Materiais aplicados na construção civil são importantes para fornecer segurança e conforto às pessoas. Quanto mais adequadas as propriedades térmicas, menos energia é necessária para aquecer ou resfriar uma área construída. A NBR 15575:2013 - Desempenho de Edificações Habitacionais, padronizou desempenhos térmicos para construções. Os blocos estruturais cerâmicos atendem o padrão mínimo, porém acredita-se que seu desempenho possa ser melhorado utilizando materiais de características isolantes dentro de seus furos verticais. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é investigar compósitos de matriz cimentícia com agregados leves para o aprimoramento térmico de blocos estruturais cerâmicos. Para o estudo, quatro corpos de prova foram produzidos preenchendo o vazado dos blocos com compósitos de matriz cimentícia utilizando 80% agregados leves (argila expandida, vermiculita, poliestireno expandido (EPS) e perlita expandida), 20% de cimento, além de uma amostra preenchida com graute estrutural que é comumente utilizado em edificações de alvenaria estrutural. Também foram produzidos corpos de prova com os compósitos, para a análise de massa específica, microscopia, resistência à compressão, absorção de água e desempenho térmico medido por termografia. Nos blocos, analisou-se massa final preenchido, absorção de água e desempenho térmico. No estudo termográfico, os blocos preenchidos foram comparados ao bloco cerâmico vazado padrão. Concluiu-se que o preenchimento dos vazados dos blocos com todos os compósitos leves e com o graute estrutural proporcionou um desempenho térmico melhor que o do bloco padrão, se destacando o EPS como melhor desempenho. O desempenho térmico dos prismas de compósitos confirmou o que foi observado nos corpos de prova de blocos. Assim foram feitos novos corpos de prova maximizando o teor de EPS para 85% e 90%. A análise térmica destas amostras apresentou melhor resultado para EPS 90%. O aumento do teor de EPS diminuiu a resistência à compressão e aumentou a absorção de água, porém, como o foco é o desempenho térmico e o bloco preenchido com o compósito EPS (90%) atende as características normativas, esta pode ser uma solução interessante. / Materials applied in civil construction are important to provide security and comfort to people. The more appropriate the thermal properties are, the less energy it is necessary to provide heat or cold to a constructed area. The NBR 15575:2013 standard, which deals with the Performance of Residential Constructions, has standardized thermal performances for buildings. Structural ceramic blocks meet the minimum standard, but it is believed that their performance can be improved by means of materials with isolating characteristics within their vertical holes. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate cementitious matrix composites with lightweight aggregates for thermal improvement of ceramic structural blocks. For the study, four specimens were produced by filling the hollow spaces of the blocks with cementitious matrix composites using 80% of lightweight aggregates (expanded clay, vermiculite, expanded polystyrene – EPS –, and expanded perlite), and 20% of cement. These were compared to a sample filled with structural grout, which is commonly used in structural masonry buildings. Specimens were also produced with the composites for specific mass analysis, microscopy, compression resistance, water absorption and thermal performance measured by thermography. In the blocks, the final, filled weight was analyzed, as well as water absorption and thermal performance. In the thermographic study, the filled blocks were compared to standard ceramic hollow blocks. It was concluded that filling the hollow spaces of the blocks with all the lightweight composites and structural grout provided a better thermal performance than that of standard blocks, highlighting EPS as having the best performance. Thermal performance of the composite prisms confirms what was observed in the block specimens. Thus, new specimens were made maximizing the EPS content to 85% and 90%. Thermal analysis of these samples presented better results for EPS 90%. The increase in the EPS content decreased compression resistance and increased water absorption. However, as the focus is thermal performance and as the block filled with EPS composite (90%) meets the requirements of the standard, this may be an interesting solution.

The rheological behavior analysis of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) is key to understand how the different preparation techniques affect the composite mechanical performance. However, the rheological assessment of reinforced materials becomes more complex since fibers usually cause flow disturbances not found in nonreinforced cementitious materials. Besides that, simple workability measurement techniques are not able to fully understand the composite behavior in the fresh state creating the need for more precise techniques to be employed. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the ECC rheological behavior using different rheometer devices (Vane system and Ball measuring system) and investigate the influence of mixing processes on the fiber homogenization and rheological behavior. Additionally to this, a link between rheological behavior and mechanical performance was investigated. In the end, the ball measuring system revealed to be more efficient than the vane system when evaluating the composite rheological behavior. In addition, the mixing process influenced the rheological behavior of PVA-ECC especially regarding the moment which fibers are added. Fiber addition after mortar mixture improved fibers homogenization and reduced mixing energy by around 8%. Moreover, a correlation between rheological and mechanical properties showed that a 2-times variation in either yield stress or viscosity can lead to a variation of more than 50% in flexural strength without significantly affecting the composite compressive strength. It was also found that the lower the composite yield stress and viscosity the higher was its ultimate strain. To conclude, all those parameters contributed to understand the composite rheological behavior and globally optimize its performance. / Sem resumo

