Blending of Fly Ashes to Reduce Variability in the Heat of Hydration and Compressive Strength
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32, Issue 4
Abstract
Since fly ash is an industrial by-product, its properties are not controlled and, as such, are highly variable, leading to a high degree of variability in the performance of concrete. The feasibility of the blending of fly ashes in order to homogenize their properties was investigated by studying the variability in the heat of hydration and compressive strength of mortar mixes. All the mixes, including control mixes as well as blends, were prepared by replacing 30% ordinary portland cement (OPC) with either one fly ash or a blend of fly ashes. Blends of various fly ashes were prepared to homogenize their Blaine fineness, reactive silica content, and alumina content, the main parameters that influence the properties of concrete. It was found that blending the fly ashes, obtained from different sources, reduces the variability in the heat of hydration and the compressive strength. Single and double parameter blends were prepared to homogenize either a single or two parameters of fly ash by blending two or more fly ashes. It was observed that all the blends effectively reduced the variations in the hydration of cement and strength of cement mortars. Additionally, it was also found that homogenizing the Blaine fineness was the most effective means to reduce the variation in the performance of the mortars.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
The list of data items available are given as follows:
•
Heat evolution data of single and double parameter blends; and
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Compressive strength data of single and double parameter blends.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Science and Engineering Research Board of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, for their generous support for this project (SERB/F/2766/2012-13).
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32 • Issue 4 • April 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 10, 2019
Accepted: Sep 10, 2019
Published online: Jan 30, 2020
Published in print: Apr 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Jun 30, 2020
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