The work presented in this thesis deals with the development of self-consolidating high performance concrete (SCHPC) incorporating rice husk ash (RHA) as a supplementary cementing material. Various SCHPCs were produced using the water-binder (W/B) ratios of 0.30, 0.35, 0.40 and 0.50, and RHA content in the range of 0 to 30% of cement by weight. In addition, a number of pastes and mortars formulated from the concretes were prepared and tested for the filling ability. The paste and mortar filling abilities were tested with respect to flow time and flow spread, respectively, at various dosages of high-range water reducer (HRWR). Also, the mortars were tested for the air content at various dosages of air-entraining admixture (AEA). It was observed that the flow time of the pastes increased with lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content, whereas the flow spread of the mortars decreased with higher W/B ratio and greater RHA content. Both paste and mortar filling abilities increased with higher HRWR dosages. In addition, the air content of the mortars decreased with lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content for given AEA dosages. The fresh SCHPCs were tested for filling ability, passing ability, air-void stability, segregation resistance, unit weight and air content. The filling ability was determined with respect to slump and slump flow, inverted slump cone flow time and spread, and orimet flow time and spread. The passing ability was measured with regard to slump and slump flow with J-ring, inverted slump cone flow spread with J-ring, and orimet flow spread with J-ring. The air-void stability in several fresh SCHPC mixtures was investigated with respect to re-mixing of concrete and subsequent measurement of air content at different test stages. The test results obtained for the fresh properties showed that the inverted slump cone and orimet flow times increased with lower W/B ratio and greater RHA content. In addition, the slump flow, inverted slump cone flow spread, and orimet flow spread with and without J-ring increased considerably with lower W/B ratio and greater RHA content. However, the increases in slump with and without J-ring at lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content were not significant. The unit weight of concrete slightly decreased with higher W/B ratio and greater RHA content, and with higher air content. Achieving the target air content required greater AEA dosages for lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content. However, the presence of RHA had no adverse effect on the air-void stability of concrete. The segregation resistance of various SCHPCs was investigated by visual inspection of concrete in mixer pan, and during and after different flow tests. Slight bleeding and a thick layer of paste were noticed in mixer pan for several concretes. The dynamic segregation in the form of discontinuity or blockage of flow did not occur during the orimet and inverted slump cone flow tests for any concrete. No aggregate pile appeared in the slump flow, and orimet and inverted slump cone flow spreads of any concrete. But minor to severe mortar halos were noticed in the periphery of the flow spread of several concretes, particularly in the presence of high RHA content. The results of visual inspection suggest that both lower W/B ratio and greater RHA content improved the dynamic segregation resistance of concrete. In contrast, the higher RHA content resulted in a lower static segregation resistance, which was overcome in the presence of viscosity-enhancing admixture (VEA). The static segregation resistance of several SCHPCs was quantitatively determined by sieve and column apparatus. The segregation index given by the sieve increased with lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content, thus indicating a reduced static segregation resistance. In contrast, the segregation factor given by the column apparatus decreased with lower W/B ratio suggesting an increased static segregation resistance. However, the segregation factor increased with higher RHA content, and thus revealed a reduction in static segregation resistance. In the presence of VEA, both segregation index and segregation factor decreased significantly, indicating an improvement in the static segregation resistance of concrete. The hardened SCHPCs were tested for compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption, total porosity and electrical resistivity. Test results revealed that the compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity and true electrical resistivity increased, whereas the water absorption and total porosity decreased with lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content. The entrained air-voids decreased the compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption and total porosity, but slightly increased the electrical resistivity of concrete. In general, the hardened properties indicated good durability of the concretes. The empirical models for the filling ability (slump flow) and compressive strength of SCHPC were derived and verified with test data from this study and other data taken from the literature. The slump flow and compressive strength computed from the models were coherent with the measured values. Both filling ability and strength models were useful to develop a mixture design method for SCHPC with and without RHA.