Os métodos de ensaio editados pela ABNT para caracterizar argamassas colantes foram um avanço em termos de normalização do produto e ajudaram a melhorar sua qualidade. Entretanto, os métodos apresentam dispersão expressivamente elevada e especificam condições de ensaios que não condizem com a realidade das condições de campo. Em vista dessas discrepâncias, o presente trabalho analisa a normalização nacional juntamente com a normalização dos principais organismos internacionais. Para avaliar os principais requisitos de qualidade, foram estudadas dez amostras comerciais de argamassa colante. Através da análise dos resultados obtidos são propostas alterações nos métodos de ensaio da normalização da ABNT, como o deslizamento, tempo em aberto teórico e resistência de aderência à tração. Os pontos principais visam à alteração de critérios de qualidade e a condição ambiental de laboratório. Entre as propostas estão: 1) especificação do ensaio deslizamento apenas para produtos com esse propósito, 2) a eliminação do requisito resistência de aderência à tração na condição de cura em estufa, 3) novo critério para o requisito de resistência de aderência à tração na condição de cura submersa, 4) especificação de nova faixa de temperatura para a condição de clima quente na avaliação do tempo em aberto teórico e 5) inclusão do método de ensaio de tempo em aberto com a ruptura da película superficial. Além disso, são propostas a incorporação de métodos de ensaios utilizados para avaliação da uniformidade da argamassa durante a produção como: a perda de massa, resíduo em peneira e densidade de massa aparente. Também são propostas alterações na especificação e caracterização do substrato-padrão utilizados nos ensaios. / The Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas essay methods to characterize cementitious adhesives for tiles represented an advance in terms of standardization of the product and helped to improve its quality. However, the methods present high dispersion of results and specify essay conditions that do not correspond to the site real conditions. In view of these discrepancies, the present work brings out an analysis of the national standards and a comparison to the main international standards. To check for the main quality requirements, a study was carried out with ten samples of comercial cimentitious adhesives for tiles. Through analysis of the results, changes in the ABNT essay methods are proposed as to slip, open time and tensile adhesion strength. The main issues aim at changing the performance criteria and the laboratory ambient conditions. Among the proposals are the following: 1) specification of essay slip only for products with this purpose, 2) the elimination of heat curing in the tensile adhesion strength essay, 3) new criterion for water immersion curing, a new band of temperature for the warm climate condition in the evaluation of theoretical open time and 5) the inclusion of an open time essay method with rupture of the superficial film. Moreover, it is proposed essay methods for evaluation of the uniformity of the mortar during its production process like mass loss, sieve residue and apparent mass density. Also, changes in the specification and characterization of the concrete slab used in essays are proposed.

Insitu cementitious stabilisation is an economical, environmentally sustainable and socially advantageous means of rehabilitating pavements. With the recent availability of a wide range of binders and advanced construction equipment, the characterisation of cementitiously stabilised pavement materials has become the focus of further advancement of this technology. Australian practice has moved towards the use of Indirect Diametric Tensile (IDT) methods for the characterisation of these materials. A draft protocol for the IDT test has been prepared and specifies samples to be compacted by gyratory compactor. This procedure provides for both monotonic and repeated load testing, which aims to measure the material???s strength, modulus and fatigue life. A range of host materials, including a new crushed rock and a reclaimed existing pavement base course, were assessed when stabilised with a General Purpose cement binder as well as with a slag-lime blended binder. Materials were assess for their inherent material properties, Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS), Unconfined Compression modulus, IDT strength and modulus under both monotonic and repeated load. A number of amendments and refinements to the testing protocol were recommended. These included the use of minimum binder contents to ensure the binder was uniformly distributed and to promote heavy binding of the materials to ensure they behaved elastically. It was also recommended that samples be gyratory compacted to a pre-determined sample height to allow a constant density to be achieved. The variability of the test results was examined. UCS results were found to be comparatively as variable as other researchers had reported. IDT strength results contained a similar level of variability, which was considered to be acceptable. Modulus results, both monotonic and repeated load, were found to be five to ten times more variable than strength results, which is a generally accepted trend for modulus testing. Under repeated loading, some challenges with the test protocol were encountered. The primary challenge was obtaining reliable and repeatable diametrical displacement data for modulus calculation. This was partially overcome by the insertion of smooth spacers to prevent the Linear Voltage Displacement Transformer (LVDTs) becoming caught on the sample sides. The achievement of reliable and repeatable IDT modulus results through improved displacement measurements should be the focus of future research efforts in this area.

