Across the State of Texas and many other areas of the world, relatively young concrete structures have developed signs of premature concrete deterioration. Large cracks form on the surface of the concrete due to expansive forces from alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and delayed-ettringite formation (DEF). The goal of this project is to assess the effect of ASR/DEF on the trapezoidal box beam bridges in the US 59 corridor and Katy Central Business District (CBD) HOV lanes in Houston, TX. Five dapped-end beams were rejected during the casting process and have been in storage at a local precast yard for nearly fifteen years. These beams have been subject to accelerated deterioration and represent the potential severity of the ongoing ASR/DEF distress within the dapped end regions of the in-service trapezoidal box beams. The results from five load tests, corresponding strut-and-tie models, and forensic investigation are used to provide insights into the relationship between the severity of the deterioration and the capacity margin. / text

In this thesis different mechanical properties for shotcrete (sprayed concrete) such as compression strength, bond strength, bending tensile strength, elastic modulus, free and restrained shrinkage as a function of its age was investigated. One of the main issues was to investigate the difference between ordinary cast concrete and shotcrete. Reliable material data for young and hardening shotcrete is scarce which in the past have made such comparisons difficult. Also, less accurate data representative for cast concrete has often been used in numerical modelling and design analyses. The focus of the project has particularly been on the properties bond strength and restrained shrinkage for which two new testing methods has been developed and evaluated. Microstructural studies have also been performed as a complement to the bond strength testing. The bond to rock is one of the most important properties for shotcrete used as rock reinforcement. During the very first time after spraying the physical properties and the bond to the rock depend on the set accelerator and the micro structure that is formed. The investigation of early age bond strength of shotcrete is of great importance both from a production perspective and a safety perspective. The newly developed method was tested and evaluated and proved that it can be used for bond strength testing already from a couple of hours after shotcreting. The bond, or adhesion, depends on several factors such as texture of the rock, the type of accelerator, application technique, etc. In this work the development of the microstructure in the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and strength of the bond was investigated. The results show that the bond strength is related to the hydration process, i.e. the strength gain of the shotcrete. The early development of the ITZ was here studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) making it possible to observe changes over time, before and after proper cement hydration. Restrained shrinkage cracking of shotcrete, especially in the case of shotcrete sprayed on soft drains that are parts of a tunnel lining not continuously bonded to the rock, can be detrimental for the sustainability of an infrastructure tunnel system. Maintenance and repair costs can be high over time. It is shown that the developed test method realistically captures the behaviour of shotcrete drains on hard rock in situ. The method can be used in the evaluation of different technical solutions for avoiding or minimizing shrinkage cracks in shotcreted soft drains. It can also be used to assess the performance of shotcrete fully bonded to a rock surface, with respect to the ability to prevent cracking or to distribute possible shrinkage damage into several fine cracks instead of one wide. / <p>QC 20140526</p>

