Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-06-15T14:11:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 BÁRBARA JORDANI_.pdf: 2132585 bytes, checksum: 322ec6d990fc948ff3060abffa46014a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-15T14:11:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BÁRBARA JORDANI_.pdf: 2132585 bytes, checksum: 322ec6d990fc948ff3060abffa46014a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-31 / FAPERGS - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / CNPQ - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Nos últimos anos o setor da construção civil está buscando alternativas para substituir as matérias primas utilizadas no processo de produção do concreto, visando preservar o meio ambiente reduzindo extrações da natureza. Diante disso, surge a reciclagem de materiais, que vem ganhando cada vez mais espaço dentro da atividade da construção civil. Uma das alternativas é a utilização de agregados reciclados de concreto (ARC), que podem ser empregados como substituição ao agregado natural. Outra possibilidade é o uso de pozolanas provenientes de resíduos, e dentre as diferentes opções a cinza de casca de arroz se destaca. A cinza de casca de arroz ainda não é largamente utilizada no ocidente, porém vem sendo explorada, sendo um resíduo do setor agropecuário. Após o processo de queima da casca do arroz, surge a cinza que possui grande concentração de sílica. O uso destas pozolanas contribui para diminuir o consumo de cimento. Além disto, o emprego de agregados reciclados pré-saturados pode atuar como um agente de cura interna de concretos, o que, em caso de concretos com pozolanas, pode ser um aspecto positivo para obter-se uma boa hidratação da pasta aglomerante. Este trabalho propõe investigar o efeito do emprego de agregados graúdos reciclados de resíduo de concreto (AGRC) como agente de cura interna em concretos produzidos com pozolana, frente a aspectos vinculados à durabilidade e ao comportamento mecânico. Avaliou-se a substituição do agregado graúdo natural (AN) por (AGRC) em teor determinado pelo Método de Dosagem para Cura Interna, seco e úmido, associado com a substituição de cimento por cinza de casca de arroz em teor de 20%, em dois ambientes de cura (U.R 60% e 100%). Para o estudo foi utilizado três relações a/agl (0,31; 0,42; e 0,53). Os resultados apontaram um efeito positivo do emprego da CCA em concretos fabricados com AGRC. A substituição de cimento por CCA em média pode aumentar a resistência à compressão. Os concretos fabricados com relação a/agl 0,31, para todos os concretos ensaiados, retornaram resistências na faixa de 35-45 MPa. Também foi possível notar retrações significativas até os 28 dias. Já para cura interna cabe ressaltar que o AGRC empregado saturado não apresenta comportamento de agente de cura interna, principalmente no ambiente crítico de ambiente com umidade relativa na ordem de 60%, considerada baixa. / During the last years, the construction sector has been looking for alternatives to replace the raw materials used for concrete production, in order to reduce environmenal impact. The waste recycling as raw material for civil construction can be one of solutions to this problem. One example of this kind of solution is to use the recycled concrete aggregate, which can be used as alternative for the natural aggregate. Another possibility is to use some waste as pozzolanic material, as the rice husk ash. After the burning of the rice hull, it becomes the ash, which has a large concentration of silica. The use of these pozzolans can contribute to reduce the consumption of cement. Furthermore, the usage of pre-saturated recycled aggregate can act as an internal concrete curing agent, which in the case of concretes with pozzolans can be a good way to obtain a better hydration of the binder paste. This study proposes to investigate the effect of the usage of concrete recycled coarse aggregate (RCCA) as an internal curing agent in concrete produced with pozzolan, in order to evaluate the durability and mechanical behaviour. It was evaluated the replacement of natural coarse aggregate (AN) by RCCA. The content of RCCA is related to the binder consumption and it was employed dry and wet. The cement replacement by rice husk ash was done at 20% and it was used three water to binder (w/t) relationships (0.31, 0.42, and 0.53). The curing process was developed in two cure environments (U.R 60% and 100%).The results indicated that the CCA produces positive effect on concrete made with AGRC. The concrete made with respect to w/b 0.31 for all tested concretes returned resistances in the range of 35-45 MPa. The effect of RCCA as internal curing agent is significant when the concrete is cured in a humid environment only for compressive strength. In dry environment, it does not work as internal curing agent. It was also noted significant retractions up to 28 days. As for domestic demand it is noteworthy that the saturated employee AGRC has no internal curing agent behaviour, especially in the critical environment with relative humidity of around 60%, considered low.

