The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content and cement content on the strength and durability of recycled aggregate base materials. Specifically, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and final dielectric value in the Tube Suction Test (TST) were measured in a full-factorial experimental design including five RAP contents, five cement contents, and three replicate specimens of each possible treatment. Specimen mixtures consisted of 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 percent RAP and 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 percent Type I/II Portland cement. Both the RAP and base materials were sampled from the I-84 pavement reconstruction project performed in Weber Canyon near Morgan, Utah, during the summers of 2004 and 2005. The laboratory testing procedures consisted of material characterizations, specimen preparation, and subjection of the specimens to strength and durability testing, and the data were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) testing. Both the RAP and base materials included in this research were determined to be non-plastic, and the AASHTO and Unified soil classifications for the RAP material were determined to be A-1-a and SM (well-graded sand with gravel), respectively, and for the base material they were A-1-a and SW-SM (well-graded sand with silt and gravel), respectively. The optimum moisture contents (OMCs) for the blended materials were between 5.6 and 6.6 percent, and maximum dry density (MDD) values were between 129.7 and 135.5 lb/ft3. In both cases, decreasing values were associated with increasing RAP contents. The results of the ANOVA performed on the UCS data indicate that UCS decreases from 425 to 208 psi as RAP content increases from 0 to 100 percent and increases from 63 to 564 psi as cement content increases from 0.0 to 2.0 percent. Similarly, the final dielectric value decreases from 14.9 to 6.1 as RAP content increases from 0 to 100 percent and decreases from 14.0 to 5.8 as cement content increases from 0.0 to 2.0 percent. With design criteria requiring 7-day UCS values between 300 and 400 psi and final dielectric values less than 10 in the TST, the results of this research suggest that milling plans should be utilized to achieve RAP contents in the range of 50 to 75 percent, and a cement content of 1.0 percent should be specified for this material. Cement contents less than 1.0 percent are not sufficient to stabilize the material, and greater cement contents may cause cracking. Because control of the actual cement content in the field depends on the contractor's equipment and skill, inspection protocols should be implemented during construction to ensure high-quality work. Additional recommendations are associated with the construction process. The specimens prepared in this research were compacted to relative densities of 100 percent using modified Proctor energy. Therefore, field compaction levels must approach these density values if the same material properties are to be achieved. In addition, all specimens tested in this study were cured at 100 percent relative humidity. Following compaction in the field, cement-treated layers should be moistened frequently during the first few days after construction or promptly sealed with a prime coat or wearing surface to ensure that the cement continues to hydrate. Variability in RAP and cement contents should also be minimized to achieve consistent material properties.

Frost heave is a primary mechanism of pavement distress in cold regions. The distress exhibited is dependent on the frost susceptibility of the soil within the depth of frost penetration, the availability of subsurface water, and the duration of freezing surface temperatures. Cement stabilization is one technique used to mitigate the effects of frost heave. The tube suction test (TST) is one possible method for determining the frost susceptibility of soils in the laboratory. The purpose of this research was to assess the utility of the TST for identifying non-frost-susceptible (NFS) materials stabilized with cement. This research investigated two aggregate base materials from Alaska that have exhibited negligible frost susceptibility in the field. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS), final dielectric value in the TST, and frost heave at three levels of cement treatment and in the untreated condition were evaluated for both materials. The data collected in this research indicate that, for the two known NFS materials included in this study, the TST is a good indicator of frost heave behavior. The total heave of the untreated materials was approximately 0.15 in. at the conclusion of the 10-day freezing period, which classifies these materials as NFS according to the U.S Army Corp of Engineers. Both materials had final dielectric values of less than 10 in the TST, indicating a superior moisture susceptibility rating. The results of this research suggest that the TST should be considered for identifying NFS materials, including those stabilized with cement. Additional testing should be performed on known NFS materials stabilized with cement and other additives to further assess the validity of using the TST to differentiate between frost-susceptible and NFS materials. Consistent with previous studies, this research indicates that, once a sufficient amount of cement has been added to significantly reduce frost heave, additional cement has only a marginal effect on further reduction. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary expense in construction, the minimum cement content required for preventing frost heave should be identified through laboratory testing and specified by the engineer. In this work, UCS values ranging between 200 psi and 400 psi after a 7-day cure were typically associated with this minimum cement content. Because the scope of this research is limited to two aggregate base materials, further testing is also necessary to validate this finding.

