Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Kyle A. Riding / Air void clustering around coarse aggregate in concrete has been identified as a potential source of low strengths in concrete mixes by several Departments of Transportation around the country. Research was carried out to (1) develop a quantitative measure of air void clustering around aggregates, (2) investigate whether air void clustering can be reproduced in a laboratory environment, (3) determine if air void clustering can blamed for lower compressive strengths in concrete mixes, (4) and identify potential factors that may cause clustering. Five types of coarse aggregate and five different air entraining agents were included in the laboratory study to see if aggregate type or chemical composition of air entraining agent directly relates to air void clustering. A total of 65 mixes were made, implementing the frequently used technique of retempering that has been previously associated with air void clustering around aggregates. Compressive strength specimens as well as samples for hardened void analysis were made. Compressive strength at 7 and 28 days was determined and the automated hardened void analysis (including a new method of clustering evaluation) was performed on all samples. It was found that it is possible to reproduce air void clustering in laboratory conditions. However, the results have shown that retempering does not always cause air void clustering. It was also observed that air void clustering is not responsible for a decrease in compressive strength of retempered concrete as neither aggregate type nor chemical composition of air entraining agent had a significant impact on severity of void clustering around coarse aggregate particles. It was also found that the total air content and an inhomogeneous microstructure and not air void clustering were responsible for lower strengths.

Vertebroplasty is a new technique in orthopedic surgery for stabilizing fractured vertebra. In this technique acrylic bone cement as a biocompatible material is injected through a cannula inside of vertebra. There are several concerns in this technique that the most serious one is cement leakage out of vertebra. The main reasons are improper viscosity and lack of visibility. Clinicians who practice vertebroplasty use commercial highly concentrated radiopaque acrylic bone cement (more than 25%BaSO[subscript 4] or ZrO[subscript 2]) or a cement with manually added radiopaque agents. High density materials with attenuation under X-ray are good alternatives compared to conventional radiopaque agents (BaSO[subscript 4] or ZrO[subscript 2]) in acrylic bone cement for application in vertebroplasty. In the first part of this study, thermal and rheological properties of modified acrylic bone cement with conventional radiopaque agent (Barium Sulfate, BaSO[subscript 4]) are studied. Additions of barium sulfate are in the form of substitute or excess. In substitute formulation, barium sulfate is replaced with the same weight of powder and liquid to powder ratio kept constant. In the excess formulation, barium sulfate added as excess and liquid to powder ratio decreased. In the second part of this study, high density radiopaque agents are used as alternative radiopacifier. Experimental design technique is used to study the effect of X-ray conditions, concentration, type, and size of radiopaque agents on the visibility of bone cement. The visibility of bone cement was quantified by the measurement of contrast index. In the first project, it was found that the setting time increased with the increase of concentration of radiopacifier in substitute formulation of barium sulfate bone cement. With increase of barium sulfate concentration, excess formulations showed higher residual monomer but for substitute cement, we had a decreasing trend. Acrylic bone cements with excess formulation had higher initial viscosity compared to reference or substitute but the variation of viscosity with time was lower for substitute formulation and cements had higher working time. In the second project, contrast index was the same for barium sulfate, tungsten, and zirconium in the lower voltage but in higher voltage of X-ray lamp, tungsten and zirconium gave higher contrast index. Variation of current in X-ray lamp changed the contrast index of cement slightly compared to the effect of voltage. Bone cement with nano tungsten had higher contrast index compared to the cement with micro size tungsten although micro size zirconium as radiopacifier gave higher contrast index than nano size zirconium.