Dans une démarche de valorisation des déchets, les granulats recyclés sont introduits dans la formulation des bétons pour donner naissance à de nouveaux bétons recyclés qui représentent l’objet du projet national RECYBETON et du projet ANR ECOREB. Cette thèse se concentre sur l’étude du béton frais et en particulier la maîtrise du retrait plastique et l’effet du degré de saturation initial des gravillons recyclés sur le comportement des bétons recyclés. Deux familles de bétons avec des rapports eau/ciment respectifs de 0,6 et 0,45 ont été testés en conditions endogènes ainsi qu’en dessiccation (Vvent = 8 m/s). Chaque famille de bétons est constituée d’un béton naturel de référence et de deux bétons recyclés différenciés pas le degré initial de saturation des gravillons recyclés (50 et 120 % de l’absorption nominale). Les résultats expérimentaux soulignent la capacité des gravillons recyclés initialement partiellement saturés à capter rapidement l’eau contenue dans la pâte de ciment, modifiant ainsi le rapport E/C, les propriétés rhéologiques du béton frais et les résistances mécaniques du béton durci. Après saturation en eau, si les conditions de séchage conduisent à un manque d’eau dans le béton, les gravillons recyclés peuvent fournir de l’eau à la pâte. Ils constituent donc un potentiel de cure interne. Le retrait plastique sous vent est explicitement lié au ressuage, au développement de la pression capillaire et à la fissuration. Le temps d’initiation de la fissuration dépend de la quantité d’eau totale dans le béton et de sa capacité à ressuer tandis que l’ouverture de fissure varie avec la valeur de retrait plastique mesurée. Dans cette étude, le développement de la pression capillaire est la cause de la fissuration qui apparaît dès l’entrée d’air dans le matériau poreux. Les différences de comportements les plus importantes sont observées entre bétons ayant une quantité d’eau totale différente plutôt qu’entre bétons naturel et recyclé. La compilation des résultats expérimentaux a permis de mettre sur pied des modélisations qui illustrent les comportements observés. Les pores concernés par l’entrée d’air dans les bétons recyclés et naturels au moment de la fissuration sont les plus gros pores de la pâte. Enfin, un couplage hygrothermique séchage-température du béton peut influer sur le démarrage de l’hydratation. / In the context of sustainable development, the reuse of construction and demolition waste is necessary to conserve nonrenewable natural aggregate resources, so recycled aggregates are introduced in concrete mix design. This is the aim of the national projet RECYBETON and the research project ECOREB. This study deals with the fresh concrete and more specifically with shrinkage control and the effects of the initial saturation degrees of recycled coarse aggregates on concrete behavior.Two concrete families, with two different water/cement ratios 0,60 and 0,45, are tested under endogenous and drying (wind speed equal to 8 m/s) conditions. Each concrete family contains a reference natural concrete and two recycled concretes. The initial saturation degree is the difference between them (recycled coarse aggregates saturated or semi saturated).Experimental results underline the capacity of non-saturated aggregates to quickly absorb water from cement paste, modifying the W/C ratio, rheological properties of the fresh concrete and the mechanical strength (at 28 days) of recycled concretes. After saturation in water, recycled aggregates can release water into the cement paste if the undergone drying conditions lead to a lack of water in the cement matrix. The recycled coarse aggregates can be seen as an internal curing potential.Experimental plastic shrinkage studies carried out under drying conditions highlight a link between bleeding, capillary pressure, plastic shrinkage and cracking. It should be pointed out that the initial cracking is dependent on the total quantity of water in the concrete and on its bleeding capacity. The opening cracks vary with the plastic shrinkage values measured during the test. The analysis of the results emphasize that the capillary pressure is the determining parameter and that the air entry value matches the cracks. The major behavior differences are found between concretes with different volumes of water rather than between natural and recycled concretes.Finally, the analysis of all the experimental results have allowed concrete modelling and understanding why concretes do not behave in the same way. When it cracks, the air come in the biggest pores of the concrete paste. Moreover, a hygrothermal coupling exists between the drying and the temperature in concrete. It can affect hydration start up.