Außenumfangskerb, ein Riss im Stahlrohr bis zum Erreichen der Leckage – in der Praxis ein gefährliches Schadensszenario.
Parallel zur FOS erfolgten Messungen mit Schallemissionssensoren, Beschleunigungssensoren und Potentialsonden, deren Ergebnisse die Interpretation der FOS-Messergebnisse unterstützen sollen.
Baupraxis und Infrastrukturentwicklung im Hinblick auf die Betonindustrie in Ost- und Südafrika
(2011)
Der Bausektor stellt in Afrika traditionell eine der stabileren Quellen für den Arbeitsmarkt dar. Durch ständige Wechsel in der Politik wurden jedoch in zahlreichen Ländern Einschnitte bei den öffentlichen Investitionen sowie ein Rückgang der Beschäftigtenzahlen im Privatsektor beobachtet. Darüber hinaus konnte eine Verlagerung von offiziell tätigen und registrierten hin zu nicht registrierten Bauunternehmen festgestellt werden. Zahlreiche Bauunternehmen bieten Dienstleistungen an, die sie nicht ständig ausführen oder für die sie sich das erforderliche Gerät leihen müssen. Einer im Jahre 2000 hinsichtlich der Situation in Tansania veröffentlichten Studie zufolge verfügen nur etwa 15 % der Unternehmen, die Betonbauarbeiten anbieten, über einen eigenen Betonmischer. Die auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent angewandten Baupraktiken im Betonbau weichen erheblich voneinander ab. Während Südafrika über eine fortgeschrittene Technologie und eine hoch entwickelte Infrastruktur im Hinblick auf die Zement- und Betonindustrie verfügt, sind Zement und Beton in den ostafrikanischen Ländern, insbesondere in jenen, die in den 90er Jahren des vergangenen Jahrhunderts von schweren Bürgerkriegen erschüttert wurden, kaum verfügbar und zählen keinesfalls zu den in der täglichen Baupraxis verwendeten Baustoffen. Hier wird auf einheimische Baumethoden, bei denen vorwiegend Holz verwendet wird, zurückgegriffen. Dieses wird durch Abholzung gewonnen, was schließlich zur Rodung ganzer Waldgebiete führt. Die ohne entsprechende Planung, Genehmigung und Erschließung errichteten Siedlungen in Südafrika und Kenia veranschaulichen erschreckend, wie einstmals von grüner Vegetation bedeckte Landstriche in künstliche, wüstenartige Landschaften verwandelt wurden.
Die Versiegelung von Oberflächen, Bebauung und die Ausweitung städtischer Gebiete führen weltweit besonders in sonnenreichen Regionen zu innerstädtischen Hitzeinseln. Diese Flächen wirken als Wärmespeicher, so dass an Sonnentagen eine Temperaturdifferenz bis zu 10 K zwischen Stadt und umliegendem Land entstehen kann. Verstärkt wird dieser sogenannte Urban Heat Island Effect (UHIE) durch die meist direkte Abführung des anfallenden Regenwassers in die Kanalisation, wodurch eine Kühlung durch stetige Verdunstung unterbunden ist, Mit steigender Urbanisierung wächst auch die Bedeutung dieses Phänomens. Innerstädtische Hitzeinseln ziehen direkte wirtschaftliche und soziale Folgen nach sich, da hohe Temperaturen eine teure Klimatisierung der Städte bedingen. So entsteht ein erhöhter Verbrauch an Ressourcen sowie zusätzliche Abwärme. Das Wohlbefinden und die Gesundheit der Bevölkerung verschlechtern sich bei sehr hohen Temperaturen, was zu sinkender Leistungsfähigkeit und sogar zu einer erhöhten Sterberate führen kann.
Today, in scientific events often a certain separation between researchers from laboratories with highly sophisticated equipment and those from less privileged laboratories can be observed. It is not an uncommon situation that results presented at conferences are rubbished or ridiculed because the investigator only used low-end analytical methods.
The assessment of the study is then biased based on the equipment, regardless of the actual quality of the study.
After a brief introduction into past and modern concrete, the relevance of sustainable concrete technologies is emphasised from a global perspective. In order to minimise the environmental impact of cement and concrete in the world, solutions for alternative binder materials as well as rheology and performance modifying additives are presented based on local bio-based resources.
However, the perception of bio-based constituents is typically rather negative in construction materials and its application is often limited to low-end construction. In order to show that this is not inevitable, the lecture ends with a number of case studies for the use of bio-based materials for high performance concrete applications.
Polymers that help tailoring rheological properties during the casting process have become inevitable constituents for all kinds of high-performance concrete technologies. Due to lacking industries, these typically crude-oil based admixtures are not readily available in many parts of the world, which limits the implementation of more sustainable high-performance construction technologies in these regions. Alternative polymers, which often demand for less processing, can be derived from local plant-based resources. The paper provides experimental data of flow tests of cement pastes with polysaccharides from Triumfetta pendrata A. Rich, acacia gum and cassava without and in the presence of polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer. The flow tests are amended by observations of the zeta potentials and the hydrodynamic diameters in the presence of and without calcium ions in the dispersion medium. The results show that in the presence of and without calcium ions all polysaccharides provide negative zeta potentials, yet, they affect flowability and thixotropy in different ways. Cassava starch, acacia gum, and the gum of Triumfetta pendrata A. Rich qualified well for robustness improvement, strong stiffening, and additive manufacturing, respectively. The reason for the different effects can be found in their average sizes and size distribution. Due to the promising results, a flow chart for local value chains is derived on the example of yet unused cassava wastes, which can be converted in parallel.
The construction sector has traditionally been a source of employment in African regions. However, due to policy changes, cut backs in public investments as well as a fall in the number of employments in the private sector have been observed in many countries. Furthermore a shift from registered companies to informal contractors could be noticed. Many contractors offer services they do not provide permanently or for which the required equipment has to be borrowed. A study that was published in 2000 about the situation in Tanzania pointed out that only ca. 15% of the enterprises that offer concrete works own a concrete mixer. The building practice with concrete varies widely over the African continent. Whereas the level of technology and the infrastructure for cement and concrete in South Africa is elaborate, in East Africa and particularly those that were heavily suffering from civil war during the nineties of the last century, the availability of cement and concrete is poor and these materials are far from being everyday building practice. Most of the population relies on indigenous forms of construction requiring wood obtained from felling of forest trees and ultimately contributing to de-forestation. Informal settlements in South-Africa and Kenya are literal evidence where originally green natural vegetation has been turned into artificial desert-like landscapes.