Full-depth reclamation (FDR) is an increasingly common technique that is used to rehabilitate flexible pavements. Implementation of FDR on rehabilitation projects produces several desirable benefits. However, these benefits are not fully realized due to the fact that state department of transportation specifications typically limit the reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content of pavement base material to 50 percent. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of RAP content, cement content, temperature, curing time, curing condition, and moisture state on the strength, stiffness, and deformation characteristics of cement-treated base (CTB) mixtures containing high percentages of RAP.For this research, one aggregate base material and one RAP material were used for all samples. RAP content ranged from 0 to 100 percent in increments of 25 percent, and low, medium, and high cement levels corresponding to 7-day unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values of 200, 400, and 600 psi, respectively, were selected for testing. Moisture-density, UCS, resilient modulus, and permanent deformation tests were performed for various combinations of factors, and several statistical analyses were utilized to evaluate the results of the UCS, resilient modulus, and permanent deformation testing.The results of this work show that CTB containing RAP can be made to achieve 7-day UCS values approaching 600 psi regardless of RAP content. With regards to stiffness, the data collected in this study indicate that the resilient modulus of CTB containing RAP is affected by temperature in the range from 72 to 140°F for the low cement level. Permanent deformation of CTB containing RAP is significantly affected by RAP content and cement level at the test temperature of 140°F. At the low cement level, temperature is also a significant variable. As the 7-day UCS reaches approximately 400 psi, permanent deformation is reduced to negligible quantities. The results of this research indicate that the inverse relationship observed between permanent deformation and 7-day UCS is statistically significant.Given that the principle conclusion from this work is that CTB with high RAP contents can perform satisfactorily as a base material when a sufficient amount of cement is applied, agencies currently specifying limits on the percentage of RAP that can be used as a part of reclaimed base material in the FDR process should reevaluate their policies and specifications with the goal of allowing the use of high RAP contents where appropriate.

Hydrated cement paste (HCP), which is present in various cement-based materials, includes a number of constituents with distinct nano-structures. The elastic properties of the HCP crystals are calculated using molecular dynamics (MD) methods. The accuracy of estimated values is verified by comparing them with the results from experimental tests and other atomistic simulation methods. The outcome of MD simulations is then extended to predict the elastic properties of the C-S-H gel by rescaling the values calculated for the individual crystals. To take into account the contribution of porosity, a detailed microporomechanics study is conducted on low- and high-density types of C-S-H. The obtained results are verified by comparing the rescaled values with the predictions from nanoindentation tests. Moreover, the mechanical behavior of the HCP crystals is examined under uniaxial tensile strains. From the stress-strain curves obtained in the three orthogonal directions, elastic and plastic responses of the HCP crystals are investigated. A comprehensive chemical bond and structural damage analysis is also performed to characterize the failure mechanisms of the HCP crystals under high tensile strains. The outcome of this study provides detailed information about the nonlinear behavior, plastic deformation, and structural failure of the HCP phases and similar atomic structures.

