Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
1, 2009
Muhannad Ismeik 1)
1)
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan, ismeik@ju.edu.jo
ABSTRACT
This paper reports a part of an ongoing experimental laboratory investigation being carried out to evaluate the
mechanical properties of concrete made with mineral admixtures and local Jordanian materials. Various
percentages of Silica Fume (SF) and Fly Ash (FA) were added at different water/cementitious (w/cm) ratios.
Concrete specimens were tested and compared with plain concrete specimens at different ages. Results indicated
that compressive as well as flexural strengths increased with mineral admixture incorporation. Optimum
replacement percentage is not a constant one but depends on the w/cm ratio of the mix. SF contributed to both
short and long-term properties of concrete, whereas, FA showed its beneficial effect in a relatively longer time.
Adding of both SF and FA did not increase compressive strength in the short-term, but improvements were
noticed in the long-term. Compared with compressive strength, flexural strength of SF concretes has exhibited
greater improvements. Relationships between the 28-day flexural and compressive strengths have been
developed using statistical methods. It is concluded that local concrete materials, in combination with mineral
admixtures, can be utilized in making High Strength Concrete in Jordan and such concrete can be effectively
used in structural applications.
KEYWORDS: High strength concrete, Silica fume, Fly ash, Compressive and flexural strengths,
Jordan.
lies in the absence of a locally accepted design technique products, so their utilization not only produces
that accounts for the variables believed to contribute to its economically and technically very superior concrete but
performance. So, in order to effectively use HSC in also prevents environmental contamination by means of
Jordan, there is a need to accurately predict its proper waste disposal. SF has a high content of silicon
compressive strength, which is used as an essential dioxide (SiO2) and consists of very small solid spherical
parameter in structural design. Therefore, the objectives particles. FA can improve concrete properties such as
of this investigation are: 1) to explore the possibilities of workability, durability and ultimate strength in hardened
producing HSC with mineral admixtures and locally concrete. FA with high fineness exhibits high pozzolanic
available concrete materials in Jordan; and 2) to activity and can be used to produce HSC (Haque and
determine how SF and FA influence the compressive and Kayali, 1998).
flexural strengths of concrete as well as the optimum
percentages of those mineral admixtures. Table (1): Properties of Portland cement.
To achieve the above objectives, concrete specimens
Property Results
were produced and tested in the laboratory. Cement was
Fineness (90-m sieve) 8.3
replaced, by weight, with five percentages (5, 7.5, 10, Specific surface (m2/kg) 281
12.5 and 15) of SF, four percentages (10, 15, 20 and 25) Normal consistency (%) 28
of FA and three percentages (10-10, 10-15 and 10-20) of Vicat setting time (min)
SF-FA combination. Three w/cm ratios of 0.30, 0.35 and Initial 145
Final 260
0.40 were used in the mixes to carry out the 7-day, 28-
Specific gravity 3.15
day and 90-day compressive strength and 28-day flexural
strength tests. An equation relating compressive strength Table (2): Properties of mineral admixtures.
to flexural strength has been developed based on
experimental evaluation. Moreover, a comparison of this Property Silica fume Fly ash
equation with the ACI 363 (1997) formula has also been SiO2 Content 90 42
made. Ultimately, the project aims to provide some Surface Area (m2/kg) 20,000 500
Specific gravity 2.20 2.72
guidelines for concrete mix composition that can be used
Unit weight (kg/m3) 245 990
in the formulation of HSC for the Jordanian market. Fineness (45-m sieve) 5.1 1.2
Fine Coarse
The uses of mineral admixtures have been studied by Property
aggregate aggregate
many researchers. Among many additives, Mineral Specific gravity 2.46 2.75
Admixtures (MAs) were utilized for the production of Specific gravity (SSD) 2.50 2.78
HSC. It has been possible to produce concrete mixes in Apparent relative density 2.56 2.83
Los Angeles abrasion (%) - 20.50
laboratory conditions using such MAs that produced a
Absorption (%) 1.62 1.05
compressive strength which exceeded 180 MPa. The in- Fineness modulus 4.60 6.00
place strength in some tall buildings has attained a Voids (%) 36.70 38.10
compressive strength of approximately 125 MPa (Haque Unit weight (kg/m3) 1705 1617
and Kayali, 1998). The most often used MAs in the A number of studies have been conducted to
production of HSC are SF and FA. These MAs are either investigate the benefits and optimum addition of mineral
pozzolanic or both pozzolanic and self-cementitious to a admixtures to concrete. Hooton (1993) studied the
degree. Fortunately, most of these MAs are industrial by- permeability and resistance to sulfate attack and alkali-
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Effect of Mineral Muhannad Ismeik
aggregate reactivity for SF replacement. Cement pastes paste containing 20% SF exhibited the highest strength. It
consisting of sulfate-resisting Portland cement, partially was observed that the compressive strengths increased
replaced with 0, 10 and 20% by mass SF, were tested for more than that of the Portland cement mix even after a
strength development. The tests found that at all ages, the one-day aging period.