Since its invention in the early 1990’s, self-consolidating concrete has never become well established in the ready-mix sectors worldwide. The reason for this can be mainly found in the fact that the sophisticated compositions are sensitive against changing environments. This lack of robustness can be attributed to the interaction between cement hydration reaction and high range water reducing agent (HRWRA). Understanding the relevant mechanisms that control the initial flow performance as well as the flow retention helps optimizing SCC mixtures that perform either steadily in one specific environment or that perform largely similarly at steadily changing environments.
This paper depicts how HRWRAs interact with clinker and hydration phases and discusses the important role of the charge density of a polycarboxylic HRWRA in the way the rheology is affected. Based on rheometric results and observations of the Vicat setting times, it is shown that increasing charge densities of the HRWRA and decreasing water to powder ratios (w/p) reduce the flow retention and have lesser retarding effect on the setting. Based on the discussion, optimization procedures for the mixture composition and the HRWRA modification are suggested to achieve optimized performance for varying environmental situations or highest robustness for specific conditions.
The cement proficiency testing (PT) scheme was set up by the German Metrology Institute (PTB) and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in 2012. The PT scheme was a spin-off from a European Commission and African, Caribbean and Pacific-Group of States funded project entitled SPIN – Spearhead Network for Innovative, Clean and Safe Cement and Concrete Technologies (www.spin.bam.de). The SPIN project aimed at crosslinking experts in industry and policy making bodies, with the prospect of establishing a sustainable cement and concrete construction capacity in Africa.
After a successful first pan-African proficiency testing scheme in 2012/2013, it was decided to establish the scheme permanently and independent of the SPIN project.
The main focus of setting up a testing scheme was to enable all cement testing laboratories in Africa to evaluate their competence and efficiency in cement testing and further enhance their capacity to obtain better quality products according to their environment. The acronym developed for the PT scheme is PACE-PTS (Pan-African Cement Proficiency Testing Scheme). The framework for the PT scheme was set up jointly among the organisers and the first participants. The first PT scheme was initiated in Dar Es Salaam in 2012 followed by a final workshop in Berlin in 2013. The second PT scheme began in 2014. A final workshop was organised in Dar es Salaam in 2015. The third and current scheme was started in 2016 and the final workshop is held in Yaoundé.
Cement proficiency testing scheme for Africa / Programm zur Eignungsprüfung von Zement in Afrika
(2014)
Sub-Saharan Africa is populated by more than half a billion people,
and rapid urbanization is creating challenges in the areas of housing,
roads, railways, power supply, dams and water pipelines —
aspects of infrastructure that are critical to the well being of the
population. This situation indicates that cement and concrete will
play a major role in the future construction technology in Africa, despite
the fact that it does not have a long-lasting tradition over most
of the continent. Although the continent is rich in natural resources
for the production of mineral binder systems, many sub-Saharan
African countries exhibit challenging boundary conditions, that have
to be well understood in order to use cement and concrete technologies
in a sustainable and reasonable way.
African cement infrastructure is quite complex. Apart from Northern Africa and South Africa in particular, cement plants are scarce resulting in highly unstable cement pricing. Clinker and cement are imported from overseas, e.g. from Portugal, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, and China. Imports are typically determined by the lowest price, and as a result the countries of origin of products vary regularly yielding large scatter of properties. Quality control and a good quality infrastructure are thus of utmost importance for the safety of the populace, an issue, which is actually often neglected. With funding of the German Metrology Institute (PTB) and support of the SPIN project, a proficiency testing scheme for cement testing according to EN 196 was set up for African laboratories. Proficiency testing schemes, also called round robins, are inter-laboratory performance comparisons allowing participants to evaluate themselves against pre-established criteria. They are a powerful tool to help laboratories improve their performance as well as demonstrate their competences to accreditation bodies or customers. 26 laboratories from 20 nations, 18 of which from Africa, participated. The BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing acted as coordinator and provider of the scheme. The aim of the round robin was to interpret the submitted data further beyond the pure statistic analyses. The data provided a positive picture of the performance of the participants in general, but it also exhibited a number of technical fields that need improvement. The paper provides the general results of the scheme and analyses identified strengths and weak points based on the submitted and non submitted data as well as on discrepancies from the EN 196 procedures during measurements. The application of EN standards for material testing is critically discussed and since quality infrastructure is also always an issue between industrial and political stakeholders, suggestions for the mitigation of the identified shared problems are given.
African cement inffastructure is quite complex. Apart from Northern Africa and South Africa in particular, cement plants are scarce resulting in highly unstable cement pricing. Clinker and cement are imported from overseas, e.g. from Portugal, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, and China. Imports are typically determined by the lowest price, and as a result the countries of origin of products vaiy regularly yielding large scatter of properties. Quality control and a good quality infrastructure are thus of utmost importance for the safety of the popuiace, an issue, which is actually often neglected. With funding of the German Metrology Institute (PTB) and Support of the SPIN project, a proficiency testing scheme for cement testing according to EN 196 was set up for African laboratories. Proficiency testing schemes, also called round robins. are interlaboratory performance comparisons allowing participants to evaluate themselves against pre-established criteria. Thev are a powerful tool to help laboratories improve their performance as well as demonstrate their competences to accreditation bodies or Customers. 26 laboratories from 20 nations, 18 of which from Africa, participated. The BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing acted as coordinator and provider of the scheme. The aim of the round robin was to interpret the submitted data further beyond the pure statistic analyses. The data provided a positive picture of the performance of the participants in general, but it also exhibited a number of technical fields that need improvement. The paper provides the general results of the scheme and analyses identified strengths and weak points based on the submitted and non submitted data as well as on discrepancies from the EN 196 procedures during measurements. The application of EN Standards for material testing is critically discussed and since quality infrastructure is also always an issue between industrial and political stakeholders, suggestions for the mitigation of the identified shared problems are given.
Concrete technology was exposed to a rapid development during the last three decades. For the longest time in its history, concrete was considered as a three component System consisting of aggregates, which are bound by the hardened cement paste consisting of hydrated cement. Traditionally, the only way of adjusting the consistency of concrete was using well adjusted aggregates and grading curves and adding excess water to the concrete, accepting that the latter in return reduces strength and durability. During the last three decades, however, concrete has developed further from a three component System towards an (at least) five component system, since the use of mineral additions and Chemical admixtures has become state of the art. Both components are able to enhance the workability, the compactability, and the density of the microstructure with effects on strength, ductility and durability, while cement can be saved in parallel. Due to reasonable use of admixtures and additions, concrete can be designed to match mechanically high performance specifications. Traditionally, cement paste was considered the weakest component in concrete. Flowever, in modern concrete a good paste composition can yield highest performance, passing the role of the mechanical bottleneck towards the aggregates.