Le béton de chanvre est obtenu par le mélange d'un granulat végétal, constitué de bois de chanvre, et d'un liant. Il confère au mur de bonnes propriétés d'isolation thermique et acoustique, ainsi qu'une régulation de l'humidité. Cependant, des problèmes de non-prise, qui semblent fortement liés aux transferts d'eau dans le béton au cours des premières heures, peuvent parfois se produire. La RMN permet de quantifier l'eau dans le chanvre et dans le liant et donc de décrire et comprendre les transferts au cours de la prise. Nous montrons d'abord que, dans le liant constitué d'un mélange de chaux hydraté et de ciment, la chaux accélère la prise du ciment. Cette prise est d'autant plus inhibée que la quantité de chanvre au contact du ciment est importante. Nous montrons également que l'absorption d'eau par le granulat de chanvre s'étale sur trois jours, et qu'elle se produit en deux phases successives correspondant à l'imprégnation de deux zones du chanvre. L'étude des transferts dans le béton pendant la prise révèle une absorption d'eau rapide par le chanvre initialement, puis un transfert vers le liant. L'étude d'un béton de chanvre "modèle" nous permet d'associer ce transfert au retrait chimique du ciment au cours de la prise / Hemp concrete results from the mix of a vegetal aggregate (hemp shives) and a binder. It provides thermal and acoustic insulation to the wall, as well as a good moisture regulation. However, problems sometimes occur during setting, that seem strongly linked to transfers of water in the concrete in the first hours. NMR allows to quantify water in hemp and in the binder and thus to describe and understand the transfers during setting. We first show that, in the binder consisting of a mixture of hydrated lime and cement, lime accelerates cement hydration. This hydration is inhibited as the amount of hemp in contact with the cement increases. We also show that the absorption of water by hemp shives is takes place during three days, and it occurs in two successive phases corresponding to two areas of hemp that imbibe. The study of transfers in the concrete during the setting shows a rapid water absorption by the hemp initially, followed by a transfer to the binder. The study of a "model" hemp concrete allows us to associate this transfer to the chemical shrinkage of cement during hydration

It is perhaps paradoxical that many material properties arise from the absence of material rather than the presence of it. For example, the strength, stiffness, and toughness of a concrete are related to its pore structure. Furthermore, the volume, size distribution, and interconnectivity of porosity is important for understanding permeability, diffusivity, and capillary action occurring in concrete, which are necessary for predicting service lives in aggressive environments. This research advances the state-of-the-art of multiscale characterization of cement-based materials, and uses this characterization information to model the material behavior under competing durability concerns. In the first part of this research, a novel method is proposed to characterize the entrained air void system. In the second and third parts of this research, microstructural characterization is used in tandem with mechanical models to investigate the behavior of cementitious materials when exposed to rapid rates of loading and to cyclic freezing and thawing. First, a novel analytical technique is presented which reconstructs the 3D entrained air void distribution in hardened concrete using 2D image analysis. This method proposes a new spacing factor, which is believed to be more sensitive to microstructural changes than the current spacing factor commonly utilized in practiced, and specified in ASTM C457, as a measure of concrete's ability to resist to damage under cyclic freeze/thaw loading. This has the potential to improve economy by improving the quality of petrographic assessment and reducing the need for more expensive and time-consuming freeze/thaw tests, while also promoting the durability of concrete. Second, quantitative measurements of the sizes, shapes, and spatial arrangements of flaws which are through to drive failure at strain rates above 100/s were obtained in order to model mortar subjected to high strain-rate loading (i.e., extremes in load rate). A micromechanics model was used to study the ways in which flaw geometry and flaw interaction govern damage. A key finding suggests that dynamic strength may be multimodal, with larger flaws shifting the dynamic strength upwards into the highest strength failure mode. Third, a robust theoretical approach, based upon poroelasticity, is presented to further validate the utility of the novel spacing factor proposed this research. The model is truly multiscale, using in its formulation pore size data ranging from the nanoscale to the micro-scale, entrained air data from the micro-scale to the millimeter scale, and infers a representative volume element on the centimeter scale. The results provide an underlying physical basis for the performance of the novel spacing factor. Furthermore, the framework could be used as a forensic tool, or as a tool to optimize the entrained air void system against freeze/thaw damage.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Infection is one of the major causes of increased morbidity and the escalating costs associated with orthopedic surgery. The areas that are infected are often difficult to reach and thus difficult to treat. In some surgeries antibiotic-loaded bone cements are used to control infection. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and calcium phosphate-based bone cements (CPC) are usually used as bone fillers. CPC are bioresorbable and biocompatible (unlike PMMA cements), but can only be used in non- or low-load bearing areas and are thus more applicable in cranio-and maxilla-facial surgeries. Several in vitro and in vivo trials have been conducted on the incorporation of antibiotics and other therapeutic agents into CPC and the release of these agents. As with any solid matrix, release is defined by specific parameters, i.e. matrix porosity, solubility of the drug and interaction of the drug with the cement. The increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens, mainly as a result of overuse of antibiotics, has a major impact on the choice of antibiotics that are used in the treatment of bacterial infections. The search for alternative antimicrobial compounds that are active against resistant pathogens, is thus of utmost importance. Antimicrobial peptides (bacteriocins) produced by lactic acid bacteria may pose a possible alternative to antibiotics. Some of these peptides are active against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Bacteriocins are small cationic, hydrophobic, or amphiphilic peptides active against a narrow range of target organisms. Most of these peptides are active in the nanomolar range. It may then be advantageous to incorporate bacteriocins into CPC to evaluate if they may be used as an alternative to antibiotics. The aim of the project was to evaluate if bacteriocins could be successfully incorporated into self seting brushite bone cement and remain effective in vivo without altering basic cement characteristics. Incorporation of bacteriocins into CPC is a novel concept. The low setting temperature and pH of CPC renders it the ideal matrix for incorporation of antimicrobial peptides. In this study, peptide ST4SA, a class IIa broad-spectrum bacteriocin, has been incorporated into brushite bone cement and characterized in vitro. Incorporation of the peptide did not have a significant effect on the crystal entanglement or setting reaction of the cement. Peptide ST4SA was rapidly released and inhibited the growth of the target strain effectively. In another experiment, peptide ST4SA was suspended in poly (lactide-co-glycolide) and electrosprayed to form micro particles that were entrapped in brushite cement. Association of the peptide with microparticles resulted in a delayed release from the cement, followed by a constant release. Nisin F, a class Ia bacteriocin was also incorporated into brushite cement and its activity studied in vitro and in vivo. Similar results were observed in vitro as recorded with peptide ST4SA incorporated into brushite cement. Small cylinders of brushite cement loaded with nisin F were implanted into subcutaneous pockets in mice and each pocket infected with a bioluminescent strain of Staphylococcus aureus (Xen 36). Nisin F in the bone cement prevented the growth of S. aureus in the wound and controlled infection. With this study we have shown that antimicrobial peptides that differ in structure (classes I and II) could be incorporated into bone cement and control the growth of S. aureus in vivo and in vitro. The mode of action of these peptides differs from antibiotics in that they form a permanent pore in the cell membrane of the target organism. This minimizes the chance of a strain becoming resistant to the peptide. Incorporation of antimicrobial peptides into bone cement may be a possible alternative to antibiotics in the control of bacterial infections associated with implants. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Infeksie is een van die grootste bydraende faktore tot sterftes en verhoogde kostes in ortopediese chirurgie. Geinfekteerde areas is dikwels moeilik bereikbaar en dus ook moeilik om te behandel. In sommige operasies word antibiotika-gelaaide beensement gebruik om infeksie te beheer. Polymetielmetakrilaat (PMMS) en kalsium fosfaat gebaseerde beensement (KFS) word gebruik as been vullers. KFS is bioverenigbaar en bio-absorberend (in teenstelling met PMMS), maar kan slegs in geen- of liggewig-draende areas gebruik word en is dus van groter toepassing in skedel-, kaak- gesig- en mondchirurgie. Verskeie in vitro en in vivo toetse is al gedoen op die inkorporering van antibiotika en ander terapeutiese middels in KFS en die vrystelling daarvan uit die matriks. Soos met enige soliede matriks is vrylating van die geinkorporeerde bestanddeel afhanklik van sekere parameters, onder andere porositeit, oplosbaarheid van die middel, en die interaksie van die middel met beensement. Die toename in antibiotika-weerstandbiedende patogene plaas geweldige druk op die keuse van antibiotika wat gebruik word in die beheer van bakteriese infeksie. Die soeke na alternatiewe antimikrobiese middels aktief teen bestande patogene is dus van kardinale belang. Antimikrobiese peptiede (bakteriosiene) gepproduseer deur melksuur bakteriee mag dalk . alternatief tot antibiotika wees. Sommige van hierdie peptiede is aktief teen verskeie weerstandbiedende patogene. Bakteriosiene is kationiese, hidrofobiese of amfifiliese peptiede wat naverwante bakteriee inhibeer of doodmaak. Die meeste van hierdie peptiede is aktief op nanoskaal vlak. Dit mag dalk dus voordelig wees om bakteriosiene in been sement te evalueer as moontlike alternatiewe tot antibiotika. Die doel van die proejek was om te evaleer of bakteriosiene suksesfol in "brushite" sement geïnkorporeer kan word en steeds effektief in vivo bly sonder om die basiese eienskappe van die sement te verander. Inkorporasie van bakteriosiene in KFS is 'n nuwe konsep. Die lae stollingstemperatuur en pH van KFS maak dit moontlik om bakteriosiene daarin te inkorporeer. In hierdie studie is peptied