A reação álcali-agregado é uma manifestação patológica diretamente ligada à seleção dos materiais (cimento, agregados miúdo e graúdo, água e aditivos) que pode comprometer a durabilidade das estruturas de concreto, uma vez que a interação desses materiais e as condições ambientais é que vão conferir ao concreto determinadas propriedades ligadas à sua vida útil. A reação entre os hidróxidos alcalinos solubilizados na fase líquida dos poros dos concretos e alguns agregados reativos é lenta e resulta em um gel que, ao se acumular em vazios do concreto e na interface pasta-agregado, na presença de água, se expande, exercendo pressão interna no concreto. Ao exceder a resistência à tração do concreto, a pressão interna pode promover fissurações. A reação álcali-agregado requer a atuação conjunta de água, agregado reativo e álcalis. Sua prevenção pode ser feita a partir da eliminação de um dos fatores, ou seja, a partir do emprego de agregados inertes ou de cimentos com baixos teores de álcalis ou isolamento da umidade. Na impossibilidade de eliminar um dos fatores, medidas preventivas devem ser tomadas para o emprego de agregados reativos em obras de construção civil. Entre essas, destacam-se a utilização de cimentos com baixos teores de álcalis ou a de cimentos com adições ativas mitigadoras da reação álcali-agregado: escória de alto-forno, cinza volante, metacaulim e sílica ativa, que foi o objeto de pesquisa do presente trabalho. No programa experimental foram analisados dois tipos de agregado potencialmente reativos com os hidróxidos alcalinos: EDVDOWR e PLORQLWR_ JUDQtWLFR. O primeiro, proveniente de rocha ígnea, tem como constituintes deletérios vidro, clorofeíta, calcedônia (sílica criptocristalina), que dará origem à reação do tipo iOFDOL_VtOLFD. O agregado milonito granítico provém de rocha metamórfica, tem como constituintes deletérios quartzo microgranular, quartzo recristalizado, quartzo com extinção ondulante e quartzo e feldspato deformados, que dará origem ao tipo de reação iOFDOL_VLOLFDWR. Com o objetivo de avaliar a eficiência de adições ativas em mitigar as reações, os agregados foram combinados com 16 cimentos com adições ativas. Escória de alto-forno foi adicionada a 15%, 30%, 45% e 60% e cinza volante, a 10%, 15%, 25% e 35%, teores normalmente encontrados nos cimentos brasileiros. Metacaulim foi adicionada a 5%, 10%, 15% e 20%, e sílica ativa, a 5%, 10% e 15%, teores representativos da faixa normalmente adicionada diretamente a concretos. Todos os materiais utilizados foram caracterizados química, física e mineralogicamente, incluindo a análise petrográfica dos agregados. As barras de argamassa foram analisadas ao MEV, microscópio óptico de luz transmitida, realizaram-se ensaios de porosimetria por intrusão de mercúrio e análises térmicas para quantificar a teor de portlandita residual, e determinou-se o teor de álcalis dentro das barras após a realização dos ensaios para verificar a migração de íons de sódio. Os resultados indicam que a eficiência das adições ativas varia de acordo com a composição química e mineralógica das adições, da proporção desse material no cimento, e do grau de reatividade do agregado. / The alkali-aggregate reaction is a pathologic manifestation that can induce the premature distress and loss in serviceability of concrete structures affected. It is directly associated to the selection of materials (cement, coarse and fine aggregates, water and additives), as the interaction between these materials and environmental condition will grant the concrete some of the properties related to its service life. The slow reaction between alkali hydroxides soluble in the liquid phase within concrete pores and reactive aggregates gives rise to a gel that piles up within concrete voids and the aggregate-paste interface. In presence of water, the gel expands and exerts internal pressure in the concrete. When the internal pressure exceeds the tensile strength, cracking may come up as result. The alkali-aggregate reaction requires the action of water, reactive aggregate and alkalis altogether. Prevention can be carried out by eliminating one of these factors, i.e. employing either inert aggregates or lowalkali cements, or keeping the concrete away from moisture. Otherwise, preventive measures must be taken when reactive aggregates are used in civil construction works, such as the use of low-alkali cements or composite cements bearing alkaliaggregate- reaction mitigating admixtures: blast-furnace slag, fly ash, metakaolin and silica fume, which are the object of the present research. The experimental work included the analysis of two potentially reactive aggregates to alkali hydroxides: basalt and granite milonite. The igneous basalt carries deleterious constituents such as glass, chloropheite (cryptocrystalline silica), that will give rise to the DONDOL_VLOLFD type reaction while the metamorphic granite milonite carries micro granular, recrystallized, undulate-extinction-bearing quartz and deformed feldspar grains, that give rise to DONDOL_VLOLFDWH type reaction. Aiming at evaluating how efficient in mitigating these reactions the active admixtures are, these aggregates were mixed with 16 composite cements. The contents of admixtures followed those usually found in Brazilian industrial cements for blast-furnace slag (15%, 30%, 45%, 60%) and fly ash (10%, 15%, 25%, 35%), and those generally added directly to concrete for metakaolin (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) and silica fume (5%, 10%, 15%). All materials were characterized for their chemical composition, physical properties and mineralogy. Petrography was carried out on the aggregates. The mortar bars were analyzed at the scanning electronic and transmitted-light optical microscopes. Mercury-intrusion porosimetry and thermal analyses were carried out to quantify residual portlandite. The alkali content within the bars was determined in order to verify migration of Na+ ions. The results show that the efficiency of active admixtures varies according to their chemical and mineralogical composition and proportioning in cement, and to the aggregate reactivity.