Abstract Lime precipitation has been used for the treatment of mine water for decades; however, the impact of precipitation conditions is not adequately known. In this thesis, four aspects related to the removal of sulphate from mine water by lime precipitation are considered: the effect of magnesium on lime precipitation, the utilisation of by-products in lime precipitation, enhancement of lime precipitation, and utilisation of the precipitate. Sulphate removal in the presence of magnesium at the commonly used lime precipitation treatment pH of 9.6 was found unefficient as magnesium was keeping the sulphate soluble in the form of magnesium sulphate. At higher treatment pH of 11.5, magnesium that was naturally present in the mine water was shown to precipitate as magnesium hydroxide, which could serve as seed crystals for gypsum or co-precipitate sulphate thus enhancing sulphate removal. Quicklime manufacturing generates by-products that, currently, have few applications. The by-products examined in this study were successfully applied for mine water neutralization replacing commercial lime products. These by-products were found to remove sulphate equally well from the mine water. However, differences between by-products were observed in the consumption, and produced sludge quantities and qualities. An enhanced lime precipitation method is the precipitation as ettringite, which was used to reduce the sulphate content in mine water to less than the value set as the drinking water guideline in Finland. Furthermore, the formed precipitate was found to remove arsenate from the model solution. / Tiivistelmä Vaikka kalkkisaostusta on käytetty kaivosten vesienkäsittelyyn useiden vuosikymmenten ajan, tieto olosuhteiden vaikutuksesta käsittelyn tehokkuuteen sulfaatin poiston osalta on puutteellista. Tämä väitöskirja käsittelee sulfaatinpoistoa kaivosvesistä kalkkisaostuksen avulla neljällä eri osa-alueella: magnesiumin vaikutus kalkkisaostukseen, kalkinpolton sivutuotteiden hyödyntäminen kalkkisaostuksessa, kalkkisaostuksen tehostaminen ja muodostuvan saostuman hyödyntäminen. Magnesiumin todettiin kokeellisesti ja laskennallisesti haittaavan sulfaatin poistoa kaivosvedestä kalkkisaostuksessa yleisesti käytetyssä pH:ssa 9.6 pitämällä sulfaattia liukoisessa muodossa magnesiumsulfaattina. Korkeammassa pH:ssa 11.5 puolestaan kaivosveden luontaisesti sisältämän magnesiumin havaittiin kokeellisesti ja laskennallisesti saostuvan magnesiumhydroksidina, joka voi toimia siemenkiteinä kipsille tai kerasaostaa sulfaattia ja siten tehostaa sulfaatin poistoa. Kalkinpolton sivutuotteina muodostuu jakeita, joille ei tällä hetkellä ole juurikaan käyttökohteita. Tässä työssä käytettiin kalkinpolton sivutuotteita korvaamaan kaupallista kalkkia kaivosveden neutraloinnissa. Sivutuotteet poistivat sulfaattia yhtä tehokkaasti kuin kaupalliset kalkkituotteet. Sivutuotteiden välillä havaittiin eroja niiden kulutuksessa sekä muodostuvan lietteen määrässä ja laadussa. Saostuksella ettringiittinä, joka on tehostettu versio perinteisestä kalkkisaostuksesta, saavutettiin sulfaattipitoisuuden lasku alle Suomessa juomavedelle käytetyn suositusarvon. Lisäksi havaittiin muodostuneen ettringiittisaostuman olevan potentiaalinen materiaali arsenaatin poistoon vedestä.

