Understanding the Microstructure of Mortars for Cultural Heritage Using X-ray CT and MIP

In this study, the microstructure of mock-up mortar specimens for a historic environment, composed of different mixtures, was studied using mercury intrusion porosity (MIP) and microcomputed tomography (µCT), highlighting the advantages and drawbacks of both techniques. Porosity, sphericity, and pores size distribution were studied, evaluating changes according to mortar composition (aerial and hydraulic binders, quartz sand, and crushed limestone aggregate). The µCT results were rendered using 3D visualization software, which provides complementary information for the interpretation of the data obtained using 3D data-analysis software. Moreover, µCT contributes to the interpretation of MIP results of mortars. On the other hand, MIP showed significant ink-bottle effects in lime and cement mortars samples that should be taken into account when interpreting the results. Moreover, the MIP results highlighted how gypsum mortar samples display a porosity distribution that is best studied using this technique. This multi-analytical approach provides important insights into the interpretation of the porosimetric data obtained. This is crucial in the characterization of mortars and provides key information for the study of building materials and cultural heritage conservation.

Thermally Treated Waste Silt as Filler in Geopolymer Cement

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of including silt, a by-product of limestone aggregate production, as a filler in geopolymer cement. Two separate phases were planned: The first phase aimed to determine the optimum calcination conditions of the waste silt obtained from Società Azionaria Prodotti Asfaltico Bituminosi Affini (S.A.P.A.B.A. s.r.l.). A Design of Experiment (DOE) was produced, and raw silt was calcined accordingly. Geopolymer cement mixtures were made with sodium or potassium alkali solutions and were tested for compressive strength and leaching. Higher calcination temperatures showed better compressive strength, regardless of liquid type. By considering the compressive strength, leaching, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the optimum calcination temperature and time was selected as 750 °C for 2 h. The second phase focused on determining the optimum amount of silt (%) that could be used in a geopolymer cement mixture. The results suggested that the addition of about 55% of silt (total solid weight) as filler can improve the compressive strength of geopolymers made with Na or K liquid activators. Based on the leaching test, the cumulative concentrations of the released trace elements from the geopolymer specimens into the leachant were lower than the thresholds for European standards.

Mechanical properties of roller compacted concrete containing recycled concrete aggregate

The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, pulse velocity, and drop weight impact resistance of roller-compacted concrete (RCC) mixtures containing recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) were investigated. The cement contents of the RCC mixtures were chosen as 150, 200 and 250 kg/m3. In addition to the control mixtures containing no RCA, 25, 50, 75, and 100 wt% of the crushed limestone aggregate was replaced with RCA. In this way, 15 RCC mixtures were prepared. The water content of RCC mixtures was determined by the maximum density method. The results showed that increasing the amount of recycled aggregate decreased the mechanical properties of the concrete. However, up to 25% replacement level, recycled aggregate had not a significant detrimental effect on the properties of RCC. Besides, the detrimental effect of RCA substitution was more pronounced in leaner mixtures and reduced by increasing the cement content of the RCC.

Evaluating the Effect of Plastomer Modified Asphalt Mixture on High/Low Temperature Performance

Asphalt pavement’s surfaces deteriorate over time due to combined effect of traffic and surrounding environment. Fatigue and rutting are the major distresses which cause failures in flexible pavements. Different temperature control computer operated equipment’s are being used worldwide to predict the performance of asphalt mixtures at approximately same condition to those in-service pavements. Similarly, different types of polymers such as elastomer and thermoplastic have been used all over the world in Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) for the improvement of asphalt mixtures. But little attention has been taken to evaluate the effect of plastomer on hot mix asphalt performance. Moreover, the initial cost of elastomer is higher than other types of polymers such as plastomer. The aim of this research study is to check the effect of various plastomers on high/low temperature performance of asphalt mixture. Four performance tests like Cooper wheel tracker, dynamic modulus, uniaxial repeated load and four-point bending beam test are used to evaluate the effect of different type of plastomers such as polyethylene terephthalate, high density and low density polyethylene with limestone aggregate quarry and 60/70 pen grade asphalt binder. This research study concludes that plastomer increases flexibility and hardness of asphalt mixtures and improves the rut resistance, dynamic modulus and fatigue life of asphalt mixtures. Plastomer modification shows significant benefits as compared to neat binder for high/low temperature performance. Moreover, it can be concluded that plastomer provides an efficient and economical blend of asphalt mixture.

