In recent decades, much research has investigated the efficiency of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in improving the thermal performance of buildings and pavements. In buildings, increasing the thermal inertia of structural elements by incorporating PCMs decreases the energy required to keep the inside temperature in the comfort range. In concrete pavements, using PCMs decreases the number of freeze/thaw cycles experienced by the pavement and thus increases service life. However, PCMs cannot be added to cementitious binders directly, because they interfere with the hydration reactions between cement and water that produce strength-bearing phases. Therefore different carriers have been proposed to indirectly incorporate PCMs in cementitious materials. Lightweight Aggregate (LWA) is one of the materials that has been proposed as PCM carrier agent. However, it was not studied in depth before. Various experiments were conducted to investigate the problems associated with incorporating LWA presoaked in PCM in cementitious media. The results show that a portion of PCM leaks out of the LWA’s structure and subsequently affects different chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of the binder. In addition, the applicability of Rice Husk Ash (RHA), a common material never before used to encapsulate PCM, as a PCM carrier agent was investigated. The results show that RHA can absorb and contain liquids in its porous structure; and regarding its compatibility with the cementitious media, it can be used as PCM carrier. Different computational simulations using Typical Meteorological Year data were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of PCMs in improving the thermal performance of buildings. Utilizing PCM-incorporated gypsum boards was shown to be a promising strategy to achieve the governmental plans of “Zero Net Energy� buildings. The results show that using a PCM with a melting point near the occupant comfort zone delays and reduces the inside peak temperature, increases the duration of time during which the inside temperature stays in the comfort zone, and decreases the cost and energy required by HVAC system to keep the inside temperature in this range. However, PCMs’ efficiency is completely dependent on the input temperature profile.

Este trabalho tem por objetivo o estudo da viabilidade da utilização de cerâmica vermelha para a confecção de agregados leves de argila calcinada para utilização em concretos estruturais. Inicialmente, foram coletadas amostras de solo de cinco diferentes empresas produtoras de cerâmica vermelha do estado de São Paulo. As massas cerâmicas foram caracterizadas por meio das técnicas de limites de liquidez (LL) e plasticidade (LP), análise granulométrica, análise química e difração de raios X (DRX). Os corpos de prova confeccionados com essas massas cerâmicas, queimados à temperatura de 900ºC, foram caracterizados por meio da avaliação da retração linear, absorção de água, porosidade aparente, massa específica aparente, expansão por umidade e resistência à compressão. Após a caracterização dos corpos de prova de cerâmica vermelha, foram escolhidas duas amostras para a confecção dos agregados leves de argila calcinada. Em seguida, foram confeccionados corpos de prova de concreto com agregados leves de argila calcinada, argila expandida e brita. Os corpos de prova de concreto leve foram caracterizados pelos ensaios de slump, massa específica fresca, teor de ar incorporado, resistência à compressão, resistência à tração, módulo de deformação, retração por secagem, absorção de água, índice de vazios e massa específica aparente. Os resultados desta pesquisa indicaram a viabilidade da produção de agregados leves de argila calcinada para utilização em concretos e os valores da massa específica (1.555 a 1.785 kg/m³) e da resistência à compressão (18,0 a 55,8 MPa) apresentaram-se em um patamar intermediário entre os valores observados para concretos com argila expandida e com basalto. / This paper aims the study the viability of using red ceramic to make calcined clay lightweight aggregates in order to use in structural concrete. At first, soil sample were collected from five different red ceramic producing companies from São Paulo State. Liquid and plastic techniques, particle size analysis, chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize ceramic masses. The specimens made from these ceramic masses, burned at the temperature of 900ºC, were characterized by evaluating of linear shrinkage, water absorption, apparent porosity, specific mass, moisture expansion and compressive strength. After the red ceramic specimens characterization, two samples were chosen for the manufacture of calcined clay lightweight aggregates. After that, concrete specimens with calcined clay lightweight aggregate, expanded clay and basalt were made. These concrete specimens were characterized by slump test, fresh specific mass, incorporated air content, compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, water absorption, voids and bulk density. Results of this research indicated the viability of production of calcined clay lightweight aggregate for concrete utilization and the specific mass values (1.555 and 1.785 Kg/m³) and the compressive strength values (18,0 to 55,8 MPa) presented at a intermediated level between those observed for the expanded clay and basalt.

