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Effect of fly ash and slag on the fracture characteristics of high performance concrete

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Abstract

The premature deterioration of concrete structures in aggressive environments has necessitated the development of high performance concrete (HPC). The major difference between conventional concrete and HPC is essentially the use of chemical and mineral admixtures. The improved pore structure of HPC achieved by the use of chemical and mineral admixtures causes densification of paste-aggregate transition zone, which in turn affects the fracture characteristics. Hence, studies were taken up to investigate the effect of fly ash and slag on the fracture characteristics of HPC. Beam specimens (geometrically similar and single size variable notch) with locally available fly ash (25%) and slag (50%) as cement replacement materials were prepared and tested in a servo-controlled Universal Testing Machine (UTM) under displacement control. From the value of the peak load for each beam, various fracture parameters were calculated. The results show that there is a reduction in the fracture energy due to addition of fly ash or slag, which can be attributed to the presence of unhydrated particles of size larger than that of normal flaws in concrete. Also due to densification, the post peak behaviour is steeper for the fly ash or slag based HPC mixes. The results of the investigation are presented in this paper.

Résumé

La détérioration prématurée des structures en béton dans des milieux agressifs a favorisé le développement des bétons haute performance. La principale différence entre le béton ordinaire et celui à haute performance est l'addition dans ce dernier d'adjuvants chimiques et minéraux. L'utilisation de tels adjuvants améliore globalement la structure poreuse du béton et contribue aussi à la densification de l'interface pâte/granulat et de ce fait, modifie les caractéristiques de rupture. Afin d'étudier les effets de l'ddition de cendres volantes ou de laitier sur les caractéristiques de rupture du béton à haute performance, des poutres-spécimens avec entaille pratiquée à mi-portée ont été coulées avec des mélanges contenant jusqu' à 25% de cendres volantes ou 50% de laitier comme substituants du ciment. Deux catégories de poutres ont été testées sous déplacement contrôlé sur une machine servohydraulique UTM (Universal Testing Machine): des poutres à dimensions variables avec un rapport Longueur d'entaille/Profondeur constant et des poutres à dimensions constantes et un rapport Longuer d'entaille/Profondeur variable. A partir de la valeur de la charge à la rupture, des paramètres de rupture ont été calculés. Les résultats montrent une diminution dans la valeur de l'énergie de fissuration après addition d'adjuvants. Cette diminution peut s'expliquer par la présence dans le béton de particules de matériau non-hydratées de taille suprérieure à la taille habituelle des défauts internes dans la pâte. Par ailleurs, en raison de la densification de l'interface pâte/granulat, le comportement post-pic est modifié pour les mélanges contenant des cendres volantes ou du laitier. Les résultats de cette étude sont présentés ci-après.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Structural Engineering Research Centre, CSIR Campus, 600 113, Taramani, Chennai, India

    B. H. Bharatkumar, D. S. Ramachandramurthy, R. Narayanan & S. Gopalakrishnan

  2. Civil Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Science, 560 012, Bangalore, India

    B. K. Raghuprasad

Authors
  1. B. H. Bharatkumar
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  2. B. K. Raghuprasad
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  3. D. S. Ramachandramurthy
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  4. R. Narayanan
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  5. S. Gopalakrishnan
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Bharatkumar, B.H., Raghuprasad, B.K., Ramachandramurthy, D.S. et al. Effect of fly ash and slag on the fracture characteristics of high performance concrete. Mat. Struct. 38, 63–72 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02480576

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02480576

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