In recent years, scientific studies are carried out to find new refractory material. Having good mechanical properties under very high temperatures, refractories are widely used in industries like iron, steel, glass, cement and pottery. Researches are focused on monolithic refractory making because of their superior properties comparing to conventional firebrick refractories. Providing a mono-block body, having no joints makes the monolithic refractories more durable at elevated temperatures. Easier production and installation are two main points that people are choosing monolithic refractories, thus an economy is made. In this study, for monolithic refractory production, high alumina cement was used as binding material. It is known that the increase in alumina (Al2O3) content increases the high temperature resistance, so that crushed firebrick, having 85% Al2O3 was used as aggregate. Pozzolanic materials, which are silica fume, fly ash, ground granulated firebrick and ground granulated blast furnace slag, were added to improve physical and mechanical properties of mortar. With the addition of steel fibres, change in compressive strength and flexural strength was observed.Superplasticizer was used to understand its behaviour under high temperatures. Portland cement containing mortars were also prepared to make comparison with high alumina cement containing specimens. Specimens were prepared in 5x5x5 cm and 4x4x16 cm prisms. They were cured for one day at curing room, then heated to 105&deg / C and then heated to 1100&deg / C. Weight, size and ultrasound velocity change, compressive strength and flexural strength tests were done to determine physical and mechanical properties of the monolithic refractories, before and after heating. Heated and non-heated specimens were pulverized for microstructural investigation with X-Ray diffraction (XRD) method. Using high alumina cement with 50 &ndash / 60 % granulated blast furnace slag or granulated firebrick, by the weight of cement, and crushed firebrick as aggregate, a satisfactory monolithic refractory material was made. It was observed that, mechanical properties were decreased at the Portland cement used mortars after several times of heating and cooling cycles. Also, it was determined that the microstructure of the high alumina cement containing mortars did not deteriorate much at 1100&deg / C, as long as there was no change observed from the results.