This research focused on designing a grout mixture using lightweight aggregate that achieves the minimum 28-day compressive strength required for normal-weight grout, 2000 psi. This research specifically studied the effects of aggregate proportion, slump, and aggregate soaking on the compressive strength of the mixture. The variable ranges investigated were 3-4.75 parts aggregate to cement volumetrically, 8-11 in. slump, and 0 and 2 cycles of soaking. The statistical model developed to analyze the significance of variable effects included a three-way interaction between the explanatory variables. All three explanatory variables had a statistically significant effect on the grout compressive strength, but the effect of soaking was minimal and decreased as aggregate proportion decreased. This research also showed that lightweight grout, when prepared using aggregate proportion and slumps within the ranges suggested in American Society for Testing and Materials C476, reaches the required minimum 28-day compressive strength with a factor of safety of at least 2.7.

This multi-scale investigation aimed to provide new knowledge and understanding of creep and shrinkage of high performance lightweight concrete (HPLC) by assessing prestress losses in HPLC prestressed members in a large-scale study; by quantifying the effect of the constituent materials and external conditions on creep and shrinkage in a medium-scale study; and by improving the fundamental understanding of creep and shrinkage in a small-scale study. Creep plus shrinkage prestress losses were between two and eight times lower than those estimated for the design standards and approximately 50% of those measured in similar strength normal weight high performance concrete girders. The lower creep and shrinkage exhibited by HPLC was found to be caused by a synergy between the pre-soaked lightweight aggregate and the low water-to-cementitious material ratio matrix. That is, the water contained in the lightweight aggregate contributes to enhance hydration by providing an internal moist curing. The water in the aggregate also contributes to maintain a high internal relative humidity which reduces or eliminates autogenous shrinkage. This higher internal relative humidity also reduces creep by preventing load-induced water migration. Finally, lightweight aggregate exhibits a better elastic compatibility with the paste than normal weight aggregate. This improved elastic matching and the enhanced hydration are believed to reduce peak deformations at the ITZ which further decreases creep and shrinkage.

A total of 47 lightweight aggregate concrete columns were constructed from four different types of lightweight aggregate and provided with different quantities of transverse reinforcement. The specimens were tested under a monotonically increasing level of compressive axial load. The rate of load application was varied from pseudo-static to the rate of dynamic loading expected during a major seismic excitation. The results from the experimental testing of the column members were used to derive a theoretical stress-strain model to predict the behaviour of lightweight aggregate concrete members under imposed loads. The stress-strain model was derived to predict the response of both lightweight aggregate and conventional weight concretes with compressive strengths up to and including 100 MPa. The model was calibrate against the experimental results obtained in this study and previously tested lightweight aggregate and conventional weight concrete columns. A series of pseudo-cyclic moment-curvature analyse were undertaking using the derived stress-strain model, to predict the behaviour of the lightweight aggregate concrete members when subjected to axial load and flexure. The results were compared to the confinement requirements in the potential plastic hinge regions of column elements required by the New Zealand Concrete Structures Standard, NZS3101: 1995. It was determined that the confinement requirements of NZS3101: 1995 were could be used to accurately determine the required quantity of transverse reinforcement for lightweight aggregate concrete members with a concrete density greater than 1700 kg/m3. A total of four lightweight aggregate concrete beam column subassemblies were constructed and tested under reversed cyclic lateral loading. The results from the specimen indicate that cyclic behaviour of the lightweight aggregate concrete was similar to conventional weight concrete. However the bond capacity between the longitudinal reinforcement and the surrounding concrete was weaker than previously tested conventional weight concrete members.