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2014-10-23T17:14:40Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Mário Henrique Gomes Brito - 2013.pdf: 6257761 bytes, checksum: 3ff568c727b44a8a7e645c8475216a03 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jaqueline Silva (jtas29@gmail.com) on 2014-10-23T18:50:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Mário Henrique Gomes Brito - 2013.pdf: 6257761 bytes, checksum: 3ff568c727b44a8a7e645c8475216a03 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-23T18:50:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Mário Henrique Gomes Brito - 2013.pdf: 6257761 bytes, checksum: 3ff568c727b44a8a7e645c8475216a03 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-04-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The overall objective of this research, which was essentially experimental, is to study the influence of the isothermal period and the maximum temperature of the thermal cure cycle steam under atmospheric pressure in the development of compressive strength of concrete blocks over time. The influences of two other types of curing are also being investigated; curing by enveloping with plastic sheet and open air curing, considered the last case scenario for reference. This study specifically aimed to further our understanding on how to; a) evaluate and quantify the importance of adopting procedures for curing the average resistance (Fbm) and characteristic (fbk) strength to compression of concrete blocks, comparing the processes of thermal curing and curing by enveloping plastic sheet to open air curing; b) evaluate statistically the aging effect of blocks over its compressive strength; c) evaluate the interaction effects of the variables "type of cure" and "age analysis" of the results of compressive strength of concrete blocks; and d) identify the main changes in the microstructure of the blocks subjected to a thermal curing process, especially observing eventual delayed ettringite formation in the internal structure of the material. To examine the influence of maximum curing temperature, two levels were adopted; 65°C and 85°C. As for analyzing the influence of isothermal period, three levels were adopted; 3 hours, 4 hours and 5 hours. The age analysis was evaluated in five levels; 1, 3, 7, 28 and 91 days. The results showed that the worst condition for curing, or curing type, was the open air curing (curing time approximately equal to 24 hours), which led to a lower overall average result of compressive strength of concrete blocks, proving the importance of adopting procedures of curing to optimize the mechanical performance of concrete blocks. Furthermore, it was also determined that the best curing conditions were the curing with enveloping plastic sheet (curing time approximately equal to 24 hours) and the thermal curing with steam under atmospheric pressure isotherm of 65°C and isothermal period of 3 hours (curing time approximately equals 8.5 hours), which were considered statistically equal. It was also observed that there was no significant influence of the curing in maximum temperature in relation to the compressive strength of the blocks. In the other hand, the isothermal period was very significant; the best condition was 3 hours, while 4 hours and 5 hours were considered statistically equal. Regarding the delayed ettringite formation, it was only verified for thermal curing conditions of isothermal of 85°C and isothermal period of 4 hours and 5 hours. / O objetivo geral desta pesquisa, de caráter essencialmente experimental, é estudar a influência do período isotérmico e da temperatura máxima do ciclo de cura térmica a vapor sob pressão atmosférica no desenvolvimento da resistência à compressão de blocos de concreto ao longo do tempo. Paralelamente, foram investigadas ainda as influências de dois outros tipos de cura, a saber: cura por envelopamento com lona plástica e cura ao ar livre, considerada esta última a situação de referência. De modo específico, o estudo visou ainda: a) avaliar e quantificar a importância da adoção de procedimentos de cura nas resistências média (fbm) e característica (fbk) à compressão de blocos de concreto, comparando os processos de cura térmica e cura por envelopamento com lona plástica com a cura ao ar livre; b) avaliar estatisticamente o efeito da idade dos blocos sobre a sua resistência à compressão; c) avaliar a interação dos efeitos das variáveis “tipo de cura” e “idade de análise” sobre os resultados de resistência à compressão dos blocos de concreto; e d) identificar as principais transformações ocorridas na microestrutura dos blocos submetidos aos processos de cura térmica, em especial observando eventual formação de etringita tardia na estrutura interna do material. Para analisar a influência da temperatura máxima de cura, foram adotados dois níveis: 65°C e 85°C. Já para analisar a influência do período isotérmico, foram adotados três níveis: 3 horas, 4 horas e 5 horas. Por sua vez, a idade de análise foi avaliada em cinco níveis: 1, 3, 7, 28 e 91 dias. Os resultados mostraram que a pior condição de cura, ou seja, o tipo de cura que conduziu ao menor resultado médio global de resistência à compressão dos blocos de concreto, foi a cura ao ar livre (tempo de cura aproximadamente igual a 24 horas), comprovando a importância da adoção de procedimentos de cura para a otimização do desempenho mecânico dos blocos de concreto. Além disso, foi verificado ainda que as melhores condições de cura foram a cura por envelopamento com lona plástica (tempo de cura aproximadamente igual a 24 horas) e a cura térmica a vapor sob pressão atmosférica com isoterma de 65°C e período isotérmico de 3 horas (tempo de cura aproximadamente igual a 8,5 horas), os quais foram considerados, estatisticamente, iguais. Também foi verificado que não houve influência significativa da temperatura máxima de cura em relação à resistência à compressão dos blocos. Já o período isotérmico foi significativo, de modo que a melhor condição foi 3 horas, enquanto 4 horas e 5 horas foram considerados, estatisticamente, iguais. Quanto à formação de etringita tardia, esta só foi verificada para as condições de cura térmica com isoterma de 85°C e períodos isotérmicos de 4 horas e 5 horas.