Using recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as a replacement for natural aggregate in new concrete is a promising way to increase the overall sustainability of new concrete. This has been hindered, however, by a general perception that RCA is a sub-standard material due to the lack of technical guidance, specifically related to long-term durability, on incorporating RCA into new concrete. The goal of this research project was to determine whether current testing methods could be used to assess the potential alkali-silica reactivity of concrete incorporating RCA. The test methods investigated were ASTM C1260 and ASTM C1567 for assessing natural aggregate susceptibility to alkali-silica reactivity (ASR), and the ability of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to mitigate ASR, respectively. Seven different RCA sources were investigated. It was determined that ASTM C1260 was effective in detecting reactivity but expansion varied based on RCA processing. Depending on the aggregate type and the extent of processing, up to a 100% increase in expansion was observed. Replicate testing was performed at four university laboratories to evaluate repeatability and consistency of results. The authors recommend modification to the mixing and aggregate preparation procedures, when testing the reactivity of RCA using ASTM C 1260. This study also investigated the efficacy of replacing portland cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), known to mitigate alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in concrete with virgin aggregates, to control ASR in concrete incorporating reactive RCA. The SCMs investigated as part of this study included: fly ash (class F), silica fume, and metakaolin. The results of modified alkali-silica reactivity tests, ASTM C1260 and ASTM C1567 (AMBT), are presented for two different recycled concrete aggregates when using 100% portland cement, binary blends of portland cement and fly ash, and ternary blends of portland cement, fly ash and metakaolin or silica fume. The results indicate that SCMs can effectively mitigate ASR in concrete made with RCA. A 40% replacement of portland cement with class F fly ash was able to reduce expansions to below 0.10% in the AMBT for concrete containing 100% of a highly reactive recycled concrete aggregate. A ternary blend, however, of portland cement with a class F fly ash and metakaolin was most effective for both RCAs tested in this study. Higher levels of mitigation may be required for some RCAs, compared to the level required to mitigate ASR in concrete made with their original natural aggregates, depending on the age and composition of the RCA. / Graduation date: 2012

A reação álcali-agregado é uma manifestação patológica diretamente ligada à seleção dos materiais (cimento, agregados miúdo e graúdo, água e aditivos) que pode comprometer a durabilidade das estruturas de concreto, uma vez que a interação desses materiais e as condições ambientais é que vão conferir ao concreto determinadas propriedades ligadas à sua vida útil. A reação entre os hidróxidos alcalinos solubilizados na fase líquida dos poros dos concretos e alguns agregados reativos é lenta e resulta em um gel que, ao se acumular em vazios do concreto e na interface pasta-agregado, na presença de água, se expande, exercendo pressão interna no concreto. Ao exceder a resistência à tração do concreto, a pressão interna pode promover fissurações. A reação álcali-agregado requer a atuação conjunta de água, agregado reativo e álcalis. Sua prevenção pode ser feita a partir da eliminação de um dos fatores, ou seja, a partir do emprego de agregados inertes ou de cimentos com baixos teores de álcalis ou isolamento da umidade. Na impossibilidade de eliminar um dos fatores, medidas preventivas devem ser tomadas para o emprego de agregados reativos em obras de construção civil. Entre essas, destacam-se a utilização de cimentos com baixos teores de álcalis ou a de cimentos com adições ativas mitigadoras da reação álcali-agregado: escória de alto-forno, cinza volante, metacaulim e sílica ativa, que foi o objeto de pesquisa do presente trabalho. No programa experimental foram analisados dois tipos de agregado potencialmente reativos com os hidróxidos alcalinos: EDVDOWR e PLORQLWR_ JUDQtWLFR. O primeiro, proveniente de rocha ígnea, tem como constituintes deletérios vidro, clorofeíta, calcedônia (sílica criptocristalina), que dará origem à reação do tipo iOFDOL_VtOLFD. O agregado milonito granítico provém de rocha metamórfica, tem como constituintes deletérios quartzo microgranular, quartzo recristalizado, quartzo com extinção ondulante e quartzo e feldspato deformados, que dará origem ao tipo de reação iOFDOL_VLOLFDWR. Com o objetivo de avaliar a eficiência de adições ativas em mitigar as reações, os agregados foram combinados com 16 cimentos com adições ativas. Escória de alto-forno foi adicionada a 15%, 30%, 45% e 60% e cinza volante, a 10%, 15%, 25% e 35%, teores normalmente encontrados nos cimentos brasileiros. Metacaulim foi adicionada a 5%, 10%, 15% e 20%, e sílica ativa, a 5%, 10% e 15%, teores representativos da faixa normalmente adicionada diretamente a concretos. Todos os materiais utilizados foram caracterizados química, física e mineralogicamente, incluindo a análise petrográfica dos agregados. As barras de argamassa foram analisadas ao MEV, microscópio óptico de luz transmitida, realizaram-se ensaios de porosimetria por intrusão de mercúrio e análises térmicas para quantificar a teor de portlandita