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-01-11T16:56:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 jonatajeffersonandrade.pdf: 3871423 bytes, checksum: e67d44781c780adff8ab0f791d6a9f1c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-01-23T13:43:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 jonatajeffersonandrade.pdf: 3871423 bytes, checksum: e67d44781c780adff8ab0f791d6a9f1c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-23T13:43:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 jonatajeffersonandrade.pdf: 3871423 bytes, checksum: e67d44781c780adff8ab0f791d6a9f1c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-27 / No concreto de agregado leve, a resistência à compressão e o módulo de elasticidade são as propriedades mecânicas mais importantes e consequentemente as mais comumente analisadas. A relação entre os componentes do concreto de agregado leve e suas propriedades mecânicas é altamente não linear, e o estabelecimento de um modelo de previsão abrangente de tais características é usualmente problemático. Existem trabalhos que buscam encontrar essa relação de formas empíricas. Há também trabalhos que buscam aplicar técnicas de inteligência computacional para prever essas propriedades a partir dos componentes do concreto. Prever com precisão as propriedades mecânicas do concreto de agregado leve é um problema crítico em projetos de engenharia que utilizam esse material. O objetivo desta dissertação é avaliar o desempenho de diferentes métodos de inteligência computacional para prever a módulo de elasticidade e a resistência à compressão aos 28 dias de concretos de agregados leves em função do fator água/cimento, volume de agregado leve, quantidade de cimento e densidade do agregado leve. Para a escolha da melhor configuração de cada método, foi definida uma metodologia utilizando o algoritmo de otimização PSO (Particle Swarm Optmization). Por fim, é verificada a capacidade de generalização dos métodos através do processo de validação cruzada de modo a encontrar o método que apresenta o melhor desempenho na aproximação das duas propriedades mecânicas. / In lightweight aggregate concrete, the compressive strength, the elastic modulus and specific weight are the most important properties and consequently the most commonly analyzed. The relationship between lightweight aggregate concrete components and their mechanical properties is highly nonlinear, and establishing a comprehensive predictive model of such characteristics is usually problematic. There are works that seek to find this relation of empirical forms. There are also works that seek to apply computational intelligence techniques to predict these properties from the concrete components. Accurately predicting the mechanical properties of lightweight aggregate concrete is a critical problem in engineering projects that use this material. The objective of this dissertation is to evaluate the performance of different computational intelligence methods to predict the elastic modulus and the compressive strength at 28 days of lightweight aggregates concrete as a function of water/cement factor, lightweight aggregate volume, cement quantity and density of the lightweight aggregate. In order to choose the best configuration of each method, a methodology was defined using the Particle Swarm Optmization (PSO) algorithm. Finally, the generalization of the methods through the cross validation process is verified in order to find the method that presents the best performance in the approximation of the two mechanical properties.

Este trabalho tem por objetivo o estudo da viabilidade da utilização de cerâmica vermelha para a confecção de agregados leves de argila calcinada para utilização em concretos estruturais. Inicialmente, foram coletadas amostras de solo de cinco diferentes empresas produtoras de cerâmica vermelha do estado de São Paulo. As massas cerâmicas foram caracterizadas por meio das técnicas de limites de liquidez (LL) e plasticidade (LP), análise granulométrica, análise química e difração de raios X (DRX). Os corpos de prova confeccionados com essas massas cerâmicas, queimados à temperatura de 900ºC, foram caracterizados por meio da avaliação da retração linear, absorção de água, porosidade aparente, massa específica aparente, expansão por umidade e resistência à compressão. Após a caracterização dos corpos de prova de cerâmica vermelha, foram escolhidas duas amostras para a confecção dos agregados leves de argila calcinada. Em seguida, foram confeccionados corpos de prova de concreto com agregados leves de argila calcinada, argila expandida e brita. Os corpos de prova de concreto leve foram caracterizados pelos