This work solves creation of calibration relations to determine cube compressive strength, dynamic and static elastic modulus of alkali-activated concrete by non-destructive methods. Alkali-activated concrete is spoken of as a new material used in civil engineering. It shows different properties than normal concrete based on Portland cement. That's why the modification of common calibration relation seems necessary. Fresh concrete was made in the concrete plan ŽPSV a.s., Uherský Ostroh in three mixtures and always in the number of 18 cubes and 3 prisms. The samples were tested by impact hammer Schmidt type L, type N, SilverSchmidt PC-N and by ultrasound in 6 time periods of three specimens. After that, the cube compressive strength was determined. Status of static elastic modulus was determined in a time period of 28 days. The results are calibration relations to determine the progress of compressive strength and modulus of elasticity for each method and their combination.

The determination of strain properties of masonry in the direction parallel to bed joints is a fundamental pre-requisite for designing structures, where masonry is subjected to horizontal stresses (e. g. strengthening with prestressing). The diploma thesis summarized techniques of determination of masonry modulus of elasticity presented in available literature. The goal is to suggest suitable methodology of determination of masonry modulus in direction parallel to the bed joints. In the practical part of the diploma thesis is that methodology verified by experimental test and results of tests are analyzed and discussed.

This graduation thesis is aimed to presentation heat isolation materials for the floor constructions. The experimental part is devoted physical - mechanical properties suggested very light concretes with the cement. The main part of the thesis is devoted to form of the transit and putting of the individual heat isolation materials. In the end are suggested structures of the floor constructions with the respect to their properties and price.

This final thesis is divided into two parts. The first, theoretic part is focused on issue about industrial concrete floors, their production and adjustment. Special attention is paid to the mineral shakes, steel fibres and concrete, which is used to these constructions. There are more information about specific standardized tests of steel fibre concrete and some damages of concrete floors in other chapters. Second part of the diploma thesis is practical. Theoretical knowledge are applied to the actual construction. Survey methodology and diagnostic work are also desribed. Data processing and evaluation with the commentary is also attached to this part. The conclusion summarizes the results and selected findings relating to the issue are also included there.

Civil engineering development is connected with the application of new construction methods and the development of new building materials. Concrete, as one of the basic building materials, is part of this development. A major turning point in the development of concrete and its properties occurred with the use of new, more efficient plasticizing additives. This allowed to produce concrete with lower water cement ratio, while increasing the strength of concrete. Gradually, the compressive strength of concrete boundary has moved by several levels, when there are currently commonly used concrete with strength of about 100 N/mm2 and with the special methods of concrete production strength range from 250 to 300 N/mm2. A negative aspect of the development of (ultra) high-strength concrete is their energy and economic demands. A characteristic feature of high-strength concrete is a high content of cement and very fine admixtures, especially silica fume. One way to improve the economics of these types of concrete is the application of cheaper admixture based on industrial waste. The content of this work is the observation and description of the properties of high-strength concrete and reactive powder concrete, in which the admixtures were based on industrial waste were applied. Part of this work is the comparison of economic parameters for individual types of concrete.

High-strength concrete (HSC) belongs in the recent years to frequently used types of concrete. It allows realization of static challenging structures and also shows due to its dense structure greater durability especially against aggressive media. Currently HSC construction realization abroad is not exceptional. It’s using in the Czech Republic is still limited. When realized, then in a small scale in civil engineering works. The realization of high-strength concrete structures is closely related with the concrete construction quality verification. Good efficiency of the quality control methods can provide non-destructive testing methods (NDT), especially when investigating strength of concrete built in structure. A lack on relevant data for non-destructive testing of HSC in technical and normative rules is to be considered as a significant deficiency. Evident for HSC generally is the lack in literature on deeper analysis of the factors affecting their non-destructive testing, as well a meaningful methodology or practically usable calibration relationships. HSC differs from ordinary concrete not only by used components, but also by more compact structure with different strength – elastic characteristics. Considering these differences, HSC strength prediction can not be performed by using calibration relationships developed for ordinary concrete. Moreover, the question is to what extent the current knowledge of the NDT results influencing factors can be considered as valid. The paper presents findings on the effects of the key factors affecting the measurement results of Schmidt hardness method and ultrasonic pulse method, including recommendations for the practical application of these methods. The problematic of static vs. dynamic modulus of elasticity was also solved. Calibration equations for predicting the compressive strength of HSC from the non-destructive testing parameter were elaborated, showing high cohesion among variables and practically usability.