residual, e determinou-se o teor de álcalis dentro das barras após a realização dos ensaios para verificar a migração de íons de sódio. Os resultados indicam que a eficiência das adições ativas varia de acordo com a composição química e mineralógica das adições, da proporção desse material no cimento, e do grau de reatividade do agregado. / The alkali-aggregate reaction is a pathologic manifestation that can induce the premature distress and loss in serviceability of concrete structures affected. It is directly associated to the selection of materials (cement, coarse and fine aggregates, water and additives), as the interaction between these materials and environmental condition will grant the concrete some of the properties related to its service life. The slow reaction between alkali hydroxides soluble in the liquid phase within concrete pores and reactive aggregates gives rise to a gel that piles up within concrete voids and the aggregate-paste interface. In presence of water, the gel expands and exerts internal pressure in the concrete. When the internal pressure exceeds the tensile strength, cracking may come up as result. The alkali-aggregate reaction requires the action of water, reactive aggregate and alkalis altogether. Prevention can be carried out by eliminating one of these factors, i.e. employing either inert aggregates or lowalkali cements, or keeping the concrete away from moisture. Otherwise, preventive measures must be taken when reactive aggregates are used in civil construction works, such as the use of low-alkali cements or composite cements bearing alkaliaggregate- reaction mitigating admixtures: blast-furnace slag, fly ash, metakaolin and silica fume, which are the object of the present research. The experimental work included the analysis of two potentially reactive aggregates to alkali hydroxides: basalt and granite milonite. The igneous basalt carries deleterious constituents such as glass, chloropheite (cryptocrystalline silica), that will give rise to the DONDOL_VLOLFD type reaction while the metamorphic granite milonite carries micro granular, recrystallized, undulate-extinction-bearing quartz and deformed feldspar grains, that give rise to DONDOL_VLOLFDWH type reaction. Aiming at evaluating how efficient in mitigating these reactions the active admixtures are, these aggregates were mixed with 16 composite cements. The contents of admixtures followed those usually found in Brazilian industrial cements for blast-furnace slag (15%, 30%, 45%, 60%) and fly ash (10%, 15%, 25%, 35%), and those generally added directly to concrete for metakaolin (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) and silica fume (5%, 10%, 15%). All materials were characterized for their chemical composition, physical properties and mineralogy. Petrography was carried out on the aggregates. The mortar bars were analyzed at the scanning electronic and transmitted-light optical microscopes. Mercury-intrusion porosimetry and thermal analyses were carried out to quantify residual portlandite. The alkali content within the bars was determined in order to verify migration of Na+ ions. The results show that the efficiency of active admixtures varies according to their chemical and mineralogical composition and proportioning in cement, and to the aggregate reactivity.

Dissertação(mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Oceânica, Escola de Engenharia, 2009. / Submitted by Lilian M. Silva (lilianmadeirasilva@hotmail.com) on 2013-04-20T22:47:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Estudo probabilístico da resistência à compressão e da resistência à tração na flexão dos concretos utilizados na construção do dique seco do estaleiro Rio Grande, No Superporto, Em.pdf: 10848965 bytes, checksum: 809b5f8cbee32e8c634ff304349206bb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Bruna Vieira(bruninha_vieira@ibest.com.br) on 2013-06-04T16:19:35Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Estudo probabilístico da resistência à compressão e da resistência à tração na flexão dos concretos utilizados na construção do dique seco do estaleiro Rio Grande, No Superporto, Em.pdf: 10848965 bytes, checksum: 809b5f8cbee32e8c634ff304349206bb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-06-04T16:19:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Estudo probabilístico da resistência à compressão e da resistência à tração na flexão dos concretos utilizados na construção do dique seco do estaleiro Rio Grande, No Superporto, Em.pdf: 10848965 bytes, checksum: 809b5f8cbee32e8c634ff304349206bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / A variação presente nos ensaios de aceitação do concreto, sobretudo a resistência, torna fundamental a utilização de uma grande quantidade de dados amostrais para estabelecer parâmetros de avaliação e calibração das normas técnicas. Distintos controles tecnológicos, metodologias de dosagem e características dos materiais, são alguns dos fatores que fazem com que o concreto tenha peculiaridades relacionadas à região do planeta onde o mesmo é produzido.O presente trabalho aplicou diversos métodos de controle e aceitação de estruturas de concreto aos resultados práticos oriundos do concreto lançado na execução do dique seco do Estaleiro Rio Grande em construção na cidade de Rio Grande - RS. Esta obra é uma importante fonte de informações sobre a resistência e o comportamento do concreto visto que, na mesma, foi empregado desde o início um rigoroso controle de qualidade; gerando dados raramente