Effect of mineral additives and permeability reducing admixtures having different action mechanisms on mechanical and durability performance of cementitious systems

In this paper,the effect of usage of the permeability reducing admixture(PRA)having different action mechanisms on hardened state properties of cementitious systems containing mineral additives is examined.For this aim,three commercial PRAs were used during investigation.The effective parameters in the first and third PRAs were air-entraining and high-rate air-entraining,respectively.The second one contained the insoluble calcium carbonate residue and had a small amount of the air-entraining property.Mortar mixes with binary and ternary cementitious systems were prepared by partially replacing cement with fly ash and metakaolin.The hardened state properties of mortar mixtures such as compressive strength,ultrasonic pulse velocity,water absorption,drying shrinkage and freeze-thaw resistance were investigated.The ternary cement-based mixture having both fly ash and metakaolin was selected as the most successful mineral-additive bearing mix in regard to hardened state properties.In this sense,PRA-B,with both insoluble residues and a small amount of air-entraining properties,showed the best performance among the mixtures containing PRA.The combined use of mineral additive and PRA had a more positive effect on the properties of the mixes.

A Simple Mix Proportion Design Method Based on Frost Durability for Recycled High Performance Concrete Using Fully Coarse Recycled Aggregate

Durability design of recycled high performance concrete（RHPC） is fundamental for improving the use rate and level of concrete waste as coarse recycled aggregate（CRA）. We discussed a frostdurability-based mix proportion design method for RHPC using 100 % CRA and natural sand. Five groups of RHPC mixes with five strength grades（40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 MPa） were produced using CRA with four quality classes, and their workability, 28 d compressive strengths and frost resistances（measured by the compressive strength loss ratio and the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity） were tested. Relationships between the 28 d compressive strength, the frost resistance and the CRA quality characteristic parameter, water absorption, were then developed. The criterion of a CRA maximum water absorption limit value for RHPC was suggested, independent of its source and quality class. The results show that all RHPC mixes achieve the expected target workability, strength, and frost durability. The research results demonstrate that the application of the proposed method does not require trial testing prior to use.

Composition design and performance evaluation of rubber-particle cement-stabilized gravel

To improve the mechanical properties and durability of the cement-stabilized base,rubber particles of three different sizes and with three different contents were optimally selected,the evolution laws of the mechanical strength and toughness of rubber-particle cement-stabilized gravel(RCSG)under different schemes were determined,and the optimal particle size and content of rubber particles were obtained.On this basis,the durability of the RCSG base was clarified.The results show that with an increase in the rubber particle size and content,the mechanical strength of RCSG gradually decreased,whereas the toughness and transverse deformation ability gradually increased.1%content and 2–4 mm sized RCSG can better balance the relationship between mechanical strength and toughness.The 7 d unconfined compressive strength was 17.7%higher than that of the 4–8 mm RCSG.The 28 d toughness index and ultimate splitting strain can be increased by 9.8%and 6.3 times,respectively,compared with ordinary cement-stabilized gravel(CSG).In terms of durability,compared with CSG,RCSG showed a 3.7%increase in the water stability property of cement-stabilized base with 1%content and 2–4 mm rubber particles,5.5%increase in the frozen coefficient,and 80.6%and 37.9%increase in the fatigue life at 0.70 and 0.85 stress ratio levels,respectively.

Recycled Aggregates:Production,Properties and Value-added Sustainable Applications

Part of an extensive research undertaken by the Concrete and Masonry Research Group at Kingston University-London was reported to demonstrate through scientific research and full-scale site trials,that quality recycled concrete aggregates can be produced and can be used successfully in a range of concrete applications.The effects of up to 100% coarse recycled concrete aggregate（RCA） on fresh,engineering and durability related properties were established and assessed its suitability for use in a rage of sustainable applications.

Nonlinear dynamic analysis and fatigue damage assessment for a deepwater test string subjected to random loads

The deepwater test string is an important but vulnerable component in offshore petroleum exploration,and its durability significantly affects the success of deepwater test operations.Considering the influence of random waves and the interaction between the test string and the riser,a time-domain nonlinear dynamic model of a deepwater test string is developed.The stress-time history of the test string is obtained to study vibration mechanisms and fatigue development in the test string.Several recommendations for reducing damage are proposed.The results indicate that the amplitude of dynamic response when the string is subjected to random loads gradually decreases along the test string,and that the von Mises stress is higher in the string sections near the top of the test string and the flex joints.In addition,the fatigue damage fluctuates with the water depth,and the maximum damage occurs in string sections adjacent to the lower flex joint and in the splash zone.Several measures are proposed to improve the operational safety of deepwater test strings：applying greater top tension,operating in a favorable marine environment,managing the order of the test string joints,and performing nondestructive testing of components at vulnerable positions.