Isothermal Calorimetry and Compressive Strength Tests of Mortar Specimens for Determination of Apparent Activation Energy
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 4
Abstract
The hydration process of cementitious materials involves a thermally activated reaction that depends on the composition of the mixture and the curing temperature. The main parameter affecting the temperature variation of cast-in-place concrete is the apparent activation energy, which can be used for the efficient prediction of the temperature evolution and maturity index of hardening concrete. This paper discusses two methods to determine the activation energy of mortar specimens, whose mixture proportions are based on standards. The first approach is based on isothermal calorimetry measurements, and the second involves compression tests of mortar samples stored under four different temperature conditions. Mortar mixtures with ordinary portland cement and two rates of cement substitution with siliceous fly ash (10% and 20%) are investigated. The values of the activation energy obtained using the two approaches are compared. Finally, the effectiveness of different tests in determining the activation energy, and thus, maturity index is highlighted.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 4 • April 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 28, 2019
Accepted: Aug 31, 2020
Published online: Jan 27, 2021
Published in print: Apr 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jun 27, 2021
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