disponíveis em obras portuárias brasileiras. Foram utilizados como base para este trabalho dois traços de concreto; um com adição de fibras e fck= 35 MPa e outro com adição de sílica ativa e fck= 40 MPa. Foram realizadas comparações entre as estimativas de resistência das normas brasileira, européia e norte-americana de concreto. Realizadas análises estatísticas de modelos teóricos de distribuição de probabilidade destas resistências. Além disso, foram estabelecidas correlações entre as resistências à tração e à compressão do concreto. O incremento de resistência do concreto ao longo do tempo também foi estudado, tanto para compressão como para a tração. As análises apresentadas permitem atestar o atendimento dos concretos utilizados na execução do dique seco quanto aos requisitos estabelecidos pelas normas brasileiras de concreto. / Due to the variability in the results of the concrete acceptance tests, especially in the resistance tests, it is fundamental to use a large number of sample data to establish the assessment parameters and to calibrate the standard codes. Different technological controls, mixing methodologies and material characteristics are some of the factors that cause the concrete having peculiarities proper of the region where it is produced. The present work has applied different methodsof control and acceptance of concrete structures to the test results of the concreteused in the construction of the Estaleiro Rio Grande dry-dock, in the city of Rio Grande – RS. This construction site is an important source of information about the concrete resistance and behavior, because it was adopted, since the beginning of the construction, a rigorous quality control. This quality control produced a number oftest results that is seldom available in the Brazilian harbors construction sites. In this work two different concrete mixes were studied: first a fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) with fck = 35 MPa, and a second one with silica fume addition with fck = 40 MPa. The resistance assessment formulations of the Brazilian, European and North American standard codes were compared. A statistical analysis of best the probability distribution models for the resistance test results was made. Besides, it was determined a correlation between the concrete tensile and compressive resistances. The increasing of the concreteresistance with time was also studied to compression as well as to tension. The analyses performed have showed that both concrete mixes used in the construction of this dry-dock have attained the quality standards required by the Brazilian standard codes for concrete.

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2014-10-21T20:50:08Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Mayara Queiroz Moraes - 2012.pdf: 2306074 bytes, checksum: 39f99dfabbb79296b809313dd0730f16 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jaqueline Silva (jtas29@gmail.com) on 2014-10-22T19:07:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Mayara Queiroz Moraes - 2012.pdf: 2306074 bytes, checksum: 39f99dfabbb79296b809313dd0730f16 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-22T19:07:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Mayara Queiroz Moraes - 2012.pdf: 2306074 bytes, checksum: 39f99dfabbb79296b809313dd0730f16 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-11 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Unlike the silica fume, whose benefits on the properties of the concretes are already widely known, little is known regarding nanosilica. This research offers an analysis of the contribution of different types of nanosilica in mechanical characteristics and workability maintenance of concretes, as well as an evaluation of the behavior of these additions when subjected to steam curing. For this, there were compared among themselves laboratory test results in concretes with different characteristics and different purposes (one of them suitable for production at batching plants and the other for metering precast elements). The results confirmed advantages for the simple addition of nanossílica at mechanical properties of concretes for batching plants with strengths above 40 MPa (a/c<0.52), but showed that the most advantageous situation consists in adding it together with sílica fume, since the concrete with both additions exceeded the reference concrete above 36 MPa (a/c<0.615), which highlights the importance of combining pozzolanic effect of silica fume, the creation of nucleation sites caused by nanossílica and better packaging mix, size distribution generated by the two additions give the folder.Regarding the maintenance of workability, the nanosilica dispersed in superplasticizer demonstrated satisfactory performance. In the analysis of concretes for precast elements, the addition of nanosilica dispersed superplasticizer and silica fume together was also the one which showed the best results in terms of resistance in 28 days of conventional curing. However, with steam curing, a great improvement was noted in the behavior of nanosilica dispersed in water, which had not achieved good results with the conventional cure, while nanosilica dispersed in superplasticizer did not respond well to the process, possibly due to the shape of the polycarboxylate used in the dispersion of the particles. Probably, the nanosilica dispersed in water showed no significant pozzolanic activity levels, but with the rise of temperature and the agitation of the particles, the formation of nucleation sites was