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T17:19:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FERNANDA APARECIDA JOAO.pdf: 13614051 bytes, checksum: 7d071a80e981abbf95a9074b2c139bba (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Cracks in concrete are a problem caused by the shrinkage of the mixture. This retraction can be plastic, autogenous, by drying or carbonation may occur and more than one type of retraction. One of the retraction methods of warfare is by curing of the concrete, the usual method of healing with external wetting, causes waste of water. Thus a new curing method has been studied via light aggregates or saturated superabsorbent polymer, inserted into the concrete mass, known as internal cure. The research in this paper aims to verify the influence of superabsorbent polymer as an internal curing agent to combat the decline in conventional concrete. The materials used for the development of this research were cement, natural sand, coarse aggregate (gravel), water and superabsorbent polymer of sodium polyacrylate. Initially it was performed characterization tests of the raw materials used, then made the specimens and then the characterization of concrete specimens with and without superabsorbent polymer. Properties in the fresh state (consistency) and hardened (compressive strength and shrinkage) were evaluated. The samples were subjected to physical-chemical and structural micro, through techniques of X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy Fourier transform (FTIR), stereoscopic images and scanning electron microscopy. Six mixtures were prepared, a reference superabsorbent polymer with five levels (PSA). The PSA was inserted into the concrete as addition and replacement of mixing water with different grades and sizes. The tests showed that the superabsorbent polymer has affected the workability of concrete mixtures, the compressive strength after 28 and 60 days of curing and shrinkage. The polymer did not change the phases of the concrete, and microstructure was possible to see that the PSA was not crowded. The test results in some mixtures showed improved mechanical properties over the internal cure with superabsorbent polymer. / As fissuras no concreto são um problema ocasionado pela retração da mistura. Esta retração pode ser plástica, autógena, por secagem ou carbonatação, e pode ocorrer de forma combinada. Um dos métodos de combate à retração é realizado durante a cura do concreto. O método usual de cura com molhagem externa ocasiona desperdício de água. Desta forma, um novo método conhecido como cura interna vem sendo estudado, por meio da utilização de agregados leves ou polímeros superabsorventes saturados, inseridos na massa de concreto. A pesquisa realizada no presente trabalho tem como objetivo verificar a influência do polímero superabsorvente como agente de cura interna para combater a retração em concreto convencional. Os materiais utilizados para o desenvolvimento desta pesquisa foram: cimento CP-II 32 Z, agregado miúdo (areia natural média), agregado graúdo (brita no 0 e no 1), água e polímero superabsorvente de poliacrilato de sódio. Inicialmente, foram realizados ensaios normalizados de caracterização das matérias primas utilizadas para produzir os corpos de prova. Em seguida, realizou-se a caracterização dos corpos de prova de concreto com e sem polímero superabsorvente. Posteriormente, foram avaliadas as propriedades no estado fresco (consistência) e no endurecido (resistência à compressão e retração). Os corpos de prova foram submetidos à caracterização físico-química e micro estrutural, por meio de técnicas de difratometria de raios X, espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR), imagens de estereoscópio e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Foram produzidas seis misturas, uma de referência e cinco com teores diferentes de polímero superabsorvente (PSA). O PSA foi inserido no concreto tanto como adição quanto como substituição da água de amassamento, com diferentes teores e tamanhos. Os ensaios mostraram que o polímero superabsorvente afetou a trabalhabilidade das misturas de concreto, a resistência à compressão aos 28 e aos 60 dias de cura e a retração. O polímero não interferiu no processo de hidratação do concreto, além disso, foi possível visualizar que o PSA não ficou aglomerado na microestrutura. Os resultados dos ensaios em algumas misturas mostraram melhora nas propriedades mecânicas por meio da cura interna com o polímero superabsorvente estudado.

