Vlastimil Bílek

Fatigue Parameters of Cement-Based Composites with Various Types of Fibres

The paper introduces the basic fracture mechanics parameters of advanced building material – cement-based composites with various types of fibres, prepared as high performance concrete/mortar developed by ZPSV, a.s. company for production of thin-walled panels/elements. To this end three-point bend specimens with starting notch were prepared and tested under static (load–deflection diagram, effective fracture toughness) and cyclic loading (fatigue parameter – Wöhler curve). The experimentally obtained results of cement-based composites are compared and the suitability of these types composites for its application are discussed.

Some Issues of Shrinkage-Reducing Admixtures Application in Alkali-Activated Slag Systems

Significant drying shrinkage is one of the main limitations for the wider utilization of alkali-activated slag (AAS). Few previous works revealed that it is possible to reduce AAS drying shrinkage by the use of shrinkage-reducing admixtures (SRAs). However, these studies were mainly focused on SRA based on polypropylene glycol, while as it is shown in this paper, the behavior of SRA based on 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol can be significantly different. While 0.25% and 0.50% had only a minor effect on the AAS properties, 1.0% of this SRA reduced the drying shrinkage of waterglass-activated slag mortar by more than 80%, but it greatly reduced early strengths simultaneously. This feature was further studied by isothermal calorimetry, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Calorimetric experiments showed that 1% of SRA modified the second peak of the pre-induction period and delayed the maximum of the main hydration peak by several days, which corresponds well with observed strength development as well as with the MIP and SEM results. These observations proved the certain incompatibility of SRA with the studied AAS system, because the drying shrinkage reduction was induced by the strong retardation of hydration, resulting in a coarsening of the pore structure rather than the proper function of the SRA.

Effect of Na3PO4 on the Hydration Process of Alkali-Activated Blast Furnace Slag

In recent years, the utilization of different non-traditional cements and composites has been increasing. Alkali-activated cementitious materials, especially those based on the alkali activation of blast furnace slag, have considerable potential for utilization in the building industry. However, alkali-slag cements exhibit very rapid setting times, which are too short in some circumstances, and these materials cannot be used for some applications. Therefore, it is necessary to find a suitable retarding admixture. It was shown that the sodium phosphate additive has a strong effect on the heat evolution during alkali activation and effectively retards the hydration reaction of alkali-activated blast furnace slag. The aim of the work is the suggestion of a reaction mechanism of retardation mainly based on Raman and X‑ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Hybrid Alkali Activated Concretes - Conception and Development for Practical Application

Hybrid cements represent a relatively new type of binders which combine some of the advantages of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), the application of mineral admixtures and alkali activation. Hybrid cements represent blends containing a low portion of OPC and a high proportion of mineral additions (such as blast furnace slag, fly ash, metakaolin ....). The paper is focused on the study of properties of mortars prepared from hybrid cements. Mortars with hybrid cements were prepared for an evaluation of the effects of the dosage and the composition of alkali activator, the dosage of OPC and the ratio between ground granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash. The results make it possible to optimize the composition of hybrid alkali activated concretes.

Evolution from High Strength Concrete to High Performance Concrete

High strength concrete for the production of concrete railway sleepers was designed more than 20 years ago. The compressive strength of the concrete was very high from the start, but flexure strengths showed some irregular development - a decrease in time. Later, also a significant decrease of fracture properties was recorded. Microcracking was found to be the reason for this; therefore some modifications were performed to avoid this happening (especially the reduction of the maximum size of aggregates from 22 mm to 16 mm or 11 mm). Some problems concerning frost resistance of the concrete with a slag addition were reduced by applying ternary binders. All of the results are discussed from the point of view of a long-term observation of the strengths and fracture properties ́ development during the time period of 5 years or even more.