The work presented in this thesis deals with the development of self-consolidating high performance concrete (SCHPC) incorporating rice husk ash (RHA) as a supplementary cementing material. Various SCHPCs were produced using the water-binder (W/B) ratios of 0.30, 0.35, 0.40 and 0.50, and RHA content in the range of 0 to 30% of cement by weight. In addition, a number of pastes and mortars formulated from the concretes were prepared and tested for the filling ability. The paste and mortar filling abilities were tested with respect to flow time and flow spread, respectively, at various dosages of high-range water reducer (HRWR). Also, the mortars were tested for the air content at various dosages of air-entraining admixture (AEA). It was observed that the flow time of the pastes increased with lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content, whereas the flow spread of the mortars decreased with higher W/B ratio and greater RHA content. Both paste and mortar filling abilities increased with higher HRWR dosages. In addition, the air content of the mortars decreased with lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content for given AEA dosages. The fresh SCHPCs were tested for filling ability, passing ability, air-void stability, segregation resistance, unit weight and air content. The filling ability was determined with respect to slump and slump flow, inverted slump cone flow time and spread, and orimet flow time and spread. The passing ability was measured with regard to slump and slump flow with J-ring, inverted slump cone flow spread with J-ring, and orimet flow spread with J-ring. The air-void stability in several fresh SCHPC mixtures was investigated with respect to re-mixing of concrete and subsequent measurement of air content at different test stages. The test results obtained for the fresh properties showed that the inverted slump cone and orimet flow times increased with lower W/B ratio and greater RHA content. In addition, the slump flow, inverted slump cone flow spread, and orimet flow spread with and without J-ring increased considerably with lower W/B ratio and greater RHA content. However, the increases in slump with and without J-ring at lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content were not significant. The unit weight of concrete slightly decreased with higher W/B ratio and greater RHA content, and with higher air content. Achieving the target air content required greater AEA dosages for lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content. However, the presence of RHA had no adverse effect on the air-void stability of concrete. The segregation resistance of various SCHPCs was investigated by visual inspection of concrete in mixer pan, and during and after different flow tests. Slight bleeding and a thick layer of paste were noticed in mixer pan for several concretes. The dynamic segregation in the form of discontinuity or blockage of flow did not occur during the orimet and inverted slump cone flow tests for any concrete. No aggregate pile appeared in the slump flow, and orimet and inverted slump cone flow spreads of any concrete. But minor to severe mortar halos were noticed in the periphery of the flow spread of several concretes, particularly in the presence of high RHA content. The results of visual inspection suggest that both lower W/B ratio and greater RHA content improved the dynamic segregation resistance of concrete. In contrast, the higher RHA content resulted in a lower static segregation resistance, which was overcome in the presence of viscosity-enhancing admixture (VEA). The static segregation resistance of several SCHPCs was quantitatively determined by sieve and column apparatus. The segregation index given by the sieve increased with lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content, thus indicating a reduced static segregation resistance. In contrast, the segregation factor given by the column apparatus decreased with lower W/B ratio suggesting an increased static segregation resistance. However, the segregation factor increased with higher RHA content, and thus revealed a reduction in static segregation resistance. In the presence of VEA, both segregation index and segregation factor decreased significantly, indicating an improvement in the static segregation resistance of concrete. The hardened SCHPCs were tested for compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption, total porosity and electrical resistivity. Test results revealed that the compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity and true electrical resistivity increased, whereas the water absorption and total porosity decreased with lower W/B ratio and higher RHA content. The entrained air-voids decreased the compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption and total porosity, but slightly increased the electrical resistivity of concrete. In general, the hardened properties indicated good durability of the concretes. The empirical models for the filling ability (slump flow) and compressive strength of SCHPC were derived and verified with test data from this study and other data taken from the literature. The slump flow and compressive strength computed from the models were coherent with the measured values. Both filling ability and strength models were useful to develop a mixture design method for SCHPC with and without RHA.