Application of smart curing concept called internal curing (IC) is the most promising strategy for mitigating autogenous shrinkage and related early-age cracking in cement-based materials with low water-to-cement ratio. There are still many theoretical and practical questions that need to be answered before IC could become a standard method. Many of these questions concern the most appealing of water-regulating additives for IC called Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP). The clear linkage between SAP material properties, the moment of water release and the effect on autogenous shrinkage is still missing, which blocks formulating recommendations for use of particular potential IC agents in concrete construction. In this treatise various aspects that are decisive for effectiveness of IC in mitigating autogenous shrinkage were examined. The choice of materials was purposefully limited to two compositions of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), one fine-grained and one coarse-grained mixture, and one particular, in-depth characterized SAP. The objectives of examination which shaped the final experimental programme were: assessment of IC agent absorption capacity, specification of periods of water migration from fresh concrete mixture into SAP and from SAP back into hardening concrete, determination of effect of SAP addition on cement hydration, evaluation of IC influence on and determination of start of effective autogenous shrinkage and, finally, assessment of autogenous shrinkage with selfsame IC agent but for different matrices. Ideally, description of the mechanisms behind the action of IC at different stages of concrete life and reasoning of differences observed for the UHPCs under investigation had to be provided. First, the main components of the system – UHPC and SAP material – were characterized as to their suitability for IC application. Special attention was paid to the material properties which affect water transport. Usage of different testing methods was necessary here and included: testing with ESEM, FT-IR, tea-bag test, sol fraction content examination and X-ray computed tomography (for SAP) as well as air content measurement and various methods for characterization of the porosity and other features of the microstructure. The observed delay in the start of pozzolanic reactions in case of fine-grained UHPC was rather surprising, but, under consideration of porosity, shed new light on permeability of young UHPC. The work at hand revealed numerous methods that can be used for studying the absorption capacity of polymers, but hardly representative for the behaviour of those polymers within concrete matrix. Because of its general availability and the relatively robust testing procedure, it was decided to focus on possibilities and limitations of using tea-bag test for evaluation of absorption capacity of SAP. New interpretation of tea-bag test results was deduced which enabled assessment of maximum absorption capacity of SAP from measurement of consistency of concrete before and after modification with IC. Influence of IC on hydration process was revealed by using two non-destructive methods, in particular ultrasonic measurement and concrete temperature record. It could be shown that the ionic polymer exhibits complex effects including retardation and acceleration of individual chemical processes. Additionally, X-ray computed tomography (CT) and instrumented ring tests were performed in order to understand scientific significance of the characteristic event appearing during shrinkage measurements, taken as time-zero (= starting point for evaluation of autogenous shrinkage data). Linkage of time-zero with certain phenomenon, e.g., changes of the SAP particles volume or specific value of yield stress, but not with final set, was suggested for the future investigations. By using two setups based on corrugated tube protocol it was possible to register and compare autogenous shrinkage of both UHPCs without and with modification by IC. The effectiveness of IC was shown to be dependent on the matrix in which IC was implemented. This was related to the observed changes in pore percolation that resulted from different absorption behaviour of SAP in the two UHPCs under investigation. Furthermore, the effect of fibres on effectiveness of IC was discussed. Description and discussion of mechanisms behind IC was supported by measurement of capillary pressure, total shrinkage tests with simultaneous mass loss measurement, free autogenous shrinkage tests and the CT measurement. Valuable source of information was furthermore the in-depth literature review. The most appealing finding of the work and the biggest paradox revealed was high efficiency of IC in mitigating autogenous shrinkage and simultaneously appearance of stage where very clear reverse in mode of polymer