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Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 34153

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Jacek Katzer

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Guest Editor

Uniwersystet Warmińsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie, Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: SFRC; non-conventional concretes and aggregates; LSS; NDT; 3D printing of concrete reinforcement

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete is the most commonly used building material in the world. In the 21st century, the production of concrete has reached the volume of 1m³ per person per year. This unprecedented scale of production has caused problems with sourcing natural aggregates for concrete production. More and more countries are forced to use non-conventional aggregates for both ordinary and special concretes. At the same time, rapid development in space exploration creates an urgent need for creation of technological solutions for future production of concrete-like composites on the moon and Mars. Aggregates used for lunar and Martian concretes will also be non-conventional in comparison to ordinary aggregates utilized on Earth. Keeping all the above facts in mind, one has to admit that there is a growing need to deepen our knowledge about concretes based on non-conventional aggregates. The current Special Issue is going to address this problem.

The main topics of interest include but are not limited to:

properties of fresh concrete mix and properties of hardened concrete based on non-conventional aggregates (e.g., waste aggregates, lightweight aggregates, fine aggregates, lunar soil simulants and Martian soil simulants);
properties of aggregates and soil simulants;
nondestructive testing (NDT) of concretes based on non-conventional aggregates;
technological solutions associated with concretes based on non-conventional aggregates.

Prof. Jacek Katzer
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

non-conventional aggregates
lunar soil simulants
Martian soil simulants
non-conventional concretes
NDT
waste
recycled

Published Papers (13 papers)

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13 pages, 2609 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Principal Component Analysis as a Statistical Tool for Concrete Mix Design

by Janusz Kobaka

Materials 2021, 14(10), 2668; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14102668 - 19 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2897

Abstract

With the recent and rapid development of concrete technologies and the ever-increasing use of concrete, adapting concrete to the specific needs and applications of civil engineering is necessary. Due to economic considerations and care for the natural environment, improving the methods currently used in concrete design is also necessary. In this study, the author used principal component analysis as a statistical tool in the concrete mix design process. Using a combination of PCA variables and 2D and 3D factors has made it possible to refine concrete recipes. Thirty-eight concrete mixes of different aggregate grades were analyzed using this method. The applied statistical analysis showed many interesting relationships between the properties of concrete and the content of its components such as the clustering of certain properties, showing dependence between the properties and the quantities of certain ingredients in concrete, and reducing noise in the data, which most importantly simplifies interpretation. This method of analysis can be used as an aid for concrete mix design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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14 pages, 6086 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Concept of Using 3D Printing for Production of Concrete–Plastic Columns with Unconventional Cross-Sections

by Jacek Katzer and Aneta Skoratko

Materials 2021, 14(6), 1565; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14061565 - 22 Mar 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2524

Abstract

A concept of concrete–plastic columns was presented in the paper. As a proof of concept, a research program was conducted. Seven different cross-sections of columns formwork were 3D printed using plastic. The cross-sections represented three types of columns’ shapes: most common, rare, and impossible to be realized using traditional formworks (based on fractals). Prepared plastic formworks were filled with cement mortar playing the role of ordinary concrete. After 28 days of curing, the load–strain characteristics of all the concrete columns were tested. Achieved results were discussed. It was proven that concrete–plastic columns were characterized by quasi-plastic behavior while being ultimately destroyed. Columns with fractal-based cross-sections sustained the largest strains while maintaining a significant part of the maximum load. The achieved results proved that it is possible to completely omit traditional steel rebar-stirrup reinforcement. The future direction of needed research should cover larger columns and other concrete–plastic elements. Using fiber-reinforced concrete for the creation of concrete–plastic elements should be also tested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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9 pages, 2103 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Varied Waste Ceramic Fillers on the Resistance of Concrete to Freeze–Thaw Cycles

by Jacek Katzer, Jacek Halbiniak, Bogdan Langier, Maciej Major and Izabela Major

Materials 2021, 14(3), 624; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14030624 - 29 Jan 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1835