ensaios de slump, massa específica fresca, teor de ar incorporado, resistência à compressão, resistência à tração, módulo de deformação, retração por secagem, absorção de água, índice de vazios e massa específica aparente. Os resultados desta pesquisa indicaram a viabilidade da produção de agregados leves de argila calcinada para utilização em concretos e os valores da massa específica (1.555 a 1.785 kg/m³) e da resistência à compressão (18,0 a 55,8 MPa) apresentaram-se em um patamar intermediário entre os valores observados para concretos com argila expandida e com basalto. / This paper aims the study the viability of using red ceramic to make calcined clay lightweight aggregates in order to use in structural concrete. At first, soil sample were collected from five different red ceramic producing companies from São Paulo State. Liquid and plastic techniques, particle size analysis, chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize ceramic masses. The specimens made from these ceramic masses, burned at the temperature of 900ºC, were characterized by evaluating of linear shrinkage, water absorption, apparent porosity, specific mass, moisture expansion and compressive strength. After the red ceramic specimens characterization, two samples were chosen for the manufacture of calcined clay lightweight aggregates. After that, concrete specimens with calcined clay lightweight aggregate, expanded clay and basalt were made. These concrete specimens were characterized by slump test, fresh specific mass, incorporated air content, compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, water absorption, voids and bulk density. Results of this research indicated the viability of production of calcined clay lightweight aggregate for concrete utilization and the specific mass values (1.555 and 1.785 Kg/m³) and the compressive strength values (18,0 to 55,8 MPa) presented at a intermediated level between those observed for the expanded clay and basalt.

In South Africa, as much as 33 million tons of ash, a waste product of burning coal, are produced per year. Of the total ash produced, just over 8% is sold for utilisation, the remainder of which is disposed of in landfills or ash lagoons. Countries like the UK, USA, Germany, Poland and Russia are producing Lightweight Aggregates (LWAs) commercially by using fly ash and clay, however, this technology is not available in many developing countries. The opportunity to utilise the fly ash produced in South Africa for the production of coarse LWA for use in structural concrete has therefore been identified and investigated in this dissertation. This dissertation consists of two phases, firstly to determine a suitable method for the manufacture of a high quality LWA, and secondly to determine the manufactured aggregate’s performance and potential for use in structural concrete. In the first phase, different LWA batches were produced using fly ash as the main constituent and kaolin clay, in contents of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% by mass, as a binder. Green aggregate particles were produced in a disc granulator and then hardened using sintering at 1200°C for one hour. It was found that the LWA batch containing 20% kaolin produced LWA with the most suitable mechanical properties for use in concrete, and was therefore mass produced for further aggregate testing and for the production of concrete specimens for concrete testing. The final LWA produced was found to have an apparent density of 1600 kg/m3 and 24 hour water absorption of 12% by mass. The produced LWA was also found to have an Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV) and 10% FACT of 24.4% and 185 kN, respectively, which indicated that it would be suitable for use in High Strength Concrete (HSC). The sintering process was found to induce liquid phase sintering and the formation of new phases, mainly mullite, which contributed to the relatively high strengths of the aggregates. In the second phase of this dissertation, the manufactured LWA was then used to produce HSC and Normal Strength Concrete (NSC) specimens for concrete testing, which were compared to control mixes made with normal weight dolomite aggregate. In the HSC testing, concrete with a density of 2300 kg/m3 and compressive strength of 90 MPa was produced with the LWA. In HSC, it was found that internal curing was improved when up to 50% of the normal weight coarse aggregate was replaced by saturated LWA for this specific concrete mix. By using different stiffness relationship models between the concrete constituents, it was found that the manufactured LWA modulus of elasticity was between 8-23 GPa, and had a