Laboratory research on rheological behavior and characterization of ultraviolet aged asphalt

The influence of aging on the evolution of structural,morphological and rheological properties of neat asphalt was investigated by Fourier transform infrared(FTIR),atomic force microscopy(AFM) and dynamic shear rheometer(DSR),respectively.Asphalt was suffered under 20 W/m2 of UV radiant intensity and under the condition of aging time(0,48,96 and 144 h) with film thickness of 100 μm and film thickness of 50,100,200 and 500 μm after aging for 120 h,respectively,at certain UV radiant intensity 20 W/m2.Rheological results tested by DSR exhibit higher the complex shear(stiffness) modulus(G*) and lower phase angle(δ),compared to the virgin at the same test condition.The compositions analysis of asphalt before and after aging show an increase of carbonyl and sulfoxides,while a decrease of aromatic functional groups.With the increase of the component of asphaltene,obvious agglomerates of asphalten appear in neat asphalt surfaces after aging.

Self-monitoring Application of Asphalt Concrete Containing Graphite and Carbon Fibers

The self-monitoring application of asphalt concrete containing graphite and carbon fibers using indirect tensile test and wheel rolling test were introduced. The experiment results indicate that this kind of pitch-based composite is effective for strain/stress self-monitoring. In the indirect tensile test, for a completely conductive asphalt concrete specimen, the piezoresistivity was very weak and slightly positive, which meant the resistivity increase with the increment of tensile strain at all stress/strain amplitudes, with the gage factor as high as 6. The strain self-sensing ability was superior in the case of higher graphite content. However, when the conductive concrete was embedded into common asphalt concrete specimen as a partial structure function, the piezoresistivity was positive at all stress/strain amplitudes and with the gage factor of 13, which was much higher than that of completely conductive specimen. Thus, the strain self-sensing ability was superior when conductive asphalt concrete was taken in as a partial structure function. In the wheel-rolling test, the piezoresistivity was highly positive. At any stress amplitude, the piezoresistivity was strong, with the gage factor as high as 100, which was higher for a stress amplitude of 0.7 MPa than that of 0.5 MPa.

Effect of Fly Ash and Early Strength Agent on Durability of Concrete Exposed to the Cyclic Sulfate Environment

The effect of fly ash and early strength agent on resistance of concrete to the cyclic sulfate environment was studied.Concrete specimens made with ordinary portland cement or ordinary portland cement incorporating fly ash with the replacement of 10% or 20%,or 1% early strength agent and fly ash with the replacement of 20%,were made and subjected to 250 cycles of exposure to the cyclic sulfate environment.Concrete properties including loss of mass,chloride ion diffusion coefficient,compressive strength and flexural strength were measured.Microstructure and chemical component of samples were determined by means of X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy.The experimental results indicated that effect of fly ash on the cyclic sulfate resistance of concretes was mostly dependent on the amount of fly ash.Early strength agent improved performances of concrete with 20% fly ash exposed to cyclic sulfate environment.

Self-compacting Concrete-filled Steel Tubes Prepared from Manufactured Sand with a High Content of Limestone Fines

To meet the requirements of construction of concretes filled in the steel tube arches,a C60 grade micro-expansive self-compacting concrete （SCC） was prepared from manufactured sand （MS）.The utilization of MS with a high content of quarry limestone fines was dealed for SCC applications.The workability,compressive and splitting strength,modulus of elasticity,restrained expansion and chloride ion permeability as well as freeze-thaw resistance of three MS-SCC mixes with fines content of 3%,7% and 10% were tested and compared with those of the natural sand （NS）-SCC mix.The experimental results indicate that the performances of the C60 MS-SCC with fines content of 7% are excellent and compared favorably with those of C60 NS-SCC.

Shear resistance properties of TPS modified bitumen binders and asphalt mixtures

Shear resistance properties of the virgin bitumen and modified bitumen binders with Tafpack Super(TPS) modifier and SBS modified bitumen were discussed.Dynamic shear rheometer(DSR) was used to measure the laboratory creep data for these binders over a wide range of constant shear stresses at 20 ℃ to characterize the shear creep behaviors of all kinds of asphalt binders,and the rutting test system was used to investigate the permanent deformation of porous asphalt mixtures using the above bitumen binders for a fixed compressive stress.The shear strain rate and shear creep modulus were used to characterize the shear creep behavior of the TPS modified bitumen,and the rutting test results were used to show the consistency of porous asphalt mixtures with the bitumen binders.Results indicate that a distinction of shear creep strain can be made among different contents of TPS modified bitumen at the same stress level,where the shear creep strain-time response curve of the SBS modified bitumen binder is between the curves of the 8% TPS and 12% TPS modified bitumen binders.The shear strain rate and the shear creep modulus of the TPS modified bitumen binders are obtained to compare with those of the SBS modified bitumen binder which results in the same trend as the shear creep strain-time response curve.Permanent deformation results of all the porous asphalt mixtures from the rutting test show reasonable agreement with the findings of the shear strain rates and shear creep modulus over the range of shear stress levels.

