International Concrete Abstracts Portal

Red mud is a by-product from the aluminum industry. To investigate the possibility of using this waste material as a pozzolan in the cement and concrete industries, tests were carried out to examine the pozzolanic properties of calcined red mud. Red mud was calcined for 5 hr at five different temperatures: 600, 650, 700, 750, and 800 C. Blended portland cements containing 30 or 50 percent of the calcined red mud were studied for hydration products, strength, and durability. The results indicated that the red mud had the maximum reactivity when calcined at 600 C, because on hydration the lime content of the blended cement was considerably reduced. The calcined red mud when used in combination with portland cement contributed to the formation of hydrated alumina-silicates and hydrogarnets. Very good compressive strengths were obtained with the blended cement containing 30 percent calcined red mud. Mortars cast with these blended cements were placed in solutions of seawater and acetic acid. The results indicated good stability of mortars to these environments.

29Si NMR has been employed as a tool to characterize the reaction mechanism of hydration in several blended cements up to 6 to 9.5 months. The cements investigated were blends with silica fume, fly ash, activated kaolinite, and blast furnace slag. Spectra deconvolution indicated that, in the silica fume as well as in the activated kaolinite blend, the reaction of the anhydrous calcium-silicates is initially accelerated with respect to the ordinary portland cement. In the fly ash blends, this effect is smaller. Both in the silica fume and fly ash blends, an increase in the amount of silica middle groups (Qý-type) at - 84 ppm, relative to the amount of silica end groups (Q1-type) at - 79 ppm, is notable, which indicates an increased tendency to form longer CSH chains. The size distribution and glass content of the fly ashes used seem to influence the hydration reaction, which is reflected by somewhat higher Qý/Qý ratios and an increased initial hydration. In the blends with activated kaolinite, it was not possible to deconvolute the Q1 and Qý chemical shifts at all ages, due to changes in the shift maxima Q1 and/or Qý. This may be due to the formation of amorphous noncrystalline alumina-containing reaction products. The chemical shift of the blast furnace slag appeared too broad for a successful deconvolution. In general, both the total (Q1 + Qý) as well as the Qý/Q1 ratio correlate with compressive strength data, Qý species contributing markedly. Paper contains a general overview of the application of NMR spectroscopy in cement and concrete research.

The lining of underground cavities for storage of natural gas requires a proper cementing paste as does the cementing of casing in boreholes placed in salt beds. The following properties of the cementing pastes are required: high corrosion resistance, minimal shrinkage, even some expansion, high leak tightness, good bond to steel and rock, proper rheology and strength. The following blended cements were investigated: cement "Nowa Huta" 25 with 40% blast-furnace slag (bfs), cement "Rejowiec" 45 for bridge construction and cement with 70% bfs. The cements were mixed with NaCl brine at a concentration 310 g NaCl/L at liquid to solid ration 0.45. The properties of pastes, such as density, rheological, sedimentation and filtration characteristics; time of setting; strength development and shrinkage were determined. The phase composition of pastes was studied by XRD and the microstructure was observed under SEM. The best results were obtained for the pastes with the blast-furnace slag.

The resistance to freezing-and-thawing and chloride diffusion of antiwashout underwater concrete was investigated to evaluate the applicability for tidal zone in cold districts or reinforced concrete structures in marine environments. Comparisons were made with ordinary portland cement concrete of similar mix design. Two types of cement (ordinary portland cement and portland blast furnace slag cement) were used. Two types of blast furnace slag (Blaine fineness 500 and 700 m²/kg) were used as a cement replacement (slag content 30 and 50 percent by weight). The results show that antiwashout underwater concrete without blast furnace slag shows poor resistance to freezing-and-thawing compared with normal concrete. But the freezing-and-thawing resistance can be improved with blast furnace slag. This is due to the fact that concrete containing blast furnace slag has dense pore structures. Pore volume in the range of 10 to 10 3 nm in radius decreases significantly with blast furnace slag. Similarly, chloride diffusion depth becomes smaller with blast furnace slag.

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, with a center span of 1990 m, will be the world's longest suspension bridge when it is completed in 1998. The two main tower foundations are being constructed in water. A total volume of about 500,000 m3 of antiwashout underwater concrete has been placed, and about 180,000 m3 of ordinary reinforced concrete is currently being placed. Since this antiwashout underwater concrete had to be placed over a wide area and placed about 10,000 m3 per pour, it was necessary to choose a low-heat, high-flowability concrete. The cement used for this antiwashout underwater concrete was a three-component type containing about 80 percent granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash. Report describes the physical properties and workability of the antiwashout underwater concrete and the results of construction.