Toutanji and El-Korchi (1996) documented a test optimum amounts. Malaikah (2003) investigated the
where 16 and 25% of cement used in the paste and properties of HSC with w/c ratios ranging between 0.20
mortar, measured by mass, was replaced by SF. Four and 0.35 as well as with an increase of SF according to the
different water/cement (w/c) ratio mixes were tested: following percentages: 0, 10 and 15%, respectively. The
0.22, 0.25, 0.28 and 0.31 with the proper addition of results showed that the highest strength resulted from the
super plasticizer amount. Their results showed that the addition of 10% SF with 0.20 w/c ratio, which resulted in a
partial replacement of cement by SF increased the strength exceeding 100 MPa. Mazloom et al. (2003)
compressive strength of mortar, but had no effect on the studied experimentally the short and long term mechanical
compressive strength of the paste. Lam et al. (1998) properties of high-strength concrete containing different
studied the effect of replacing cement by FA and SF with levels of SF. As the proportion of SF increased, the
different w/c ratios of 0.30, 0.40 and 0.50. They noticed workability of concrete decreased. However, short-term
that FA improved the post peak compressive behavior of mechanical properties such as the 28-day compressive
concrete with a lower gradient in the descending part of strength and secant modulus improved.
the stress strain curve. They reported that a 15% SF and a Nassif et al. (2003) documented a test that
25% FA replacement increased the compressive strength investigated the properties of high-strength concrete
significantly after 28 days. Shannag (2000) stated that the made from mixes using various percentages of FA and
addition of 15% pozzolan and 15% SF to concrete SF and w/c ratio ranging from 0.29 to 0.44. SF
resulted in a 26% increase of the 28-day compressive replacement was between 5 and 15% and FA replacement
strength of concrete. For mixes with a w/cm ratio of 0.35, was between 10 to 30%. The results showed that adding
the strength of the SF concrete was found to be higher SF resulted in an increase in strength at early ages. In
than the strength of the concretes without SF. The addition, adding 20% FA with various percentages of SF
difference increased with the SF content. had an adverse effect on both strength and modulus
Benefits of utilizing SF to the hydration in concrete values at all ages up to 90 days. Also, the optimum
reported by Langan et al. (2002) included: 1) Substantial combination that gave the highest strength was 5% SF
increase in compressive strength of concrete; 2) Reduction with 10% FA. Mostofinejad and Nozhati (2005)
in the required cement content for specific target strength attempted to extract some experimental models to predict
(saving of cement and reducing the cost of concrete); and the modulus of elasticity of HSC. They prepared 45 mix
3) Durability increase for hardened concrete when added in proportions including 5 ratios of SF of 0, 5, 10, 15 and
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Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering, Volume 3, No. 1, 2009
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Effect of Mineral Muhannad Ismeik
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Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering, Volume 3, No. 1, 2009
50
30
20
0 5 10 15 20
Silica fume (%)
Figure (1): Effect of silica fume on the 7-day compressive strength.
60
Compressive strength (MPa)
40
30
0 5 10 15 20
Silica fume (%)
Figure (2): Effect of silica fume on the 28-day compressive strength.