The African cement, concrete and construction business are growing at rapid pace. The cement sales are expected to grow tremendously until 2050. The number of newly built cement plants increases dramatically and in addition more cements are being imported from outside the continent, e.g. from Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, and China, driven by overcapacities in the countries of origin. This causes a high number of potentials and challenges at the same time. New cement plants can operate directly at best technological state of the art and thus incorporate more sustainable technologies as well as produce new and more sustainable products such as cements blended with sustainable supplementary cementitious materials such as calcined clays, and industrial or agricultural by products. At the same time the new variety of binding agent as well as the international imports, which are driven by price considerations, make the cement market prone to quality scatter. This puts pressure on the quality control regulations and institutions to ensure safety of construction, healthy application, and environmental safety for the population.
The paper presents possible solutions to build up the rapidly increasing African cement production more sustainably than in the rest of the world as well as the related challenges and obstacles that need to be overcome. Based on experiences with a series of pan-African cement testing laboratory proficiency schemes conclusions are made on technical, regulative and political level.
The African cement, concrete and construction business is growing at rapid pace. The cement sales are expected to grow rapidly until 2050. The number of newly built cement plants increases dramatically and in addition more cements are being imported from outside the continent, e.g. from Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, and China, driven by overcapacities in the countries of origin. This causes a high number of potentials and challenges at the same time. Newly built cement plants can operate directly at best technological state of the art and thus incorporate more sustainable technologies as well as produce new and more sustainable products such as cements blended with sustainable supplementary cementitious materials such as calcined clays, and industrial or agricultural by products. At the same time the new variety of binding agent as well as the international imports, which are driven by price considerations, make the cement market prone to quality scatter. This puts pressure on the quality control regulations and institutions to ensure safety of construction, healthy application, and environmental safety for the population. The paper presents possible solutions to build up the rapidly increasing African cement production more sustainably than in the rest of the world as well as the related challenges and obstacles that need to be overcome. Based on experiences with a series of pan-African cement testing laboratory proficiency schemes conclusions are made on technical, regulative and political level.
A thorough characterization of starting materials is the precondition for further research, especially for cement, which contains various phases and presents quite a complex material for fundamental scientific investigation. In the paper at hand, the characterization data of the reference cement CEM I 42.5 R used within the priority program 2005 of the German Research Foundation (DFG SPP 2005) are presented from the aspects of chemical and mineralogical compositions as well as physical and chemical properties. The data were collected based on tests conducted by nine research groups involved in this cooperative program. For all data received, the mean values and the corresponding errors were calculated. The results shall be used for the ongoing research within the priority program.
Two types of cements were selected as the reference cement in the priority program 2005 of the German Research Foundation (DFG SPP 2005). A thorough characterization of CEM I 42.5 R has been made in a recent publication. In this paper, the characterization data of the other reference cement CEM III/A 42.5 N are presented from the aspects of chemical and mineralogical compositions as well as physical and chemical properties. The characterization data of the slag, which is the second main constituent of this specific cement besides the clinker, are presented independently. For all data received, the mean values and the corresponding errors were calculated. The data shall be used for the ongoing research within the priority program. Also, researchers from outside this priority program can benefit from these data if the same materials are used.
A thorough characterization of base materials is the prereq- uisite for further research. In this paper, the characterization data of the reference materials (CEM I 42.5 R, limestone pow- der, calcined clay and a mixture of these three components) used in the second funding phase of the priority program 2005 of the German Research Foundation (DFG SPP 2005) are presented under the aspects of chemical and min- eralogical composition as well as physical and chemical properties. The data were collected based on tests performed by up to eleven research groups involved in this cooperative program.
The structural build-up of fresh cement paste is often considered as a purely thixotropic phenomenon in literature even though cementitious materials undergo a non-reversible hydration process that can have an influence on the structuration process. In the current paper a method is proposed to validate the impact of the non-reversible structural build-up. It is shown that fresh cement paste samples lose their structural gain almost completely due to thixotropy while the structural build-up due to hydration can be observed but occurs in a significantly lower order of magnitude over the course of the first hours of hydration. In addition, it is shown, that the chemical component of the structural build-up accelerates with the onset of the acceleration period of hydration, while its contribution in the entire structural build-up remains constant.
Clearing the way
(2012)
Viscosity-modifying agent (VMA) are used in several applications of concrete, such as underwater concrete, Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) or Self-Levelling Underlayments (SLU) in order to improve the washout resistance and the stability. The study focuses on the modifications of cement pastes properties implied when a VMA (hydroxypropyl guars or HPG) and a superplasticizer are introduced together. For reaching this objective, two chemically different polycarboxylate-based superplasticizers (PCE) and two HPGs exhibiting different molar substitution ratios (MSHP), were studied. A method, combining total organic carbon and size exclusion chromatography, was developed in order to quantify the adsorption of the both admixtures. The adsorption of HPGs appears being significantly lowered by the presence of PCE, while only the adsorption of the less charged PCE is slightly affected by the HPG. As consequence, strong modifications of the rheological properties of cement pastes were noticed when HPG and PCE are combined. The desorption of HPG leads to higher yield stress and residual viscosity than with PCE alone.
With ongoing innovation in process technology, the challenges of concrete technology are more and more focused on the rheological optimisation for these processes, since improper mixture stability or poor compaction ability negatively affect the concrete homogeneity and quality. However, along with the increasing complexity of today’s concrete mixture compositions, concrete becomes more prone to failure regarding the casting process. Variable properties of the raw materials typically cause changing workability. The reasons can be found among others in scattering water contents, physical or chemical properties of the cement or varying environmental temperatures. Robustness in the delicately adjusted rheology, however, is of utmost importance for modern and future process technology, from sprayed concrete over pumpable concrete towards 3D-printing, with regard to the long-term strength, the function and the durability. Typically, material induced changes cannot be identified easily due to the complex interactions of concrete constituents. Therefore, a precise and prompt counteraction is impossible. However, it is known that the yield stress can be controlled by addition of supplementary superplasticizer or stabilising agent. In combination with computerized process observation tools that can rapidly interpret and react on changes in the rheology, it is therefore thinkable, that only these two admixture types can adjust the rheology steadily and permanently, regardless of the actual root cause for observed macroscopic rheology change. The presentation will firstly give a comprehensive overview of effects at the interface between pore solution, particles and hydrates, which affect the rheology of fresh concrete. Secondly, ways are recommended how the rheology can be actively manipulated before eventually computerized methods are demonstrated that help to actively and rapidly assess and counteract performance scatter during steady casting processes.
