Effect of Curing Conditions on the Hydration and Performance of CFBC Ash Cementitious System

Circulating fluidized bed combustion （CFBC） ash can be used as supplementary cementitious material for concrete production for its high pozzolanic activity. We investigated the effect of curing conditions on the hydration and performance of CFBC ash-Portland cement system （30： 70, by mass） including hydration products, paste microstructure, linear expansion ratio, chemically combined water content and compressive strength. The results show that tobermorite rather than ettringite is generated under the condition of autoclaved curing. The expansion and mortar strength of the system cured in water is higher than those cured in air at a given age, and the strength and bulk volume may retract under the condition of air curing. In addition, autoclaved curing facilitates the increase of strength gain at early curing ages （the increase rate lowers down in the following ages） and the improvement of system volume stability. It is suggested that sufficient water is necessary for the curing of CFBC ash cementitious system, and autoclaved curing may be considered where volume stability is a primary concern.

Effects of Curing Conditions on Strength Development of High Strength Concrete

This paper presents the results of a series of studies on the influence of curing conditions on the strength development of high strength concrete. The 1-, 3-, 7-, 14- and 28-day strengths of four different mixes of Grade 75 similar to 80 concrete, with or without pulverized fuel ash and/or condensed silica fume, under five different curing regimes were investigated. It is revealed that the curing conditions have significant influence on both the short term and long term strength development of the concrete and that concrete mixes of the same grade but containing different mineral admixtures show distinct favour for a curing regime. These results will be helpful for evaluating suitable curing methods for high strength concrete with different mix proportions.

Effect of High Temperature Curing on the Frost Resistance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete and the Physical Properties of Second-Generation Recycled Coarse Aggregate under Freeze-Thaw Cycles

With the emphasis on environmental issues,the recycling of waste concrete,even recycled concrete,has become a hot spot in the field of architecture.But the repeated recycling of waste concrete used in harsh environments is still a complex problem.This paper discusses the durability and recyclability of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)as a prefabricated material in the harsh environment,the effect of high-temperature curing(60℃,80℃,and 100℃)on the frost resistance of RAC and physical properties of the second generation recycled coarse aggregate(RCA_(2))of RAC after 300 freeze-thaw cycles were studied.The frost resistance of RAC was characterized by compressive strength,relative dynamic elastic modulus,and mass loss.As the physical properties of RCA_(2),the apparent density,water absorption,and crushing value were measured.And the SEM images of RAC after 300 freeze-thaw cycles were shown.The results indicated that the frost resistance of RAC cured at 80℃ for 7 days was comparable to that cured in the standard condition(cured for 28 days at 20℃±2℃ and 95%humidity),and the RAC cured at 100℃ was slightly worse.However,the frost resistance of RAC cured at 60℃ deteriorated seriously.The RAC cured at 80℃ for 7 days is the best.Whether after the freeze-thaw cycle or not,the RCA that curd at 60℃,80℃,and 100℃ for 7 days can also meet the requirements of Grade III RCA and be used as the aggregate of non-bearing part of prefabricated concrete components.RCA_(2) which is cured at 80℃ for 7 days had the best physical properties.

Influence of subsequent curing on water sorptivity and pore structure of steam-cured concrete

Steam-cured condition is found to cause larger porosity and worse properties of concrete compared with normal curing condition. For the sake of seeking effective measurements to eliminate this bad effect of steam-cured condition on concrete, the water sorptivity and pore structure of steam-cured concretes exposed to different subsequent curing conditions were investigated after steam-curing treatment. The capillary absorption coefficient and porosity of the corresponding concretes were analyzed, and their mechanisms were also discussed. The results indicate that water sorptivity and pore structure of steam-cured concrete are greatly influenced by the curing condition used in subsequent ages. Exposure steam-cured concrete to air condition has an obviously bad effect on its properties and microstructures. Adopting subsequent curing of immersing steam-cured concrete into about 20℃ water after steam curing period can significantly decrease its capillary absorption coefficient and porosity. Steam-cured concrete with 7 d water curing has minimum capillary absorption coefficient and total porosity. Its water sorptivity is decreased by 23% compared with standard curing concrete and the porosity is 9.6% lower. Moreover, the corresponding gradient of water sorptivity and porosity of steam-cured concrete both decrease, thus mictostructure of concrete becomes more homogeneous.

Influence of Curing Condition on the Adhesive Strength of EVA Modified Mortar to Tile

The reducing water effectiveness of EVA latex and powder was observed. Adhesive strength of EVA modified mortar to tile under different curing condition was studied. And the adhesive strengths of mortars modified by EVA latex and by EVA powder were compared. The results show that the reducing water effectiveness is improved by 36.12% and 21.55%, respectively, when the content of EVA latex and powder are 8% and 4%. EVA latex and powder can improve the adhesive strength of modified mortar to tile under the standard curing, high temperature curing, and freeze-thaw circle curing. EVA latex can improve the water resistance obviously, besides improve the adhesive strengths of standard curing and high temperature curing, comparing with EVA powder.