The thesis deals with the measurement of the elastic modulus of concrete in existing structures and possibilities of applicability of equations for the calculation of characteristic values of concrete compressive strength on the modulus of elasticity. The modulus of elasticity is determined by dynamic and static methods on specimens taken from the concrete blocks, whose composition varies by a water cement ratio and varying amounts of admixtures. In conclusion, the results of the measurements are compared and the characteristic values of the modulus of elasticity is determined.

This diploma thesis deal with the building survey and evaluating the state of existing constructions. In theoretical part are described the types of civil engineering surveys and diagnostic methods for conducting a survey of reinforced concrete structures. The practical part deal with describes the structural and technical survey of the production hall in the industrial area Fatra Napajedla, evaluating the strength of concrete on the existing structure through donations cores and verification of compliance with the reinforcement according to project documentation. The last part is focused on a static assessment of selected supporting elements of the structure.

Since their inception, building materials are constantly improving. New ways to explore and improve the material's properties are constantly investigated (especially to improve the mechanical and deformation characteristics of the materials). This thesis is focused on identifying and comparing values of the modulus of elasticity of fine-grained composites. These features are compared with respect to water cement ratio, ageing and compressive strength of the investigated materials. Afterwards, the values of the modulus of elasticity are studied in the relation to the tested materials.

