Use of Prefabrication, Construction and Demolition Wastes as an Aggregate in Vibropressed Precast Concrete Blocks Production

The aim of current study was to determine the recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) applicability in the production of concrete mixture for vibropressed concrete blocks. The experiments were focused especially on the crushed waste material from the same concrete elements producing plant. For this type of precast elements only some finer fractions can be implemented and the “earth-moist” consistency of fresh mixture is required. The series of samples was prepared in which the mixture of natural aggregates was partially or totally substituted by recycled concrete aggregate. The 0/4 RCA fraction, which is usually rejected in ready mix concrete technology, plays a role of 0/2 sand. The substitution of sand fraction was from 20% to 100% respectively. The substitution of the coarser aggregate fractions by 4/16 RCA was also done. The standard properties of vibropressed elements, such as the degree of densification, the density of material, the compressive and splitting tensile strength and the water absorption capacity according to the relevant standards were determined. The parameters of materials with the natural aggregate substitution by RCA are affected by the ratio of recycled concrete aggregate. In most cases the results do not decline specially from those for reference samples, when only the natural sand (0/2) fraction is substituted by the 0/4 recycled aggregate. As one could expect, as lower the substitution, as better the test results. The partial substitution of natural aggregate by coarser fractions requires experimental verification; over 20% substitution of natural aggregate by 4/8, 8/16 or 0/16 RCA should be excluded.

Long-term alkali-silica mitigation of high-alkali concrete with cement replacements

The impact of high-alkali Portland cements on the prescribed level of supplementary cementitious materials required in the Canadian standard for akali-silica reaction mitigation was evaluated. Based on the results, for concretes containing aggregates exhibiting moderate reactivity, the maximum allowable cement alkali limit was raised from 1.00% to 1.15%. For all levels of aggregate reactivity, cement alkali contents could be allowed up to 1.25% provided the recommended level of mitigation by supplementary cementitious materials was increased. In the initial laboratory study, mortar bars and concrete prisms were cast and monitored using two different reactive aggregates and recommended levels of fly ash and slag. For the concrete prism tests, the alkali contents of the cements were increased to 1.25%, as per the standard, or were increased by 0.25%. Instrumented outdoor exposure concrete blocks, along with additional concrete prisms stored at different temperatures, were cast from numerous mixtures made with cement alkali equivalents ranging up to 1.22%. This paper report on the long-term performance of the prisms and concrete blocks after 12 and 27 years. The performance of the outdoor blocks is also compared to predicted performance based on the accelerated mortar bar and concrete prism test results.

Determination of the physical-mechanical properties of a permeable block

This study aims to analyze the influence of the incorporation of crushed polyethylene terephthalate as a substitute for fine aggregate in percentages of 10%, 15%, and 20% for the elaboration of concrete blocks. The methodology used is experimental quantitative approach, where the influence of the addition of crushed polyethylene terephthalate as a substitute for fine aggregate for the elaboration of concrete blocks was analyzed to identify the variation in the physical and mechanical properties of samples elaborated under different substitutions and in this way compare with the Colombian standard procedures. The results found in this study indicated that the blocks with the different percentages of polyethylene terephthalate presented a good resistance compared to the block without polyethylene terephthalate, which presented a resistance of 8 MPa. The blocks with polyethylene terephthalate at 10%, 15%, and 20% presented an average resistance of 6.36 MPa, 3.58 MPa, and 4.63 MPa, respectively. Finally, it was analyzed that the blocks with 10% aggregate are waterproof with normal density. In comparison, the blocks with 15% and 20% polyethylene terephthalate have high permeability, with the ability to drain 1 liter of water in 105 s and 38 s, respectively.

Determining the Depth of Local Scouring in a Downstream Energy Dissipation in the Physical Model Test

Karangnongko Weir is planned to be located in the Bengawan Solo River (Lower Solo River Basin) about 15 km downstream of the confluence of Bengawan Solo River with the Madiun River in Ngelo Village, Margomulyo Sub-District, Bojonegoro Regency, and Ngrawoh Village in Kradenan Sub-District, Blora Regency. This study aims to determine the Depth and pattern of scouring in downstream energy dissipation through physical model tests based on initial planning. Downstream protection of energy dissipation in the original design model combines 50 m of riprap rocks and 50 m of riprap concrete for a total length of 100 m of protection. The maximum scouring pattern occurred at elevation + 17.64 m, where the scouring was 4.36 m deep, from the planned essential height of Height 00 m. Thus, the downstream protection of energy dissipation was extended to 112 m in riprap concrete blocks for the final design model. Scouring at the end of riprap was 3.04 m, the original elevation of the river bottom of + 22.00 m, down to + 18.96 m. It is concluded that the protection is effective in reducing scouring by up to 30.27%.