Porous Systems Based on Alkali-Activated Fly Ash

This paper studies possibilities of alkali-activated fly ash (AAFA) for the preparation of systems with preserved certain porosity level. Such systems would be used for example as filtration barriers, which are commonly prepared by both energetically and economically expensive sintering process at high temperatures. Porosity preservation was facilitated by the use of only coarse fraction from fly ash particles together with the use of low water to fly ash ratio and pressure compaction. Two different doses of sodium hydroxide were used to alkali activate fly ash. Prepared specimens were moist cured at 95 °C for 24 hours. Porosity and binder phase among the fly ash grains were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and capillary flow porosimetry (CFP). The results showed that it is possible to prepare AAFA-based porous systems and modify their properties by changing the activator dose.

Influence of a Shrinkage-Reducing Admixture on the Damage to the Internal Structure of Alkali-Activated Composites during Testing of the Modulus of Elasticity

This article deals with an experimental determination of the static modulus of elasticity in compression on fine-grained composites based on alkali-activated slag. This experiment included an alkali-activated composite without a shrinkage-reducing admixture and the same composite with a shrinkage-reducing admixture. The test specimens were subjected to testing of the dynamic modulus of elasticity using the ultrasonic pulse velocity test and the resonance method as well as of the static modulus of elasticity in compression. The static modulus of elasticity test was accompanied by the measurement of the acoustic activity of the material using the acoustic emission method, whose advantages is the possibility to detect early formation and propagation of cracks in the internal structure of the material. The output of the described experiment is a detailed evaluation of the differences in the behaviour of the tested alkali-activated composites based on the observed values of the modulus of elasticity and the recorded acoustic activity of the material during loading.

Cement Kiln By-Pass Dust: An Effective Alkaline Activator for Pozzolanic Materials

Cement kiln by-pass dust (CKD) is a fine-grained by-product of Portland clinker manufacturing. Its chemical composition is not suitable for returning back into feedstock and, therefore, it has to be discharged. Such an increasing waste production contributes to the high environmental impact of the cement industry. A possible solution for the ecological processing of CKD is its incorporation into alkali-activated blast furnace slag binders. Thanks to high alkaline content, CKD serves as an effective accelerator for latent hydraulic substances which positively affect their mechanical properties. It was found out that CKD in combination with sodium carbonate creates sodium hydroxide in situ which together with sodium water glass content increases the dissolution of blast furnace slag particles and subsequently binder phase formation resulting in better flexural and compressive strength development compared to the sample without it. At the same time, the addition of CKD compensates the autogenous shrinkage of alkali-activated materials reducing the risk of material cracking. On the other hand, this type of inorganic admixture accelerates the hydration process causing rapid loss of workability.

Experimental Analysis of the Development of Compressive Strength, Modulus of Elasticity and Acoustic Emission Parameters of Alkali-Activated Composites

This paper describes an experiment focused on monitoring the development of the modulus of elasticity and the compressive strength of composites that are based on alkali‑activated slag (AAS) during the first 28 days of ageing. The test specimens were tested at the age of 3 and 28 days using two non-destructive methods (ultrasonic pulse and resonance methods) to determine the value of the dynamic modulus of elasticity. Subsequently, the same specimens were used to determine the static modulus of elasticity using compressive stress test, during which the behaviour of the composite was monitored by equipment for recording the acoustic emission in the material. The result of the experiment is the evaluation of the behaviour of the AAS composite in regard to the development of its modulus of elasticity and compressive strength, as well as in regard to the acoustic emission method during loading.

Utilization of By-Pass Cement Kiln Dust in Alkali-Activated Materials

This paper deals with the mechanical properties and phase study of alkali activated blast furnace slag and by-pass cement kiln dust mixture. The by-pass cement kiln dust (CKD) solves the problem with significant shrinkage of alkali activated materials which is considerably limiting their practical applications. The mechanism of action of CKD in alkali activated matrix has been investigated as well as its optimal dosage in the means of mechanical properties. The reaction products during the hydration process were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction.