Benefits and Limitations of

Concrete Made With SCMs

CIRCA Seminars

R. Doug Hooton
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

What are
Supplementary
Cementing
Materials?

Cementitious Materials A Question of Availability and Choice!

Not all SCMs are available in any
city or region, so use the locally
available SCMs and make use of
local knowledge on optimising their
use for various exposure conditions.

Type F
Ash

Type CI Ash

Type CH Ash

Current SCMs in Southern Ontario

(may not be a complete list)
Slag from Hamilton, Sault Ste Marie, or
Nanticoke is available from Lafarge, St.
Lawrence, and St. Marys.
Class CI fly ash is available from St. Marys and
Essroc (from US) and from Lafarge (Northern
ash-from Thunder Bay and Atikokan).
A blended SCM composed of slag + Class C fly
ash) is used in some locations by Lafarge.
Silica fume blended cements are available from
Lafarge, St. Lawrence, and St. Marys.

Why use SCMs in Concrete?

For improving physical and durability properties
To reduce the environmental impact of concrete
The Environmental benefits are driving the use of
High-Volume SCM green concretes.

Advantages of SCMs in Hardened Concrete

The advantages of properly designed and cured concretes
containing SCMs are that lower permeability and chloride
diffusion can be achieved :
1. There is more C-S-H formed
2. The reactions happen later,
so that the new C-S-H
subdivides and blocks the
Ca(OH)2 gets used up
initial capillary pore system.
3. The porous aggregate transition zones (ITZ) become filled
with C-S-H, reducing their influence.

High Permeability
(Capillary Pores Interconnected)

Capillary Pores

C-S-H
Framework

Neville and Brooks 1987

Low Permeability
Capillary Pores Segmented and Only Partially Connected

Capillary Pores

C-S-H
Framework

Neville and Brooks 1987

10-20um

Penetration via ITZ

25-35% of
Paste Vol. is
in ITZ
SCMs hydrate to densify ITZs: Increasing strength
and reducing permeability

Canadian Standards
SCMs (CSA A3000-03)
Blended Cements (CSA A3000-03)
Their use in concrete including High-Volume
SCMs (CSA A23.1-04)

Useful ACI Guides on SCMs

ACI 232.2R-96 Use of Fly Ash in Concrete
ACI 232.1R-00 Use of Raw or Processed Natural
Pozzolans in Concrete
ACI 233R-03 Slag Cement in Concrete and
Mortar
ACI 234R-96 Guide for use of Silica Fume in
Concrete

Types of SCM Covered in CSA A3001-03

(formerly A23.5)

Type N

Natural pozzolans (e.g. volcanic ash)

Type F

Fly ash normally produced from burning anthracite or

bituminous coals and having a low calcium content
CaO < 8%

Type C

Fly ash normally produced from burning lignite or subbituminous coals

CI: 8% < CaO < 20%
CH: CaO 20%

Type S

Ground granulated blastfurnace slag

Type SF

Silica fume

ASTM

CSA A3001 - Proportions

Blended Hydraulic Cement
N= Natural Pozzolan
FA: Fly ash
S: slag
SF: silica fume

SCM, % max
Portland
cement,% min

Binary Blended Hydraulic

Cement Made With:

N FA (F, CI,
CH)
40
50

SF

70

15

60

30

85

50

Ternary* and
Quaternary Blended
Hydraulic Cement

60
(* if S +SF 70)
40
(* if S +SF 30)

Current Practices for the use of SCMs in

Concrete in Ontario
SCMs are used in ~80% of the concrete produced in Ontario - although not
usually at high levels
Slag (produced in Ontario: Hamilton, Nanticoke, Sault St. Marie)

0 to 35% (but 50-80% for low-heat mass concrete or for

sulfate resistance)
The higher the total cementitious content, the higher the % of
Slag
The lower the ambient temperature, the less Slag is used
Fly Ash (from Thunder Bay, Atikokan, or imported from US)

0 to 30% (but mostly <20%)

A few HVSCM concretes have used 50% fly ash (York U.)
Some specialty mixes such as mining backfill can use up to
95% SCMs
Most Producers have already optimized their mix designs for the cementitious
system.

New CSA A23.1-04 Reqts for High Volume

SCM Concrete
Definition - High-Volume Supplementary Cementing
Materials Concrete (HVSCM)
contains a level of SCM above that typically used
in normal construction
Two categories of HVSCM are defined:

HVSCM-1: FA/40 + S/45 > 1

HVSCM-2: FA/30 + S/35 > 1

CSA: HVSCM Concrete Reduced W/CM

required in Severe Exposures
Requirements for C, F, S, R and A Classes of
Exposure
The maximum water-to-cementing materials ratio
of the concrete should meet the limits in Table 2,
except when the concrete is exposed to freezing
and thawing in which case the values in Table 2
shall be reduced by 0.05 for HVSCM-1 in all
exposure classes.
Note: example for C-1 Exposure the maximum
water-to-cementing materials ratio is 0.40, but
for HVSCM-1 concrete this maximum value
shall be reduced to 0.35.

CSA: HVSCM Concrete Maximum W/CM

Requirements for reinforced concrete for:
reinforced concrete elements
exposed to moisture and air
with depths of cover less than 50 mm
the water-to-cementing material ratio should be
not greater than 0.45 for HVSCM-2 concrete
and not greater than 0.40 for HVSCM-1
concrete.
Note: this clause is intended to minimize the risk
of corrosion of embedded steel due to carbonation
of the concrete cover.

CSA: HVSCM Concrete Strength

The minimum specified 28d compressive strength
requirements in Table 2 shall be specified at 56
days for HVSCM-1 concrete.
This accounts for potentially slower strength gain
of high-volume SCM concretes

HVFA Concretes are More Sensitive at Early-Ages

1 Day

7 Days

Sundance Alberta
Class CI Fly Ash
w/cm=0.38-0.53
Slump 90-110mm
Non-air mixes

28 Days

56 Days

Bouzoubaa and
Fournier, 2003

10

New CSA A23.1-04 Curing Categories

1 Basic
3 d at 10oC or for a time necessary to attain 40%
of the specified strength.
2 Additional
7 d at 10oC and for a time necessary to attain 70%
of the specified strength. When using silica fume
concrete additional curing procedures shall be used.
See Annex I, Clause 1.3.13.
3 Extended
A wet-curing period of 7 days. The curing types
allowed are ponding, continuous sprinkling,
absorptive mat or fabric kept continuously wet.

HVSCM Concrete Curing

The curing and protection requirements are
increased for HVSCM for the following exposure
classes
C-1, F-1, S-1, S-2
Curing regime 3 for HVSCM-1.
A-3, A-4, C-3, C-4, F-2, N, S-3
Curing Regime 2 for HVSCM-1 and
HVSCM-2
Note: Methods of protecting concrete from
evaporation of surface moisture are discussed.
The use of fog spraying or evaporation retardant is
particularly effective.

11

High Volume SCM Concrete

If properly designed for low w/cm, and with good
construction practices, both fly ash and slag can be
used at cement replacement levels of 50% or
greater.
The new CSA A23.1-04 helps ensure this by
providing guidance and putting limits on
minimum quality.

Issues with Building Using

HV-SCM Concrete
All involved need to know that HV-SCM concrete is
different and special attention needs to be given to:
Pre-tender and pre-pour meetings are needed to
make sure everyone understands the issues.
More QA/QC is often required
Curing: typically setting and early strength
development will be slower. Extra heat is needed in
cool weather. Hydration is slower, so moisture
needs to be kept in longer. This can affect
construction schedules.

12

SCMs are used in Residential, but HVSCM?

Normal 15 and 20MPa residential concretes often
successfully contain 15-25% slag or fly ash.
But because this sort of concrete typically gets no
inspection, and construction practices are not
inspected, this is not the place to use HV-SCM
concrete.
HV-SCM concrete should be considered in
engineered structures such as the ICI sector.

Issues with HV-SCM Concrete

Select the SCM that is available locally where
possible. In Southern Ontario, this is mostly slag, but
there is also fly ash.
In the Canadian west and east, there is only fly ash.
This will make use of local knowledge to produce
and place HV-SCM concrete with minimal problems.
Fly ashes vary across Canada/US so they will have
different effects on concrete properties. Optimum
mixtures will vary with location.

