Percent within limits (PWL) is a commonly used quality control/quality assurance measure of highway pavement materials and construction, and it is a popular index for adjusting pay factors. However, PWL is based on the assumption of normal distribution of quality characteristics (e.g., concrete compressive strength and asphalt air voids). Skewness and kurtosis, which are common forms of statistical nonnormal distributions, can potentially bias the acceptance pay factor calculations. To examine this potential pay bias, simulations were performed to investigate the magnitude and the direction (overestimation or underestimation) of pay factor calculations. The study revealed that for both one-sided and two-sided specification limits, bias in pay factors not only did vary in magnitude but also reversed in direction over various ranges of PWL. These analyses showed that for a one-sided upper specification limit, on average, a positive skewness and kurtosis can underestimate the pay factor of an acceptable quality level population by 0.90%, and overestimates a rejectable quality level population by 3.8%. This leads to falsely penalizing acceptable products and rewarding bad products. The same was true for two-sided limits, which again varied based upon the percent of defective materials at the tails of the distribution. This is a very important issue because these biases in pay factors can easily upset the relative profit margins of the contractor. Furthermore, this may not be easily detectable without a detailed and sophisticated analysis as outlined in this paper. For multiple quality characteristics based pay factors, analyses showed that the combined magnitude of these biases was not linearly cumulative. Findings of the study indicate that bias in pay was higher for lots with fewer sublots and higher skewness and kurtosis.

yes / The present paper reports the testing of 12 alkali-activated mortars and a control ordinary portland cement (OPC) mortar. The main aim is to develop cementless binder activated by sodium silicate powder. An alkali quality coefficient combining the amounts of main compositions of source materials and sodium oxide (Na2O) in sodium silicate is proposed to assess the properties of alkali activated mortars, based on the hydration mechanism of alkali-activated pastes. Fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) were employed as source materials. The ratio of Na2O-to-source material by weight for different mortars ranged between 0.038 and 0.164; as a result, alkali quality coefficient was varied from 0.0025 to 0.0365. Flow loss of fresh mortar, and shrinkage strain, compressive strength and modulus of rupture of hardened mortars were measured. The compressive strength development of alkali activated mortar was also compared with the design equations for OPC concrete specified in ACI 209 and EC 2. Test results clearly showed that the flow loss and compressive strength development of alkali-activated mortar were significantly dependent on the proposed alkali quality coefficient. In particular, a higher rate of compressive strength development achieved at early age for GGBS-based alkali-activated mortar and at long-term age for FA-based alkali-activated mortar. In addition, shrinkage strain and modulus of rupture of alkali-activated mortar were comparable to those of OPC mortar.

Este artículo es de tipo experimental, ya que se evaluó el comportamiento que tiene el concreto estructural al agregarle PVC en sustitución del agregado fino en un 20%, 30% y 40%. Se determinaron las propiedades físicas del policloruro de vinilo (PVC) y los agregados (fino y grueso), obteniendo que el peso específico del PVC es de 1.14 gr/cm3 y del agregado fino es de 2.59 gr/cm3. Se hicieron pruebas de granulometría, peso específico, contenido de humedad, resistencia a la compresión, flexión y tracción. Del mismo modo se desarrolló un concreto patrón y concretos reemplazando el agregado fino en ciertas cantidades de PVC triturado. Como resultado de los ensayos de resistencia a la compresión se tiene que para el concreto patrón la resistencia es de 242 kg/cm2, para un concreto teniendo un 20% de PVC es de 214 kg/cm2, para un 30% de PVC es de 209 kg/cm2 y para un 40% de PVC es de 153 kg/cm2. Para la prueba de resistencia a flexión a mayor porcentaje de PVC la resistencia tiende a disminuir, pero estando dentro de los límites permitidos de la norma técnica. / This article is of an experimental nature, since the behavior of structural concrete was evaluated by adding PVC to replace the fine aggregate by 20%, 30% and 40%. The physical properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the aggregates (fine and coarse) were determined, obtaining that the specific weight of PVC is 1.14 g/cm3 and that of the fine aggregate is 2.59 g/cm3. Tests were carried out on granulometry, specific weight, moisture content, compressive strength, flexural strength and tensile strength. In the same way, a standard concrete and concretes were developed by replacing the fine aggregate with certain quantities of crushed PVC. As a result of the compressive strength tests, for the standard concrete the resistance is 242 kg/cm2, for a concrete with 20% PVC it is 214 kg/cm2, for 30% PVC it is 209 kg/cm2 and for 40% PVC it is 153 kg/cm2. For the flexural strength test, the higher the percentage of PVC, the resistance tends to decrease, but is within the limits allowed by the technical standard.