intensified. As the development of resistance in early ages, all additions had positive effects, but the best performance was observed on the concrete with the simple addition of nanosilica dispersed in superplasticizer. With this addition, the concrete has reached 40 MPa after only 12 hours of steam curing, within about four times lower than the reference concrete (44 hours), which suggests that its addition to the concrete could result in na almost four times greater productivity of a precast elements factory. / Ao contrário da sílica ativa, cujas vantagens nas propriedades do concreto já são amplamente conhecidas, pouco se sabe em relação à nanossílica. Esta pesquisa contempla uma análise da contribuição de diferentes tipos de nanossílica nas características mecânicas e de manutenção do abatimento de concretos, bem como uma avaliação do comportamento destas adições frente à cura térmica. Para isto, compararam-se entre si resultados de ensaios laboratoriais em concretos com diferentes traços e diferentes finalidades (produção em centrais dosadoras e fabricação de pré-moldados). Os resultados confirmaram vantagens para a adição simples de nanossílica quanto à resistência à compressão dos concretos para centrais com resistências acima de 40 MPa (a/c<0,52), mas mostraram que a melhor situação consiste na adição conjunta de sílica ativa e nanossílica, já que o concreto com a adição conjunta superou o de referência a partir de 36 MPa (a/c<0,615). Isso deixa clara a importância de aliar o efeito pozolânico da sílica ativa, a criação de pontos de nucleação ocasionada pela nanossílica e o melhor empacotamento da mistura, gerado pela distribuição granulométrica que as duas adições juntas conferem à pasta. Quanto à manutenção do abatimento, a nanossílica dispersa em aditivo superplastificante demonstrou desempenho satisfatório. Em relação aos concretos para pré-moldados, foi a adição conjunta de sílica ativa e nanossílica dispersa em superplastificante a que apresentou melhores resultados de resistência aos 28 dias de cura convencional. No entanto, com a cura térmica, notou-se melhora substancial do comportamento da nanossílica dispersa em água, que não havia atingido bons resultados com cura convencional, enquanto a nanossílica dispersa em superplastificante não respondeu bem ao processo, possivelmente por influência da forma do policarboxilato usado na dispersão das partículas. Provavelmente, a nanossílica dispersa em água não apresentou atividade pozolânica relevante, mas com a elevação da temperatura e a agitação das partículas, a formação de pontos de nucleação foi intensificada. Quanto ao desenvolvimento de resistências nas idades iniciais, todas as adições apresentaram efeitos positivos, mas o melhor desempenho foi observado no concreto com adição simples da nanossílica dispersa em superplastificante. Com ela, o concreto atingiu 40 MPa com apenas 12 horas de cura térmica, prazo quase quatro vezes menor do que o do concreto de referência (44 horas), o que leva a crer que sua adição ao concreto poderia implicar em uma produtividade quase quatro vezes maior de uma fábrica de elementos pré-moldados.

Evolution of concrete is continuously taking place to meet the ever-growing demands of the construction industry. Self compacting concrete (SCC) has emerged as a result of this demand to overcome the scarcity of labour. SCC is widely replacing normal vibrated concrete (NVC) these days owing to its advantages such as homogeneity of the mix, filling ability even in heavily congested reinforcement, smooth finish, reduction in construction time etc. The ingredients used for SCC is the same as that of the NVC. But the proportioning of ingredients to achieve self compactability alters the microstructure of SCC which in turn affects the mechanical and fracture properties. Moreover, the mineral admixtures such as fly ash and silica fume when used for improving the workability of SCC help in the development of the microstructural skeleton. In this study, three SCC mixes SCC1- made with only cement, SCC2 - with fly ash in addition to cement and SCC3 - with fly ash and silica fume in addition to cement for achieving normal, medium and high strength SCC respectively are cast. The microstructural changes in SCC with and without mineral admixtures over a period of time are studied using different techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The modification of mechanical properties at microstructural level brings difference in the behavior at macro level. Hence in this study, the mechanical properties at microstructural are obtained by using microindentation test and are scaled up to the macro level to predict the influence of micromechanical properties on macro response. The fracture properties of SCC is considered to be the interest of this study and is carried out with the help of advanced techniques such as acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC). From the various studies carried out, it is inferred that the mixes with mineral admixtures behave in a more brittle manner when compared to mix having no mineral admixture. It is also observed that class ‘F’ fly ash hydrates at a slow pace and the strength gain is observed after 28 days and even beyond 90 days. Hence, it is concluded that it is appropriate to consider the strength at 90 days instead of 28 days for a SCC mix with class ‘F’ fly ash. Silica fume on the other hand is observed to result in a more rapid gain in strength and this can partially offset the delay in strength gain due to fly ash.