Abstract

Our research focused on the influence of fillers obtained from crushed waste materials on the selected properties of concrete composites. The used waste materials were sourced from the production of ceramic tiles, ceramic pots, and sanitary ceramics. We evaluated concretes modified with the addition of 10% (by mass of cement) of different fillers. The properties, including the air content in the fresh concrete mix, consistency, compressive strength, and freeze-thaw resistance were examined. The evaluation of the freeze-thaw resistance was carried out by testing the concrete with the direct method for 150 cycles of freezing and thawing. The characteristics of the concrete porosity structure were assessed using automated digital image analysis. Concretes modified by coarse and fine fillers were characterized by different improvements in the mechanical properties and resistance to cycles of freezing and thawing. Composites with the addition of coarse fillers did not show any significant changes in comparison to the control concrete. An automated digital image analysis of the pore distribution in concrete proved to be an effective tool for the assessment of the freeze–thaw resistance of the concretes in question. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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13 pages, 28378 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Relationship of Surface and Bulk Resistivity in the Case of Mechanically Damaged Fibre Reinforced Red Ceramic Waste Aggregate Concrete

by Marie Horňáková and Petr Lehner

Materials 2020, 13(23), 5501; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13235501 - 02 Dec 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2013

Abstract

Electrical resistivity is an important physical property of concrete, directly related to the chloride-induced corrosion process. This paper analyses the surface resistivity (SR) and bulk resistivity (BR) of structural lightweight waste aggregate concrete (SLWAC). The studied concrete mixture contained waste material—red ceramics fine aggregate and artificial expanded clay coarse aggregate. Red ceramic is a frequent waste material remaining after the demolition of buildings or unsatisfactory building material production and is among the least used construction waste. Therefore, its use is desirable in terms of sustainability; in some cases, it can reliably replace the conventional aggregate in a concrete mixture. The relationship between SR and BR was determined in the case of standard specimens and mechanically damaged specimens (to 50% and 100% of ultimate strength capacity—USC). Two different instruments were utilised for the investigation—a 4-point Wenner probe meter and an RCON tester. The results of standard specimens support the theoretically derived correction ratio, but in the case of mechanically damaged specimens, the ratio is more scattered, which is related to the mechanical damage and the amount of fibre. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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30 pages, 11745 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Engineering Properties of Waste Sawdust-Based Lightweight Alkali-Activated Concrete: Experimental Assessment and Numerical Prediction

by Hisham Alabduljabbar, Ghasan Fahim Huseien, Abdul Rahman Mohd Sam, Rayed Alyouef, Hassan Amer Algaifi and Abdulaziz Alaskar

Materials 2020, 13(23), 5490; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13235490 - 02 Dec 2020

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 2970

Abstract

Alkali activated concretes have emerged as a prospective alternative to conventional concrete wherein diverse waste materials have been converted as valuable spin-offs. This paper presents a wide experimental study on the sustainability of employing waste sawdust as a fine/coarse aggregate replacement incorporating fly ash (FA) and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) to make high-performance cement-free lightweight concretes. Waste sawdust was replaced with aggregate at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 vol% incorporating alkali binder, including 70% FA and 30% GBFS. The blend was activated using a low sodium hydroxide concentration (2 M). The acoustic, thermal, and predicted engineering properties of concretes were evaluated, and the life cycle of various mixtures were calculated to investigate the sustainability of concrete. Besides this, by using the available experimental test database, an optimized Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was developed to estimate the mechanical properties of the designed alkali-activated mortar mixes depending on each sawdust volume percentage. Based on the findings, it was found that the sound absorption and reduction in thermal conductivity were enhanced with increasing sawdust contents. The compressive strengths of the specimens were found to be influenced by the sawdust content and the strength dropped from 65 to 48 MPa with the corresponding increase in the sawdust levels from 0% up to 100%. The results also showed that the emissions of carbon dioxide, energy utilization, and outlay tended to drop with an increase in the amount of sawdust and show more the lightweight concrete to be more sustainable for construction applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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16 pages, 3780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the Geometrical Parameters of Dolomite Coarse Aggregate on the Thermal and Mechanic Properties of Preplaced Aggregate Concrete

by Agata Stempkowska, Tomasz Gawenda, Zdzisław Naziemiec, Krzysztof Adam Ostrowski, Daniel Saramak and Agnieszka Surowiak

Materials 2020, 13(19), 4358; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13194358 - 30 Sep 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 1854

Abstract

The article shows investigations on the behavior of preplaced aggregate concrete with regular and irregular coarse aggregates. The thermal properties, compressive strength, and internal structure were analyzed based on computed tomography images. The regular and irregular shapes of aggregates were obtained according to patented technology, which is possible to produce in both laboratory and industrial conditions. Based on the conducted calculations, heat storage capacity was assessed. The influence of grain shape on the material strength, porosity, and hydration gaps was determined. Debonded porosity, as a result of aggregate impurities, was shown using computer tomography analysis. It was shown that the arrangement and shape of the grains has a significant impact on the performance properties of hardened preplaced concrete. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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14 pages, 5672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Research on Quality Parameters of Recycled Concrete

by Ramunė Žurauskienė and Marina Valentukevičienė

Materials 2020, 13(11), 2538; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13112538 - 03 Jun 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2065

