Elia Mercedes Alonso Guzmán

Calcium carbonate precipitation by heterotrophic bacteria isolated from biofilms formed on deteriorated ignimbrite stones: influence of calcium on EPS production and biofilm formation by these isolates.

Heterotrophic CaCO3-precipitating bacteria were isolated from biofilms on deteriorated ignimbrites, siliceous acidic rocks, from Morelia Cathedral (Mexico) and identified as Enterobacter cancerogenus (22e), Bacillus sp. (32a) and Bacillus subtilis (52g). In solid medium, 22e and 32a precipitated calcite and vaterite while 52g produced calcite. Urease activity was detected in these isolates and CaCO3 precipitation increased in the presence of urea in the liquid medium. In the presence of calcium, EPS production decreased in 22e and 32a and increased in 52g. Under laboratory conditions, ignimbrite colonization by these isolates only occurred in the presence of calcium and no CaCO3 was precipitated. Calcium may therefore be important for biofilm formation on stones. The importance of the type of stone, here a siliceous stone, on biological colonization is emphasized. This calcium effect has not been reported on calcareous materials. The importance of the effect of calcium on EPS production and biofilm formation is discussed in relation to other applications of CaCO3 precipitation by bacteria.

Mechanical Properties of Rocks Used for the Construction of Vehicular Bridges Supported by Pier Masonry

In Mexico, since the early stages of the civilization, the stone masonry has assumed an important role in construction due to the wide availability of this kind of material. Masonry is a material composed by bricks, carved or even rubble stones jointed without (dry joint) or with mortar (mortar joints); which is principally formed with sand, water and cementitiuos materials. The research presented in this paper deals with the procedure of obtaining the mechanical properties of rocks placed on piers of four vehicular bridges located in the south of the state of Mexico, these mechanical properties are compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, Poisson ratio, Cohesion and Internal friction Angle of the rocks as independent units, also are reported the Density values. All of these properties are necessary to conduct further research regarding the mechanical behavior of the pier as a structure since this piece of research is part of an ongoing project concerning risk assessment of vehicular bridges developed in Mexico. The identified rocks in masonry were volcanic igneous materials such as dacites, basalts, rhyolites, andesites and rusted andesites. The materials with the highest and the lowest mechanical properties are the basalt and the dacite respectively. It is recommended to use the dacite’s properties in order to perform a conservative analysis of the mechanical behavior of any masonry structure, located near the selected sample studied herein.

Effective Porosity Comparison with a Lime Mortar Matrix Base during 350 to 700 Days

This research is an investigation about the use of powder material additions with mortars lime base for a possible implementation in construction and/or restoration of historical sites. Mortars were elaborated in laboratory conditions with a 1:2.5 in weight proportion. One of the proofs to which these mortars were submitted was the test of capillary absorption; this way, the influence of the materials added to powder in these mortars determined porosity. Mortars were made with different percentages of materials. These powder materials are brick manufacturing ash, quarry powder, clay and maize starch. The test was run during 350 to 700 days. It obtained better results with 700 days than with 350 days.

Bank Material Study for the Restoration of Historical Monuments in Michoacán, Mexico

Nowadays, most of the infrastructure building has inside its structural elements stony material. Over the years, the rocks have been widely used in construction, as stony material in a ceramic or cement matrix, or as a structural element in historical buildings. Physical characteristics are determined as: the present Humidity, Absorption, Density, specific Gravity, and mechanics as uni-axial Compression Resistance, besides Capillary Suction. We obtained images with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and we compared the physical and mechanical proofs with microphotographs. These studies help a restorer to use the rocks wisely and with the conviction that the rock is appropriate for the goals searched. The stony materials are found in a material bank called Comanja in Michoacán, Mexico.

Ash Substitution Effect in Brick Fabrication in Induration Time and Mechanical Resistance in Mortars Portland Cement Base

In this research, we prepared cement-sand mortars and cement-water paste with partial substitutions associated to cement weight. We used ash coming from wood burnt to firing red brick. The objective is to determine the probable pozzolanic activity in cement matrix. We employed five different proportions of ash to make mortars. We studied the substitutions 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30%. We evaluated the cement-sand mixing workability, the normal consistency, and the indurating time in cement-water pastes. We researched simple compression, flexion, tension, adherence, electrical Resistivity, and Pulse Ultrasonic Velocity in the mortars in ages: 14, 28, 45, 90, 180, and 360 days. We also characterized the particle form of the cement and the ash. It only had the best results in the 15% substitution.

Non-Destructive Tests as Durability Indicators in Cement Mortars with Pozzolanic Substitutions

Cement industry is responsible of 5-7% of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. This is preoccupant because this is one of the greenhouse effect gases which cause global warming. Pozzolanic material incorporation in cement mortars elaboration represents a good alternative to partially substitute cement, since its chemical composition could contribute to improvement of its durability and mechanical characteristics. In this research, mortars with pozzolanic substitutions are evaluated through non-destructive tests as: capillary absorption, electrical resistivity, and ultrasonic pulse velocity to the age of 1000 days. The results suggested that the incorporation of pozzolanic material as partial substitutes of Portland cement increases the mortars properties mainly in substitutions of CBC 20%, PN 10, and 30%.

Study on the Pozzolanic Effect of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash from Taretan, Michoacán, Mexico, on a Portland Cement Mortar

Since the construction industry is responsible for 30% of the CO2 emissions, one way to reduce the impact of the construction activity is to substitute ordinary Portland cement by pozzolanic materials. The application of using agricultural waste in the production of pozzolanic material is technically feasible, due to the calcination of organic materials and leaving ashes with a fine particle size and high SiO2 content. In the present, it is discussed the pozzolanic effect of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) from Taretan, Michoacán, Mexico, on the physical and mechanical properties of a portland cement mortar. Test specimens were prepared based on replacing sugarcane bagasse ash percentages of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 %, relative to the weight of cement. To validate the mechanical properties of the specimens, tensile, flexural and compressive strength was determine. The porosity of the mortar was determined by means of non-destructive ultrasonic testing of pulse rate and electrical resistivity. The contribution of this paper was determine the bond strength of an overlay mortar with SCBA bonded to the concrete substrate by pull-out tests. The results showed that the addition of the sugarcane bagasse ash improved the mechanical strength, adherence of the mortar to concrete, and decreases the porosity on large curing times. Hence, it is suggested the use of Portland pozzolan cement containing sugarcane bagasse ash pozzolan, with the added benefit on the use of agricultural waste.

Advances of a FEM for the Failure Probability Evaluation of Masonry Vehicular Bridge Support Piers

One of the responsibilities of a Civil Engineer is to make decisions regarding preservation of infrastructure; therefore, there have been established concepts such as risk and risk analysis. Risk analysis, is a methodology applied to determine and evaluate the risk magnitude. From the structural engineering point of view, it is required that any structure become secure, this means that the capacity to withstand external actions (strength) will be higher than these actions (loads). In order to determine the structural safety, it is required to define the failure of the structure that it is not strongly related with the collapse of the structure; the failure criteria needs to be fixed depending on the use of the building and the consequences associated with the interruption of services provided by the facility. The failure then, is calculated by means of a limit state function in where it is established the failure criteria; failure is reached when a specific condition (strength) is surpassed by the actions over the structure. The present work aims to propose a preliminary Finite Element Model (FEM) that represents a pier used as support for vehicular bridges. This FEM is required for the assessment of mechanical behavior of the structure that will be used for the determination of the limit state function needed for risk assessment. Most of the simulations with FEM presented in literature are very used for modeling of masonry walls, but it is not usual to model structures such as bridge piers.