volume change was observed. This suggests partial reabsorption of water initially released. This puts interpretation of operative shrinkage mechanisms and ones standing behind IC effect in a new perspective. / Die innere Nachbehandlung (Internal Curing – IC) ist die derzeit aussichtsreichste Strategie, um das in zementgebundenen Baustoffen mit niedrigen Wasser/Zement-Werten ausgeprägt auftretende autogene Schwinden wirksam zu verringern und die damit einhergehende Rissbildung in jungem Beton zu vermeiden. Vor einer breiten baupraktischen Anwendung des IC sind noch viele offene Fragen zu beantworten. Die meisten dieser Fragen betreffen die derzeit interessanteste Klasse von wasserregulierenden Stoffen für das IC – die superabsorbierenden Polymere (SAP). Von entscheidender Bedeutung ist hier der noch weitgehend unerforschte Zusammenhang zwischen den Materialeigenschaften der SAP, dem Zeitpunkt der Wasserabgabe und der Auswirkung auf das autogene Schwinden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden verschiedene Einflussfaktoren auf die Wirksamkeit von SAP zur Verringerung des autogenen Schwindens untersucht. Für die Experimente wurde ein feinkörniger und ein grobkörniger ultra-hochfester Beton (UHPC) sowie ein schon detailliert charakterisiertes SAP genutzt. Das experimentelle Programm wurde auf folgende Untersuchungsziele ausgerichtet: Absorptionsvermögen der SAP, Zeitfenster der Wassermigration aus dem Frischbeton in das SAP sowie vom SAP in den erhärtenden Beton, autogenes Schwindmaß sowie effektiver Beginn des autogenen Schwindens. Ziel der Arbeiten ist die Beschreibung der Mechanismen, die IC zugrundliegen – und dies zu verschiedenen Betonaltern und unter Berücksichtigung der an den untersuchten UHPC beobachteten Unterschiede. Bei der Charakterisierung der Hauptkomponenten des betrachteten Systems – UHPC und SAP – wurde auf die Materialeigenschaften fokussiert, die den Wassertransport beeinflussen. Dazu wurden u. a. folgende Untersuchungsmethoden angewendet: ESEM, FT-IR, Teebeuteltest, Sol-Fraction Test, Röntgentomographie (für SAP) sowie verschiedene Verfahren zur Charakterisierung der Poren im Beton. Im feinkörnigen UHPC wurde überraschenderweise ein verzögerter Beginn der puzzolanischen Reaktion festgestellt, der bei Berücksichtigung der vorliegenden Porosität zu einer Neubewertung der Permeabilität von UHPC in jungem Alter führte. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden verschiedene Methoden zur Beschreibung des Wasserabsorptionsvermögens von SAP benannt, deren Aussagekraft bei Anwendung dieser Polymere im Beton aber sehr eingeschränkt ist. Aufgrund seiner einfachen Verfügbarkeit und Robustheit wurde daher der Teebeutetest zur Bestimmung der Wasserabsorption des SAP genutzt. Die Wasserabsorption der SAP im Beton wurde durch Gegenüberstellung von Konsistenzmessungen am Beton vor und nach Zugabe von SAP und Ergebnissen der Teebeuteltest abgeschätzt. Der Einfluss des IC auf die Hydratation wurde zerstörungsfrei mit Ultraschall- und Betontemperaturmessungen erfasst. Auf dieser Grundlage konnten Hypothesen zu den komplexen Wechselwirkungen zwischen ionischem Polymer und der Beschleunigung oder Verzögerung einzelner chemischer Prozesse formuliert werden. Mit Hilfe von instrumentierten Ringversuchen und X-ray Computertomographie wurden die Auswirkungen des IC mit SAP auf das autogene Schwinden, den Aufbau von Zwangsspannungen bei behindertem Schwinden und Time-Zero diskutiert. Dabei konnte ein Zusammenhang zwischen Time-Zero und verschiedenen Phänomenen, wie z. B. Volumenänderung des SAP oder der Fließgrenze des erhärtenden Betons, nicht aber zum Ende des Erstarrens aufgezeigt werden. Das autogene Schwinden beider untersuchter UHPC (jeweils mit und ohne IC) wurde mit Hilfe von Corrugated Tube-Versuchen gemessen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass wie Wirksamkeit des IC von der Betonzusammensetzung sowie der in den UHPC infolge Wechselwirkungen mit den SAP verschieden ausgebildeten Porenstruktur der Matrix abhängt. Weiterhin konnte ein Einfluss von Faserzugaben auf die Wirksamkeit des IC gezeigt werden. Die Beschreibung und Diskussion der Mechanismen des IC wurde durch Messungen des Kapillardrucks, des Gesamtschwindens, des freien autogenen Schwindens, des Masseverlustes und Computertomographie unterstützt. Eine wichtige Erkenntnisquelle war zudem die umfangreich gesichtete und diskutierte Literatur. Das interessanteste und zugleich paradoxe Ergebnis der Untersuchungen ist die Tatsache, dass die bei Einsatz von SAP beobachtete Verringerung des autogenen Schwindens eindeutig mit einer zeitgleichen Umkehr der Volumenänderung der SAP einhergeht: die bis dahin dominierende Wasserabgabe geht in eine erneute Wasseraufnahme über. Dies stellt die Interpretation der Triebkräfte des Schwindens und die dem IC zugrundliegenden Mechanismen in einen neuen Zusammenhang.