compressive strength of between 49-60 MPa. The Interface Transition Zone (ITZ) in concrete produced with the LWA was found to be stronger than the LWA as a result of the impregnation of the cement paste within the aggregate, and that the LWA was reactive in an alkaline environment. This resulted in an improved early age strength development, as well as caused the concrete failure surface to occur through the LWA particles rather than at the ITZ. Finally, Lightweight Concrete (LWC), having a dry density below 2000 kg/m3, was produced with the manufactured LWA. The LWC, produced with a water-to-cement ratio of 0.75, 28 day compressive strength of 24 MPa, modulus of elasticity of 21 GPa and dry density of 1800 kg/m3, was found to be suitable for use as structural concrete when assessed in terms of EN 1992-1-1 (2004). / Dissertation (MEng (Structural Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Civil Engineering / MEng (Structural Engineering) / Restricted

In dieser Arbeit wird das Tragverhalten von Leichtbeton unter mehraxialer Druckbeanspruchung behandelt. Zu diesem Zweck wurden zahlreiche Versuche mit verschiedenen Hochleistungsleichtbetonen in einer Triaxial-Prüfmaschine durchgeführt. Als Leichtzuschlag wurde Blähton verwendet. Die hergestellten Betone können in Festigkeitsklassen zwischen LC 35/38 und LC 80/88 eingeordnet werden. Bei den Hauptversuchen wurden vor allem die Bruchbilder, die Bruchfestigkeiten und die Prüfkörperverformungen registriert und analysiert. Im Rahmen der Auswertung der Versuche werden die Einflüsse von Matrix und Art des Leichtzuschlages auf die Bruchwerte und auf das Ver-formungsverhalten der Leichtbetone herausgearbeitet. Parallelen und Unterschiede zu bekannten Forschungsergebnissen an Leichtbetonen und zu Beton mit Normalzuschlägen werden aufgezeigt. Für die mathematische Beschreibung der Bruchwerte werden Näherungsfunktionen für zweiaxiale und für dreiaxiale Druckspannungskombinationen vorgeschlagen. / In this research the behaviour of lightweight concrete under multiaxial compression was investigated. Therefore more than 500 single tests were performed in a triaxial testing machine. The high performance lightweight aggregate concretes can be classified in Strength classes between LC 35/38 and LC 80/88. The main focuses in the evaluation of the experiments were the crack pattern, the fracture strength and the deformations. Especially the influences of type of matrix and type of lightweight aggregate on the fracture values and on the deformation behaviour of lightweight were identified. Parallels and differences to known research on lightweight concretes and concrete with normal aggregates were identified. For the mathematical description of the ultimate loads approximations were proposed for biaxial and triaxial compressive stress combinations.

In dieser Arbeit wird das Tragverhalten von Leichtbeton unter mehraxialer Druckbeanspruchung behandelt. Zu diesem Zweck wurden zahlreiche Versuche mit verschiedenen Hochleistungsleichtbetonen in einer Triaxial-Prüfmaschine durchgeführt. Als Leichtzuschlag wurde Blähton verwendet. Die hergestellten Betone können in Festigkeitsklassen zwischen LC 35/38 und LC 80/88 eingeordnet werden. Bei den Hauptversuchen wurden vor allem die Bruchbilder, die Bruchfestigkeiten und die Prüfkörperverformungen registriert und analysiert. Im Rahmen der Auswertung der Versuche werden die Einflüsse von Matrix und Art des Leichtzuschlages auf die Bruchwerte und auf das Ver-formungsverhalten der Leichtbetone herausgearbeitet. Parallelen und Unterschiede zu bekannten Forschungsergebnissen an Leichtbetonen und zu Beton mit Normalzuschlägen werden aufgezeigt. Für die mathematische Beschreibung der Bruchwerte werden Näherungsfunktionen für zweiaxiale und für dreiaxiale Druckspannungskombinationen vorgeschlagen. / In this research the behaviour of lightweight concrete under multiaxial compression was investigated. Therefore more than 500 single tests were performed in a triaxial testing machine. The high performance lightweight aggregate concretes can be classified in Strength classes between LC 35/38 and LC 80/88. The main focuses in the evaluation of the experiments were the crack pattern, the fracture strength and the deformations. Especially the influences of type of matrix and type of lightweight aggregate on the fracture values and on the deformation behaviour of lightweight were identified. Parallels and differences to known research on lightweight concretes and concrete with normal aggregates were identified. For the mathematical description of the ultimate loads approximations were proposed for biaxial and triaxial compressive stress combinations.