With ongoing innovation in process technology, the challenges of concrete technology are more and more focused on the rheological optimisation for these processes, since improper mixture stability or poor compaction ability negatively affect the concrete homogeneity and quality. However, along with the increasing complexity of today’s concrete mixture compositions, concrete becomes more prone to failure regarding the casting process. Variable properties of the raw materials typically cause changing workability. The reasons can be found among others in scattering water contents, physical or chemical properties of the cement or varying environmental temperatures. Robustness in the delicately adjusted rheology, however, is of utmost importance for modern and future process technology, from sprayed concrete over pumpable concrete towards 3D-printing, with regard to the long-term strength, the function and the durability. Typically, material induced changes cannot be identified easily due to the complex interactions of concrete constituents. Therefore, a precise and prompt counteraction is impossible. However, it is known that the yield stress can be controlled by addition of supplementary superplasticizer or stabilising agent. In combination with computerized process observation tools that can rapidly interpret and react on changes in the rheology, it is therefore thinkable, that only these two admixture types can adjust the rheology steadily and permanently, regardless of the actual root cause for observed macroscopic rheology change. The presentation will firstly give a comprehensive overview of effects at the interface between pore solution, particles and hydrates, which affect the rheology of fresh concrete. Secondly, ways are recommended how the rheology can be actively manipulated before eventually computerized methods are demonstrated that help to actively and rapidly assess and counteract performance scatter during steady casting processes.
In order to observe the effect of the aggregate phases between 2 mm and 16 mm without overlap with rheological effects induced by the cement hy-dration and without interactions with a threshold fine sand particle size that affects both, paste and aggregates, rheological experiments were conducted on a limestone filler based paste mixed with aggregates up to 16 mm. Vari-ous aggregate fractions were blended and mixed with the replacement paste in different volumetric ratios.
The dry aggregates’ flow coefficients were determined and compared to yield stress and plastic viscosity values at different aggregate volume fractions. The results indicated that the flow coefficient is not a suitable parameter to predict the performance of the aggregates in the paste. It was shown that the yield stress of pastes is largely determined by the blend of different aggregate fractions, while the plastic viscosity to large extend depends upon the coars-est aggregate fraction.
Based on the results, ideal aggregate composition ranges for minimised yield stress are presented. For the plastic viscosity no such grading curves to achieve minimum values could be found, but high viscosity curves are identified.
During the last three decades concrete has emerged from a rather simple mass construction material based on only the three components cement, water, and aggregates towards a high performance material, which can be adjusted for high performance applications and according to ultimate user specifications. The reason for the rapid evolvement was the increasing awareness about how the rheology of concrete can be improved without negatively affecting the mechanical properties of concrete. Hence, mineral additions and in particular Chemical admixtures have been the most influential factors for the technological boost since approximately the 1980s.
The incorporation of superplasticizers into concrete mixture compositions eventually facilitated concrete engineers to improve the workability properties without need to increase the water-cement-ratio (w/c) and furthermore to significantly reduce the w/c without loss of workability. This finally resulted in concrete with higher performance and specified properties. Fillers are basically used to improve the particle packing of cementitious Systems, but they can also be used beneficially to support the rheology, since they modify the water demand and may interact with superplasticizers as well.
Finally, supplementary admixtures like polysaccharides have become more populär in the field of mortar, plaster, and grout technology. They can have a variety of rheological effects on cementitious Systems, which can be used to individually adjust their performance.
The possibility to control the rheology and the significantly widened ränge of consistencies that can be adjusted opened up the gates for modern concrete and any type of high performance concrete. Therefore, without doubt, it can be concluded that the capability to control the rheology of concrete Systems can be considered as the catalyst for the invention of the many recent mortar and concrete innovations such as polymer modified cementitious composites (PCC) self-compacting concrete (SCC), high-performance concrete (HPC), ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) or engineered cementitious composites (ECC).
Therefore, understanding the rheology of cementitious Systems and how to control the workability by the use of Chemical admixtures is the key to innovations in concrete technology.
However, the other side of the coin of versatility is that sophisticated cementitious Systems have become more sensitive. Hence, concrete mixture composition with admixtures demands for a high level of expertise and often there is lack of awareness about the mode of Operation of rheology modifying admixtures among concrete technoiogists. The paper gives a comprehensive overview about rheology modifying constituents such as superplasticizers, stabilising agents, and mineral fillers, and how they can be used depending upon the application in the most favourable way.
Since the 1980s the range of additives available to modify the behaviour and performance of concrete has greatly expanded. For many applications, control of concrete rheology is critical to obtaining the best performance. The impact of different concrete admixtures on rheology and other factors affecting their selection are discussed.
Today polycarboxylate ether based superplasticizer (PCE) is commonly used in concrete technology when high flow properties and water reduction are specified. The ionic strength of the polymers’ backbones determines the adsorption behaviour of polymers on clinker and early hydration products. The amount of required polymers for specified flow properties and the performance over the time of casting is thus determined by the molecular structure of the superplasticizer. The time depending consumption of polycarboxylate ether polymers strongly affects the reaction of aluminates and sulphate ions as well as the hydration process in general. Hence, the choice of polymers for particular flow properties greatly affects the very early properties of cementitious materials such as setting, heat evolution and autogenous deformations.
In order to better understand how PCEs influence the early properties, mixes from cement, limestone filler, viscosity modifying agent and water were varied with a high and a low charge density superplasticizer in differing amounts. Results are presented from measurements with an automatic Vicat device, an isothermal heat flow calorimeter, and shrinkage cones. Tests were conducted at 5, 20, and 30 °C.
It is shown that in presence of PCE the final set correlates well with the inflexion point of the heat flow curve, which emphasises the interrelation between C-S-H formation and setting. No such clear correlation can be found for the initial set, which is attributed to the fact that the initial set is rather a rheological than a structural phenomenon, so that other effects overlap with C-S-H formation. The results demonstrate that for a given polymer concentration low charge density polymers yield earlier setting than high charge polymers. However, this influence is overridden by the influence of the total amount of polymers in a cementitious system. Since PCE is typically added according to rheological specifications, and low charge PCE typically requires higher amounts of polymers than high charge PCE for comparable flow performance, low charge PCE retards setting more than high charge PCE.
The paper furthermore points out that there is no significant influence of the polymer type or amount on the early deformations. Since type and amount strongly affect the hydration, it is demonstrated that early setting causes higher strain after the final set. It is hence concluded that higher PCE solid contents reduce the risk of early cracks that occur at time of setting, when a solid structure has already been formed but without resistance against cracks yet.
This paper describes the fibre-reinforced strain hardening cement-based composite (SHCC) performance under various exposure conditions. Cracked and uncracked SHCC beam specimens were subjected to cyclic wetting and drying under chloride exposure to observe the time of depassivation and corrosion potential of the imbedded reinforcement. Two reference mortars, one of the same strength class as the SHCC (Mortar 1) and the other of high strength class (Mortar 2) were used under the same conditions. Finally, tests for determining the rapid chloride migration coefficient, electrical resistivity, capillary water absorption and freezethaw were also performed to observe the corrosion probability and diffusion rate in uncracked SHCC and mortars.