ST4SA, . klas IIa wye-spektrum bakteriosien, in "brushite" sement geïnkorporeer en in vitro bestudeer. Die toevoeging van die peptied het nie 'n beduidende effek op die stolreaksie of kristal verstrikking van die sement gehad nie. Peptied ST4SA is effektief vrygelaat en het die groei van die teikenorganisme suksesvol onderdruk. In 'n ander eksperiment is peptied ST4SA in poli (D,L-laktied-ko-glikolied) gesuspendeer en met behulp van elektrosproeiing tot mikropartikels omvorm en is in "brushite" sement geïnkorporeer. Assosiasie van die peptied met mikropartikels het die inisiële vrylating van die peptied vertraag, gevolg deur 'n konstante vrylating. Nisien F, . klas Ia lantibiotikum, is ook in "brushite" sement geïnkorporeer en die aktiwiteit daarvan in vitro en in vivo bestudeer. Die in vitro eienskappe is soortgelyk aan die eienskappe wat vir peptied ST4SA-gelaaide sement waargeneem is. Klein stafies "brushite" sement, waarin nisien F geïnkoproreer is, is in onderhuidse sakkies in muise geplaas en die area met 'n bio-liggewende bakterie (S. aureus Xen 36) geïnfekteer. Nisien F in die beensement het die groei van S. aureus in die wond onderdruk en infeksie beheer. Met hierdie studie het ons bewys dat bakteriosiene wat struktureel van mekaar verskil (klasse I en II) in beensement geïnkorporeer kan word en die groei van S. aureus in vitro en in vivo kon beheer. Die wyse waarop hierdie peptiede die groei van sensitiewe organismes inhibeer verskil van die van antibiotika deurdat dit porieë in die selmembraan vorm. Die moontlikheid dat organismes weerstandbiedend raak tot die peptied is dus heelwat skraler. Die insluit van antimikrobiese peptiede in beensement mag dalk 'n alternatief tot antibiotika wees in die voorkoming van bakteriële infeksie geassosieer met ortopediese chirurgie.

Thesis (PhD (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ECC (Engineered Cement-based Composites) is a type of HPC (High Performance Concrete) that was engineered to overcome the weaknesses of ordinary concrete. It shows high ductility as it can resist the full tensile load at a strain of more than 3 %. This superior response is achieved with multiple cracking under tensile loading which has a pseudo strain hardening phenomenon as result. The purpose of the research project reported in this dissertation is to investigate and characterise the time-dependant behaviour of ECC and create a constitutive model to numerically simulate the static and time-dependant behaviour of ECC. To investigate the time-dependant behaviour experimentally, rate and creep tests were done on the meso- and macro-level while rate tests were done on the structurallevel. The meso-level was represented by the pull-out testing of fibres embedded in the cement-based matrix and direct tensile tests were done for the macro-level. Flexural tests on thin beams were done to simulate the structural-level. Strong time-dependant behaviour was found on all three these levels. On the meso-level, the most prominent finding is that the failure mechanism can change with a change of strain rate, i.e. fibre pull-out at a low pull-out rate, while with a high pullout rate, fibre rupture can occur. Even though the strength of a tensile specimen on the macro-level showed a dependence on the strain rate, the ductility remained constant over four orders of magnitude of the strain rate. On the structural-level, however, a reduction of the flexural ductility was found with an increase of the ...

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Some experiments utilizing the shear capacity of Engineered Cement-based Composites (ECC) have suggested that elimination of shear reinforcement is feasible when the concrete matrix is replaced by ECC. However, actual application and more rigorous cost analysis are prevented by the fact that the shear stress and strain properties of ECC have not yet been characterized as accurately as the tensile properties. This study focuses on the investigation of the shear property of ECC. The study starts with a survey and comparison of existing shear tests for composite materials. The Iosipescu shear test concept is chosen as the most objective method for ECC, and subsequently, modified for specific application on ECC by simple analytical design and finite element refinement. The modified Iosipescu shear test method is applied on, four types of ECC specimens with different fibre content (0%, 1%, 2%, 2.5% by volume), which have been cast in specially designed moulds and cured in laboratory conditions. Three phases of shear measurements are used to check the shear test appropriateness and study the shear mechanical properties of ECC. The failure mode is verified in the first phase, detailed measurement of the shear strain and shear stress is performed and recorded in the second phase, and in the third phase more information about the ductility of diagonal cracking is obtained by measurement of the tensile principal deformation. By also conducting direct tensile tests on specimens of the exact same mix, information of both uniaxial tension and shear behaviour is available, from which elastic and shear moduli, as well as Poisson’s ratio of ECC are computed. A first step toward application of this knowledge of the shear behaviour of ECC is taken by studying the response of shear-dominated beams and beam-columns of reinforced concrete and reinforced concrete combined with ECC as the outer crusts. These beams were prepared and tested by other members of the research group of the Division for Structural Engineering of the University of Stellenbosch. It is shown that ECC can indeed successfully replace shear reinforcing steel, due to its shear capacity.

