MATURITY DESIGN OF ALKALI-ACTIVATED MORTAR MIXTURES

Abstract eng:
The development of innovative eco-efficient cementitious materials is, nowadays, a wide-spread concern to assure the sustainability of the built environment. In this scope, alkali-activated binders, in which ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is (totally or partially) replaced by industrial by-products, can be a very interesting solution. The alkaline activation of aluminosilicate materials, such as fly ash, consists in adding an alkaline solution to fly ash and then to subject it to curing at a prescribed temperature level, thus promoting the transition from fresh to hardened state. Since the curing temperature level is relatively high, these new bindings are interesting mainly for the precast industry. However, since the curing temperature is a significant parameter for these binders, it is important to check if the maturity method is applicable. This method allows monitoring and forecast the compressive strength evolution as a function of time and temperature, according to Arrhenius equation. The present study aims at applying the maturity method to alkali-activated binders and at establishing the strength-maturity relationship through laboratorial tests. Different mixtures of alkali-activated mortars were produced, varying the type and concentration of the alkaline activator. The influence of OPC as addition was also studied. The main conclusion and contribution of this work is the demonstration of the applicability of the maturity method for monitoring alkali activated mortars (AAM).

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