Reusing Jet Grouting Waste as Filler for Road Asphalt Mixtures of Base Layers

Secondary raw materials consist of production waste or material resulting from recycling processes, currently in large quantities, which can be injected back into the economic system as new raw materials. This study proposes jet grouting waste (JGW) as filler for hot and cold asphalt mixtures applied as base layers of road pavements and investigates the physical and mechanical properties. JGW is derived from soil consolidation performed during underground roadway tunnel construction. The research compares three asphalt mixtures: (a) hot mixture containing limestone aggregate-filler (HMA), (b) HMA containing JGW (HMAJ), (c) cold recycled asphalt mixture containing JGW (CRAJ). Leaching tests of JGW and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) were conducted; the best configurations of the three mixtures were determined by using the volumetric method through gyratory compaction. Three mastics with filler-to-binder ratios reflecting those of the asphalt mixtures were investigated through delta ring and ball test and frequency sweep test at 0.05% stress by using a dynamic shear rheometer. The morphology of each mixture was further investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that CRAJ with 28 days of curing time reached the indirect tensile strength (ITS) of HMA (0.73 MPa) within 14 days and, among all studied mixtures, returned the lowest cumulative strain, which was on average 30% lower than that of HMA and HMAJ. The results of this study have shown that the cold alternative mixture, CRAJ, promotes the reuse of two types of waste, RAP and JGW, as it fully meets the reference Italian Technical Standard and ensures good mixture performance in addition to conserving natural resources.

Pemanfaatan FIy Ash Sebagai Substitusi Semen Dan Batu Gamping Sebagai Agregat Pada Beton

FIy Ash is a waste combustion combustion system and one of the pozzolanic mixed minerals found in Indonesia. An environmentally friendly concrete technology innovation to reduce the use of cement and river stone, namely utilizing FIy ash as a substitute for cement and limestone as an aggregate for concrete mixtures. This study aims to see the mechanical properties of concrete and the optimum proportion of FIy ash in the concrete mixture with limestone as coarse aggregate. The percentage of FIy ash used varies, namely 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. Concrete compressive strength testing is carried out when the concrete is 7 days, 21 days, and 28 days old with a compressive strength plan of 25 MPa. For the flexural strength and split tensile strength test, it is carried out when the concrete is 28 days old. The research used 48 cylinders 150 x 300 mm, 12 beams measuring 150 x 150 x 600 mm, carried out at the Laboratory of Civil Engineering Structures, PauIus Christian University of Indonesia, Makassar. The observation results show that the influence of FIy ash as a substitute for cement with limestone aggregate for concrete, produces concrete with compressive strength, flexural strength, and tensile strength, the maximum is 27.56 MPa, 2.50 MPa, respectively. and 4.68 MPa for normal concrete with the optimum use proportion of FIy ash 15%.

Development of Cold In-Place Recycling with Bitumen Emulsion and Biomass Bottom Ash

Power generation from biomass is one of the most promising energy sources available today. However, this industry has a series of wastes derived from its activity, mainly biomass fly ash and biomass bottom ash. Biomass bottom ash is a waste that has no current use and, in most cases, is deposited in landfills. In turn, road construction is one of the activities that produces the most pollution, as it requires huge amounts of raw materials. Therefore, this research proposes the use of biomass bottom ashes, in an unaltered form, for the formation of cold in-place recycling with bitumen emulsion. This type of mixture, which is highly sustainable owing to the use of a high percentage of waste, was made with reclaimed asphalt pavement, biomass bottom ash, water, and bitumen emulsion. To this end, the grading curve of the materials was analyzed, different bituminous mixtures were made with varying percentages of emulsion and water, and the mechanical properties of the mixtures were analyzed. At the same time, the same type of mix was made with reclaimed asphalt pavement and commercial limestone aggregate, in order to compare the results. The tests showed a better mechanical behavior of the bituminous mixes made with biomass bottom ash, maintaining physical properties similar to those of conventional mixes. In short, it was confirmed that the production of this type of mix with biomass bottom ash was feasible, creating sustainable materials that reuse currently unused waste and avoid landfill disposal.