Application of smart curing concept called internal curing (IC) is the most promising strategy for mitigating autogenous shrinkage and related early-age cracking in cement-based materials with low water-to-cement ratio. There are still many theoretical and practical questions that need to be answered before IC could become a standard method. Many of these questions concern the most appealing of water-regulating additives for IC called Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP). The clear linkage between SAP material properties, the moment of water release and the effect on autogenous shrinkage is still missing, which blocks formulating recommendations for use of particular potential IC agents in concrete construction. In this treatise various aspects that are decisive for effectiveness of IC in mitigating autogenous shrinkage were examined. The choice of materials was purposefully limited to two compositions of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), one fine-grained and one coarse-grained mixture, and one particular, in-depth characterized SAP. The objectives of examination which shaped the final experimental programme were: assessment of IC agent absorption capacity, specification of periods of water migration from fresh concrete mixture into SAP and from SAP back into hardening concrete, determination of effect of SAP addition on cement hydration, evaluation of IC influence on and determination of start of effective autogenous shrinkage and, finally, assessment of autogenous shrinkage with selfsame IC agent but for different matrices. Ideally, description of the mechanisms behind the action of IC at different stages of concrete life and reasoning of differences observed for the UHPCs under investigation had to be provided. First, the main components of the system – UHPC and SAP material – were characterized as to their suitability for IC application. Special attention was paid to the material properties which affect water transport. Usage of different testing methods was necessary here and included: testing with ESEM, FT-IR, tea-bag test, sol fraction content examination and X-ray computed tomography (for SAP) as well as air content measurement and various methods for characterization of the porosity and other features of the microstructure. The observed delay in the start of pozzolanic reactions in case of fine-grained UHPC was rather surprising, but, under consideration of porosity, shed new light on permeability of young UHPC. The work at hand revealed numerous methods that can be used for studying the absorption capacity of polymers, but hardly representative for the behaviour of those polymers within concrete matrix. Because of its general availability and the relatively robust testing procedure, it was decided to focus on possibilities and limitations of using tea-bag test for evaluation of absorption capacity of SAP. New interpretation of tea-bag test results was deduced which enabled assessment of maximum absorption capacity of SAP from measurement of consistency of concrete before and after modification with IC. Influence of IC on hydration process was revealed by using two non-destructive methods, in particular ultrasonic measurement and concrete temperature record. It could be shown that the ionic polymer exhibits complex effects including retardation and acceleration of individual chemical processes. Additionally, X-ray computed tomography (CT) and instrumented ring tests were performed in order to understand scientific significance of the characteristic event appearing during shrinkage measurements, taken as time-zero (= starting point for evaluation of autogenous shrinkage data). Linkage of time-zero with certain phenomenon, e.g., changes of the SAP particles volume or specific value of yield stress, but not with final set, was suggested for the future investigations. By using two setups based on corrugated tube protocol it was possible to register and compare autogenous shrinkage of both UHPCs without and with modification by IC. The effectiveness of IC was shown to be dependent on the matrix in which IC was implemented. This was related to the observed changes in pore percolation that resulted from different absorption behaviour of SAP in the two UHPCs under investigation. Furthermore, the effect of fibres on effectiveness of IC was discussed. Description and discussion of mechanisms behind IC was supported by measurement