Control chart systems are commonly used in quality management systems to keep production processes stable. The most efficient control chart systems are cumulated sums (cusum), which look at the deviations from a target value. Cusum charts react more rapidly on systematic changes in processes than other charts such as Shewhart charts, which look at the process values. The cusum method is often applied for compressive strength but it is particularly suitable if counteractions be taken immediately, like in the case of fresh concrete properties.
The present study shows that regardless of the manipulation, a steady slump flow can be achieved only by adding supplementary superplasticizer in case of loss of flow and adding stabilising agent (ST) in case of increased flow if the V-mask indicates a systematic change. A reference SCC was artificially manipulated in order to achieve either increased or reduced flowability. Arithmetic mean values and standard deviations were determined experimentally without and after taking counteractions. These parameters were used for case studies of steady SCC productions based on normally distributed random values. For the indication of a systematic change, a standard V-mask was used.
The results point out that productions with applied cusum methods were capable of keeping the slump flow deviation from the target in the order of magnitude of about 1% despite drastic manipulations, while productions without applied cusum method deviated up to 14% and more from the target slump flow value.
Tricalcium aluminate (C3A) is found with less than 10% wt. of the total composition; however, during hydration, C3A plays an important role in the early hydration of cement in the presence of gypsum as a set retarder.
The aim of this investigation is to assess the suitability of optical spectroscopy and a dye-based optical probe to monitor early hydration of C3A in the presence of gypsum and hemihydrate. Optical evaluation was performed using steady-state fluorescence and diffuses reflectance spectroscopy (UV-VisDR). Phase characterization during hydration was done with in-situ X-ray diffraction. UV-VisDR with a cyanine dye probe was used to monitor the formation of metastable phases and was employed together with fluorescence spectroscopy, to follow the Aggregation and disaggregation of the dye during hydration. In conclusion, for the first time, a cyanine dye was identified as a feasible and stable probe to monitor C3A hydration changes in the presence of calcium sulfate.
In Europe a multi-national research project was initiated entitled “Rational Production and
Improved Working Environment through Using Self-Compacting Concrete”, followed by
another project entitled “Testing SCC”, which helped spreading the benefits of SCC to a wide
range of appliers. This project was also the basis of a widely accepted European guideline
on Self compacted concrete published by the European industry association bibm,
CEMBUREAU, EFCA, EFNARC, ERMCO, which again builds the basis of the European
standards for the testing of SCC (EN 12350, Parts 8 to 12) as well as for the actual
modernisation of the European concrete standard EN 206-1.
Flowable concretes can differ significantly from traditional vibrated concrete. Concrete types like self-compacting concrete (SCC), ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) and high performance fibre reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) require novel mix design approaches. This has consequences for the production and the performance in the hardened state. Mix designs for flowable concretes can incorporate a wide variety of innovative admixtures or components: e.g. superplasticisers increase the flowability and allow for significant reduction of the water content, shrinkage compensating admixtures or superabsorbent polymers support sound and damage free curing processes, viscosity modifying admixtures enhance the robustness, and new fibre types allow for sophisticated and tailored structural performance.
The new Model Code has limitations regarding the application of flowable concrete, e.g. thresholds for the minimum aggregate size and the maximum strength. Provisions are added to include fibres for structural design. fib Task Group 4.3 aims at facilitating the use of innovative flowable materials for designing concrete structures and considers three aspects of flowable concrete: material properties, production effects and structural boundary conditions and performance. This paper reports about the progress of fib TG 4.3 related to the mix design of flowable concrete and discusses the present state-of-the-art concerning admixtures and robustness.
Im Rahmen des europäischen Forschungsprojekts Microcon wurden wirtschaftliche und ökologische Ansätze zur Verwendung von Feinstfüllstoffen so genannten Microfillern in Bauprodukten, die auf zementgebundenen Systemen basieren, untersucht. Hauptzielsetzung war die Entwicklung von modifizierten Bindemitteln und Zusätzen für die Transportbeton- und Fertigteilindustrie bis hin zur Marktreife. Eine der Neuentwicklungen war eine leicht handhabbare Werktrockenmischung für selbstverdichtenden Beton (SVB), die alle Schlüsselkomponenten bis auf das Bindemittel und die grobe Gesteinskörnung enthält und eine hohe Robustheit in der Anwendung gewährleistet.
Structural design and application have always been linked to the compressive strength of concrete as the main relevant criterion. This was justifiable in the past, where concrete consisted of water, ordinary Portland cement and aggregates, but this concept is no longer relevant for modern and more sustainable cement and concrete.
Despite these new developments, existing standards, guidelines and academic curricula have not been much updated and are still used worldwide. There is a need to change this situation by proper education of the users.
This overview describes the challenges that arise at a user Level from the higher complexity of modern concrete, and defines needs and requirements for enhanced applicability of sustainable concrete concepts.
Furthermore, recommendations are given on how better concrete practice can be communicated to all the involved parties, from civil and design engineers to constructors and site-appliers on the construction site.
The use of starch and its derivatives in concrete as an admixture to modify relevant properties of concrete is on the increase in recent times. It is known to modify the rheology, to affect the hydration kinetics of cement, and influence on initial and final setting time of cement. This paper examines the effect of cassava starch on concrete. shrinkage properties of concrete, with and without starch addition, were studied. Various percentages (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2 %) of starches by weight of cement were added to concrete mixes prepared in the laboratory. Shrinkage tests were conducted for duration of up to one year. The result show that concretes with starch additions exhibit lower shrinkage, which is an indication the addition of starch as admixture in concrete improves the ability of the concrete reduce shrinkage problems.
Chemical admixtures allow to create a variety of fresh and hardened state properties in cementitious materials. In the case of self-compacting concrete, plasticizers or superplasticizers are introduced with the aim to decrease the yield stress and the viscosity of the materials.
However, in order to prevent segregation and bleeding, and to improve the water retention of cement-based system, stabilizing agents or viscosity agents are often introduced in addition.
Among these admixtures, polysaccharides are most commonly used. The aim of this study is to provide an understanding of competitive or synergetic effects induced by the combination of hydroxypropyl guar stabilizing agents (HPG) and superplasticizers on cement pastes. Two polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCE) exhibiting different charge densities and one HPG were studied. It was found that the combination of HPG with PCE superplasticizer strongly affects the rheological behavior of cement pastes. Despite the presence of HPG, the viscosity of the pastes strongly decreased with increasing dosage of PCE until it became close to the viscosity of a cement paste with PCE only. However, the use of HPG in combination with PCE allows maintaining a significant yield stress in the cement paste compared to PCE alone. The increase in the charge density of the PCE seemed to amplify the drop of the viscosity and to reduce the gain on the yield stress induced by HPG. The results also highlight a delay in the setting-time of the cement paste by adding HPG and PCE. The delay induced by HPG is significantly lower than that generated by PCEs. However, the combination of the both kind of admixtures leads to a slightly shorter setting-time compared to the PCE alone.
