Title:
Measurement and Characterization of Chloride Transport Properties for Belitic Calcium Sulfoaluminate (BCSA) Cement Concrete
Author(s):
Dawood
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_F23_Dawood.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
10/29/2023
Abstract:
This research investigates the micromechanical properties of geopolymer concrete made from lunar regolith simulant, a promising material for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) in lunar construction. However, limited availability and high cost of lunar simulants hinder the study of macroscale properties of lunar concrete. We examine the composition, morphology, and in-situ mechanical properties of phases to better understand their potential behavior at the structural scale. We produced lunar concrete by activating Off-Planet Research’s H2N lunar highland simulant with a sodium silicate solution at standard temperature, pressure, and gravity. We measured compressive strength using miniature cylinders, and used nanoindentation, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy to characterize the micromechanical properties and microstructure. Results show a prevalence of soft NASH gel and slightly harder CASH gel in the geopolymer product. Some trends are observed, indicating that activator solution composition has the strongest influence on strength development.