Atualmente, um dos principais problemas ligados às estruturas de concreto armado é a corrosão da armadura, especialmente devido à ação dos íons cloreto. Sua incidência no contexto das principais manifestações patológicas encontradas nas construções é bastante significativa, chegando a atingir índices de 50% em algumas regiões brasileiras. Além disso, o custo do reparo ou da reabilitação das estruturas deterioradas, em alguns casos, pode ser superior ao de uma estrutura nova. Com o objetivo de aumentar a vida útil das estruturas de concreto e diminuir o índice de ocorrência da corrosão de armaduras, esta pesquisa verifica o comportamento de concretos com adições minerais quanto à eficiência na proteção do aço contra a corrosão induzida por íons cloreto, em relação ao concreto sem adição. Para a produção dos concretos de alto desempenho (CAD), foram utilizados dois tipos de adições: a sílica de Fe-Si ou silício metálico (SFS), já comercialmente disponível, e a sílica extraída da casca de arroz (SCA), produzida em laboratório. Assim, além de proporcionar uma barreira física à entrada de agentes agressivos na camada de cobrimento, a utilização desses concretos contribui para a diminuição da poluição ambiental, uma vez que as adições estudadas são resíduos. Para tanto, foram realizados ensaios mecânicos e relacionados à durabilidade, tais como: absorção de água, resistência à penetração de cloretos, frente de penetração, teor total de cloretos e resistividade elétrica dos concretos. Na análise do processo de corrosão, duas técnicas foram empregadas: potencial de corrosão e espectroscopia por impedância eletroquímica. Em relação à microestrutura, foram realizados ensaios de porosimetria por intrusão de mercúrio, difratometria de raios X, termogravimetria e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os resultados obtidos no controle da corrosão pelo ataque de íons cloreto foram favoráveis ao uso das adições em substituição ao cimento Portland, uma vez que os concretos com adições superam os resultados obtidos nos concretos sem sílica (ainda que a SFS tenha proporcionado melhor desempenho em algumas propriedades), indicando alta capacidade dos CAD em proteger o aço frente à ação de íons cloreto. Dentre os tipos de cimento utilizados, o CP V ARI RS mostrou-se mais eficiente que o CP V ARI Plus, bem como apresentou melhor sinergia com a SCA. A técnica de espectroscopia eletroquímica pode ser utilizada em CAD, porém deve-se minimizar os efeitos da alta resistividade do material, especialmente quando se utiliza a SFS. / Nowadays, one of the main problems in reinforced concrete structures is steel corrosion, especially due to the action of chloride ions. Its incidence among the main pathologies is quite significant, reaching indexes of 50% in some Brazilian areas. Besides, the cost of repair or rehabilitation of deteriorated structures, in some cases, can be higher than a new structure. To increase the service life of concrete structures and reduce the occurrence of steel corrosion, this work verifies the behavior of concretes with mineral additions in protecting the steel against the corrosion induced by chloride ions, in comparison to concretes without addition. For the production of high performance concretes (HPC), two addition types were used: silica fume (SF), already commercially available, and silica extracted from rice husk (SRH), produced in laboratory. Thus, besides providing a physical barrier to the aggressive agents in the concrete cover, the use of such concretes contribute to decrease the environmental pollution, since the additions studied are residues. Mechanical and durability tests were accomplished, such as water absorption, chloride penetration resistance, chloride penetration depth and concentration and electric resistivity of concretes. In the analysis of corrosion process, two techniques were used: open circuit potential and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Regarding the microstructure, tests of mercury intrusion porosimetry, X-ray diffraction, termogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy were conducted. The results obtained in the control of steel corrosion by chloride ions were favorable to the use of the additions in substitution to the portland cement. Both concretes with additions showed better performances than the concretes without silica, indicating high capacity of HPC to protect against the steel corrosion in reinforced concrete structures. Concerning the types of cement used, CP V ARI RS showed to be more efficient than CP V ARI Plus and presented better synergy with SRH. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique can be used in HPC, however the effects of the high resistivity of the material should be minimized, especially when silica fume is used.

Subject of this work is to design a batch of concrete with additives, which are to replace the cement of various doses so as to not adversely affect the properties of fresh and hardened concrete and simultaneously withstand the environment XF.

The goal of this work was to create a method for improving the dispersion of silica fumes for use in high performance concrete. Traditional methods used to design and manufacture high performance concrete emphasize the removal of coarse aggregates. Use of specially sorted fine aggregates at relatively low doses, the use of super-plasticizers and siliceous excrement. The low water content was achieved by using superplasticizer on a polycarboxylate basis. The standard ultrasound technology found in each laboratory was selected for the dispersion of silica fume. For experiments were we used dry silica fume powder and aqueous stabilized suspension. For comparison, were prepared different mixtures which showed the effects of the treatment prior to the use of silica fume.