Chemical admixtures allow to the create a variety of fresh and hardened state properties in cementitious materials. In the case of self-compacting concrete, plasticizers or superplasticizers are introduced with the aim to decrease the yield stress and the viscosity of the materials. However, in order to prevent segregation and bleeding, and to improve the water retention of cement-based system, stabilizing agents or viscosity agents are often introduced in addition. Among these admixtures, polysaccharides are most commonly used.
The aim of this study is to provide an understanding of competitive or synergetic effects induced by the combination of hydroxypropyl guar stabilizing agents (HPG) and superplasticizers on cement pastes. Two polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCE) exhibiting different charge densities and one HPG were studied. It was found that the combination of HPG with PCE superplasticizer strongly affects the rheological behavior of cement pastes. Despite the presence of HPG, the viscosity of the pastes strongly decreased with increasing dosage of PCE until it became close to the viscosity of a cement paste with PCE only. However, the use of HPG in combination with PCE allows maintaining a significant yield stress in the cement paste compared to PCE alone. The increase in the charge density of the PCE seemed to amplify the drop of the viscosity and to reduce the gain on the yield stress induced by HPG.
The results also highlight a delay in the setting-time of the cement paste by adding HPG and PCE. The delay induced by HPG is significantly lower than that generated by PCEs. However, the combination of the both kind of admixtures leads to a slightly shorter setting-time compared to the PCE alone.
Effect of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer in Ordinary Portland Cement and Sulfate Resistant Cement
(2023)
Polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCE) are the most widely used admixtures in today’s cementitious construction materials. The molecular structure has a decisive influence on the effectiveness of PCE, which also can be tailored to serve in a different cementitious system.
The current study investigates the influence of the backbone charge density of PCE on the rheology, hydration kinetics, and adsorption behavior of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and sulfate-resistant cement (SRC). The results indicate that regardless of the PCE type, OPC requires a higher amount of PCE to be adsorbed to induce changing of rheological parameters and hydration kinetics. Regardless of the cement type, the PCE with a higher charge density exhibits higher adsorption behavior, corresponding to lower viscosity measurement.
Compared to OPC, SRC is more sensitive to the introduction of both PCEs and has a lower saturation dosage, indicating that SRC generally provides better workability properties regardless of the PCE.
The effect of resting time on the rheological properties of cement suspensions is generally explained by early formed structure and overconsumption of polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCEs). In this paper, we propose that the influence of resting time on the rheological properties is closely related to size variation of non-absorbed PCE. To identify this, glass bead suspensions were prepared with various amounts of PCE and ionic solution, and their rheological properties were evaluated at various times. We found that the yield stress increases with time at higher PCE concentrations and higher ionic strength solutions. Adsorbed PCE during resting tends to bridge the particles rather than disperse them. In addition, it was found that hydrodynamic radius of PCE increased with resting time, and depletion forces resulting from non-absorbed PCE size changes correlate well with the increased yield stress.
As soon as cement is mixed with water, the hydration reaction starts to set of. The progression of the hydration process is governed by the amount and the availability of water and its possibility to access the unhydrated cement grain surfaces. For a total hydration cement theoretically requires water amounting approximately 0.38 of its own mass. Nevertheless, due to the cement’s highly hygroscopic nature, already the moisture in the ambient air can cause first hydration reactions to set in upon the cement grain surfaces. Such pre-hydration processes have an effect on the cement's properties. Dpending on the specific conditions during the storage the significance of the impact on certain properties can vary.
If cement is consumed soon after production and is transported only short distances in a silo wagon to its final destination for immediate use without further stock transfer, the effects are rather negligible. However, if cement is delivered in bags, transported over long distances, shifted serval times and stored for longer time periods until it is finally consumend, these effects can be quite severe. Due to the actual logistical situation with comparably few cement plants, large delivery distances and partially less developed infrastructures, the latter scenario pictures the situation for the most cases in Africa quite well.
In order to verify the relevance of the pre-hydation for practical application, a series of tests was conducted at the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM). The influence of the cement storage on gresh and hardened concrete properties was investigated for different concrete and mortar types. The investigations show that the impact of the storage conditions is more pronounced for specialized concretes with high sophisticated optimized mixture compositions containing admixtures. Nevertheless, the effects also occur for ordinary concrete and should not be ignored.
Polysaccharides are important rheology modifying admixtures in the building material sector.
The use of starch is becoming increasingly important, due to many ecological and economic advantages. In the construction sector, starch ethers are being used as thickeners and as means to increase the yield stress. The starch ethers that are available on the market differ in
their behaviour, which can vary greatly depending upon the binder system and mortar composition, e.g. solid volume content, binder type, additional admixtures. In view of the limited knowledge about the influence of molecular modifications associated with cement based systems, some fundamental rheological functional mechanisms were analysed in this study. The differently modified starch ethers used were derived from potatoes. They varied in their charges and degrees of hydroxypropylation. The setting and the flow behaviour of all examined variations
of starch ethers were analysed in cement pastes. In order to illustrate the effects of the starch ethers that were used, the water-cement ratio (w/c) was held constant in all the mixtures [Schmidt 2012]. The results indicated significant differences in setting and flow behaviour.
While today, engineers can choose from a wide range of rheology modifying admixtures, in some parts of the world, these are difficult to access, due to their complex processing. However, alternatives can be bio-based polymers such as polysaccharides from various sources. These are easily accessible all over the world, do not demand for complicated processing, and typically they are more sustainable than many established materials, which are crude oil-based.
The paper presents the effects of acacia gum, cassava starch and the gum of triumfetta pendrata A. Rich on the rheological performance of cementitious systems. It is shown that acacia gum can be as efficient as polycarboxylate based superplasticisers, cassava starch can reduce the yield stress slightly with little effect on the plastic viscosity, and the gum of triumfetta pendrata A. Rich increases the thixotropy of cement pastes with plasticizing polymers significantly.
Polysaccharides modify the rheological properties of cement based systems. Depending upon their chemistry, molecular architecture, and adsorption tendency, they have different modes of action. Some polysaccharides like diutan gum have strong effect on the fluid phase; others like starch strongly interact with particles. This paper presents effects of diutan gum and starches in presence of polycarboxylates. Rheometric investigations with varied particle volume fractions and increasing coarse aggregate diameters were conducted. The results show that starches have stronger influence on the rheology at high particle volume fractions than diutan gum. At lower particle volume fractions this trend is inverted. Experiments with aggregates sizes up to 16 mm (0.63 in.) indicate that stabilizing agent influences on the effects of aggregates on yield stress were small; however up to 1.0 mm (0.04 in.), a significant effect on the plastic viscosity could be observed, which levelled off at larger diameters.