13

TTC Sheppard Subway HPC tunnel liners

Rhead, 2001

Actual

TTC - Subway
Toronto
High-Performance
Concrete

Specified

} 400 min

Type 10SF (kg/m3)

305

Slag (kg/m3)

145

W/CM

0.31

0.35 max

28-day Strength (MPa)

74.9

60 min

Da (x 10-15 m2/s)

621

1500 max

k (x 10-15 m/s)

1.34

100 max

38% cement replacement

Precast concrete tunnel
liners designed for 100
year service life

Hart, Ryell, and Thomas,1997

14

Don Mills Subway Station: 35% and 50% slag

Rhead 2001

Effect of Pozzolans & Slag on the

Properties of Fresh Concrete

15

Workability/Pumpability
SCMs increase cohesion, reduce segregation, and
generally aid in pumping
SCM mixes can generally be pumped at lower
slumps.

Finishing Characteristics
Most SCMs improve finishing
Silica Fume which typically requires high doses of HRWR
may result in sticky mixtures but this can be improved
by adding slag or fly ash
Do not seal surface prematurely since the bleeding period
maybe longer especially at high replacement levels and
lower temps.

16

Set Time
Same Factors Affect Set as with Portland Cement
Generally Retarded Set Reduced Cement content with

GGBFS
Class F Fly Ash
Specific Effect Dependent on Interaction with Portland
Cement and Admixtures
Benefit in Hot Weather Construction
Accentuated Affect in Cold Weather

17

% Fly Ash

Penetration resistance (MPa)

Effect on Setting Time

Most Class F fly ashes increase the
setting time of concrete and this
explained almost entirely on the basis
of the dilution in Portland cement
content (Dodson, 1981)

The effect of high-CaO fly ashes

varies. Some Class C fly ashes
accelerate setting due to rapid
formation of hydration products,
whereas others may actually retard the
setting of the Portland cement.
Each source has to be investigated
separately.

5oC
40oF

30 50

30

50

% Fly Ash

15oC
60oF

25oC
75oF

30

50 % Fly Ash

Effect of Fly Ash (Class F)

on Setting Time
(Taywood Engineering
Limited)

Time (hours)

Set Time Cold Weather

Slower Set can be offset by by the supplier by reproportioning mixes or use of:
Accelerators
Hot water and/or heated materials
Cold Weather Protection is more Critical
especially with higher volume SCMs

18

Kingston Ont. 1991

W/CM = 0.42

50% Slag Mass Footing

Cornwall, Ont.

19

71

Temp. drop
of 25oF or
30%

30% Ash

20

21

Windsor Courthouse Foundation

10,000 m3 concrete raft
1.2 m thick (4 ft.)
1400 to 1700 m3 pours
Pumped at up to 100 m3/h

Concrete with 50% Class C fly

ash was used to control
temperature
Thermocouples used to determine
when thermal blankets could be
removed without thermal shock
Ellis Don, 1995

M. Thomas

Confederation Bridge
Controlling temperature of
precast silica fume concrete with
Type F fly ash

A1-F5

C3-2

Type 10 SF

435

329

Fly Ash

46

130

W/CM

0.31

0.31

Proportions (kg/m ):

For class C fly ash, heat rises with %CaO

22

Effects of different SCMs on Strength Development

without Re-Design of Mixtures:
Class F: reduced early and improved later-age strength
Class C: moderate early and improved later-age strength
Slag: moderate early strength, very good later-age
strength gain
Silica Fume: high early-age strength gain
Ternary Mixtures: Can combine 2 SCMs to get both good
early and later-age strength gain (eg. SF + Slag or SF +
Fly Ash)

Pores, SCMs, and Durability

Concrete is a porous material.
Most forms of concrete deterioration result from the
ingress of water, dissolved ions, or gases through the
pore system.eg: Freeze/thaw
Chloride corrosion
Sulphate attack
Using appropriate materials, mix designs, and curing, the
pore system can be controlled to provide high durability
performance.
SCMs play a big role in reducing permeability and
preventing deteriorating reactions

23

Durability in
Severe
Environments

Durable Concrete
It is possible to make durable concrete for most
aggressive exposures provided appropriate
materials, mix designs, and construction practices
are followed.
SCMs can improve the durability of concrete, but
as with all materials, they cannot guarantee
durability if they are not used in good quality
concrete or if concrete is poorly placed and cured.
HVSCMs can make good concrete better, but
poor concrete worse.