70
Compressive strength (MPa)
50
40
0 5 10 15 20
Silica fume (%)
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Effect of Mineral Muhannad Ismeik
60
40
30
20
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Fly ash (%)
Figure (4): Effect of fly ash on the 7-day compressive strength.
70
Compressive strength (MPa)
50
40
30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Fly ash (%)
Figure (5): Effect of fly ash on the 28-day compressive strength
70
Compressive strength (MPa)
50
40
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Fly ash (%)
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Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering, Volume 3, No. 1, 2009
50
30
20
0+0 10 + 10 10 + 15 10 + 20
Silica fume and fly ash (%)
Figure (7): Effect of silica fume and fly ash on the 7-day compressive strength.
60
Compressive strength (MPa)
40
30
20
0+0 10 + 10 10 + 15 10 + 20
Silica fume and fly ash (%)
Figure (8): Effect of silica fume and fly ash on the 28-day compressive strength.
60
Compressive strength (MPa)
40
30
0+0 10 + 10 10 + 15 10 + 20
Silica fume and fly ash (%)
Figure (9): Effect of silica fume and fly ash on the 90-day compressive strength.
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Effect of Mineral Muhannad Ismeik
11
Age: 28 days
8
w /cm=0.30
7 w /cm=0.35
w /cm=0.40
6
0 5 10 15 20
Silica fume (%)
12.5% SF
9 10% SF
7.5% SF
5% SF
8
0% SF
Age: 28 days
6
0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
Water/Cementitious materials
12
Age: 28 day
Flexural strength (MPa)
0
36.00 38.00 40.00 42.00 44.00 46.00 48.00 50.00
Compressive strength (MPa)
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Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering, Volume 3, No. 1, 2009
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Effect of Mineral Muhannad Ismeik
Compressive Strength of Silica Fume-Fly Ash 10, 12.5 and 15% SF cement replacement. When the w/cm
Concrete ratio decreases, the flexural strength of concrete increases
Figures (7, 8 and 9) show the variations of for all percentages of SF. The flexural strength values of
compressive strength for specimens containing 10% SF mixes with 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15% cement replacement
and 10, 15 and 20% FA replacement percentages at with SF were higher than that of the control mix at all
different ages. The maximum value of the 28-day w/cm ratios. The maximum value of 28-day flexural
compressive strength was 52 MPa at 10-20% SF and FA strength was obtained as 10 MPa at 15% SF replacement
replacement corresponding to a w/cm ratio of 0.30, and level with a w/cm ratio of 0.30. The minimum was
the minimum was obtained at 10-15% SF and FA obtained for the control mix at a w/cm ratio of 0.40 as 6.6
replacement level at a w/cm ratio of 0.40 as 29 MPa. It MPa. Flexural strength continued to increase with the
can be observed that SF and FA incorporation increases increase in SF percentages. There was also a significant
the compressive strength of concrete after 28 days for increase in strength over the control mix. This is believed
lower w/cm ratio specimens. In the earlier stages of the to be due to the large pozzolanic reaction and improved
aging process, benefits are not observed at any interfacial bond between paste and aggregates.
replacement level and high percentages of SF and FA SF seems to have a more pronounced effect on
replacement levels tend to provide strength values close flexural strength than compressive strength. With flexural
to that of control specimens. For lower w/cm ratios, strengths, it was discovered that even very high
apparently, 10-20% SF and FA replacements percentages of SF significantly improve the flexural
considerably improve the 28-day compressive strength strengths. The average percentage gains in the flexural
with respect to control. Strength values may continue to strength of SF concrete with respect to control at the
increase with increasing mineral admixture percentages. different w/cm ratios were computed as 4.8, 7.3, 9.8, 15.4
The results indicate that strength increases as the age of and 21.0% at 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 percentage
the combination of SF and FA concrete increases. replacement levels, respectively. It was found that the
With other mix composition parameters remaining flexural strength steadily increased as the SF replacement
constant, the results show that the optimum mineral percentage increased. Additionally, the gains were higher
admixture percentage is above 10% SF and 20% FA. On than those of compressive strength at all replacement
computing the percentage gain at the 28-day compressive levels. Flexural strength did not follow the same trend as
strength of a combination of SF and FA concrete, with the 28-day compressive strength. Results of the present
respect to control at different w/cm ratios, the values of study indicate that the optimum SF replacement
the average gains at percentages of 10-10%, 10-15% and percentage for 28-day flexural strength is about 15% or,
10-20% SF-FA replacement levels were obtained as -0.2, perhaps, higher if strength curves continue to increase.