The continuous population increase in recent years requires a greater number of households to be built quickly, with good materials and produced under quality standards that guarantee their manufacturing process. The prefabricated concrete, produced and supplied by concrete plants, is poured into the different structural elements, the mezzanine slabs being the most careful surfaces in the appearance of fissures; because being horizontal and having larger dimensions, the dimensional changes in the concrete appear more frequently due to the rapid loss of water from the surface of the concrete before setting; which generates superior stresses to the resistant capacity of the concrete at early ages, which affect the durability and reduce the resistance of the structures, causing greater economic expenses in maintenance and repairs. In the present investigation, 5%, 10% and 15% of rice husk ash was used as a replacement for cement and 900g/m3 of polypropylene fiber; The results indicate that as the percentage of rice husk ash increases, there is a reduction in the slump and the crack fissures, and that the resistance to compression and flexion decreases, with respect to the concrete pattern.

This document studies the stabilization of the soil used as a subgrade, by adding locally available materials such as rice husk ash (RHA) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA). These aggregates were added to the soil in substitution by weight between 5%, 7.5% and 10%. By adding these, the expansiveness is reduced while the maximum dry density increases, in addition the tendency of CBR is increasing and then tends to decrease proportionally to the addition of the aforementioned aggregates. This indicates a peak in CBR and expandability. The best result obtained from CBR was 33.75% with the 5% replacement mixtures.

The construction of road works in the world has always been a challenge for engineering, especially in areas where the conditions and types of soil are not adequate for the execution of this type of projects. The present investigation has as main objective to determine the influence that has the rice husk ash (RHA) to stabilize the subgrade layer of a pavement, composed of a low resistance clayey soil. RHA is a waste and pollutant material for the environment; therefore that its use can be considered as an economic and ecological alternative. Thus, several tests were carried out where it proved the value of CBR increased from 4.30% to 20.70%, by adding a 20% RHA dosage, achieving its optimum value to be considered a very good subgrade. In this way, it is possible to affirm that the addition of RHA improves the geotechnical properties of the soil.

Em cerâmicas refratárias, a formação de mulita (3Al2O3.2SiO2) \"in situ\", a partir da reação entre alumina e sílicas amorfas sintéticas (SAS´s) aumenta a resistência ao choque térmico e à corrosão destes materiais. Essa reação é fortemente afetada pelas características físico-químicas e morfológicas das SAS´s. Este estudo comparou a formação de mulita\"in situ\" a partir da combinação de alumina calcinada ultrafina (α-Al2O3) com quatro tipos de SAS´s obtidas por diferentes processos de sínteses (precipitação de silicato de sódio, extração da cinza da casca do arroz, extração da casca do arroz e precipitação de vapor de silício elementar) e com características variadas. Inicialmente, esses quatros tipos de SASs foram caracterizados em relação às suas propriedades físico-químicas, microestrutura e morfologia. Em seguida, após mistura com alumina, compactação e sinterização (1100-1500°C) assistida por dilatometria, as amostras foram caracterizadas em relação à sua porosidade, densidade, módulo elástico, resistência à flexão, microestrutura e fases presentes. Verificou-se que as propriedades das estruturas finais foram fortemente afetadas pela mudança de SAS´s. De forma geral e em comparação com as amostras de referência (100% alumina ou 100% mulita pré-formada por eletrofusão), houve significativo ganho de rigidez e tensão de ruptura em menores temperaturas e grande redução de porosidade final. Valores de tensão de ruptura e módulo elástico da ordem de 114 MPa e 308 GPa foram obtidos, respectivamente. A correlação das propriedades obtidas com as características prévias das sílicas mostrou que a área superficial e o volume de poros internos das partículas afetaram mais o ganho de rigidez e redução de porosidade do que o tamanho médio das partículas. Além desse aspecto, a presença de fases de baixo ponto de fusão (em especial nas amostras com microssílica) também contribuiu fortemente para densificação. / In refractories ceramics, the formation of mullite (3Al2O3.2SiO2) \"in situ\", from the reaction between alumina and synthetic amorphous silica (SAS\'s) increases the resistance to thermal shock and corrosion of these materials. This reaction is strongly affected by the physic-chemical and morphological features of SAS\'s. This study compared the mullite formation \"in situ\" from the combination of calcined alumina with four kinds of ultrafine\'s SASs obtained by various synthesis processes (precipitation of sodium silicate, from rice husk, extraction of rice husk ash and steam precipitation of silicon metal) and with varying characteristics. Initially, these four kinds of SAS´s were characterized in relation to their physicochemical properties, microstructure and morphology. After compaction and sintering (1100-1500°C) assisted by dilatometry, samples were characterized regarding their porosity, density, elastic modulus, flexural strength, microstructure and phases present. The properties of the final structure were strongly affected by the change of SAS\'s. In general, and in comparison with reference samples (100% alumina or 100% mullite preform for electrofusion), a significant stiffness gain of strength at low temperature and lower final porosity, respectively. Value of rupture and elastic modulus of the order of 114 MPa and 308 GPa were obtained. The correlation of properties obtained with the prior characterization of SAS´s showed that surface area and the volume of the internal poros of the particles affect the gain more stiffness and lower porosity than the average particle size. Aparts from this, the presence of phases of low melting point (especially in samples with microssilica) also contributed strongly to densification.