24

Effect of SCMs
on Permeability and
Chloride Penetration
Resistance

Rapid Chloride Permeability Test

( ASTM C1202)
60V
A

NaCl

NaOH

solution

solution

25

CSA A23.1 has adopted C1202 Limits

In the 2004 edition:
Class C-1 and A-1 concretes (0.40, 35MPa, airentrained) must be <1500 coulombs at 56 days.
Class C-XL concrete (0.37, 50MPa, air-entrained)
must be <1000 coulombs at 56 days.

Effect of Slag on Concrete (=[W] and w/cm)

Slag
%

Water

W/CM

200

0.45

91-day
RCPT
Permeability
H2O
Strength (coulombs)
-13
10 m/s
(MPa)
35.8

5200

10.1
5.1x

4.4x

25

200

0.45

42.7

2450

5.4

50

200

0.45

42.8

1020

2.3

R. Bin Ahmad and Hooton, 1991

26

Picton Concrete Pavements at 2 years:

(40 Day Chloride Ponding Results)

Portland Cement Mix

35% Slag Mix
35% Slag + 5% SF

Bleszynski, Hooton, Thomas, 2001

27

Chloride Penetration Resistance - RCPT

10000

ASTM C1202 [Coulombs]

0.35, Plain
0.35, 8 % SF
0.45, 50 % Slag
0.35, 8 % SF, 35 % SG

1000

100
10

100

1000

Age [Days]
Stanish, Hooton and Thomas, 2000

Data from Ozyildirim, 1998

RCPT (Coulombs)

10000

1000
100 PC (W/CM = 0.40)
93 PC + 7 SF (W/CM = 0.40)
85 PC + 20 FA (W/CM = 0.38)

100
10

100

1000

Age (Days)

28

Slag-Silica Fume Ternary Mixes

In Ontario, in almost every case where Silica
Fume has been used since 1986, slag cement has
also been added.
Slag reduces stickiness and improves ease of
finishing
Slag reduces the HRWR dose required.
Slag reduces early heat of hydration.
Slag continues to improve strength and chloride
resistance beyond 28 days.

Bridge Decks at Toronto Airport

In 1999, 4 bridge decks were placed using Type 10SF +
25% Slag and 0.40 w/cm using the MTO High
Performance Concrete Spec. but at 35MPa
High corrosion resistance was required.
The concretes were placed in cold weather in 16h
continuous placements of 1200m3.
Since then 70 bridge structures
and terminal decks
at the airport have used
similar concrete mixtures.

29

Toronto Airport
~70 New Frontage
Bridges: Slag+SF
1999-2003

First Airport Bridge Deck, 1999

Slump: 170 40mm (7 1.5in.)

Air: 6.9%, Spacing: 0.202mm
Strength: 50.5MPa (7300psi),
std.dev.= 3.5MPa (500psi)
RCPT: 590 coulombs
Bulk Diffusion (Da) = 2.5 x 10-12 m2/s

30

TTC Fairview Parking Deck, Toronto

1500m2 (50,000 sf) top level parking deck

exposed to de-icing salts and freezing.
395kg/m3(658pcy) : Type 10SF cement plus 30%
slag
W/CM = 0.37
45 MPa (6500psi), air-entrained.
Pumped (3 separate pumps and finishing crews).

31

TTC Fairview Results

RCPT:
185 coulombs (at 60 days)
Bulk Diffusion (Da): 2.5 x 10-12 m2/s
Fog misting with car power washer helped
prevent plastic cracks even on a sunny,
30oC+(85oF) day with a wind. Evaporation
retarder also worked.

Adequate curing is essential for durable concrete

32

Curing Reduces the Depth of the Convection Zone in

the Cover

Early-Age Permeability Results

(calculated on inflow up to 7 days)

1E-08

Permeability (m/s)

1E-09
1E-10

0.40 OPC
(135)

Equivalent at 7 Days

1E-11
1E-12

35% Slag

1E-13

10x better at 50 Days

0.40 35% SG

1E-14
1E-15
0

14

21

28

35

42

49

56

Time since casting (Days)

Nokken and Hooton, 2003

33

Freeze/Thaw Resistance
Regardless of the cementing materials and
admixtures used, concrete will be durable even if
saturated when:
1. It is adequately air-entrained.
2. The aggregates are frost-resistant.
3. Adequate strength is developed before
exposure to the first freeze (> 5 MPa) and
cyclic freezing (> 20 MPa).

