Experimental investigation of sustainable concrete production using ceramic waste powder as partial fine aggregate...

Additives and fillers are integral to enhancing the properties of concrete. Pozzolans and blast-furnace slag are additives or admixtures due to their reactions with calcium hydroxide released during cement hydration. Fillers, which are finely ground and similar in fineness to Portland cement, improve concrete attributes such as workability density, and reduce capillary bleeding or cracking. Some fillers possess hydraulic properties or participate in benign reactions within the cement paste.
The...

The alkali-aggregate reaction in concrete involves natural siliceous minerals in aggregates reacting with alkaline hydroxides derived from cement alkalis. This reaction forms an alkali-silica gel that absorbs water, swells, and increases in volume, which is confined by the surrounding cement paste, creating internal pressures that crack and disrupt the concrete. The extent of expansion and damage can be partly attributed to the alkali-silica reaction's osmotic hydraulic pressure and the...

Deleterious substances in aggregates can be detrimental to the quality and durability of concrete. These substances include organic impurities like loam, which interfere with cement hydration and are usually present in the sand. These prevent a good bond between aggregate and cement paste. Organic impurities can be detected using the colorimetric test, where the darkness of a solution after agitation indicates the level of organic content.
Another type of impurity is clay and fine material that...

The Aggregate Cement ratio refers to the weight of aggregate divided by the weight of cement in a concrete mix. Altering this ratio has profound effects on the concrete's properties. This ratio plays a pivotal role in determining the strength, workability, and durability of concrete. When the Aggregate Cement ratio is higher, the mix is leaner, meaning it has less cement paste to lubricate the aggregate, potentially making the concrete less workable. Such mixes, known as lean, enhance the...

Abrasion resistance is an essential characteristic of concrete that determines its durability and longevity under various wear conditions. Concrete surfaces are vulnerable to different types of abrasion. For instance, surfaces may wear down due to the constant movement of vehicles or be eroded by solids carried in water, as seen in concrete canal linings. Specific tests are conducted to measure the abrasion resistance of concrete.
One such test is the revolving disc test, where three plates...

Pozzolans are siliceous or aluminous materials blended with Portland cement. They interact with the calcium hydroxide produced during the hydration of Portland cement and contribute to improved strength and durability of concrete. The pozzolanic activity, a measure of a pozzolan's effectiveness, is typically assessed using the strength activity index, as defined in ASTM C 618-93, which calculates the ratio of the compressive strength of cement mixtures with and without pozzolan.
Fly ash is...