A Critique on “Measurement of the Hygric Resistance of Concrete Blocks with Perfect Contact Interface: Influence of the Contact Area”

Background: In March 2021, this journal published the article “Measurement of the hygric resistance of concrete blocks with perfect contact interface: influence of the contact area”. That article reports on a study on the impact of ‘perfect contact’ between concrete blocks on moisture absorption, with a focus on the impact of the sample cross-section. Objective: This critique aims at formulating several essential concerns on the hygric aspects of that article, thus expressing the discusser’s reservations on the reliability of the presented outcomes in particular and the published article in general. Methods: The data, as provided in the graphs of the critiqued article, are digitally extracted and further analysed by the discusser. Results: That analysis results in serious concerns with regard to 1) the magnitude of the quantified post-interface flows, 2) the distinguishability of the moisture absorption in the monolithic and perfect contact samples, 3) the robustness of the knee-point identification algorithm, 4) the dependability of the capillary absorption measurements, and 5) the consistency of the capillary absorption processing. These are finally translated into 8 concrete questions to be addressed by the authors of the critiqued article in order to placate these doubts and establish the reliability of their work. Conclusion: This critique formulates appreciable apprehension with respect to an earlier publication in the journal and invites its authors to respond to that via answering the 8 concrete questions. If not satisfactory, then the critiqued article’s findings cannot be considered reliable, and the journal should reconsider its prior publication.

Evaluation of Reducing NO and SO2 Concentration in Nano SiO2-TiO2 Photocatalytic Concrete Blocks

The use of titanium dioxide in concrete block pavements is a promising approach to reduce air pollution in the roadside. When TiO2 is used as an additive of cement concrete or mortar, it is not dispersed uniformly due to agglomeration between particles causing the degradation of photocatalytic reaction. To improve the photocatalytic performance of TiO2, the Nano SiO2-TiO2 (NST) has been developed by coating TiO2 with SiO2 as a support using the sol-gel method. The environmental performance of concrete blocks incorporating NST as an additive was evaluated using both laboratory and full-scale chamber experiments. It was observed from laboratory environment chamber testing that the NO reduction efficiency of concrete blocks with 4% NST ranged from 16.5 to 59.1%, depending on the UV intensity. Results of the full-scale chamber test on NST concrete blocks indicated that the NO and SO2 reduction efficiencies were 22.3% and 14.4% at a 564W/m2 of solar radiation, respectively. It was found that the increase in UV intensity and solar radiation had a positive effect on decreasing NO and SO2 concentration. In the future, the NST will be applied at in-service photocatalytic block pavements to validate the environmental performance in field conditions.

Thermal Performance Assessment of a Wall Made of Lightweight Concrete Blocks with Recycled Brick and Ground Polystyrene

Hollow concrete masonry blocks made of low strength self-compacting concrete with recycled crushed brick and ground polystyrene as an aggregate (RBC-EP blocks), and their expected structural role as masonry infill in steel frames, has been confirmed in previous research studies, thus the extensive investigation of thermal properties is presented in this paper to fully approve their potential application in practice. The Heat Flow and Temperature Based Method was used to conduct in-situ measurements of the wall thermal transmittance (U-value). The experimental U-values of the wall without insulation varied from 1.363 to 1.782 W/m2·K, and the theoretical value was calculated to be 2.01 W/m2·K. Thermal conductivity of the material used for making RBC-EP blocks was measured in a laboratory by using a heat flow meter instrument. To better understand the thermal performance characteristics of a wall constructed from RBC-EP blocks, a comparison with standard materials currently used and found on the market was performed. Walls constructed from RBC-EP blocks show an improvement of building technology and environmentally based enhancement of concrete blocks, since they use recycled materials. They can replace standard lightweight concrete blocks due to their desired mechanical properties, as well as the better thermal performance properties compared to commonly used materials for building walls.

Numerical Modeling of Failure Mechanisms in Articulated Concrete Block Mattress as a Sustainable Coastal Protection Structure

Shoreline protection remains a global priority. Typically, coastal areas are protected by armoring them with hard, non-native, and non-sustainable materials such as limestone. To increase the execution speed and environmental friendliness and reduce the weight of individual concrete blocks and reinforcements, concrete blocks can be designed and implemented as Articulated Concrete Block Mattress (ACB Mat). These structures act as an integral part and can be used as a revetment on the breakwater body or shoreline protection. Physical models are one of the key tools for estimating and investigating the phenomena in coastal structures. However, it does have limitations and obstacles; consequently, in this study, numerical modeling of waves on these structures has been utilized to simulate wave propagation on the breakwater, via Flow-3D software with VOF. Among the factors affecting the instability of ACB Mat are breaking waves as well as the shaking of the revetment and the displacement of the armor due to the uplift force resulting from the failure. The most important purpose of the present study is to investigate the ability of numerical Flow-3D model to simulate hydrodynamic parameters in coastal revetment. The run-up values of the waves on the concrete block armoring will multiply with increasing break parameter (0.5<ξm−1,0<3.3) due to the existence of plunging waves until it (Ru2%Hm0=1.6) reaches maximum. Hence, by increasing the breaker parameter and changing breaking waves (ξm−1,0>3.3) type to collapsing waves/surging waves, the trend of relative wave run-up changes on concrete block revetment increases gradually. By increasing the breaker index (surf similarity parameter) in the case of plunging waves (0.5<ξm−1,0<3.3), the low values on the relative wave run-down are greatly reduced. Additionally, in the transition region, the change of breaking waves from plunging waves to collapsing/surging (3.3<ξm−1,0<5.0), the relative run-down process occurs with less intensity.