MENVSC / Department of Ecology and Resource Management / Historically, mining activities have generated vast quantities of abandoned tailings dumps in several regions of South Africa and throughout the world. The management and disposal of huge volumes of tailings dumps has constituted a major challenge to the environment. The current study aims to establish the physicochemical properties and mineralogical characterization of the old copper tailings dump in Musina, to reveal the mobility patterns and attenuation dynamics of potentially toxic or heavy metal species as a function of depth, with a view of assessing their potential environmental impact with respect to surface and ground water systems. This information is crucial in the beneficial utilization of copper tailings in the development of sustainable construction materials as part of reuse approach management system. About twelve tailings samples were collected into polyethylene plastic bags from three established tailings profiles drilled by a hand auger. The collected tailings samples were characterized using standard analytical procedures i.e., X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The transfer of potentially toxic or heavy metal species from tailings to water was evaluated using the standardized batch leaching test (EN 12457) and speciation-equilibrium calculations on the aqueous extracts performed by MINTEQA2. The leachate concentration of cations in the collected tailings samples was determined by inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the leachate concentration of anions was determined by ion chromatography (IC). A modified sequential extraction scheme was applied on the selected tailings samples of the drilled tailings profiles to further understand the mode of occurrence, the geochemical partitioning and distribution, real mobility, and environmental bioavailability of potentially toxic or heavy metal species in the tailings and tailings-soil interface. The extracted fractions or phases from sequential scheme were as follows: (F1) water-soluble fraction, (F2) exchangeable fraction, (F3) carbonate fraction, (F4) iron and manganese hydroxide associated fraction, (F5) organic matter and secondary sulphide associated fraction, (F6) primary sulphide bound fraction, and (F7) residual or silicate fraction. The results obtained from the seven steps sequential extraction scheme were validated by the determination vi of percentage recoveries from pseudo-total digestion or total metal content of the original sample. The distribution of major elements and potentially toxic or heavy metal species in different leachate fractions obtained after each step of sequential extraction of the selected tailings samples was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The appraised data was used to reveal the impact of atmospheric oxygen and infiltrating rain-water on the chemistry of copper tailings dump by depth profiles. Macroscopic properties revealed that the abandoned Musina copper tailings are fine to medium coarse grained, and range in color from light/dark gray at the upper or shallow depth of the tailings, to dark reddish-brown at the deeper zone where the tailings are mixed with the underlying soil or soil-interface. The drilled respective tailings profiles were uniform and slightly varied in both mineralogical and bulk chemical compositions with tailings depth. Mineralogical analysis showed the following order of mineralogical composition within the respective tailings profiles: quartz> epidote> chlorite> muscovite> calcite> hematite. Chalcopyrite was the only sulphide mineral observed by optical microscopy, although not identified or quantified by XRD and SEM-EDS analysis. The observed discrete chalcopyrite grains were attributed to the primary mined ore (i.e., chalcopyrite, chalcocite and bornite) during past copper mining activities in Musina. The tailings profiles were characterized by a medium alkaline pH (7.97-8.37) that corresponds very well with the tailings leachates or pore-water pH (8.36-8.46). This pH was constant and slightly varied with tailings depth in the respective tailings profiles. The high abundance of alumino-silicate minerals and traces of carbonates as calcite coupled with low sulphide mineral content, suggested a high neutralization capacity of the tailings which was in common agreement with an alkaline nature of the copper tailings dump. The chemical composition of major elements within the respective tailings profiles followed the order: Si>Al>Fe>Ca>Mg>K>Na, and corresponds very well with the mineralogical composition of the tailings, whereby alumino-silicates were the most abundant minerals in the tailings samples. Nevertheless, the solid-phase concentration of metals decreases with increasing tailings depth as Cu>Sr>Zr>Ni>Zn and was incongruent with the mineralogical composition within the respective tailings profiles. The main secondary minerals were calcite and hematite, and their proportion increased with increasing tailings vii depth. In addition, hematite formed coatings on the rims and corners of chlorite as observed from optical microscopy, and retained relatively high amounts of potentially toxic or heavy metals (up to 862 ppm of Cu, up to 36 ppm of Ni, and up to 25 ppm of Zn) at the upper and shallow depth of the respective tailings profiles, where bulk density was high and low porosity. Based on batch leaching tests, the amounts of potentially toxic or heavy metal species released into solution were low (0.27-0.34 μg/L Pb, 0.54-0.72 μg/L Ni, 0.88-1.80 μg/L Zn, and 20.21-47.9 μg/L Cu) and decreases with increasing tailings depth, indicating that, presently, the tailings have a minor impact on heavy metals load transported to the receiving surface and groundwater systems. The low concentration of potentially toxic or heavy metal species in solution is primarily due to their retention by secondary Fe oxide phases (i.e., hematite) and the prevailing medium alkaline pH condition of the tailings leachate or pore-water. The observations are consistent with MINTEQA2 speciation calculations, which predicted the precipitation of secondary phase cuprite (Cu2O) as the main solubility-controlling mineral phase for Cu, Zn, and Ni. Primary factors influencing aqueous chemistry at the site are neutralization and dissolution reactions as a function of pH, precipitation, and sorption into hydrous oxides (hematite and cuprite). Based on sequential extraction results, the leachable concentration of potentially toxic or heavy metal species in the water-soluble, exchangeable and carbonate fractions of the respective tailings profiles was relatively low, except for Cu and Mn. For instance, the leachable concentration of Cu and Mn reached 10.84 mg/kg and 321.7 mg/kg at the tailings-soil interface (3 m) in tailings profile C, respectively. The low concentration of potentially toxic or heavy metal species (Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in these fractions could be due to the low solubility of minerals bearing these trace elements caused by variations in pore-water pH in the respective tailings profiles. The high concentration of Cu and Mn in these fractions suggests their high mobility and therefore most available for uptake in the environment. Except for Cu>Mn>Cr, the contents of potentially toxic or heavy metal species in the Fe and Mn oxides and organic matter or sulphides bound fractions was low, due to the low viii quantity of these fractions in the tailings, despite their high affinity and sorption capacity for potentially toxic or heavy metal species. Likewise, the residual fraction of the respective tailings profiles contained the highest proportion of potentially toxic or heavy metal species. Although the highest potentially toxic or heavy metal species content was in fractions with limited mobility, care must be taken since any geochemical change or shift in the tailings pH or acidic conditions may cause them to be displaced to more mobile fractions, thereby increasing their mobility and environmental bioavailability. Therefore, physicochemical properties of the tailings including pH and mineralogical composition of the tailings samples were the main substrate controlling the geochemical partitioning and distribution, potential mobility, and environmental bioavailability of potentially toxic or heavy metal species by tailings depth. The knowledge of mobility and eco-toxicological significance of tailings is needed when considering tailings dump disposal or reuse in the environment. The addition of copper tailings at 3 and 28 days successfully improved the compressive strength of cement mortar mixtures incorporating tailings at C5 (5%) and C10 (10%) respectively, although with small margin relative to the control mixture (C0). The maximum strength was 31.15 Mpa attained after 28 curing days, and slightly varied when compared with other compressive strength on copper blended cement mortars mixtures in other countries, used for the development of sustainable construction materials. The chemical composition, physical properties and improved compressive strength on cement mortars mixtures incorporating copper tailings, implies that copper tailings are suitable for the development of sustainable construction materials, thereby ensuring job creation, availability of land for development usage, and the reduction of environmental pollution induced by the abandoned copper tailings dumps.