Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2007. / Supervisor: Samir E. Chidiac. Includes bibliographical references.

yes / Simulation is undoubtedly a very useful tool for modelling a system specifically in the presence of stochastic elements and complex interactions between the system entities. In this paper, a simulation model to support decision making in ship scheduling for Maritime Inventory Routing Problem (MIRP) with particular application to cement distribution is presented. The system under study is a combined discrete and continuous system, where a heterogeneous fleet of ships with various sizes and types of contracts transport bulk cement products from production facility (Central Supply, CS) of a cement company to its packing plants (Distribution Centres, DCs). The simulation model in this study has been designed and developed thoroughly to emulate the complexity of the real system of the MIRP. The simulation model has demonstrated the capability to provide support for decision making in ship scheduling of the heterogeneous shipping fleet in the following forms: (a) real time states of inventory levels at CS and DCs and (b) ships’ routing. In addition, one of the main strength of this simulation model is its flexibility. It can be easily expanded or adjusted to different size of system entities for example number of CSs, DCs, berths, vessels, and products. / Support for this research is provided by the Directorate of Higher Education, Ministry of National Education, Republic of Indonesia

Perlite is a glassy volcanic rock that contains approximately 70-75% silica and 12-18% alumina. There are very large perlite reserves in the world (~6700 million tons) and approximately two thirds of these is in Turkey. Due to its high amounts of silica and alumina, at the beginning of such a study, it seemed that it would be worth first to find out whether perlite possesses sufficient pozzolanic property when it is a finely divided form and then to investigate whether it could be used as a pozzolanic addition in producing blended cements. In this study, perlites from two different regions (izmir and Erzincan) were tested for their pozzolanic properties. After obtaining satisfactory results, grindability properties of the clinker, perlites and their different combinations were investigated. Several blended cements with different fineness values and different perlite amounts were produced by either intergrinding or separate grinding methods. The tests performed on the cement pastes and mortars containing the blended cements produced were as follows: Water requirement, normal consistency, setting time, soundness, compressive strength, rapid chloride permeability, resistance to sulfate attack and resistance to alkali-silica reactions. The results showed that Turkish perlites possess sufficient pozzolanic characteristics to be used in cement and concrete industry. Moreover, the properties tested in this study satisfied the requirements stated in the standards for blended cements. The durability of the mortars was found to be improved by 20% or more perlite incorporation.

The present study deals with the physical characterization of macrodefect free cements produced by ICI. These materials are made through a specialized mixing technique which incorporates an organic polymer into the cement/water system. The high mechanical strength and low porosity of this class of hardened cement paste had been well documented, however, a detailed characterization of the physical nature of the microstructure had not previously been attempted. Two classes of macrodefect free material were studied, based on Ordinary Portland cement and High Alumina cement, respectively. The porosities of these two materials were determined in their original state and after various forms of heat treatment and conditioning. Samples based on Ordinary Portland cement had a well defined narrow pore size distribution, even after heat treatment, while the High Alumina cement samples displayed a very low total pore volume in their original state, but subsequent heat treatment led to the developement of porosity over a wide range of pore sizes. These fundamental differences in the pore size distributions had significant effects on the homogeneity and reproducibility of the microstructures of the samples. The porosity generated by heat treatment was found to be unstable in the presence of water. In general, reductions in the porosities and permeabilities were observed. This was due to the formation of fresh cement hydrate gel within the pore structure, which caused a shift in the pore size distributions towards smaller pores.

To support the concept of environmentally friendly materials and sustainable development, the low-carbon cementitious materials have been extensively studied to reduce amount of CO2 emission to the atmosphere. One of the efforts is to promote alternative cementitious binders by utilizing abundant alumina-silicate wastes from the industrial sectors (e.g. fly ash or furnace slag), among which “Geopolymer (GP) cement” has received most attention as it can perform a wide variety of behaviours, in addition to cost reduction and less environmental impacts. The most common geopolymer production, fly ash-based, gained some strength with very slow rate at ambient temperature, while the strength is evidently improved when cured in high (above room) temperature, e.g. over 40°C. The major challenge is to step over the limitation of heat curing process and inconvenience in practice. In this study, the testing schemes of (i) GP manufacturing in various processes, (ii) inclusion of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in GP mixture, called GeoPC and (iii) GeoPC manufactured with dry-mixing method, have been intensively investigated through mechanical testing (Setting time, Compressive strength and Internal heat measurement) and mechanism analysis (XRD, FTIR, SEM and EDXA) in order to develop the geopolymers, achieving reasonable strength without external sources of heat curing. It is found that the proposed (dry) mixing process could have generated intensive heat liberation which was observed as a comparable factor to heat curing from any other external sources, enhancing the curing regime of the mixture. The additional calcium content in the developed GeoPC system not only resulted in an improvement of an early strength by the extra precipitation of calcium compounds (C,N-A-S-H), but also provided a latent heat from the reaction of its high potential energy compounds (e.g. OPC or alkaline activators). The developments from these approaches could lead to geopolymer production to achieve reasonable strength in ambient curing temperature known as “Self-cured geopolymer cement”, without external heat, and hence provide construction industry viable technologies of applying geopolymers in on-site and off-site construction.

Diploma thesis discusses about design composition and firing process modification of belite clinker. It also deals with the summary of knowledge about chemistry and production technology of portland cements with respect to its ecology and economy.