of capillary pressure, total shrinkage tests with simultaneous mass loss measurement, free autogenous shrinkage tests and the CT measurement. Valuable source of information was furthermore the in-depth literature review. The most appealing finding of the work and the biggest paradox revealed was high efficiency of IC in mitigating autogenous shrinkage and simultaneously appearance of stage where very clear reverse in mode of polymer volume change was observed. This suggests partial reabsorption of water initially released. This puts interpretation of operative shrinkage mechanisms and ones standing behind IC effect in a new perspective. / Die innere Nachbehandlung (Internal Curing – IC) ist die derzeit aussichtsreichste Strategie, um das in zementgebundenen Baustoffen mit niedrigen Wasser/Zement-Werten ausgeprägt auftretende autogene Schwinden wirksam zu verringern und die damit einhergehende Rissbildung in jungem Beton zu vermeiden. Vor einer breiten baupraktischen Anwendung des IC sind noch viele offene Fragen zu beantworten. Die meisten dieser Fragen betreffen die derzeit interessanteste Klasse von wasserregulierenden Stoffen für das IC – die superabsorbierenden Polymere (SAP). Von entscheidender Bedeutung ist hier der noch weitgehend unerforschte Zusammenhang zwischen den Materialeigenschaften der SAP, dem Zeitpunkt der Wasserabgabe und der Auswirkung auf das autogene Schwinden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden verschiedene Einflussfaktoren auf die Wirksamkeit von SAP zur Verringerung des autogenen Schwindens untersucht. Für die Experimente wurde ein feinkörniger und ein grobkörniger ultra-hochfester Beton (UHPC) sowie ein schon detailliert charakterisiertes SAP genutzt. Das experimentelle Programm wurde auf folgende Untersuchungsziele ausgerichtet: Absorptionsvermögen der SAP, Zeitfenster der Wassermigration aus dem Frischbeton in das SAP sowie vom SAP in den erhärtenden Beton, autogenes Schwindmaß sowie effektiver Beginn des autogenen Schwindens. Ziel der Arbeiten ist die Beschreibung der Mechanismen, die IC zugrundliegen – und dies zu verschiedenen Betonaltern und unter Berücksichtigung der an den untersuchten UHPC beobachteten Unterschiede. Bei der Charakterisierung der Hauptkomponenten des betrachteten Systems – UHPC und SAP – wurde auf die Materialeigenschaften fokussiert, die den Wassertransport beeinflussen. Dazu wurden u. a. folgende Untersuchungsmethoden angewendet: ESEM, FT-IR, Teebeuteltest, Sol-Fraction Test, Röntgentomographie (für SAP) sowie verschiedene Verfahren zur Charakterisierung der Poren im Beton. Im feinkörnigen UHPC wurde überraschenderweise ein verzögerter Beginn der puzzolanischen Reaktion festgestellt, der bei Berücksichtigung der vorliegenden Porosität zu einer Neubewertung der Permeabilität von UHPC in jungem Alter führte. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden verschiedene Methoden zur Beschreibung des Wasserabsorptionsvermögens von SAP benannt, deren Aussagekraft bei Anwendung dieser Polymere im Beton aber sehr eingeschränkt ist. Aufgrund seiner einfachen Verfügbarkeit und Robustheit wurde daher der Teebeutetest zur Bestimmung der Wasserabsorption des SAP genutzt. Die Wasserabsorption der SAP im Beton wurde durch Gegenüberstellung von Konsistenzmessungen am Beton vor und nach Zugabe von SAP und Ergebnissen der Teebeuteltest abgeschätzt. Der Einfluss des IC auf die Hydratation wurde zerstörungsfrei mit Ultraschall- und Betontemperaturmessungen erfasst. Auf dieser Grundlage konnten Hypothesen zu den komplexen Wechselwirkungen zwischen ionischem Polymer und der Beschleunigung oder Verzögerung einzelner chemischer Prozesse formuliert werden. Mit Hilfe von instrumentierten Ringversuchen und X-ray Computertomographie wurden die Auswirkungen des IC mit SAP auf das autogene Schwinden, den Aufbau von Zwangsspannungen bei behindertem Schwinden und Time-Zero diskutiert. Dabei konnte ein Zusammenhang zwischen Time-Zero und verschiedenen Phänomenen, wie z. B. Volumenänderung des SAP oder der Fließgrenze des erhärtenden Betons, nicht aber zum Ende des Erstarrens aufgezeigt werden. Das autogene Schwinden beider untersuchter UHPC (jeweils mit und ohne IC) wurde mit Hilfe von Corrugated Tube-Versuchen gemessen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass wie Wirksamkeit des IC von der Betonzusammensetzung sowie der in den UHPC infolge Wechselwirkungen mit den SAP verschieden ausgebildeten Porenstruktur