Influences of Polypropylene Fiber and SBR Polymer Latex on Abrasion Resistance of Cement Mortar

Influences of polypropylene （PP） fiber and styrene-butadiene rubber （SBR） polymer latex on the strength performance, abrasion resistance of cement mortar were studied. The experimental results show that the flexural strength, brittleness index （σF/σC） and abrasion resistance can be improved significantly by the addition of PP fiber and SBR polymer latex. The relationship between the flexural strength and abrasion resistance was analyzed, showing a good linear relationship between them. The reinforced mechanism of PP fiber and SBR polymer latex on cement mortar was analyzed by some microscopic tests. The test results show that the addition of SBR polymer latex has no significant influence on the cement hydration after 7 d curing. Adding SBR polymer latex into cement mortar can form a polymer transition layer in the interfaces of PP fiber and cement hydrates, which improves the bonding properties between the PP fiber and cement mortar matrix effectively.

Effect of Minor Elements on Silicate Cement Clinker

The effect of rare-earth and HX addition agent on the burn-ability of silicate cement dinker was investigated by orthogonal experiment. The result shows, compared with blank sample, f CaO of the .samples added with rare-earth and HX agent drops by 84.95% , its 3 d and 28d compressive strength enhances by 24.40% and 16.90% , respectively. It was discovered by means of X-ray diffrnction and high temperature microscope analysis that sintering temperature of the sample added with rare-earth and HX addition agent is about 1320℃. At the same time, the tmrning temperature of triealeium silicate desends and its crystal growth forming- rate increases. Tricalcium silicate content in burning clinker is higher and its crystal is larger.

Fatigue Performance of Bridge Deck Pavement Materials

Three beam samples of bridge deck pavement were prepared, with gradation types of AC-13, and AC-16 and combined AC-13＋AC-16. Four-point bending test was adopted to investigate the fatigue performance of these beam samples. The experimental results indicate that the initial bending stiffness is related to the type of beam sample samples decreases as the increase of the controlled strain fatigue resistance and bigger limiting bending strain at pared with single beam sample, the fatigue performance and testing temperature. Fatigue life of these level. The AC-13 beam sample exhibits better the given strain level and temperature. Corn- of combining beam samnle is relatively poor.

Influence of ZrO_2 on sintering and crystallization of CaO-Al_2O_3-SiO_2 glass-ceramics

ZrO2 was added into CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 glass-ceramics and the effect of ZrO2 on sintering and crystallization of CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 glass ceramics was investigated. The results show that the sintering shrinkage ratio of glass particles decreases with the increase of the content of ZrO2. ZrO2 has an unfavourable effect on sintering shrinkage ratio of glass particles. The sintering shrinkage ratio of glass particles increases with the increase of sintering temperature. The increase of sintering temperature favors the decrease of the liquid phase viscosity of glass particles. ZrO2 has little effect on crystallization of main crystalline phase （β-wollastonite）. However, it promotes the crystallization at relatively low temperature.

Methods for Improving Volume Stability of Steel Slag as Fine Aggregate

Suitable methods for enhancing the volume stability of steel slag utilized as fine aggregate were determined. The effects of steam treatment at 100 ℃ and autoclave treatment under 2.0 MPa on the soundness of steel slag sand were investigated by means of powder ratio, linear expansion, compressive and flexural strength. DTA, EDX, XRD and ethylene glycol methods were employed to analyze both the treated slags and susceptible expansion grains. Experimental results indicate that powder ratio, content of free lime and rate of linear expansion can express the improvement in volume stability of different treated methods. Steam treatment process cannot ultimately prevent specimens from cracking and decrease of strength, but mortar made from autoclave treated slag keeps integration subjected to hot water of 80℃ until 28 d and its strength do not show significant decrement. The hydration of over-burn free lime and periclase phase are the main cause for the disintegration or crack of untreated and steam treated steel slag＇s specimens. Autoclave treatment process is more effective than steam treatment process on enhancement of volume stability of steel slag.