Submitted by Cátia Araújo (catia.araujo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2017-09-29T12:26:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Alessandro da Silva Nunes - 2017.pdf: 6741171 bytes, checksum: d73d33e3d451f8c04927bd5a122638d5 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marlucy Farias Medeiros (marlucy.farias@unipampa.edu.br) on 2017-09-29T16:24:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Alessandro da Silva Nunes - 2017.pdf: 6741171 bytes, checksum: d73d33e3d451f8c04927bd5a122638d5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-29T16:24:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alessandro da Silva Nunes - 2017.pdf: 6741171 bytes, checksum: d73d33e3d451f8c04927bd5a122638d5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-25 / O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de desenvolver novos materiais cerâmicos refratários, através do aproveitamento de resíduos derivados da geração de energia elétrica a partir da queima da casca de arroz. Microfibras cerâmicas foram introduzidas com o intuito de melhorar a resistência ao choque térmico. Os corpos de prova foram produzidos pelo método de prensagem uniaxial (20MPa), com substituição da argila refratária por sílica da casca de arroz (20%), e microfibras cerâmicas (20%) ou fibras de aço (1,9%, 3,8% e 5,6%). A sinterização ocorreu na temperatura de 1300º C. As propriedades físicas foram avaliadas através dos ensaios de porosidade aparente, absorção de água, densidade de massa, retração linear de queima, variação de massa e condutividade térmica. As propriedades mecânicas foram avaliadas pelos ensaios de resistência à compressão e resistência à flexão em três pontos. As propriedades térmicas foram avaliadas pelo ensaio de resistência ao choque térmico. As análises de XRD mostraram que houve transformação de parte da sílica presente na mistura em mulita e o restante permaneceu como quartzo. Além disso, a adição de sílica de casca de arroz resultou em uma microestrutura com baixa porosidade, alta retração de queima e elevada resistência mecânica. As cerâmicas com fibras apresentaram porosidade elevada, menor retração de queima e menor condutividade térmica do que a cerâmica de referência. Relativamente à resistência ao choque térmico, as cerâmicas com fibras de aço apresentaram desempenho significativamente superior em relação às cerâmicas sem fibras. / This study aims to develop new refractory ceramic materials, through the use of waste resulting from the electricity generation from rice husk burning. Ceramic microfibers were introduced with the aim of improving the resistance to thermal shock. The samples are produced by uniaxial pressing method (20MPa), by replacing refractory clay for ashes of rice husks (20%), ceramic microfibers (20%), and steel fiber (1,8%, 3,8% and 5,6%). The sintered occurred at temperature of 1300º C. Samples physical properties will be evaluated through the apparent mass density tests, apparent porosity, water absorption, linear shrinkage after burning, mass variation and thermal conductivity. The mechanical properties are evaluated by the compressive strength test and three points flexural test. The thermal properties will be evaluated by the thermal shock resistance test. XRD analyzes showed that some silica was present in the mullite mixture and the rest remained as quartz. The results show that the addition of SCA resulted in a microstructure with low porosity and with high firing shrinkage. The ceramics with fibers presented high porosity and low firing shrinkage and thermal conductivity, even, lower than the reference ceramic. The ceramics with SCA presented high mechanical resistance, while the ceramics with steel fibers had more ductile behavior. Regarding the thermal shock resistance, the ceramics with steel fibers presented a significantly superior performance in relation to the ceramics without fibers.