34

Ontario :MTO Limits on Slag and Fly Ash

MTO has limited slag (25% Grade 80) and fly ash
(10%) levels in concrete based on concerns with
increased de-icer salt scaling.
These concerns are based mainly on lab tests and
are not borne out in field concretes.
In the field, slag is only a concern at 50%+ levels.
Grade 100/120 slags will be better at high slag
levels due to faster hydration.

Laboratory Studies

35

General Trends from

Laboratory Studies
Many studies have shown that fly ash / slag
concrete can give adequate resistance to
accelerated scaling tests (e.g. mass loss < 0.80
kg/m2 or visual rating < 3 after 50 cycles)
provided that it is:
properly air-entrained
W/CM < 0.45
FA < 30%, Slag < 35-50%

Problems with
ASTM C 672
Difficulty defining the end of bleeding for
finishing (this may be particularly difficult for fly
ash or slag concrete)
Freezing or thawing of specimens is started
before fly ash or slag concretes have matured

36

The lab.

versus
the field

Bridge near Woodstock, Ont.

Built in 1995

30% Class C Fly Ash used

in the exposed deck and
superstructure

Thomas

37

Age (years)

Field Performance of Fly Ash Concrete

Condition:

Class C Fly Ash

10
6
5
4
3
2
1

Excellent
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory

Class F Fly Ash

23
20
6
5
4
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Fly Ash Content (%)

70

Thomas

Barrier wall on Highway 8 nr. Kitchener, Ontario erected 1986

38

Lab Test Results from Median barrier

near Kitchener, Ontario
(Chojnacki & Northwood, 1988)
Constructed - Summer 1986
Mix

PC

FA

W/CM Mass loss

(kg/m3) (kg/m3)

(kg/m2)

Control

355

0.41

0.31

Fly Ash

267

88 C

0.41

1.71

(25%)

Condition after 10 winters

25% FA

PC Concrete

39

1994 Stoney Creek Slag Test Pavements

Hooton and Boyd (355 kg/m3, 0.42)

Lab. Test Slabs

Were Finished
and Cured The
Same As The
Pavements

40

Lab Test Slabs Left On Site

for 4 Months Then Tested

Stoney Creek 1994

41

After 10 years, no further

scaling has occurred

42

Summary on Scaling Experience in Ontario

Increasing air contents to the upper end of the
range (5% to 8% in CSA) reduces scaling at 50%
slag level.
All field performance in Ontario shows that 35%
slag (Grade 80/100)is OK. Many US studies show
that 50% Grade 120 slag is OK.
Use of Silica fume with 25 or 35% slag also works
well and offers early-age benefits.
An industry/academic research project is looking
at improving ASTM C672

Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR)

ASR - a chemical
reaction between the
alkalis in portland
cement and certain
siliceous aggregates.
Reactive silica in
aggregates is attacked
when exposed to the
high-alkaline pore
solution.
Concrete cracks and
swells, closing joints.

43

Occurrences of ASR in Canada

(CSA A864-00)

reactive
aggregate

AlkaliSilica
Reaction
cement
paste

cement
paste

ASR gel
1. Aggregate with a
reactive silica phase
2. Sufficient supply of
alkali hydroxides
3. Moisture

reactive
aggregate

M. Thomas

44

Preventive Measures for ASR

z

Use of non-reactive aggregate

Limit alkali content of Portland

cement concrete

Use of supplementary cementing

materials

Use of suitable lithium admixtures

Combinations of the above

Concrete Prism Test

CSA A23.2-14A
And CSA A23.2-28Afor Testing SCMs
420 kg/m3 (700pcy) cementitious material
NaOH added to yield 1.25% Na2Oe by
mass of Portland cement
0.42 W/CM 0.45
Concrete prisms
75 x 75 x 300 mm (3x3x12 inch)
Stored over water at 38oC (100oF)
(and nominally 100% RH)
for 1 year (aggregates) and 2 years
(SCMs)