Distribution of Na+and Mechanical Properties of Hardened Body of Alkali-activated Cementitious Materials

To explore the distribution of and the mechanical properties(compressive strength)of the hardened body of alkali slag-fly ash cementitious materials,this study was conducted by using the XRD,FTIR,SEM/EDS,and other test methods in three conditions:airtight drying(AD),airtight immersion(AI),and airtight soaking(AS).The 1D distribution law of free of hardened body under standard curing conditions was explored.The experimental results show that under standard curing conditions,the 1D distribution of within 0d-3 d shows a∨-shaped distribution,within 3-7 d show a∧-shaped distribution,and within 7-28 d tends to be balanced.The test results of leaching rate show that the free was the most stable under AD conditions and the hardened body bound the most by XRD,FTIR and SEM/EDS.And the compressive strength of the hardened body was the highest.The compressive strength of 28th reached 95.9 MPa.The definite distribution of provides an important reference for the strength development and durability evaluation of the hardened body of alkaliexcited cementitious materials.

Chemical and Thermal Characterization of Cement Mortar Containing Ground Palm Oil Fuel Ash as a Partial Cement Replacement

This study investigates the influence of using ground palm oil fuel ash(G-POFA) from 10%-30% as cement replacement(by weight) on the cement mortar's pH under various curing conditions. These findings were supplemented by thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA). Moreover, the resistance of G-POFA blended cement mortars to water absorption and sorptivity was determined. Further, the k-value test was carried out to explain the pozzolanic and filler behavior of G-POFA and to support the results obtained from TGA. It was found that there was no significant impact of several curing conditions on the pH of mortars. The mortar with 10% G-POFA in replacement of cement(G-POFA-10) exhibited the best resistance against water absorption and sorptivity.

Clayey soil stabilization using alkali-activated volcanic ash and slag

Lime and Portland cement are the most widely used binders in soil stabilization projects.However,due to the high carbon emission in cement production,research on soil stabilization by the use of more environmentally-friendly binders with lower carbon footprint has attracted much attention in recent years.This research investigated the potential of using alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBS)and volcanic ash(VA)as green binders in clayey soil stabilization projects,which has not been studied before.The effects of different combinations of VA with GGBS,various liquid/solid ratios,different curing conditions,and different curing periods(i.e.7 d,28 d and 90 d)were investigated.Compressive strength and durability of specimens against wet-dry and freeze-thaw cycles were then studied through the use of mechanical and microstructural tests.The results demonstrated that the coexistence of GGBS and VA in geopolymerization process was more effective due to the synergic formation of N-A-S-H and C-(A)-S-H gels.Moreover,although VA needs heat curing to become activated and develop strength,its partial replacement with GGBS made the binder suitable for application at ambient temperature and resulted in a remarkably superior resistance against wet-dry and freeze-thaw cycles.The carbon embodied of the mixtures was also evaluated,and the results confirmed the low carbon footprints of the alkali-activated mixtures.Finally,it was concluded that the alkali-activated GGBS/VA could be promisingly used in clayey soil stabilization projects instead of conventional binders.

Preparation of High Impermeable and Crack-resistance Chemical Admixture and Its Mechanism

A kind of high impermeable and crack-resistance chemical admixture ( HICRCA) was prepared , which is a compound chemical admixture composed of an expansion ingredient, density ingredient, and organic hydrophobic poreblocking ingredient. The results of the experiments indicate that the addition of HICRCA improves mortar and concrete in the following performances: (1) perfect workability: slump is more than 22cm, theslump afar 3h is about 16cm; (2) high impermeability:for the mortar, the pervious height under a water pressure of 1.5MPa is 1.5cm,for the concrete, the pervious height under a water pressure of 5.0MPa is 2. 2cm;(3) high crack-resistance: there is a micro-expansion at the age of 90d; (4) high compressivestrength: compared with the controlled concrete, the compressive strengths at the age of 3d and 2Sd are improved by 66.4% and 62.0% , respectively. At the same time, the effects of different curing condition on mortar and concrete expansive andshrinkage performance were studied. In addition, the impermeable and crack-resistance mechanism, was investigatedin the present paper.

Damage Action of Alkali-resistant Glass Fiber in Cement-based Material

The compressive strength and flexural strength with the same strength class cement mortar of the alkali-resistant glass fiber cement mortar were tested in standard and hot-water curing condition, and the damage mechanism of alkali-resistant glass fiber was studied. The interaction mechanisms of the chemical erosion and physical injury in different curing conditions were studied in order to summarize the damage mechanism of alkali-resistant glass fiber in cement-based materials, and chloride diffusivity coefficient and porosity of cement mortar were tested in the different curing conditions. The experimental results are that the strength of cement based materials and fiber cement slurry interface zone were closely related, and heat curing could accelerate the hydration of cement, but inevitably enlarge the defect.

Effect of curing condition on bonding quality of scarf-repaired composite laminates

Both single-face vacuum bag curing(SVC) and double-face vacuum bag curing(DVC)can be used in scarf repair of composite structures. But different curing conditions caused by the sealing state may affect the bonding quality of scarf-repaired structures. In this paper, the effect of curing condition on bonding quality of scarf-repaired laminates was experimentally investigated in terms of surface profiles, moisture absorption curves and section profiles. In order to further explore the moisture absorption mechanism, finite element model of the repaired laminates using DVC was established with moisture diffusion of both the adhesive and composite laminates considered. This model was verified by experimental results. Based on the model of DVC case, the model of SVC case was built by changing moisture absorption parameters of the adhesive. Results show that SVC reduces the bonding quality, mainly reflecting in more adhesive inner voids and patch-toparent dislocation. And SVC increases moisture absorption rate and moisture equilibrium content of the adhesive, and its effect on the former is far greater than that on the latter.