Limestone is one of the main components of cement production. Limestone has been quarried in Skövde, Sweden, since the end of 19th century and Cementa AB has been operating the quarry since 1973. Aside from limestone, there are also Alum shale of Cambrian age, mudstones as well as bentonite layers of Ordovician age present in the quarry.  The production of cement evidently is important for Sweden’s infrastructure, and the quarry in Skövde is one of few known locations in the country with limestone with the right composition. Therefore, it is important to increase the knowledge regarding the character of the limestone to make accurate predictions for the future regarding the cement production. The geological knowledge of the area is already extensive; however, the aim of this thesis is to expand this knowledge further by constructing a 3D geological model. The data which has been used to construct the model are field observations, drill core data, chemical data, high-resolution pictures (photogrammetry) and resistivity measurements (field and samples). The resistivity measurements were done using the multiple gradient array, and apparent resistivity was inverted using Res2Dinv. The geological modelling was done using Leapfrog geo (© Seequent Systems, Incorporated). Two models have been proposed as a result of this project; one where high-grade limestone of lesser quality and whitestone has been regrouped with two other units (A) and one including all units (B). In the most recent drilling campaign, the nomenclature used to distinguish the units has been modified and does not differentiate high-grade limestone of lesser quality and whitestone from the rest. This affects coherence of the model and for this reason two models have been built. Both models show roughly flat lying units in the area of interest. Both low-grade limestone and lower waste stone units have consistent thickness in both models. The major difference between the models is how the high-grade limestone unit is modelled as a consequence of the additional units in model B. The result from the resistivity measurements shows unexpectedly low values, when compared to values from the literature as well as the measurements on hand samples from the quarry. The reason for these low values is still unclear, and therefore resistivity data has been used with caution. Considering this, it appears that resistivity measurements is not a suitable technique to characterize the subsurface in this particular area.  The models produced in this project provides information regarding thickness and extent of the units and overlying soil. As such, the new knowledge can be used to plan future prospecting campaigns, make projections, and estimates within current mining permits and evaluate how future mining can be conducted. / Kalksten är huvudkomponenten när det kommer till cementproduktion, vilken också behöver ha en specifik kemi för att vara lämplig att tillverka cement av. Kalksten av denna specifika kvalité har brutits i Skövde, Sverige, sedan slutet av 1800-talet. Cementproduktionen startade dock 1924 och Cementa köpte upp gruvan och fabriken 1973. I brottet finns förutom kalksten även alunskiffer, slamsten och bentonitlager. Vidare finns det två olika kvalitéer på kalkstenen, en med högt kalciumoxidvärde och en med lägre kalciumoxidvärde. Totalt representerar de formationer som finns i gruvan en 50 miljoner år lång historia av sedimentation. Cement utgör en grundläggande del för Sveriges infrastruktur, och brottet i Skövde är en av få platser i landet med en kalksten som har rätt kemi. Därmed är det viktigt att utöka kunskapen gällande karaktären på kalkstenslagren i och vid brottet för att kunna göra mer korrekta uppskattningar om Sveriges framtida cementproduktion. I dagsläget är kunskapen om geologin i och kring gruvan omfattande tack vare bland annat tidigare prospekteringskampanjer. Syftet med detta arbete är utöka den geologiska kunskapen ytterligare genom att konstruera en geologisk 3D modell. Denna geologiska 3D modell har skapats av data såsom borrhålsdata, resistivitetsmätningar samt drönarbilder för att bättre karakterisera de olika geologiska formationerna. På grund av att indelningen av de geologiska enheterna har varit olika mellan de tidigare prospekteringskampanjerna har två 3D modeller med olika upplösning skapats i stället för en. Modelleringen har fokuserats på ett område nordväst om nuvarande brytområde. Båda modellerna har sub-horisontella geologiska enheter inom intresseområdet. Vidare har modellerna liknande tjocklek och utbredning på enheterna i sin övre del, men skiljer sig åt längre ner. Detta på grund av att den ena modeller har flera enheter, vilket således även påverkar närliggande enheter. Dessa två modeller har utökat den geologiska kunskapen om området, till exempel de geologiska enheternas mäktighet och utbredning, samt hur mäktigt jordtäcket i området är. Denna nya kunskap kan användas för att planera och estimera hur brytning kan ske i framtiden. Det är dock viktigt att poängtera att det är modeller som skapats, vilka är antaganden av verkligheten.