Structure of Bi_2O_3-ZnO-B_2O_3 system low-melting sealing glass

Bi2O3-ZnO-B2O3 system glass is a kind of lead-free low melting sealing glasses.The structure of Bi2O3-ZnO-B2O3 system low-melting sealing glass was investigated by DSC,FT-IR,XRD and SEM.The results show that with the increase of B2O3 content,the transition temperature Tg and softening temperature Tf of Bi2O3-ZnO-B2O3 system low-melting sealing glasses increase,which leads to the liquid phase precipitation temperature increasing and promotes the structure stability in the glass.With increasing the heat treatment temperature,a large number of liquid phases appear in samples and the sinter efficiency of the samples increases.The FT-IR spectra of the glasses show the presence of some bands that are assigned to vibrations of Bi-O bond from [BO3] pyramidal and [BiO6] octahedral units and B-O from [BO3] and [BO4] units.With the decrease of B2O3 content,the crystallization tendency of the glass increases.In glass samples B1 and B2,crystallization starts at 460℃ and 540℃,respectively.Both of them precipitate Bi24B2O39 phases.

Effects of Fibers on the Dynamic Properties of Asphalt Mixtures

The dynamic characteristics of fiber-modified asphalt mixture were investigated. Cellulose fiber, polyester fiber and mineral fiber were used as additives for asphalt mixture, and the dosage was 0.3%, 0.3%, 0.4%, respectively. Dynamic modulus test using SuperPave simple performance tester （SPT） was conducted to study the dynamic modulus （E＇） and phase angle （δ） for the control asphalt mixture and fiber-modified ones at various temperatures and frequencies. Experimental results show that all fiber-modified asphalt mixtures have higher dynamic modulus compared with control mixture. The dynamic modulus master curves of each type of asphalt mixtures are determined based on nonlinear least square regression in accordance with the time- temperature superposition theory at a control temperature （21.1℃）. The fatigue parameter E^＊×sinδ and rutting parameter E^＊/sinδ of asphalt mixture are adopted to study the fatigue and rutting-resistance properties, and experimental results indicate that such properties can be improved by fiber additives.

Magnesia Modification of Alkali-Activated Slag Fly Ash Cement

A new type of magnesia modification alkali-activated cement was prepared, the strength, setting time, shrinkage ratio and cracking behavior, as well as the composition and structure of the hydration product were investigated. The results indicate that the setting time of this cement is similar to that of the ordinary commercial cements; its strength reaches the standard of 42.5 degree cement, its cracking resistance has been remarkably improved because of the micro-aggregate effect of fly ash and shrinkage compensating of magnesia.

Experimental evaluation on high temperature rheological properties of various fiber modified asphalt binders

High temperature rheological properties of fiber modified asphalt binders and impact of the type and content on such properties were studied.Three types of fiber,including polyester(PET),polyacrylonitrile(PAN) and cellulose(CEL),a control content(0%) and four levels of fiber content(2%,4%,6% and 8% by total asphalt binder mass) were used with asphalt binders.The high temperature rheological properties,consisting of complex modulus(G*) and phase angle δ,were measured using SHRP's dynamic shear rheometer(DSR) between 46-82 ℃.Experimental results indicate that the changes of G* and tan δ of fiber modified asphalt binders with the increase of test temperature tend to slow down,and the temperature susceptibility is improved obviously compared to that of original asphalt binder.Fiber modification results in the increase of rutting parameter(G*/sin δ) at high temperatures,the decrease of temperature susceptibility,and further improved high temperature performance of asphalt binder.An excellent correlation exhibits between fiber content and high temperature performance of asphalt binder.Moreover,fiber type also has different influences on the improvement of G*/sin δ,G*/sin δ of PET and PAN fiber asphalt binders are both higher than that of CEL fiber,but G*/sin δ of CEL fiber is still higher than that of original asphalt.However,there is a critical fiber content when fibers start to interact with each other.Therefore,based on the critical fiber content and economic consideration,the optimum fiber contents for various fiber-modified asphalt binders are obtained.

Grey Clustering Theory to Assess the Effect of Mineral Admixtures on the Cyclic Sulfate Resistance of Concrete

Concrete specimens made with ordinary portland cement or ordinary portland cement incorporating fly ash with the replacement of 10% or 20%, ground blast furnace slag with the replacement of 15% or 30%, or 15% fly ash and 15% ground blast furnace slag were made and exposed to a cyclic sulfate environment. Concrete properties including relative dynamic elastic modulus, chloride ion diffusion coefficient, compressive strength and flexural strength were measured. Effect of mineral admixtures on the cyclic sulfate resistance of concrete was assessed based on the grey clustering theory. The experimental results indicate that the cyclic sulfate resistance of concrete incorporating ground blast furnace slag belongs to the higher grey grade, which exhibits that it possesses excellent cyclic sulfate resistance. With increasing addition of fly ash, the cyclic sulfate resistance of concrete changes from the medium grey grade to the lower grey grade, which shows that incorporation of fly ash is disadvantageous for the cyclic sulfate resistance of concrete.

