Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braov CIBv 2013 Vol. 6 (55) Special Issue No.

1 - 2013

LIMESTONE FILLER ADMIXTURE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON SOME STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR CONCRETE WITH UNITARY ALITIC TYPE CEMENTS
M. RUJANU1 D. COVATARIU1

Abstract: A number of experimental studies made so far highlight that

limestone filler introduced in concrete composition contribute to the reduction of cement dosage given that the structure will experience a favourable outcome. So, limestone filler admixture accomplish the dropping of cement dosage, so that the concrete will be cheaper, in these conditions being important to analyze the influence of the admixture on structural characteristics evolution.

Key words: concrete, admixture, cement dosage, water absorption.

1. Introduction Taking into account the high cost of concrete works, it is required the development of some improved characteristics, from all the points of view. For this purpose, a concrete with exigencies regarding durability behaviour can be achieved using active admixtures, but noting that introducing fine part involves some compositional and technological measures. It is also known there is a strong connection between durability and structural characteristics of the concrete compactness, porosity, water absorption. If we can interfere on some durability characteristics, meaning their improvement by using active admixture, experimentally being proved that results on these concretes were closed to the ones without admixtures, it is necessary that for each
1

such admixture to be established a correlation between studied structural characteristic and binder consumption, respectively admixture. 2. General Aspects Regarding Admixtures Influence on some Concrete Characteristics In the preparation of binder mass, mortars and concretes, often are used chemical substances, in small quantities, which could modify fresh mixture properties, hardened system structure and its technical properties. These substances are called additives (it is not about admixtures) [1]. An additive can be defined as a chemical product which, except some special cases, is added in the fresh concrete mixture at a rate not exceeding 5% on cement. The addition is made when mixing the

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi

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components or in a supplementary mixture before placing concrete, with the purpose to obtain one or more specific modifications on common concrete properties [2]. Using admixtures at a large scale in concrete mixtures has physical (properties improvement) and economical advantages compared to concrete with additives, without admixtures. These advantages refer to possibility of using concrete with additives in difficult conditions or impossible for placement of a common concrete with additive, but without admixtures. Admixtures can be active or inert, as participate or not, at processes of setting and hardening of cement. Active admixtures (pozzolanic) can be characterized as being [3]: - cementitious admixtures, those for the paste formed with water with own hardening capacity; - hydraulic admixtures, those for the paste formed with water which hasnt own hardening capacity, but acquire when are introduced calcium donor materials. The two types of active admixtures behave different because of CaO content, as compared to the active siliceous, iron and aluminium oxides, which could form hydraulic components. Composition of active admixtures can be expressed through two modules: basicity or acidity. In order to consider a cementitious admixture, the condition to be fulfilled is about basicity module to have a value greater than 1.10 and as the acidity module is larger, the speed of curing will be higher. From economical point of view, these admixtures are not supposing supplementary costs, because their use can lead to achievement of an economy. It is about the cost of energy necessary for compaction, cement content from concrete without admixtures or general costs related

to improvement of some characteristics of concrete.

durability

3. Limestone Filler Effect on some Concrete Characteristics Filler is a fine grounded material, having almost same finesse with Portland cement, but because its physical properties, has a favourable influence on some of the concrete properties: workability, compactness, permeability, capillary porosity and cracking tendency [2]. Limestone filler is a product obtained by fine grounding of limestone and contains a large amount of calcium carbonate (min. 90%). Usually fillers are inert from chemical point of view, but it is noteworthy they has hydraulic properties, and participate on some reactions with hydration products of cement. Filler can intensify Portland cement hydration, by nucleation effect. Zielinska [4] has shown that, limestone filler react with C3A and C4AF in the presence of water, forming 2CaO.Al2O3.CaCO3.11H2O. Ramachandran [5] found that limestone filler in addition to its nucleation effect influences by partially integrating in calcium hydro silicates CSH. This phenomenon has a beneficial effect on hydrated cement structure. Limestone filler is a material found in nature, being important to be uniform from properties point of view, especially grounding finesse. For greater proportions of limestone filler, the cement needs to have a higher grounding finesse than usual. Theoretically main component of concrete, cement, influences structure formation by its nature and used dosage. Concerning admixtures, all of them are producing changes in cement stone forming and thus on formed structure characteristics and behaviour of concrete mixtures. Starting from the idea of making a cement stone structure using unitary cement knowing the fact that it has a

Rujanu, M., et al.: Limestone Filler Admixture and Its Influence on Some Structural

125

favourable effect on cement stone forming and by using limestone filler, it is proposed the research of its influence on structural characteristics. In these conditions, proposed changes, can be favourable to concrete structure forming and has favourable influences on its structural characteristics, with condition of realizing a strictly correlation between fine parts content from the mixture. Theoretically, this is supposing that limestone filler dosage is a function of cement dosage, so as fine part not to exceed certain limits and in the same time it is considered the mixing water dosage and ratio between water and fine part to be in some initially imposed limits, by using superplasiticizer additives. It has to be mentioned that fine part of material of mineral nature and cement, under experimental conditions will be the same, but necessary water will be different, because of different absorption from cement to limestone filler.