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<p>The study focused on examining the effects of using nanoadditives (nano-TiO2 and colloidal silica) on the hydration kinetics, microstructure, mechanical properties, and durability of concretes, especially those containing fly ash and slag and cured at low (4°C) temperature. </p> <p>The results of the Vicat and isothermal calorimetery (IC) tests suggest that the addition of nano-TiO2 accelerates the hydration process of pastes. In addition, the results of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the addition of nano-TiO2 increased the amount of hydration products in the pastes, with more notable increases observed in fly ash pastes. Moreover, X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that the addition of nano-TiO2 reduced the mean size of calcium hydroxide (CH) crystals.  </p> <p>The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of concretes with nano-TiO2 was found to be less cracked and less porous when compared to that of concrete without nano-TiO2. Furthermore, the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses of the outer hydration products around partially hydrated cement particles in fly ash concretes with nano-TiO2 revealed reduction in the values of Ca/Si atomic ratios when compared to the reference fly ash concrete. The image analysis results of the concrete air void system indicated slightly reduced air content, increased specific surface area (SSA), and decreased spacing factor (SF) in concretes with added nano-TiO2. </p> <p>The addition of nano-TiO2 was also found to enhance the compressive and flexural strengths of mortars and concretes. Nano-TiO2 also improved the resistivity and formation factor values of concretes containing fly ash. Moreover, the total volume of pores, as well as the values of water absorption, were also reduced as a result of addition of nano-TiO2. This was true for all types of concretes (i.e., with or without SCMs). Finally, the use of nano-TiO2 seemed to be more beneficial with respect to improving the scaling and freeze-thaw resistance of fly ash concretes compared to cement-only and slag concretes. </p> <p>Concretes with added nanosilica (colloidal silica) also developed higher compressive and flexural strengths when compared to reference concrete. Moreover, the total pores and permeability of concretes decreased due to the addition of nanosilica while the improvement in scaling resistance of these concretes was only slight. Furthermore, concretes with nanosilica were found to have higher percentage of finer air voids compared to reference concretes. Finally, the ITZ of concretes with nanosilica was found to have fewer defects and cracks compared to the reference concrete. </p> <p>In summary, this dissertation presents the results of a study on the multi-scale behavior of nanomodified concretes with and without SCMs cured at both room and low temperatures. Knowledge gained from this study would be helpful in developing concretes with denser and less porous microstructure, a more refined and better-distributed air void system, improved strength, reduced permeability, and enhanced scaling and freeze-thaw resistance, especially in cases when involving the use of SCMs and exposure to low early-age temperatures.</p>

[pt] O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo do comportamento mecânico e de interface de compósitos cimentícios reforçados com tecido unidirecional de fibra de curauá. Os compósitos foram produzidos com matrizes constituídas de adições minerais pozolânicas distintas: sílica da casca de arroz, cinza do bagaço de cana e metacaulim. Realizou-se o tratamento superficial da fibra com impregnação de dois materiais abrasivos em adesivo époxi: óxido de alumínio e areia. As propriedades reológicas e mecânicas das matrizes, foram obtidas através de ensaios de consistência Flow table e resistência à compressão, respectivamente. Para a análise da reatividade das adições, realizaram-se ensaios de índice de atividade pozolânica, balizados em princípios químicos e mecânicos. A avaliação do desempenho mecânico e micro-estrutural dos compósitos foi feita por meio de ensaios de tração direta e flexão a quatro pontos. A morfologia e comportamento mecânico da fibra, mecanismos de interação fibra-matriz e características da zona de transição interfacial (ITZ) foram verificados mediante imagens de microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV), ensaios de pull-out e de tração direta do filamento e do tecido. Os resultados indicaram que é possível a produção de compósitos de alto desempenho com reforço de fibra natural. Em específico, o metacaulim viabilizou compósitos com as melhores performances mecânicas e características de interface, sendo a matriz selecionada para o reforço com as fibras tratadas. O tratamento da superfície mostrou-se eficaz no aumento da rigidez da fibra e, por consequência, do tecido. Além de melhorar a aderência fibra-matriz e torná-la hidrofóbica. No entanto, a alta aderência atingida conferiu aos compósitos a redução da ductilidade e tenacidade, juntamente com a melhoria da resistência à flexão. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se apresentar alternativas de tecnologias renováveis, de baixo custo e impacto ambiental, fatores chaves no desenvolvimento de materiais de construção civil, através do aprofundamento do estudo do reforço de fibra de curauá, e do desempenho de diferentes resíduos agroindustriais empregados na matriz, juntamente com os respectivos tratamentos superficiais na fibra. / [en] The present work presents a study on the mechanical and interfacial behavior of cementitious composites reinforced with unidirectional curauá fabric. The composites were produced with matrices made of distinct pozzolanic mineral additions: rice husk silica, sugarcane bagasse ash and metakaolin. The surface treatment of the fiber was carried out with impregnation of two abrasive materials in epoxy adhesive: aluminum oxide and sand. The rheological and mechanical properties of the matrices were obtained through tests of consistency, flow table, and compressive strength, respectively. For the reactivity’s analysis of the additions, pozzolanic activity index tests were performed, based on chemical and mechanical principles. The evaluation of the mechanical and microstructural performance of the composites was done by means of direct tensile tests and four-point bending. The morphology and mechanical behavior of the fiber, fiber-matrix interaction and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) characteristics were verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, pull-out and direct tensile tests of the filament and fabric. The results indicated that it is possible to produce high performance composites with natural fiber reinforcement. Specifically, the use of metakaolin resulted in composites with the best mechanical performances and interface characteristics, and the matrix was selected for the reinforcement with the treated fibers. The surface treatment proved to be effective in increasing fiber stiffness and, consequently, the fabric, in addition to improving fiber-matrix bond, rendered it a hydrophobic behavior. However, the high bond achieved gave the composites the reduction of ductility and toughness, along with the improvement of flexural strength. The objective of this study was to present alternatives to renewable technologies, low cost and environmental impact, key factors in the development of civil construction materials, through the deepening of the study of fiber reinforcement of curauá, and the performance of different agroindustrial residues used in together with the respective surface treatments on the fiber.

