Mechanical and durability properties of ternary concretes containing silica fume and low reactivity blast furnace slag

Abstract In this study, the effect of incorporation of silica fume in enhancing strength development rate and durability characteristics of binary concretes containing a low reactivity slag has been investigated. Binary concretes studied included mixes containing slag at cement replacement levels of 15%, 30% and 50% and mixes containing silica fume at cement replacement levels of 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%. Ternary concretes included combinations of silica fume and slag at various cement replacement levels. The w/b ratio and total cementitious materials content were kept constant for all mixes at 0.38 and 420 kg/m3 respectively. Concrete mixes were evaluated for compressive strength, electrical resistance, chloride permeability (ASTM C1202 RCPT test) and chloride migration (AASHTO TP64 RCMT test), at various ages up to 180 days. The results show that simultaneous use of silica fume has only a moderate effect in improving the slow rate of strength gain of binary mixes containing low reactivity slag. However it improves their durability considerably. Using appropriate combination of low reactivity slag and silica fume, it is possible to obtain ternary mixes with 28 day strength comparable to the control mix and improve durability particularly in the long term. Ternary mixes also have the added advantage of reduced water demand.

[1]  Vernon R. Schaefer,et al.  Development of Performance Properties of Ternary Mixtures: Phase I Final Report , 2007 .

[2]  Carlo Pellegrino,et al.  Mechanical and durability characteristics of concrete containing EAF slag as aggregate , 2009 .

[3]  Mehmet Gesoǧlu,et al.  Properties of self-compacting concretes made with binary, ternary, and quaternary cementitious blends of fly ash, blast furnace slag, and silica fume , 2009 .

[4]  Kamal H. Khayat,et al.  Formwork Pressure of Self-Consolidating Concrete Made with Various Binder Types and Contents , 2005 .

[5]  B Nabil,et al.  DEVELOPMENT OF TERNARY BLENDS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE CONCRETE , 2004 .

[6]  J. M. Manso,et al.  Durability of concrete made with EAF slag as aggregate , 2006 .

[7]  R. D. Hooton,et al.  STUDY OF THE JOULE EFFECT ON RAPID CHLORIDE PERMEABILITY VALUES AND EVALUATION OF RELATED ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF CONCRETES , 2004 .

[8]  B. Lothenbach,et al.  Supplementary cementitious materials , 2011 .

[9]  G. Glass,et al.  CHLORIDE TRANSPORT IN CONCRETE SUBJECTED TO ELECTRIC FIELD , 1998 .

[10]  K. Khayat,et al.  Effect of Supplementary Cementitious Materials on Rheological Properties, Bleeding, and Strength of Structural Grout , 2008 .

[11]  Kang Hai Tan,et al.  Interaction Formula for Reinforced Concrete Columns in Fire Conditions , 2004 .

[12]  Caijun Shi,et al.  Effect of mixing proportions of concrete on its electrical conductivity and the rapid chloride permeability test (ASTM C1202 or ASSHTO T277) results , 2004 .

[13]  Michael D.A. Thomas,et al.  DURABILITY OF TERNARY BLEND CONCRETE WITH SILICA FUME AND BLAST-FURNACE SLAG: LABORATORY AND OUTDOOR EXPOSURE SITE STUDIES , 2002 .

[14]  Michael D. A. Thomas,et al.  Ternary Cement in Canada , 2007 .

[15]  M. Nehdi,et al.  Optimization of ternary cementitious mortar blends using factorial experimental plans , 2002 .

[16]  N. Lee,et al.  Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures under Marine Exposure in New Zealand , 2005 .

[17]  P. Hewlett,et al.  Lea's chemistry of cement and concrete , 2001 .

[18]  Obada Kayali,et al.  Chloride penetration in binary and ternary blended cement concretes as measured by two different rapid methods , 2008 .