Effect of the Cool System on Internal Stress of CaO-Al_2O_3-SiO_2 Glass-ceramic System

The samples were attained through altering the cooling system of producing glass-ceramics. The X-ray diffraction was used to test the stress value of different samples. The relation of the cooling system and internal stress were also investigated. The experimental results show that the stress of glass-ceramic had a close relation with starting cool temperature. Above 800 ~C, glass-ceramic could be accelerated cooling and did not bring stress. Temperature between 500 ℃ and 800℃ was an important temperature range of the formation of stress in glass-ceramic, in which the glass-ceramic stress would change obviously. Cool system was the key on how to control and eliminate internal stress in order to reduce the destroy of materials crated by internal stress. In addition, glass particles size increase, glass-ceramic stress increase in consequent.

Influences of Carboxyl Methyl Celluloseon Performances of Mortar

Carboxyl methyl cellulose （CMC） was mixed into mortar to improve the waterretention performance of mortar, the quality of floated coat of aerated concrete became better. The consistency and compression strength of mortar with CMC were studied. The water absorption was studied with the method of filter paper. The micro mechanism was researched with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）. The experimental results show the water-holding performance of mortar with CMC is largely improved and it is better when the mixed amount is about 1.5%; the compression strength had a descending trend with the increase of CMC; CMC reacted with calcium hydroxide（CH） into the deposition of calcium carboxyl methyl cellulose.

Effect of fiber types on relevant properties of porous asphalt

The research was conducted to evaluate the effects of cellulose and polyester fibers on the properties of porous asphalt mixes, using the tests of draindown, abrasion, volumetric properties, rutting, and moisture damage. Images of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray computerized tomography were adopted to identify the microstructure of the fiber and inner stone skeleton of porous asphalt. The influence of rutting parameter (G*/sinδ) of asphalt modified by different fibers on the rutting resistance of the mixes was investigated. Based upon MOHR-COULOMB theory, the cohesion and the angle of internal friction of the mixes were derived from both indirect tension and unconfined compression strength. The experimental results indicate that fibers mainly stabilize asphalt binder and thicken asphalt film around aggregates. Furthermore, they result in the improved mechanical strength of porous asphalt mixes at high temperature slightly. From comparison analysis, cellulose fibers appear to perform better than polyester fibers in porous asphalt mixes.

Combustion of Sewage Sludge as Alternative Fuel for Cement Industry

The combustion of sewage sludge and coal was studied by thermogravimetric analysis.Both differential scanning calorimetric analysis and derivative thermogravimetric profiles showed differences between combustion of sewage sludge and coal,and non-isothermal kinetics analysis method was applied to evaluate the combustion process.Based on Coats-Redfern integral method,some reaction models were tested,the mechanism and kinetics of the combustion reaction were discussed.The results show that the combustion of sewage sludge is mainly in the low temperature stage,meanwhile the ignition temperature and Arrhenius activation energy are lower than that of coal.The combustion of sewage sludge has the advantage over coal in some aspects,thus sewage sludge can partly replace coal used as cement industry fuel.

Rheological characteristics of aged asphalt binder

Different aging levels(RTFOT,PAV-10h,PAV-20h and PAV-30 h) of asphalt binders with various mass ratios of mineral powder to asphalt(0,0.4,0.8,1.2,1.6,2.0) were used to investigate the rheological properties of aged asphalt binders with respect to their short and long terms aging characteristics.Viscosity test,dynamic shear test and creep test were conducted.The test results indicate that the viscosity of aged asphalt binder increases sharply with the extension of aging period.Complex shear modulus of aged asphalt increases,which indicates that the stiffness of asphalt binders can increase.The phase angle for aged asphalt binders reduces,which indicates that the elastic portion for viscoelastic property of asphalt binders increases.|G*|·sin δ increases after aging procedure which means that the fatigue resistance becomes poor.The creep test results show that creep strain curves varies remarkably for virgin and aged asphalt binders.The total strain during loading period and the permanent strain decreases significantly for aged asphalt binders,which implies that the elastic portion increases and the viscous portion decreases.