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.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第25251号 / 工博第5210号 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科社会基盤工学専攻 / (主査)教授 安原 英明, 准教授 橋本 涼太, 准教授 澤村 康生 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

Portland cement concrete, the most widely used manufactured material in the world, is made primarily from water, mineral aggregates, and portland cement. The production of portland cement is energy intensive, accounting for 2% of primary energy consumption and 5% of industrial energy consumption globally. Moreover, Portland cement manufacturing contributes significantly to greenhouse gases and accounts for 5% of the global CO2 emissions resulting from human activity. The primary objective of this research was to explore methods of reducing the environmental impact of cement production while maintaining or improving current performance standards. Two approaches were taken, 1.) incorporation of waste materials in portland cement synthesis, and 2.) optimization of an alternative environmental friendly binder, calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cement. These approaches can lead to less energy consumption, less emission of CO2, and more reuse of industrial waste materials for cement manufacturing. In the portland cement part of the research, portland cement clinkers conforming to the compositional specifications in ASTM C 150 for Type I cement were successfully synthesized from reagent-grade chemicals with 0% to 40% fly ash and 0% to 60% slag incorporation (with 10% intervals), 72.5% limestone with 27.5% fly ash, and 65% limestone with 35% slag. The synthesized portland cements had similar early-age hydration behavior to commercial portland cement. However, waste materials significantly affected cement phase formation. The C3S–C2S ratio decreased with increasing amounts of waste materials incorporated. These differences could have implications on proportioning of raw materials for cement production when using waste materials. In the calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cement part of the research, three calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cement clinkers with a range of phase compositions were successfully synthesized from reagent-grade chemicals. The synthesized calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cement that contained medium C4A3 S and C2S contents showed good dimensional stability, sulfate resistance, and compressive strength development and was considered the optimum phase composition for calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cement in terms of comparable performance characteristics to portland cement. Furthermore, two calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cement clinkers were successfully synthesized from natural and waste materials such as limestone, bauxite, flue gas desulfurization sludge, Class C fly ash, and fluidized bed ash proportioned to the optimum calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cement synthesized from reagent-grade chemicals. Waste materials composed 30% and 41% of the raw ingredients. The two calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cements synthesized from natural and waste materials showed good dimensional stability, sulfate resistance, and compressive strength development, comparable to commercial portland cement. / text

The current generation of Glass Ionomer Cements (GICs) have many advantageous properties over other dental restorative materials but lack the compressive strength of these other materials. The aim of this project is to increase the compressive strength of conventional Glass Poly-Vinyl-Phosphonate cement by inclusion of reactive sub-micron filler particles. The setting characteristics, chemical reactivity and cement strength have been found using oscillating rheology, infrared spectrometry, nuclear magnetic spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, potentiometer analysis, laser diffractometry and mechanical analysis. The addition of sub-micron filler particles in direct weight by weight replacement of aluminosilicate glass of a control material has increased the ultimate compressive strength of the new cement from 206MPa (control) to 250MPa after 365 days of aging. The strength of the new filler enhanced cements were comparable with the control material after 3 hours. The setting chemistry of the filler enhanced cements follows the same order as the control cement but at a decelerated rate. Theoretical modelling found that a large volume of sub-micron filler could fit into interstitial spacing in formed cement however the alteration of the aluminosilicate glass to polyelectrolyte ratio has been found to drastically alter the cement setting time. The use of cubic and polyhedral shaped filler particles as supposed to spherical particles may increase the cement strength further as greater packing densities are achieved. The formulation of a Glass Ionomer Cement with increased compressive strength may find use as a posterior restorative or as a better material for restoration of lesions and cavity liners.

This master thesis presents the effects of fly ash on the properties of alkali activated slag concrete, commonly referred as Geopolymer concrete (GPC). Cement manufacturer are major producers of CO2 which negatively affects the environment. Due to the increased construction activities and environmental concern, it is necessary to introduce alternative and eco-friendly binders for concrete. Slag and fly ash based concrete, which is by-product from industrial waste, is probably the best replacement for OPC concrete due to less or nil environmental issue. Most of the researchers have already concluded that slag and fly ash can be used as binders in concrete by activating them with alkali activator solution (e.g. by sodium silicate or sodium carbonate). In the present work concretes were produced by varying the proportion of slag to fly ash (40:60, 50:50, 60:40 & 80:20); amount of alkali activators (5, 10 & 14) and chemical modulus of sodium silicate (Ms) (0.25, 0.5 & 1).  Setting times and compressive strength values were evaluated. Results showed that decrease in fly ash content irrespective of % of alkali activators and alkali modulus (Ms), the compressive strength was increasing and setting time was getting shorter. The produced concretes showed increasing compressive strength with increase in % of alkali activator for Ms 0.5 and 1, while for Ms=0.25 the strength was decreasing with increase in % of alkali activators. From this it can be concluded that, Ms=0.5 was the optimum point below which the reaction got slower. Based on the initial investigations, mix S8:F2-SS10(1) and S8:F2-SS10(0.5) showed most promising results in terms of fresh and hardened concrete properties and were easy to handle. Consequently, the above mentioned mixture was chosen to be studied in more detail. The experimental program for these mixes included determination of slump flow, compressive strength (7, 14, 28 days) and shrinkage (drying and autogenous). The results shows that, strength increased with time and comparatively mix with Ms=0.5 showed higher compressive strength than mix with Ms=1, due to higher alkalinity of the pore solution. Mix with Ms=1 showed higher drying shrinkage compared to mix with Ms=0.5, which was explained by higher alkalinity of the solutions (Ms=0.5) leading to rapid formation of aluminosilicate gel. Autogenous shrinkage appeared to be higher for mix with Ms=0.5. This was associated with lower modulus which leads to densification of concrete microstructure at early ages. Pore diameter decrease and the water trapped in the pores exerted increasing tensile stress resulting for higher autogenous shrinkage.