Today, with increasing global awareness and regulation of air pollution, interest in the smog-abating property of photocatalytic materials is increasing. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the most well known photocatalytic semiconductor and is often considered as one way of solving pollution by a passive but an effective way, particularly to reduce atmospheric nitrogen oxides (NOx=NO+NO2). This relatively new technology is already being used in some of the countries as a construction material, commercially sold as photocatalytic cement, photocatalytic pavement, self-cleaning tiles, and self-cleaning glass. Prior research has examined the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 itself, as well as TiO2-containing cement-based materials. The majority of this effort has been on characterizing and enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency. However, relatively little research was performed to assess the potential impact of the photocatalytic reaction on the "parent" or "host" material. In this research, the focus is on the effect of photocatalysis on the composition, structure, and properties of cementitious materials, which contain titania nanoparticles at early and late ages. Fundamental examinations on the addition of these chemically non-reactive nanoparticles to cement-based materials are performed. The high surface area of nanoparticles could alter early age properties of cementitious materials, such as setting time, dimensional stability, and hydration rate. Various experimental techniques as well as mathematical modeling were used to examine and explain the early age hydration of cementitious materials when TiO2 nanoparticles are present. Further, the effects of the TiO2 on the long term durability of cement-based materials are investigated to demonstrate their suitability for long-term use in the field. The photocatalytic NOx oxidation efficiency and NOx binding capability of TiO2 containing cementitious materials are experimentally investigated. The durability of TiO2-cement is examined by various techniques on samples that went through extensive photocatalysis and environmental exposures. These investigations have led to tentative conclusions on the use of TiO2 nanoparticles in cementitious materials, and suggest avenues for future study.

Most concrete produced today utilizes pozzolans or supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to promote better long term durability and resistance to deleterious chemical reactions. While other pozzolans and SCMs are available and provide many of the same benefits, Class F fly ash has become the industry standard for producing quality, durable concrete because of its low cost and wide-spread availability. With impending environmental and safety regulations threatening the availability and quality of Class F fly ash, it is becoming increasing important to find viable alternatives. This research aims to find natural, lightly processed, alternatives to fly ash that perform similarly to Class F fly ash with regards to pozzolanic reactivity and provide comparable compressive strength, workability, drying shrinkage, thermal expansion properties and resistance to alkali-silica reaction, sulfate attack, and chloride ion penetration. Eight fly ash alternatives from the US were tested for compatibility with the governing standard for pozzolans used in portland cement concrete and various fresh and hardened mortar and concrete properties. The results of this research indicate that six materials meet the requirements for natural pozzolans set by the American Society for Testing and Materials and many are comparable to Class F fly ash in durability tests. The primary concern when using these materials in concrete is the increase in water demand. The spherical particle shape of fly ash provides improved workability even at relatively low water-to-cement ratios; however, all of the materials tested for this research required grinding to achieve the appropriate particle size, resulting in an angular and rough surface area that requires more lubrication to achieve a workable consistency. So long as an appropriate water reducing admixture is used, six of the eight materials tested in this study are appropriate and beneficial for use in portland cement concrete. / text

