Exploring the Mechanical Properties,Shrinkage and Compensation Mechanism of Cement Stabilized Macadam-Steel Slag from Multiple Perspectives

Steel slag is characterized by high strength,good wear resistance and micro-expansion.This study aims at exploring the potential of steel slag in cement stabilized aggregates,mainly including mechanical properties,shrinkage and compensation mechanisms.For this purpose,the compressive strength and compressive resilient modulus of cement stabilized aggregates with different steel slag contents(CSMS)were initially investigated.Subsequently,the effects of steel slag and cement on dry shrinkage,temperature shrinkage,and total shrinkage were analyzed through a series of shrinkage test designs.Additionally,in combination with X-ray diffraction(XRD)and Scanning electron microscope(SEM),the characteristic peaks and microscopic images of cement,steel slag and cement-steel slag at different hydration ages were analyzed to identify the chemical substances causing the expansion volume of steel slag and reveal the compensation mechanism of CSMS.The results show that the introduction of 20%steel slag improved the mechanical properties of CSMS by 16.7%,reduced dry shrinkage by 21%,increased temperature shrinkage by 5.8%and reduced its total shrinkage by 19.2%.Compared with the hydration reaction of cement alone,the composite hydration reaction of steel slag with cement does not produce new hydrates.Furthermore,it is noteworthy that the volume expansion of the f-CaO hydration reaction in steel slag can compensate for the volume shrinkage of cement-stabilized macadam.This research can provide a solid theoretical basis for the application and promotion of steel slag in cement-stabilized macadam and reduce the possibility of shrinkage cracking.

Analytical solutions for buckling of size-dependent Timoshenko beams

The inconsistences of the higher-order shear resultant expressed in terms of displacement(s) and the complete boundary value problems of structures modeled by the nonlocal strain gradient theory have not been well addressed. This paper develops a size-dependent Timoshenko beam model that considers both the nonlocal effect and strain gradient effect. The variationally consistent boundary conditions corresponding to the equations of motion of Timoshenko beams are reformulated with the aid of the weighted residual method. The complete boundary value problems of nonlocal strain gradient Timoshenko beams undergoing buckling are solved in closed forms. All the possible higher-order boundary conditions induced by the strain gradient are selectively suggested based on the fact that the buckling loads increase with the increasing aspect ratios of beams from the conventional mechanics point of view. Then, motivated by the expression for beams with simply-supported (SS) boundary conditions, some semiempirical formulae are obtained by curve fitting procedures.

Mechanism behind Time Dependent Elasticity of Crumb Rubber-Nano-Asphalt Hybrids Using Discrete Relaxation Spectrum

Crumb rubber powder is a successfully used renewable material obtained from waste tire rubber,which has been incorporated into paving asphalt since the 1930s due to its good resistance to deformation and fatigue as well as its eco-friendly performance.In this study,carbon nanotubes and nano silica were incorporated into the terminal blend crumb rubber modified asphalt technology to remedy the issues of excessive desulfurization and degradation of ground tyre rubber with this technology.The mechanism behind the high temperature delayed elastic properties of the crumb rubber-nano-asphalt hybrids was experimentally investigated based on discrete relaxation spectrum.Development of the discrete relaxation spectra was accomplished by fitting on the 60℃ storage modulus data tested by the dynamic shear rheometer using the generalized Maxwell model.Subsequently,the feasibility of characterizing delayed asphalt elasticity using main relaxation time was verified by test results from the 60℃ creep and recovery test.Results indicated that the crumb rubber-nano-asphalt hybrids exhibited arrheodictic behavior and the asphalt elasticity was strengthened by two nano agents.Moreover,the elasticity reinforcement with carbon nanotubes was greater than with nano silica.Additionally,a good correlation was observed between the 60℃ zero shear viscosity and main relaxation time,and greater 60℃ zero shear viscosity was correlated to longer main relaxation times.Furthermore,longer main relaxation time of the asphalt was related to greater average recovery rate in the creep and recovery test.This research is expected to shed some light on the mechanism behind time-dependent elasticity of crumb rubber modified asphalt from the perspective of polymer physics.