A questão central deste trabalho é demonstrar a viabilidade técnica e econômica da estabilização de solos com os cimentos pozolânicos de cinza de casca de arroz e de resíduo cerâmico. Para alcançar este objetivo o trabalho foi desenvolvido em duas etapas: a primeira referente ao desenvolvimento dos cimentos pozolânicos e a segunda referente à estabilização do solo propriamente dita. Em ambas as etapas adotou-se o critério da simplicidade e da possibilidade de utilização de equipamentos leves e de absorção de mão-de-obra não especializada. Os resultados técnicos e econômicos referentes ao cimento pozolânico de cinza de casca de arroz foram animadores; porém o mesmo não ocorreu com o cimento pozolânico de resíduo cerâmico que apresentou um desempenho em um patamar inferior. Quanto à estabilização de solos, os experimentos e a avaliação econômica efetuada mostram que a eficácia dos cimentos pozolânicos utilizados é limitada sendo difícil a obtenção de resultados comparáveis com o atualmente obtido com o cimento Portland. / The main scope of this work is to demonstrate the technical and economical viability of the soil stabilization with pozzolanic cements made from rice husk ash and waste bricks and tiles. In order to reach this objective the work has been developed in two stages: the first referes to the development of the pozzolanic cement and the second one referes to the soil stabilization. In both these stages the criteria that has been adopted was of the simplicity, of the use of light equipments and of non skilled labour. The technical and economical results referring to the rice husk ash pozzolanic cement were encouraging; but the same was not the case with the waste bricks and tiles pozzolanic cement that had an inferior performance. As regards the soil stabilization, the tests and the economical evaluation show that the efficiency of the pozzolanic cement is limited thus the results achieved are not as good as of the Portland cement.

Na primeira etapa deste trabalho foi avaliada a potencialidade do uso da cinza de casca de arroz como carga em polipropileno (PP) comparando-a com o talco que é a carga mineral mais utilizada em polímeros. Esta comparação foi feita utilizando os compósitos formados por polipropileno com 20% da cinza de casca de arroz assim como, os formados por polipropileno com 20% de talco, determinando as suas propriedades. Apesar das propriedades do compósito de PP com a carga de 20% de cinza de casca de arroz apresentarem resultados inferiores em relação àqueles quando se utilizou o talco como carga, pode-se dizer que a cinza de casca de arroz pode ser usada como carga para outros usos menos nobres do PP. Desta forma se está dando um destino para esse resíduo que hoje é descartado no meio ambiente contribuindo assim, para a preservação do mesmo, além de reduzir o custo do produto. Este trabalho também teve como objetivo estudar o efeito da radiação ionizante nas propriedades destes compósitos de PP com 20% de cinza de casca de arroz. Utilizou-se o agente de acoplagem, anidrido maleico, para verificar se houve melhora na homogeneização das amostras. Em virtude do PP ser um polímero semicristalino, quando exposto ao processo de irradiação, tem sua morfologia modificada devido aos mecanismos de cisão das cadeias poliméricas. Este fato é atribuído aos mecanismos de cisão das cadeias poliméricas, que está de acordo com a literatura. / In the first step of this work, it was evaluated the possibility of using rice husk ash as a filler in polypropylene (PP) making a comparison with talc which is the most used mineral filler in polymers. This comparison was made by using polypropylene with 20% rice husk ash as well as polypropylene with 20% talc measuring their properties. Despite the properties of the PP with 20% rice husk ash decreased compared with the composite of polypropylene with 20% talc it can be said that the rice husk ash can be used as filler for or other utilization less noble of PP . This way it is being given a destination for this residue that it is disposable in the environment contributing to its preservation, moreover reducing the product cost. This work had also as an aim to study the ionizing radiation effect in the properties of these composites. It was used the coupling agent, maleic anhydride , to verify a best sample homogenization. According to the results it can be said that PP is a semicrystalline polymer, and so it has its morphology modified when exposed to the irradiation process. This fact is due to the scission mechanisms of the polymeric chains which it is in compliance to the literature.