Stricter greenhouse gas emission limits and renewable energy requirements are expected to further increase the worldwide practices of firing biomass and co-firing biomass with coal, which are both considered more sustainable energy sources than coal-only combustion. Reuse options for the by-products of these processes -biomass ash and co-fired fly ash -remain limited. Therefore, this research examines their use as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in concrete and as precursors for alkali-activated geopolymers. Toward their potential use as an SCM, after characterizing these ashes assessing their compliance with ASTM C618 requirements, their impact on early-age hydration kinetics, rheology, setting time and permeability was assessed. Furthermore, the pozzolanic reactivity and the microstructural and hydrated phase development of the cement-ash samples were analyzed. The results show that a wood biomass ash sample was not satisfactory for use as an SCM. On the other hand, the findings demonstrate that co-fired fly ashes can significantly improve the strength and durability properties of concrete compared to ordinary portland cement, in part due to their pozzolanicity. Thus, it is recommended that the ASTM C618 standard be modified to permit co-fired fly ash sources that meet existing requirements and any additional requirements deemed necessary to ensure their satisfactory performance when used in concrete. Toward their potential use in geopolymers, this study characterized the early-age reaction kinetics and rheological behavior of these materials, showing that their exothermic reactivity, plastic viscosity and yield stress are significantly influenced by the activator solution chemistry and other characteristics of the ash. Two co-fired fly ashes were successfully polymerized, with compressive strengths generally highest for ashes activated with solutions with a molar ratio of SiO₂/(Na₂O + K₂O) = 1. The results show that geopolymerization is a viable beneficial reuse for these emerging by-products. Further characterization of these materials by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy analysis revealed the heterogeneity of the aluminosilicate phase composition of the co-fired fly ash geopolymer gel at the nano- to micro-scale.

Insitu cementitious stabilisation is an economical, environmentally sustainable and socially advantageous means of rehabilitating pavements. With the recent availability of a wide range of binders and advanced construction equipment, the characterisation of cementitiously stabilised pavement materials has become the focus of further advancement of this technology. Australian practice has moved towards the use of Indirect Diametric Tensile (IDT) methods for the characterisation of these materials. A draft protocol for the IDT test has been prepared and specifies samples to be compacted by gyratory compactor. This procedure provides for both monotonic and repeated load testing, which aims to measure the material???s strength, modulus and fatigue life. A range of host materials, including a new crushed rock and a reclaimed existing pavement base course, were assessed when stabilised with a General Purpose cement binder as well as with a slag-lime blended binder. Materials were assess for their inherent material properties, Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS), Unconfined Compression modulus, IDT strength and modulus under both monotonic and repeated load. A number of amendments and refinements to the testing protocol were recommended. These included the use of minimum binder contents to ensure the binder was uniformly distributed and to promote heavy binding of the materials to ensure they behaved elastically. It was also recommended that samples be gyratory compacted to a pre-determined sample height to allow a constant density to be achieved. The variability of the test results was examined. UCS results were found to be comparatively as variable as other researchers had reported. IDT strength results contained a similar level of variability, which was considered to be acceptable. Modulus results, both monotonic and repeated load, were found to be five to ten times more variable than strength results, which is a generally accepted trend for modulus testing. Under repeated loading, some challenges with the test protocol were encountered. The primary challenge was obtaining reliable and repeatable diametrical displacement data for modulus calculation. This was partially overcome by the insertion of smooth spacers to prevent the Linear Voltage Displacement Transformer (LVDTs) becoming caught on the sample sides. The achievement of reliable and repeatable IDT modulus results through improved displacement measurements should be the focus of future research efforts in this area.

The primary aim of this research was to investigate the fundamental acoustic properties of several cementitious materials, the influence of mix design parameters/constituents, and finally the effect of the physical and mechanical properties of cementitious material concrete/mortar on the acoustic properties of the material. The main objectives were: To understand the mechanism of sound production in musical instruments and the effects of the material(s) employed on the sound generated; To build upon previous research regarding selection of the tested physical/mechanical properties and acoustic properties of cementitious materials; To draw conclusions regarding the effect of different constituents, mix designs and material properties upon the acoustic properties of the material; To build a model of the relationship between the acoustic properties of a cementitious material and its mix design via its physical/mechanical properties. In order to meet the aim, this research was conducted by employing the semi-experimental (half analytical) method: two experimental programmes were performed (I and II); a mathematical optimization technique (least square method) was then implemented in order to construct an optimized mathematical model to match with the experimental data. In Experimental Programme I, six constituents/factors were investigated regarding the effect on the physical/mechanical and acoustic properties: cementitious material additives (fly ash, silica fume, and GGBS), superplasticizer, and basic mix design parameters (w/c ratio, and sand grading). 11 properties (eight physical/mechanical properties: compressive strength, density, hardness, flexural strength, flexural modulus, elastic modulus, dynamic modulus and slump test; and three acoustic properties: resonant frequency, speed of sound and quality factor (internal damping)) were tested for each constituents/factors related mortar type. For each type of mortar, there were three cubes, three prisms and three cylinders produced. In Experimental Programme I, 20 mix designs were investigated, 180 specimens produced, and 660 test results recorded. After analysing the results of Experimental Programme I, fly ash (FA), w/b ratio and b/s ratio were selected as the cementitious material/factors which had the greatest influence on the acoustic properties of the material; these were subsequently investigated in detail in Experimental Programme II. In Experimental Programme II, various combinations of FA replacement level, w/b ratios and b/s ratios (three factors) resulted in 1122 test results. The relationship between these three factors on the selected 11 properties was then determined. Through using regression analysis and optimization technique (least square method), the relationship between the physical/mechanical properties and acoustic properties was then determined. Through both experimental programmes, 54 mix designs were investigated in total, with 486 specimens produced and tested, and 1782 test results recorded. Finally, based upon well-known existing relationships (including, model of compressive strength and elastic modulus, and the model of elastic modulus and dynamic modulus), and new regressioned models of FA-mortar (the relationship of compressive strength and constituents, which is unique for different mixes), the optimized object function of acoustic properties (speed of sound and damping ratio) and mix design (proportions of constituents) were constructed via the physical/mechanical properties.