der Matrix abhängt. Weiterhin konnte ein Einfluss von Faserzugaben auf die Wirksamkeit des IC gezeigt werden. Die Beschreibung und Diskussion der Mechanismen des IC wurde durch Messungen des Kapillardrucks, des Gesamtschwindens, des freien autogenen Schwindens, des Masseverlustes und Computertomographie unterstützt. Eine wichtige Erkenntnisquelle war zudem die umfangreich gesichtete und diskutierte Literatur. Das interessanteste und zugleich paradoxe Ergebnis der Untersuchungen ist die Tatsache, dass die bei Einsatz von SAP beobachtete Verringerung des autogenen Schwindens eindeutig mit einer zeitgleichen Umkehr der Volumenänderung der SAP einhergeht: die bis dahin dominierende Wasserabgabe geht in eine erneute Wasseraufnahme über. Dies stellt die Interpretation der Triebkräfte des Schwindens und die dem IC zugrundliegenden Mechanismen in einen neuen Zusammenhang.

<p>Hydrated portland cement provides the solid adhesive matrix necessary to bind aggregate (sand and gravel) into concrete. The hydration reaction requires water, however the products of the reaction limit further diffusion of water to unreacted cement. Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) hydrogel particles absorb mixing water, then subsequently desorb when the relative humidity drops, serving as internal water reservoirs within the cement matrix to shorten diffusion distances and promote the hydration reaction in a process called internal curing. Internally cured cementitious mixtures exhibit an increased degree of hydration and reduced shrinkage and cracking, which can increase concrete service life. Increased service life can, in turn, reduce overall demand for portland cement production, thereby lowering CO2 emissions.</p> <p>This dissertation addresses practical implementation questions key to the translation of SAP hydrogel internal curing technology to from the benchtop to the field in transportation applications, including: (1) What effects do mix design adjustments made to increase mixture flow when using SAP have on cementitious mixture properties? and (2) What effect do cementitious binder characteristics have on SAP performance?</p> <p>The addition of SAP to a cementitious mixture changes the mixture’s flow behavior. Flow behavior is an important aspect of concrete workability and sufficient flow is necessary to place well consolidated and molded samples. Often, additional water is added to mixtures using SAP to account for the absorbed water, however cementitious mixture workability is often tuned using high range water reducing admixtures (e.g., polycarboxylate ester-based dispersants). Fresh and hardened properties of mortars were characterized with respect to flow modification method (using the mortar flow table test; compressive strength at 3, 7, and 28 days; flexural strength at 7 and 28 days; and microstructural characterization of 28-day mortars). At typical doses, it was found that the addition of extra water lowers the resulting compressive and flexural strength, while high range water reducing admixtures administered at doses to achieve sufficient mortar flow did not compromise compressive or flexural strength.</p> <p>The SAPs used in cement are generally poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid) hydrogels and are not chemically inert in high ionic-load environments, such as cement mixtures. The behavior of an industrial SAP formulation with characterized across five different cement binder compositions with respect the cement hydration reaction (using isothermal calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis of hydration product fraction, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) microstructural analysis), the absorption behavior of the SAP, and the fresh and hardened properties of SAP-cement composites (mortar flow and compressive and flexural strength). The change in properties induced by the addition of SAP was similar across ASTM Type I cements from three manufacturing sources, suggesting that SAP internal curing can be implemented predictably over time and geography. Excitingly, in analysis of cement systems meeting different ASTM standards (Type III and Type I with 30% replacement by mass with ground blast furnace slag), synergistic and mitigating reaction behaviors were observed, respectively, in Type III and slag cement, suggesting that further study of SAP with these cement systems could be of particular interest.</p>