Varying ambient temperatures in plants or on construction sites during casting of SCC can cause serious problems affecting the fresh concrete performances, such as rheological properties and setting time, with consequences for the hardened properties in the structure. By sensible choices of the components, the robustness of SCC mixtures against temperature variations can be improved. However, this aspect has not been the focus of intensive research yet. In this study the effects of varied ambient temperatures on the early performance of differently composed SCC mixtures are investigated, with emphasis on changes in rheology, early deformations, heat evolution and setting. Focus is placed on the study of the influence of the polycarboxylate ether molecule type as well as different viscositymodifying agents on the temperature robustness. Effects on the relevance for practical concrete applications are evaluated, which will provide a reliable framework of possible actions on the appropriate use of admixtures for SCC.
To design robust self-consolidating concrete (SCC) for various environmental conditions, it is essential to understand the relevant mechanisms that control the flow performance. This paper depicts how high range water reducing agents (HRWRAs) interact with clinker and hydration phases, and it discusses the important role of the charge density of polycarboxylic HRWRAs in the way the rheology is affected. Based on the rheometric investigations on SCC mixture compositions with different water to powder ratios (w/p) and observations of their pastes' Vicat setting times, the study shows that increasing charge densities of the HRWRA and decreasing w/p reduce the flow retention and have lesser retarding effect on the setting. Based on the test results and discussions optimization procedures for the mixture composition and the HRWRA modification are suggested to achieve optimized performance for varying environmental situations and highest robustness for specific conditions.
Over the last decades concrete has evolved from a simple mass construction material towards a sophisticated multi-component system. The design parameters for the mixture composition of concrete have significantly increased from strength based towards overall or specific performance based. As a result the variety of concrete has increased yielding a number of special concrete technologies such as Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC), High-Performance Concrete (HPC), Strain Hardening Cement Based Composites (SHCC), and many others. Due to their complex mixture compositions and a multitude of possible interactions between constituents, these concrete types are preferably composed of special components like well-defined powders and sophisticated chemical admixtures. This makes such concrete technology expensive and limits their application to regions with the required material supply chains. The paper puts focus on materials, which are less well studied in conjunction with high performance concrete, but which are available in many developing countries, and in particular sub-Saharan Africa. The paper shows how sec can be designed without polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer and well defined fillers, but with lignosulphonate, cassava starch and rice husk ash. The positive effect of well processed rice husk ashes is demonstrated. Furthermore results are presented of SHCC where typical components like polyvinyl alcohol fibres and fluy ash are replaced by sisal fibres and limestone filler, respectively. The results point out that high performance concrete applications do not have to be limited to a boundary framework with availability of well-defined raw material supply structures and sophisticated admixtures or fibres. Concepts are presented how innovative concrete technologies can be developed based on indigenous materials.
Die meisten Einflüsse auf die Rheologie von Beton wirken auf sehr kleinen Skalenebenen. Einflussgrößen im Millimeter oder Zentimeterbereich sind im Wesentlichen auf den Sand und die Gesteinskörnung beschränkt. Letztere machen aber in den meisten Betonen 50 %-70 % des Gesamtvolumens aus, was bei Untersuchungen zur Steuerung der Verarbeitungseigenschaften von Beton häufig vernachlässigt wird. Während Betonzusatzmittel und Zusatzstoffe bei geeigneter Wahl die Rheologie sehr gezielt beeinflussen können, eignen sich Sand und Gesteinskörnung weniger gut zur Steuerung der Rheologie, aber sie tragen zur Rheologie des Gesamtsystems bei. Hierbei können Effekte aus Sand und Gesteinskörnung die Effekte von Zusatzmitteln und Zusatzstoffen überlagern und im ungünstigsten Falle sogar nahezu unwirksam machen. Deshalb sollten Ergebnisse zur Verarbeitbarkeit von Bindemittelsystemen nur mit großer Sorgfalt auf Beton übertragen werden. Es ist wichtig, den Einfluss des Sandes und der Gesteinskörnung besser zu verstehen, um diese so abzustimmen, dass sie Effekte aus Fließmitteln positiv ergänzen anstatt diesen entgegenzuwirken.
Durch eine gezielte Abstimmung lassen sich Kosten wirksam sparen.
In Produktionspausen können in Betonwerken nennenswerte Lagerungsintervalle entstehen. Auf Baustellen und in den Instandsetzungen werden Zement- und Trockenmörtelsäcke teilweise über längere Zeiträume gelagert. Auch im Zusammenhang mit Zementimporten und zunehmend filigran abgestimmten Betonrezepturen die bereits bei kleinen Änderungen der Ausgangsstoffe sensibel reagieren, nimmt die Relevanz der Zementlagerung zu. Aus diesem Grund wurde der Einfluss der Zementlagerung auf die Eigenschaften von Betonen in einer Versuchsreihe an der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) ermittelt.
Zur Untersuchung der Wirkungsweise von ST ohne und in Gegenwart von FM wurden Untersuchungen an Zementleimen mit unterschiedlichen Φρ und variierten St-Modifikationen durchgeführt. Folgendes kann zusammengefasst werden:
Mit zunehmendem Φρ nimmt der Einfluss aller beobachteten ST auf To und Πpl gegenüber dem wässrigen System ab. Bei hohem Φρ reduzieren alle ST Πpl. Diutan Gum und die hochmodifizierte Stärke können aber ein erhöhtes -r0 bewirken. In Gegenwart von FM werden ST insbesondere bei höheren FM-Dosierungen wirksam mit Bezug auf erhöhtes Πpl. Erhöhtes t0 erzielten nur ST-DG und ST-npg. Setzfließmaßversuche konnten darüber hinaus zeigen, dass Stärken besonders effektiv wirken, wenn der Feststoffgehalt sehr hoch ist, während Diutan Gum eine höhere Wirksamkeit aufweist, wenn höhere Wassergehalte im System sind. Die Wirkungsweise von ST ist sehr stark von <l>p und der Gegenwart von FM abhängig. Die Ergebnisse zeigen. dass für Stärken die Modifikation eine sehr große Rolle spielen kann und dass weitere Untersuchungen zeigen müssen, inwieweit ST auf bestimmte Anwendungen maßgeschneidert werden können.