The Deep Mixing Method (DMM) is a widely used, in-situ ground improvement technique that modifies and improves the engineering properties of soil by blending the soil with a cementitious binder. Laboratory specimens were prepared to represent soil improved by the wet method of deep mixing, in which the binder is delivered in the form of a cement-water slurry. To study the influence of curing temperature on the strength of the treated soil, specimens were cured in temperature-controlled water baths for the desired curing time. After curing, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were conducted on the specimens. To investigate the optimum mix design for the wet method of deep mixing, UCS tests were performed to measure the strength of cured specimens, and laboratory miniature vane shear tests were conducted on uncured specimens to measure the undrained shear strength (su), which is used to represent the consistency of the mixture right after mixing. The consistency is important for field mixing because a softer mixture is easier to mix thoroughly. Based on the UCS test results, an equation that can provide a good fit to the strength data of the cured binder-treated soil is proposed. When the curing temperature was changed during curing, the UCS of the specimen cured at a low temperature and then cured at a high temperature was greater than the UCS of the specimen cured at a high temperature first. This seems to be due to different effects of elevated curing temperatures at early and late curing times on the cement reaction rates, such that elevating the curing temperature later produces a more constant reaction rate, which contributes to the reaction efficiency. An optimum mix design that minimizes the amount of binder while satisfying both a target strength of the cured mixture and a target consistency of the uncured mixture can be established by using the fitted equations for UCS and su. The amount of binder required for the optimum mix design increases as the plasticity of the base soil increases and the water content of the base soil (wbase soil) decreases. / Master of Science / The Deep Mixing Method (DMM) is a ground improvement technique widely used to improve the strength and stiffness of loose sands, soft clays, and organic soils. The DMM is useful for both inland and coastal construction. There are two types of deep mixing. The dry method of deep mixing involves adding the binder in the form of dry powder, and the wet method of deep mixing involves mixing binder-water slurry with the soil. The strength of the cured mixture is significantly influenced by the amount of added cement and water, the curing time, and the curing temperature. This research evaluates the influence of curing temperature on the strength of cured cement-treated soil mixture. Mixture proportions and curing conditions also influence the consistency of the mixture right after mixing, which is important because it affects the amount of mixing energy necessary to thoroughly mix the binder slurry with the soil. This research developed and evaluated fitting equations that correlate the cured mixture strength and the uncured mixture consistency with mixture proportions and curing conditions. These fitting equations can then be used to select an economical and practical mix design method that minimizes the amount of binder needed to achieve both the desired cured strength and uncured consistency. The amount of binder required for the optimum mix design increases as the plasticity of the base soil increases and the water content of the base soil (wbase soil) decreases.

In view of the challenges of decarbonisation of the cement industry, the use of low-clinker ternary cements especially with calcined clays is becoming increasingly important. The combination of Portland cement clinker (K), ground granulated blast furnace slag (S) and calcined clay (Q) in ternary cements is very promising in terms of cement and concrete properties. In this study the CO2 footprint of such cements as well as the energy required for their production was determined over a wide range of cement compositions systematically for the first time. The results were related to the strength development of the cements and the mineralogical com-position as well as the moisture of the used clays. Compared to an OPC (CEM I 42.5), both the CO2 and energy saving potentials for the production of ternary KSQ cements are between 25 and 55 % respectively, depending on the cement composition.