45

ASR Expansion Tests

ASTM C1293Concrete Prisms

0.24

Highly-reactive

Expansion (%)

0.20
0.16
0.12

Moderately-reactive

0.08
0.04
Non-reactive

0.00
0

6
9
Age (months)

12

Expansion of Concrete Prisms with Slag

Spratt - 1.25% Na2Oe (by mass of PC)

0.3

Expansion (%)

Slag (%)
0.2

0
25
35

0.1

50
65

0.0
0

12

18

24

Age (months)

Thomas and Innis 1998

46

Effect of Fly Ash on ASR Expansion

Concrete Prisms with 25% Fly Ash & Spratt Aggregate

Expansion at 2 years (%)

0.25

Control

0.20
0.15
0.10
Fly Ash
CaO / Na2Oe

0.05

5.57/2.30

0.00
0

26

52
78
104
Shehata
and Thomas
Age (Weeks)

Effect of Calcium Content of Fly Ash on ASR Expansion

Concrete Prisms with 25% Fly Ash

Expansion at 2 years (%)

0.20
High-alkali fly ashes
> 8% Na2Oe

0.15

0.10
0.05

0.00
0
Shehata and Thomas

10
20
Calcium in Fly Ash (% CaO)

30

47

MTO Site
Kingston, Ont.

1991 Kingston ASR Site

6 Concretes: 420kg/m3 CM, Spratt Agg.

HAPC
LAPC
25% slag
50% slag
18% fly ash Class F
25% slag + 3.8% silica fume
Rogers, Lane and Hooton, 2000

48

High-Alkali Cement

Low-Alkali Cement

25% Slag

18% Fly Ash

0.15

Expansion (% )

U n rein fo rced B eam s

6 , hapc
s ligh t crackin g
first observed
on both beam s

0.10

6, d up licate
crackin g ob vious
on all b eam su rfaces

5, lapc

0.05

2, 18 % T ype F fa
3, 25% ggb fs

0.00
4, 3.8% sf
+ 25% ggbfs
1, 50% g gbfs

-0.05
0

10

11

12

Years
Rogers, Lane & Hooton, 2000

49

Steephill Falls Spillway on Magpie River, Ontario

50% Slag Concrete

made with ASR
aggregate is in
excellent condition
after 15 years.
There is also no
petrographic
evidence of any
ASR activity.

Magpie River Bridge on Highway 17, Cracked due to ASR

Built in 1989 with Portland cement and same aggregates as dam

Map
Cracking

50

Sulfate Resistance
Bridge
columns in
North Dakota
in sulfate soils

Sulfate Resistance
50% Slag has been allowed by Government
agencies instead of Type V cement in Ontario
since 1983 for severe sulfate exposure.
Silica fume can also work but the amount required
exceeds the level typical in CSA Type 10 SF.
Ternary Type 10 SF +25% slag systems are
effective.
Most types of Class F and CI fly ash can be
effective at 20-30%

51

ASTM C 1012- Standard Test Method for Length Change of

Hydraulic-Cement Mortars Exposed to a Sulfate Solution
1.

Aggregate/cementitious material = 2.75 & W/CM = 0.485

2.

Mortars stored in limewater until a strength of 2850psi (20 MPa) is

attained

3.

Mortar bars (25 x 25 x 250 mm) then immersed in a 5% solution of

sodium sulfate for 6 months or 1 year ~ length change monitored during
storage

5%-Na2SO4 solution
Changed periodically

CSA A23.1-04 Tables 2 & 3 Requirements for Concrete

Subject to Sulfate Attack
Exposure

Sol. Sulfate in
Soil (%SO4)

Sulfate in Water
(%SO4)

56d
Strength
(MPa)

Cement

W/CM
(maximum)

S-3
Moderate

>0.10 0.20

150 1500

30

Type MS, or
MSb, LH,
HS or HSb1

0.50

S-2 Severe

0.20 <2.0

1500 10,000

32

Type HS or
HSb 2

0.45

Over 2.0

Over 10,000

35

Type HS or
HSb 2

0.40

S-1 Very
severe
1

A blend of Type GU and slag or pozzolan that has been determined by test to give
equivalent sulfate resistance (ASTM C1012: 0.10% at 6m)
2 A blend of Type GU or MS cement and slag or pozzolan that has been determined by test
to give equivalent sulfate resistance (ASTM C1012: <0.05% at 6m or 0.10% at 12m)