Preplaced aggregate concrete (PAC) is produced by grouting high workability cement based grouts among the voids of compacted coarse aggregate mass. Because of its low shrinkage, PAC has been used for many repair jobs like; tunnel lines, dams and bridge piers. Moreover, it has been used for underwater construction. Grout has a major effect on the properties of produced PAC and well defined grout controls the properties of resulted PAC. The effect of types and amount of powder materials, admixtures, sand and water content on the properties of fresh and hardened grout for the production of PAC have been investigated. Tests on hardened grout and PAC properties have also been carried out to investigate the most important effects. A correlation between hardened properties of grout and PAC has also been analyzed. Grout rheology using four different gradation sands at two different cement-sand and at different w/c ratios ratios has been identified experimentally; no added chemical admixtures or mineral additives had first employed, then superplasticizer (SP) was added at 2% and 1%, and finally a combination of 1% SP and pulverized fuel ash (Pfa) at 20% of the cement weight was employed for all mixes. Grout tests have included two point workability tests by the Viskomat NT, flow time funnel test, Colcrete flow meter test, and water bleeding test. After that, eighteen grout mixes with high workability were produced using three different sands at three w/c ratios and two c/s ratios with 1% SP and Pfa at 20% of the cement weight were designed. Eighteen hardened grout and PAC then produced and their compressive strength and sorptivity were tested. Grout rheology can be defined by the rheology of cement paste employed and the internal distance between sand particles. The effect of sand surface texture on grout rheology is important at very low internal distances. Fresh grout yield stress is the most important property which gives the same degree of sensitivity for all grouts regardless the material type and content used in the mix. There are strong relations between compressive strength of grout and PAC, but less correlation between them in sorptivity test because of the effect high quantity of coarse aggregate of PAC. Sorptivity of PAC is low comparing with different kinds of concrete suggesting its advantage for underwater construction.

Betong är idag och har länge varit det allra vanligaste byggnadsmaterial i Sverige. Det är ett robust och mångsidigt byggnadsmaterial med flera fördelar. Detta arbete är en experimentell studie av betongavfall från Hedareds sand & betong för betongprogrammet RE: Concrete och Högskolan i Borås. Betongavfallet krossas till ny ballast och därefter siktas och gjuts till ny betong enligt olika betongrecept. Försöken sker i betonglabbet i Högskolan i Borås för att krossa och tillverka betong. Grundreceptet har tillhandhållits av Hedareds sand & betong. Syftet med arbetet har varit att undersöka möjligheterna för att kunna använda återvunnen betong i nya bärande konstruktioner. Målet var att bevisa att det var tekniskt möjligt att åstadkomma en 100 % ersättning av ballast med återvunnen betong och få fram ny betong som passar den bärande stommen i en byggnad. Olika egenskaper undersöktes så som tryckhållfasthet för den nya betongen och partikelfördelning samt vattenabsorption för ballasten med målet att uppnå likvärdigt resultat som för referensbetongen. Resultatet visar att det är möjligt att kunna återvinna betong till 100 %. Arbetbarheten är bra i flertal försök men bör förbättras för att uppnå likvärdig arbetbarhet som referensbetongens. Referensbetongens tryckhållfasthet är 59 MPa och bästa tryckhållfasthet som erhållits för återvunnen betong är 57,2 MPa. Detta tyder på ett positivt resultat och den återvunna betongen i denna studie kan ersätta naturgrusballast i en bärande konstruktion till 100 %. / Concrete is and has been for a long time the most common building material in Sweden. It is a robust and multipurpose building material with several advantages. This report is about an experimental study of concrete waste from Hedareds sand & betong. The concrete waste is crushed to a new aggregate and then sifted and casted into new concrete. The study was conducted in the Concrete Laboratory at University of Borås for crushing and casting of concrete. Recipes are supplied by Hedareds sand & betong as a starting point, which is later modified gradually to achieve better results. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibilities for using recycled concrete in new constructions. It is also examined if the recycled concrete is technically sustainable and if the workability is good enough for using in load bearing structures. Different properties are studied such as compressive strength, particle distribution, water absorption and workability to achieve equivalent results as the reference concrete. The result obtained in this study shows that it is possible to recycle concrete by replacing aggregates to 100 % in new concrete. Workability is good in several tests, but it should be improved to achieve the same workability as the reference concrete. The reference concrete's compressive strength is 59 MPa and the best compressive strength obtained for recycled concrete is 57.2 MPa. This indicates positive results and the recycled concrete in this study can replace ordinary concrete in a load bearing construction.