Apesar do avanço tecnológico crescente na construção civil, a falta de durabilidade das estruturas de concreto, tanto em edificações como pavimentação, tem sido constatada com acentuada assiduidade e proporção. O compósito cimentício de elevada deformação, também conhecido como Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC), foi difundido a partir do conceito de concretos de alto desempenho reforçado com fibras, visando suprir o comportamento frágil do concreto convencional e problemas relacionados à falta de durabilidade gerada, principalmente, devido à propagação de fissuras. Neste contexto, o Laboratório de Ensaio de Modelos Estruturais (LEME) da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) consolidou, nos últimos cinco anos, um grupo de pesquisa voltado ao estudo do ECC aliado a utilização de materiais nacionais. A concepção tem sido baseada na aplicação de materiais que proporcionem custos mais baixos e fomentem questões de sustentabilidade ambiental. Assim, foram incorporados ao material, fibra de polipropileno (2% em volume) e substituição parcial do cimento por 30% (em volume) de cinza de casca de arroz residual. O presente trabalho visa analisar questões de durabilidade destes compósitos (com e sem a incorporação de cinza), e compará-los a concretos convencionais, através de ensaios relacionados ao estudo da estrutura de poros (absortividade, absorção e índice de vazios, absorção e água por capilaridade, absorção de água pelo método do cachimbo e microscopia eletrônica de varredura), penetração e difusão de íons cloretos, retração livre e restringida, e, por fim, resistência à abrasão. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a incorporação de cinza de casca de arroz melhorou significativamente as propriedades do compósito relacionadas à conexão e solução dos poros, dificultando a passagem de cloretos, além de apresentar resistência à abrasão semelhante ao compósito de referência. Sua desvantagem está relacionada às maiores aberturas de fissuras ocasionadas devido à retração restringida. Entretanto, o trabalho evidencia a viabilidade e vantagem do uso de cinza de casca de arroz na produção do compósito, em termos de durabilidade. / Despite the increasing technological advances in construction, the lack of concrete structures durability, both in buildings and pavement, have been found with severe attendance and proportion. The high strain cementitious composite, also known as Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC), was widespread from the concept of high performance fiber reinforced concrete, in order to supply the fragile behavior of conventional concrete and problems related to lack of durability generated mainly due to crack propagation. In this context, the Laboratório de Ensaios e Modelos Estruturais (LEME) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) consolidated over the last five years, a research group focused on the ECC study allied with the use of national materials. The design has been based on the application materials that provide lower costs and promote environmental sustainability issues. Thus, they were incorporated into the material polypropylene fibers (2% by volume) and partial cement replacement of 30% (by volume) of residual rice husk ash. This study aims to examine durability issues of these composites (with and without rice husk ash), and compare them to conventional concretes, through tests related to the study of pore structure (absorptivity, absorption and void ratio, water absorption by capillarity, water absorption by the pipe method and scanning electron microscopy), penetration and diffusion of chloride ions, free and restrained shrinkage, and, finally, abrasion resistance. The results indicate that the incorporation of rice husk ash significantly improved material properties related to connection and pores solution, hindering the chloride ingress, and presents abrasion resistance similar to the reference composite. Its disadvantage is related to the larger cracks due to restrained shrinkage. However, the work demonstrates the viability and advantage of use rice husk ash in the composite production in terms of durability.