4. Experiment Setup For the experimental setup are considered actual regulations referring to concrete with high usage, in different working conditions and specifying limits for composition factors (minimum cement dosage, W/C ratio) and in the same time recommends according to concrete exposure class the type of cement to be used (NE012/1-2007 [6], NE012/2-2010 [7]). Taking into account the experience in this field and the restrictions imposed by actual normative, were realized five recipes of concrete with strength class C25/30, for an exposure class XF3, using river aggregate with maximum dimension of 16 mm, unitary cement type CEM I 42.5R with an initial dosage of 384 kg/m3 , limestone filler admixture, W/C ratio of 0.5, superplaticizer additive type Sika, according to the recipes given below: Table 1
A2 1730 870 5280 2760 3440 48 190 A3 1540 770 5280 2760 3440 48 380 A4 1250 625 5280 2760 3440 48 670

Compositional Characteristics
Recipe/concrete compounds Cement type I42.5 R, g Water, ml Aggregate 0 - 4 mm, g Aggregate 4 - 8 mm, g Aggregate 8 - 16 mm, g Sika additive, g Limestone filler, g A0 1920 940 5280 2760 3440 48 A1 1820 910 5280 2760 3440 48 100

Cubic samples were made with a side of 10 cm, three from each recipe, with same compaction class and they were kept in standard conditions and will be tested at 28 days. 5. Experimental Results In order to emphasize the above presented, the experimental results concerning water

absorption for recipes A1 to A4, will be shown in tabular form, as compared to A0 recipe, without limestone filler. Are presented few graphs for an easily and suggestive interpretation related to the influence of introducing limestone filler in concrete composition as an active admixture material (Dc represents cement dosage and Dcm cementing material dosage, so cement plus admixture).

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Table 2 Water absorption and specific absorption at normal temperature and pressure, at 28 days
Recipe Sample A0 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 Dry weight, g 2228,4 2201,6 2186,4 2182,4 2224,8 2193,2 2231,6 2270 2166 2113,6 2182,8 2324,8 2317,4 Saturated weight, g 2312,6 2293,6 2282,6 2275,2 2314,6 2292,4 2310,2 2347 2225,4 2177 2246,6 2372,2 2370 Volume, cm3 ai 1101,063 993,973 992,7248 989,2762 1010,834 1017,084 1013,939 1035,400 1026,183 992,7916 1000,611 1001,64 1000,946 1026,195 1022,161 7,65 9,26 9,69 9,38 8,88 9,75 7,75 7,44 5,98 6,34 6,37 4,74 5,13 am Absorption (a, a1, a2) a1specific= a2specific= = 1000am/Dc =1000am/Dcm 24,70 24,70

9,48

A1

9,34

27,00

24,32

A2

7,60

23,31

19,79

A3

6,23

20,29

16,22

A4

4,94

19,76

12,86

Graphic transposition of experimental results allows a more clear appreciation for

A0
30 29 28 27
Specific absorption a1

specific water absorption growth with the time, as it follows:

A2 A3 A4

A1

384

346

327

308

250

26 25 24 24,7 23 22 21 20 19 18

27

23,31

20,29

19,76

Cement dosage

Fig. 1. Specific absorption evolution a1 related to cement dosage

Rujanu, M., et al.: Limestone Filler Admixture and Its Influence on Some Structural

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A0
30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 384

A1
346

A2
327

A3
308

A4
250

Sp ec ific a bs o rp tion a1

24,7

24,32

19,79

16,22

12,86 Cementing material dosage

Fig. 2. Specific absorption revolution a2 related to cementing material dosage (cement+filler) 6. Conclusions Taking into account the values of the characteristics experimentally determined, and graphical representations, can be made following affirmations, which can be conclusions regarding the effect of limestone admixture on some structural characteristics of researched concrete: 1. By keeping workability characteristic for concrete when are proposed several recipes for concrete which starts from same recipe, but with lowered cement dosages and substitution with limestone filler, is found that water absorption it is favourable for a cement reduction of 35% recipe A4 (with same amount of limestone filler); 2. Regarding tested structural characteristics, namely specific absorption reported to cement dosage, must be indicated by cement dosage reduction and substitution with limestone filler, is found a constant reduction of this characteristic till maximum value of 35%, recipe A4; 3. With respect to tested structural characteristics, namely specific absorption reported to cementing material dosage and substitution with limestone filler, is found too, a constant reduction till maximum value of 35%, recipe A4; 4. Regarding workability characteristic which was the same at concrete preparation, must specify that it was within the same class of workability, but with values from the lower to the higher limit of workability class. References 1. Teoreanu, I.: Tehnologia betoanelor i azbocimentului, Editura Didactic i pedagogic, Bucureti, 1977. 2. Marchand, J.: Freeze-Thaw durability of concrete, Taylor and Francis elibrary, 2005. 3. Rujanu, M.: Pietre naturale i artificiale, liani i compozitele lor, Editura Tehnica Info Chiinu, 2002. 4. Zielinska, E.: The influence of calcium carbonate on the hydration process in some Portland cement constituents, Prace Institutu Technologii i Orgnnizacji Produkcji.

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5. Budowlanej, No. 3, Warsaw Technical Univeristy, 1972. 6. Ramachandran, V.S.: Concrete admixtures handbook-Properties Science and technology, 626 pp, Noyes publications, New Jersey, 1984.

7. *** NE012-1/2007, Cod de practic pentru executarea lucrrilor din beton, beton armat i beton precomprimat. 8. *** NE012-2/2010, Cod de practic pentru executarea lucrrilor din beton, beton armat i beton precomprimat.