Nachdem vor ca. 20 Jahren in Japan die Entwicklung der selbstverdichtenden Betone begann, dauerte es weitere 10 Jahre, bis diese Entwicklung auch Europa erreichte. Obwohl im Fertigteilsektor bereits deutlich mehr SVB zum Einsatz kommt als im Transportbetonbereich, bleiben die Produktionsmengen hinter dem zurück, was die Potenziale und Chancen dieser Technologie eigentlich erwarten ließen. Eine Ursache für die geringe Marktverbreitung sind die stark schwankenden und teilweise nur schwer beherrschbaren Frischbetoneigenschaften dieser Betone.
Die Rheologie von fließfähigen zementären Systemen mit Fließmitteln wird durch eine Vielzahl parallel stattfindender Effekte beeinflusst. Zu diesen Effekten zählen Wechselwirkungen zwischen den Polymeren und Ionen in der Porenlösung, frühe Phasenbildung, zeitabhängige und kompetitive Adsorption zwischen anionischen Polymeren und Sulfationen, Bildung von Phasen in der Porenlösung sowie Morphologieänderungen an Partikeloberflächen. Die frühe Hydratation von Zement, die durch Lösungs- und Fällungsprozesse angetrieben wird, beeinflusst diese Effekte erheblich. Das permanente Ungleichgewicht der Porenlösung führt zu Veränderungen der Partikeloberflächen, welches widerum zur Folge hat, dass rheometrische Messungen dieser Zementleime anfällig für Streuungen sind. Um die Einflüsse aus der Zementhydratation zu minimieren, wurden die rheometrischen Untersuchungen mit Zement in Porenlösung durchgeführt. Die Experimente wurden mit verschiedenen Feststoffvolumenfraktionen durchgeführt und mit den Ergebnissen identischer Systeme mit Wasser anstelle von Porenlösung verglichen. Zusätzlich wurden die gleichen Systeme mit Zugabe von Polycarboxylatethern untersucht.
Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Leime mit Wasser niedrigere Werte für Fließgrenze und plastische Viskosität aufweisen, als die Systeme mit Porenlösung. Während die Polymere eine Verminderung der Fließgrenze zur Folge hatte, war die Wirkung von Polymeren auf die plastische Viskosität vernachlässigbar. Zusätzlich wurde die frühe Hydratation unter Verwendung von Wärmeflusskalorimetrie, Rasterelektronenmikroskopie und Nadeleindringtiefe beobachtet.
Die Schallemissionsanalyse (SEA) ist ein passives zerstörungsfreies Prüfverfahren. mit dem Rissbildung, Risswachstum und andere Gefügeveränderungen delektiert und lokalisiert werden können. Anhand von zwei Beispielen aus der Forschung der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) wird gezeigt welche Möglichkeiten die SEA beim Bauwerksmonitoring und bei der Untersuchung von Baustoffen bietet. Im ersten Beispiel wird die Ortung von Schallemissionen zur Verfolgung des Risswachstums in Beton eingesetzt. Weiterhin wird mit Zugversuchen an Faserbeton illustriert, dass mit der SEA Versagensmechanismen identifiziert werden können.
Im Betonbau hat sich im Laufe der vergangenen Jahrzehnte ein grundlegender Wandel von einer Massenanwendung hin zu einer innovativen, zukunftsorientierten und leistungsbasierten Baustofftechnologie vollzogen. Heute besteht Beton nicht mehr lediglich aus Zement, Wasser und Gesteinskörnungen, sondern kann durch die Verwendung von Zusatzstoffen und chemischen Zusatzmitteln signifikant verbessert werden. Der im Bereich der Zusatzmittel erzielte Fortschritt ebnete zudem den Weg für die Entwicklung neuer Betontypen wie zum Beispiel selbstverdichtender Beton (SVB) und Hochleistungsbeton (HLB), indem die Verarbeitbarkeit vom Wasser-Zement-Wert (w/z) abgekoppelt wurde. Während der w/z und die Sieblinie der Gesteinskörnungen bei herkömmlichen Betontypen die für die Verarbeitbarkeit relevanten Mischungsparameter darstellten, weisen SVB und HLB komplexere Leistungsparameter auf; in puncto Leistungsfähigkeit fallen hier insbesondere die Mehlkornkomponenten ins Gewicht. Dadurch wird das System komplexer und zugleich anfälliger für Abweichungen bei der Produktion. Erschwert wird die Identifizierung möglicher Einsparpotenziale durch die Schwierigkeit der Vorhersage der Auswirkungen von Veränderungen im Produktionsprozess und bei der Mischung.
In the 21st century, adequate habitat and functioning infrastructure are critical for global societal and economic stability. In addition, growing urbanisation and environmental pollution cause challenges to societies.
With increasing velocity, humanity faces that the current way of living is not sustainable. Thus, habitat,infrastructure, urbanisation, environment and sustainability are definitively among the most striking challenges of the 21st century.
By consulting, planning, building, maintaining, exploiting and processing of global resources, civil engineers contribute significantly to the existence of these challenges. This is a high responsibility, but due to the heavy involvement, together with adjacent disciplines such as architecture, geosciences, chemistry,
physics, environmental sciences and economics, civil engineers also hold the key to mitigate these challenges and provide a brighter global future.
Solutions towards greener, more sustainable and economically viable materials do exist, and there is ongoing research on how greener technologies can contribute to better livelihood and economic growth, but their level of implementation is limited, a major reason for which is that these approaches require more fundamental understanding rather than standard application.
Non-conventional densely packed concrete mixtures are proposed and evaluated in this paper using engineered recycled mineral admixtures and recycled aggregates obtained from steel slag, quartz mining tailings, and quartzite mining tailings. High fines content sand-concretes containing coarser- and finer-than-cement recycled powders were designed to obtain blends with broader particle-size ranges and improved packing density. As a result, compressive strength up to 99 MPa, cement intensity up to 2.33 kg/m³/MPa, and consumption of recycled material up to 95 vol% were obtained. Compressive strengths up to 66 MPa and cement intensity up to 2.34 kg/m³/MPa were also obtained with the addition of coarse aggregates to such sand-concrete mixtures, with consumption of recycled material up to 96.5%. The results launch new insights on the role of recycled admixtures and aggregates on the mixture design of cement-based composites regarding efficiency improvement and technological performance.
Im Rahmen von MICROCON, einem europäischen CRAFT-Projekt,
besteht eine wesentliche Zielsetzung in der Optimierung von selbstverdichtendem Beton (SVB) im Hinblick auf Kosten und Leistungsfähigkeit durch den Einsatz von teilweise puzzolanischen Microfillern. Um die Puzzolanität bei der Beurteilung besser bewerten zu können, wird ein Referenzbeton benötigt, der aus weitestgehend inerten Zusatzstoffen besteht. Die Entwicklung eines solchen Referenzbetons fand an der BAM nach der japanischen Methode nach Okamura statt.