O uso de adições minerais no concreto como substituição parcial ao cimento Portland ajuda a preservar os recursos naturais poupando a matéria-prima, reduzindo o consumo de energia necessária para a produção do cimento e reciclando rejeitos que se lançados no meio ambiente causariam problemas ambientais e de saúde pública. A adição mineral que vem tendo muito destaque devido à sua alta reatividade, considerada por vários pesquisadores como uma superpozolana, é a sílica ativa (SA), um subproduto da fabricação de silício metálico ou ligas de ferro-silício. A sílica ativa se caracteriza por uma elevada finura e alta área específica e um alto teor de sílica vítrea, estes fatores somados garantem à SA a alta reatividade com o hidróxido de cálcio, transformando-o em silicato de cálcio hidratado. A casca do arroz vem sendo pesquisada como uma fonte alternativa de sílica ativa. A sílica ativa extraída da casca de arroz contém um alto teor de SiO2 e, dependendo do processo de extração, possui propriedades adequadas para a utilização na confecção de concretos de elevado desempenho. Este trabalho visa estudar a atividade pozolânica da sílica da casca de arroz produzida no laboratório de materiais avançados à base de cimento. Para avaliar as características das sílicas, foram realizados ensaios tanto para determinação das suas propriedades físicas quanto para a determinação de sua composição química e pozolanicidade. Os ensaios realizados foram:composição química, pozolanicidade (método Chapelle modificado), área superficial B.E.T., distribuição granulométrica, distribuição do tamanho de partículas via MEV, amorficidade (por difratometria de raio X), massa específica e determinação do índice de atividade pozolânica com cimento Portland (NBR-5752). Os ensaios de caracterização demonstraram que a sílica da casca de arroz possui um alto grau de amorficidade e elevada área superficial, que garantiram uma maior reatividade nas idades iniciais, porém em idades avançadas apresentou a mesma eficiência que a sílica de ferro-silício. / The use of mineral additions in concrete in order to partially replace Portland cement helps to protect natural resources by saving raw material, reducing energy consumption in cement production and recycling industrial waste that could otherwise cause environmental and public health hazards. One mineral addition that has drawn considerable attention due to its high reactivity is silica fume (SF), a byproduct of the manufacturing process of metallic silicon or iron-silicon alloys and considered by many researchers as a superpozzolan. Silica fume is characterizated by high fineness, high specific area and high content of vitreous silica. The sum of these factors provides SF high reactivity with calcium hydroxide, which is transformed into hydrated calcium silicate. Rice husk ash has also been investigated as an alternative source of silica fume. The silica from rice husk ash contains a high percentage of SiO2 and, depending on the extraction process, has adequate properties to be employed in the manufacturing of high-performance concrete. The objective of this work is to study the pozzolanic activity of silica from rice husk ash produced at the Laboratório de Materiais Avançados à Base de Cimento. In order to evaluate the characteristics of silica samples from rice husk, assays were performed to determine their physical properties as well as their chemical composition and pozzolanicity. The assays performed were: chemical composition,pozzolanicity (modified Chapelle method), B.E.T. surface area method, granulometric distribution, particle size distribution by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), amorphicity by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), specific mass and pozzolanic activity index determination with Portland cement (NBR-5752). The characterization assays showed that the silica from rice husk ash has a high amorphicity level and a high surface area, which yield higher reactivity at initial ages. However, at advanced ages it pesented the same efficiency as that of silica from iron-silicon.