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bonded overlays are increasingly used in concrete and reinforced concrete repair and rehabilitation applications, despite the high probability of interfacial debonding. Reasons for such failures include inefficient substrate surface preparations, inappropriate overlay materials, poor curing conditions and time dependent influences. The introduction of engineered cement-based composite (ECC) as an overlay or repair material, does not only address durability aspects but also structural performance. The associated ductility of the material induces a high performance aspect where applied. It is crucial to execute reliable design methods, especially at interfacial level, in order to harness the ductility at hand. The fact of the matter is that through identifying the required performance, one can engineer an optimal bond through implementation of reliable substrate surface preparation techniques (SSPT’s). ECC is a material which exhibits ductile mechanical behaviour. The material matrix is reinforced with synthetic fibres, in the case of this study, poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres were used. The introduction of fibres induces strain-hardening behaviour when in tension. Strain-hardening occurs from the first crack onwards and is accompanied by ductile behaviour, due to a multiple cracking phenomenon. Multiple cracking continues until the increased tensile load incurs localising of an existing crack. The literature study investigates bond properties and bond model parameter test methods. A review of composite design, mainly concrete to concrete, in local and international codes discloses design specifications towards calculating interfacial shear bonds. The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the aggregate and cement matrix of concrete is used to define the interfacial bond characteristics and processes. The next step is to investigate a variety of interfacial shear and tensile test methods, in order to implement the most suitable tests.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this research is to investigate the potential use of coarse recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as a material in structural concrete. The lack of knowledge and specifications in South Africa are the main reasons for this research of RCA. By increasing the database of research of RCA in South Africa the possibility of specifications for this alternative building material can be initiated. The implications of such specifications would lead to RCA acceptance in concrete design and therefore reducing the amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste accumulating at landfill sites and decreasing the extraction of depleting natural aggregates. The objectives that are achieved through this research project are firstly, what is the percentage replacement of RCA to a concrete blend that will produce a material that achieves similar or better results than a concrete blend containing natural aggregates. Secondly, what aggregate properties and limits should be defined in the specification of RCA for it to be accepted as a material in concrete mixtures. The objectives were assessed through examining the geometrical, physical and chemical properties of the aggregate as a material and the fresh and hardened concrete properties of concrete which contains RCA as a constituent. RCA which was processed by a commercial recycling facility which produces concrete masonry units was collected at three different instances. This material was reprocessed in the laboratory to control the grading and amount of fine material not guaranteed by the recycling process. The RCA is then combined with natural aggregate (NA) at the replacement percentages: 0, 15, 30, 50 and 100% which is then used to examine the aggregate properties. It was determined that the physical properties of RCA were dependent on the geometrical properties, while taking into consideration that the geometrical properties are dependent on the source and method of recycling of the original C&D waste. The chemical properties were established as dependent on the physical properties of the RCA. The RCA is then mixed with NA at the same replacement percentages together with other concrete constituents to produce the concrete used to examine fresh and hardened concrete properties. The fresh concrete properties investigated were: slump, slump loss, air content and fresh compacted density. The hardened concrete properties studied were: compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, oxygen permeability, water sorptivity, chloride conductivity, modulus of elasticity, shrinkage and creep. The concrete properties were not significantly influenced by the inclusion of RCA. According to the aggregate and concrete properties examined in this investigation, the full replacement of NA in structural concrete is possible and will improve the sustainable development of the construction industry. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om ondersoek in te stel na die potensiele gebruik van growwe herwonne betonaggregaat (RCA) as ‘n materiaal in betonstruktuurontwerp. Die gebrek aan kennis en spesifikasies in Suid Afrika is die vernaamste rede vir hierdie navorsing van RCA. Deur die vermeerdering van die databasis van hierdie navorsing van RCA in Suid-Afrika kan die moontlikheid van spesifikasies vir hierdie alternatiewe boumateriaal geïnisieer word. Die implikasie van sodanige spesifikasies sou lei tot RCA aanvaarding in betonontwerp en dus die vermindering van die hoeveelhede konstruksie en sloping (C&D) van afvalversameling by stortterreine en om die ontginning van natuurlike aggregate te verminder. Die doelwitte wat deur hierdie navorsingsprojek bereik word is eerstens, wat is die vervangings persentasie van RCA in 'n betonmengsel wat produseer word wat dieselfde of beter resultate sal lewer as 'n betonmengsel wat uit natuurlike aggregate bestaan. Tweedens, watter aggregaat eienskappe en beperkings moet gedefinieer word in die spesifikasie van RCA sodat dit aanvaarbaar is as ‘n materiaal in betonstruktuur ontwerp. Die doelwitte word geassesseer deur die ondersoek van die geometriese, fisiese en chemiese eienskappe van die aggregaat as ‘n wesenlike materiaal en die vars en verharde betoneienskappe van RCA as ‘n bestanddeel in struktuurbetonontwerp. RCA monsters was geneem by ‘n kommersiele herwinningsfasiliteit wat RCA gebruik om betonsteen eenhede te vervaardig, is op drie verskillende tydperke ingesamel. Hierdie materiaal is herverwerk in die laboratorium om die gradering en die hoeveelheid van fyn materiaal wat nie deur die herwinningsproses beheer is nie. Die RCA was dan gekombineer met NA teen vervangingspersentasies van: 0, 15, 30, 50 en 100 % wat dan gebruik was om die eienskappe van die aggregaat te ondersoek. Daar is vasgestel dat die fisiese eienskappe van die RCA afhanklik van die geometriese eienskappe, met inagneming dat die geometriese eienskappe afhanklik is van die bron en metode van die herwinning van die oorspronklike C&D afval. Dit is gestig dat die chemise eienskappe is afhanklik van die fisiese eienskappe van die RCA. Die RCA is toe gemeng met NA teen dieselfde vervangingspersentasies saam met ander beton bestanddele om beton te produseer wat dan vergelyk kan word met vars en verharde beton eienskappe. Die volgende vars betoneienskappe is ondersoek: insinking, insinking verlies, luginhoud en vars gekompakteerde digtheid. Die volgende verharde betoneienskappe is bestudeer: druksterkte, trek die splintsing van krag, suurstofpermeabiliteit, water sorptiwiteit, chloride geleidingsvermoё, modulus van elastisiteit, krimp en kruip. Die beton eienskappe was nie beduidend beïnvloed deur die insluiting van RCA nie. Volgens die aggregate en beton eienskappe wat in hierdie navorsing ondersoek is, blyk dit dat die volle vervangingswaarde van NA in strukturele beton moontlik is en die volhoubare ontwikkeling van die konstruksiebedryf sal verbeter.

Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Geopolymer concrete is an alternative construction material that has comparable mechanical properties to that of ordinary Portland cement concrete, consisting of an aluminosilicate and an alkali solution. Fly ash based geopolymer concrete hardens through a process called geopolymerisation. This hardening process requires heat activation of temperatures above ambient. Thus, fly ash based geopolymer concrete will be an inadequate construction material for in-situ casting, as heat curing will be uneconomical. The study investigated fly ash/slag based geopolymer concrete. When slag is added to the matrix, curing at ambient temperatures is possible due to calcium silicate hydrates that form in conjunction with the geopolymeric gel. The main goal of the study is to obtain a better understanding of the mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete, cured at ambient temperatures. A significant number of mix variations were carried out to investigate the influence that the various parameters, present in the matrix, have on the compressive strength of fly ash/slag based geopolymer concrete. Promising results were found, as strengths as high as 72 MPa were obtained. The sodium hydroxide solution, the slag content and the amount of additional water in