La temperatura de curado, utilizada por la industria de fibrocemento como catalizador en la hidratación del cemento para lograr alta resistencia inicial en sus productos, genera la hipótesis de expansión causada por formación tardía de etringita. Para el planteamiento de dicha hipótesis, el siguiente estudio contempló dos grupos de muestras con el objetivo de estudiar aisladamente su comportamiento químico y físico: uno de los grupos conformado por pasta cementicia con 35% de sustitución de calcario, y el otro conformado por fibrocemento con incorporación de PVA y celulosa. Por calorimetría isotérmica se observó la cinética de reacción de dos pastas, una de ellas curada a 23 ºC y la otra a 85 ºC donde esta última experimentó un efecto catalizador en sus reacciones. Ensayos de DRX y DTG/TG mostraron la presencia de etringita a 23 °C durante todas las edades de hidratación exhibiendo una tendencia de aumento en la intensidad de los picos y en la cantidad, respectivamente, en función del tiempo; sin embargo, a 85 ºC la presencia de esta fase fue inconstante durante las primeras edades de hidratación, a partir de mes de hidratación mostró aumento en cada una de las siguientes medidas realizadas mensualmente; a 85 °C hubo una menor formación de portlandita en comparación con los resultados obtenidos a 23 °C. Utilizando el método Rietveld y análisis químico fueron determinadas las cantidades y las composiciones químicas, respectivamente, de las fases del cemento anhidro y del calcario para alimentar el programa GEMS y simular la hidratación de la pasta estudiada en laboratorio para un tiempo infinito bajo la influencia de la temperatura. Simulaciones de la hidratación de la pasta se aproximaron a los resultados reportados por la revisión bibliográfica permitiendo predecir la presencia de fases en función de la estabilidad termodinámica. Resultados de porosimetría por inyección de mercurio mostraron una mayor concentración de poros, asociados a defectos, en muestras curadas a 85°C con respecto a las de 23 °C. Finalmente, medidas de variación longitudinal para muestras de fibrocemento elaboradas en laboratorio y en fábrica presentaron dispersión en los resultados de expansión para cada uno de los escenarios sin poder correlacionar todos los datos con el aumento de masa exhibido por cada una de las muestras; no obstante, se resalta el riesgo de deterioro del fibrocemento por el aumento de defectos causado por la temperatura así como la creación de todas las condiciones necesarias que favorecen la formación tardía de etringita a partir del proceso de fabricación empleado para este producto. / The curing temperature using by the fibercement industry as a catalyst in the hydration of cement, hypothesizes expansion caused by delayed ettringite formation. To approach this hypothesis, this study looked at two groups of samples in order to study its chemical and physical behavior individually. One group was composed of cement paste with 35% substitution of limestone filler, and the other by fibercement with addition of PVA and cellulose. In the isothermal calorimetry test was observed the kinetics reaction of both pastes, one cured at 23 °C and the other at 85 °C, the latter showed a catalytic effect in his reactions. XRD and DTG/TG showed the presence of ettringite at 23 °C for all hydration ages exhibiting a trend of increase in the peak intensity and amount, respectively in function of time, however, at 85 °C the presence of this phase was unstable during early ages of hydration until completing one month hydration where showed an increase in each of the following measurements monthly performed. At 85 °C there was a lower formation of portlandite when it was compared with results obtained at 23 °C. Using the Rietveld quantitative method analysis and chemical analysis were determined amounts and chemical compositions, respectively, of the phases of cement anhydrous and limestone filler to feed the GEMS software and simulate the hydration of paste studied in the laboratory for an infinite time under the influence of temperature. Simulations of paste hydration approached the reported data in literature allowing predicting the presence of phases according to thermodynamic stability. Additionally, results of mercury intrusion porosimetry showed a higher concentration of pores associated with defects, in samples cured at 85 ° C compared to 23 °. Finally, were taken measures of length offset of fibercement samples produced in laboratory and factory which had incorporation of PVA fibers and cellulose; they presented dispersion in the results of expansion for each of the scenarios unable to correlate with the mass gain exhibited by each sample. However, the risk of deterioration of the fibercement is highlighted by the increase of defects caused by temperature and the creation of all necessary conditions to favor the late formation of ettringite from the manufacturing process used for this product.

This thesis aims to optimize self-levelling floor screeds and thin layer screeds based on ternary binder system containing portland cement, calcium aluminate cement and gypsum with intentional ettringite formation. It also studies the influence of designed mixtures, chemical admixtures and aggregate granulometry on achieved technological characteristics required by standard.

This thesis is focused on monitoring attributes of ettringite in long term horizon, especially on his thermodynamic stability. Ettringit was prepared in two ways. Firstly, it is a method of hydration of yeelimite, secondly, ettringit is prepared by addition of aluminium sulphate and calcium hydroxide.

This master thesis is focused on the binary and ternary systems with connective purposeful ettringite formation for fast hardening adhesive for ceramic tiles. It deals with the durability of these materials after exposure to the corrosive environment. It examines the physical and mechanical properties and mineralogy changes after exposure to corrosive environments. Within processing of this paper provides basic information concerning the connective concept of purposeful formation of ettringite.

This diploma thesis is focused on evaluation of the possibilities of using FBC ash for production of blended cement and monitoring the hydration process, specially creation of the AFt phases.

No description available.