2.0 and 8.2%. The average ratio of the 7-day to 28-day The flexural and compressive strengths are closely
strength of FA concrete was 0.79. This value is higher related, although there is no direct proportionality. As
than that of conventional concrete at 0.67, which means compressive strength increases, flexural strength also
that a higher rate of strength gain is obtained with SF-FA increases. Figure (12) shows flexural strength as a function
concrete. of compressive strength for all tests. Linear regression
analysis was carried out based on the least square method
Flexural Strength of Silica Fume Concrete for all testing data and the following equation resulted:
Figure (10) shows the variation of flexural strength
(modulus of rupture) with SF percentages for the three f r = 1 . 20 fc MPa (1)
w/cm ratios of 0.30, 0.35 and 0.40. Figure (11) shows the
variation of flexural strength with w/cm ratio for 0, 5, 7.5, where fr and fc denote the flexural and compressive
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Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering, Volume 3, No. 1, 2009
strengths of concrete expressed in MPa, respectively. The Test results indicate that high strength concrete, made
ACI 363 (1997) equation for HSC is: with mineral admixtures, tends to gain strength more
quickly than conventional concrete. The presence of
f r = 0 . 94 fc MPa (2) silica fume increases the early strength of concrete.
This increase in strength was not achieved with fly
This shows that the addition of SF provided a higher ash nor with a silica fume and fly ash combination.
flexural strength improvement rate compared to the ACI With other mix proportioning parameters held constant,
363 (1997) code prediction. the results of the present investigation indicated that the
Cetin and Carrasquillo (1998) observed that no single maximum compressive strength and flexural strength
equation seems to represent the flexural strength of HSC occur at about 10 to 15% silica fume content and at
with sufficient accuracy and, therefore, measured values about 15% fly ash content, respectively.
should be used instead of predicated ones. By analyzing The flexural strength of silica fume concrete
the present test results statistically, the relationship continues to increase as the percentage of silica fume
between the 28-day flexural strength and compressive increases.
strengths was obtained as: Regression analysis resulted in formulas that tie
flexural strength to compressive strength as seen in
fr = 0.228 f c0.902 MPa (3) the test results presented in this research.
The following recommendations may be made based
The above realized equation, based on the current test on the conclusions from this study:
results, is in close agreement with the literature as A finer and wider range of mineral admixtures
reported by Bhanja and Sengupta (2005) as: percentages should be tested to pinpoint the optimum
amount of cement replacement.
fr = 0.275 f c0.810 MPa (4) Other additives should be tested with the use of
Jordanian local materials to determine their influence
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS on concrete.
Further tests with longer curing ages such as 180 and
Based on the findings of this study, the following 360 days should be investigated.
conclusions are made: Real data should be generated from the analysis of
Addition of silica fume and fly ash to concrete can be commercial concrete mixes obtained from ready mix
conveniently achieved with the present day technology. plants in Jordan, which aids in calibrating the lab
This study has shown that it is possible to produce high results.
strength concrete in Jordan using the locally available Additional work is needed to incorporate the outcome
materials with proper amount of mineral admixtures. Fly of this research with the expressed goal of updating
ash and a combination of silica fume and fly ash current Jordanian concrete code.
replacement did not provide as high improvement levels
as those provided by silica fume. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With previously published information as a The author gratefully recognizes the financial support
comparative basis, results indicated that compressive of Al-Isra University during his tenure there. The Arab
and flexural strengths of silica fume concrete Center for Engineering Studies kindly provided all testing
specimens were higher than those of plain concrete services. Manaseer Ready Mix Concrete graciously
specimens at all ages. donated all the aggregates needed for the project.
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Effect of Mineral Muhannad Ismeik
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