the matrix had the biggest influence on the compressive strength of the fly ash/slag based geopolymer concrete. The modulus of the elasticity of fly ash/slag based geopolymer concrete did not yield promising results as the majority of the specimens, regardless of the compressive strength, yielded a stiffness of less than 20 GPa. This is problematic from a structural point of view as this will result in large deflections of elements. The sodium hydroxide solution had the most significant influence on the elastic modulus of the geopolymer concrete. Steel and polypropylene fibres were added to a high- and low strength geopolymer concrete matrix to investigate the ductility improvement. The limit of proportionality mainly depended on the compressive strength of the geopolymer concrete, while the amount of fibres increased the energy absorption of the concrete. A similar strength OPC concrete mix was compared to the low strength geopolymer concrete and it was found that the OPC concrete specimen yielded slightly better flexural behaviour. Fibre pull-out tests were also conducted to investigate the fibre-matrix interface. From the knowledge gained during this study, it can be concluded that the use of fly ash/slag based geopolymer concrete, as an alternative binder material, is still some time away as there are many complications that need to be dealt with, especially the low modulus of elasticity. However, fly ash/slag based geopolymer concrete does have potential if these complications can be addressed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geopolimeerbeton is ‘n alternatiewe konstruksiemateriaal wat vergelykbare meganiese eienskappe met beton waar OPC die binder is, en wat bestaan uit ‘n aluminosilikaat en ‘n alkaliese oplossing. Vliegas-gebaseerde geopolimeerbeton verhard tydens ‘n proses wat geopolimerisasie genoem word. Hierdie verhardingsproses benodig hitte-aktivering van temperature hoër as dié van die onmiddellike omgewing. Gevolglik sal vliegas-gebaseerde geopolimeerbeton ‘n ontoereikende konstruksiemateriaal vir in situ gietvorming wees, aangesien hitte-nabehandeling onekonomies sal wees. Die studie het vliegas/slagmentgebaseerde geopolimeerbeton ondersoek. Wanneer slagment by die bindmiddel gevoeg word, is nabehandeling by omliggende temperature moontlik as gevolg van kalsiumsilikaathidroksiede wat in verbinding met die geopolimeriese jel vorm. Die hoofdoel van die studie was om ‘n beter begrip te kry van die meganiese eienskappe van geopolimeerbeton, wat nabehandeling by omliggende temperature ontvang het. ‘n Aansienlike aantal meng variasies is uitgevoer om die invloed te ondersoek wat die verskeie parameters, aanwesig in die bindmiddel, op die druksterkte van die vliegas/slagmentgebaseerde geopolimeerbeton het. Belowende resultate is verkry en sterktes van tot so hoog as 72 MPa is opgelewer. Daar is gevind dat die sodiumhidroksiedoplossing, die slagmentinhoud en die hoeveelheid water in die bindmiddel die grootste invloed op die druksterkte van die vliegas/slagmentgebaseerde geopolimeerbeton gehad het. Die styfheid van die vliegas/slagmentgebaseerde geopolimeerbeton het nie belowende resultate opgelewer nie. Die meeste van die monsters, ongeag die druksterkte, het ‘n styfheid van minder as 20 GPa opgelewer. Vanuit ‘n strukturele oogpunt is dit problematies, omdat groot defleksies in elemente sal voorkom. Die sodiumhidroksiedoplossing het die grootste invloed op die styfheid van die vliegas/slagmentgebaseerde geopolimeerbeton gehad. Staal en polipropileenvesels is by ‘n hoë en lae sterke geopolimeer beton gevoeg om die buigbaarheid te ondersoek. Die die maksimum buigbaarheid het hoofsaaklik afgehang van die beton se druksterkte terwyl die hoeveelheid vesels die beton se energie-opname verhoog het. ‘n OPC beton mengsel van soortgelyke sterkte is vergelyk met die lae sterkte geopolimeerbeton en daar is gevind dat die OPC beton ietwat beter buigbaarheid opgelewer het. Veseluittrektoetse is uitgevoer om die veselbindmiddel se skeidingsvlak te ondersoek. Daar kan tot die gevolgtrekking gekom word dat, alhoewel belowende resultate verkry is, daar steeds sommige aspekte is wat ondersoek en verbeter moet word, in besonder die styfheid, voordat geopolimeerbeton as ‘n alternatiewe bindmiddel kan optree. Volgens die kennis opgedoen tydens hierdie studie, kan dit afgelei word dat die gebruik van vliegas/slagmentgebaseerde geopolimeerbeton, as 'n alternatiewe bindmiddel, nog 'n geruime tyd weg is, as gevolg van baie komplikasies wat gehandel moet word, veral die lae elastisiteitsmodulus. Tog het vliegas/slagmentgebaseerde geopolimeerbeton potensiaal as hierdie komplikasies verbeter kan word.