52

Sulfate Resistance of Portland Cement Mortars

ASTM C 1012

Expansion (%)

0.20
0.15

Type
GU

0.10

Type
MS

0.05

Type
HS

0.00
0

3
6
9
Time (months)

12

Effect of Low-Calcium Fly Ash on Sulfate Expansion

ASTM C 1012

Expansion (%)

0.3

Type I Control

0.2

Type V

0.1
Type I + 20% F Ash

0.0
0

12

18

24

Time (months)

53

Expansion at 6 Months (%)

Effect of Fly Ash Composition on Sulfate Resistance

0.4

High-C3A Cement

0.3

20% Fly Ash

40 % Fly Ash

Control

0.2
Low resistance

0.1

Moderate resistance

0.0

High resistance

10

20

30

40

CaO in Fly Ash (%)

ASTM C 1012

Thomas

Effect of Slag on Sulfate Resistance

Immersion Period (years)
0

ASTM C 1012

Control (no slag)

Type I PC with 11.8% C3A

0.20

Expansion (%)

40% Slag
ASTM/CSA 12m Limit for
High Sulfate Resistance
50% Slag

0.10

65% Slag
5%-Na2SO4 solution
Changed periodically

0
0

1000

2000

Immersion Period (days)

3000

Hooton & Emery, 1990

54

Effect of Slag Al2O3 on Sulfate Resistance

Immersion Period (years)
0

ASTM C 1012

Control (no slag)

Type I PC with 12.2% C3A

0.20

50% Slag
11.4% Al2O3

ASTM/CSA 12m Limit for

High Sulfate Resistance
50% Slag
9.1% Al2O3

0.10

5%-Na2SO4 solution
Changed periodically

0
0

1000

2000

3000

Immersion Period (days)

Hooton & Emery, 1990

Sulfate Resistance with Silica Fume

0.3
Expansion (%)

Expansion (%)

ASTM C 1012
T10

0.2

0.1

T50
T10+10%SF
T10+20%SF

0.0
0

3
6
9
Time (months)

12
Hooton, 1993

55

Concrete: Effect of C3A in Portland Cement

w/c =0.50, 21 years in 50,000 ppm MgSO4

12.3 % C3A

7.1 % C3A

3.5 % C3A

(Saw Cut cylinders on right side)

Hooton and Emery, 1990

Type I, 12.3% C3A Cement + 72% Slag

w/c =0.50, MgSO4 for 24 years

Brown, Hooton and Clark, 2004

56

50% Slag used in Bridge

foundations for Sulfate
Resistance, Hamilton, Ontario,
1983

50% Slag allowed in

Ontario for Sewer Pipe
and Culverts since 1983

57

How to Successfully Use SCMs in Concrete

Work with contractors and suppliers to to determine what will
work!
Do not use higher SCM levels than construction procedures and
durability requirements dictate
One failed project can overshadow 100 successful projects

Salt scaling resistance, carbonation, early strengths

and durability are the main restrictions to HV-SCM
Special field procedures are needed for high SCM
replacement rates

How to Successfully Use HV-SCMs in

Concrete
Address Construction Site Requirements
Extended curing for slow strength gain mixes
Construction schedule may be extended.
Initial protection period for mixes that do not
bleed
Adjust mixes to ensure adequate finishability
Pre-pour meetings and site crew training if
mixes are appreciably different from normal
Mock ups and trial pours to demonstrate
constructability and appearance - may be prudent for
large projects

58

How Much SCM Should be Used?

Some SCM should be used in all concrete.
Use a replacement level that is consistent with
the requirements for,
Construction efficiency,
Long-term proven durability
And all other performance requirements of the
structure.

Summary: SCM Durability

Slag and Fly Ash reduce permeability and chloride
penetration of concrete.
Slag and Fly Ash reduces rate of steel corrosion in
concrete.
Slag and Some Fly Ash can eliminate ASR expansion /
damage.
35-50% Slag or 20-30% Fly Ash can provide Type V
performance for sulfate resistance when used with Type I
or II cements (Slags with Al2O3 >12 % may require higher
% slag).
Slag and Fly Ash works well with silica fume in improving
durability of concrete.

59