Abstract

Concrete itself, and issues relating to the recycling and management of reinforced concrete waste, are highly relevant, especially when urban expansion is being achieved by increased building construction volumes. This research investigates concrete waste and its (re)usage possibilities and resolves several major issues related to the question of how natural materials can be replaced by compounds made from concrete waste, thereby saving natural resources. The experiment was carried out using concrete mixtures, which were combined with natural aggregates and crushed concrete waste (fraction 4/16). The resulting mix of concrete was achieved using natural aggregates, thus replacing natural aggregates with waste, which had partially and fully replaced bulky aggregates with crushed concrete waste. The main aim of the investigation was to investigate how aggregates made from crushed concrete waste impact the properties of concrete. The exothermic effect on the concrete mixture during the hardening process was investigated. Furthermore, a macrostructural analysis of hardened concrete was conducted using scanned sample images; the adhesion zone between newly formed concrete stone and aggregates derived from natural rock from crushed concrete waste was investigated. Using an electron microscope to observe aggregate from crushed concrete waste and the contact zone of hardened cement stone revealed that the aggregate from waste adheres poorly with hardened cement stone. Furthermore, both the mechanical properties of new, hardened concrete and determined resistance to frost indicators are weak. Concrete density and compression strength decreased (by up to 8% and up to 18%, respectively), and absorption increased almost twofold due to aggregates derived from crushed concrete waste, since their cleavage strength indicator was twice as high, while water absorption was four times higher than that of natural aggregate. The results indicate that recycled concrete obtained from demolished buildings is environmentally sustainable and can be recommended for lower quality concrete for use in related engineering projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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17 pages, 6493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Studies of Concrete-Filled Composite Tubes under Axial Short- and Long-Term Loads

by Marcin Abramski, Piotr Korzeniowski and Krzysztof Klempka

Materials 2020, 13(9), 2080; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13092080 - 01 May 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1929

Abstract

The paper presents experimental studies on axially compressed columns made of concrete-filled glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubes. The infill concrete was C30/37 according to Eurocode 2. The investigated composite pipes were characterized by different angles of fiber winding in relation to the longitudinal axis of the element: 20, 55 and 85 degrees. Columns of two lengths, 0.4 m and 2.0 m, were studied. The internal diameter and wall thickness of all the pipes were identical and amounted to 200 mm and 6 mm, respectively. The mean values of two mechanical properties, elasticity modulus and compression strength, were determined. These properties were determined for longitudinal compression and for circumferential tension. The graphs of longitudinal and peripheral deformations of polymer shells as a function of load level are presented both for empty tubes and for concrete-filled ones. The results of long-term investigations of three identically made 0.4 m high concrete-filled GFRP tubes are also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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22 pages, 8578 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Properties of Concrete with Recycled Concrete Aggregate Containing Metallurgical Sludge Waste

by Jan Pizoń, Jacek Gołaszewski, Mohamed Alwaeli and Patryk Szwan

Materials 2020, 13(6), 1448; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13061448 - 22 Mar 2020

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 3568

Abstract

Sand has been considered to be something of an immeasurable quantity. There are many indications that this view is no longer valid and that the limiting of natural aggregates usage is doubly justified. Firstly, the extraction of natural aggregates is expensive and has a huge impact on the environment. The main issues in sand and gravel mining are the large areas that are affected, ground water level changes, illegal mining, unsuitability of desert and marine sand, and costs of transport. Secondly, metallurgical waste can be used as a substitute for natural aggregates. This is doubly beneficial—the waste is recycled and the use of natural aggregates is reduced. Waste is stored in landfills that take up large areas and there is also the possibility of ground and groundwater pollution by hazardous compounds. The research presented in this article focuses on the technological conditions of using metallurgical waste in its original form and as a component of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). The use of metallurgical sludge waste or crushed or round RCA to produce concrete deteriorates the consistency and does not significantly affect the air content and density of the concrete mix. RCA lowers the density of hardened concrete. Metallurgical sludge waste or RCA usage adversely affect the absorbability and permeability of concrete. Concrete containing metallurgical sludge waste is of higher compressive strength after 7 and 28 days, with up to 60% of waste as a sand replacement. RCA concrete achieved higher compressive strength also. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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16 pages, 2610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deflection of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Beams Based on Waste Sand

by Jacek Domski and Mateusz Zakrzewski

Materials 2020, 13(2), 392; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13020392 - 15 Jan 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2243

Abstract

The article describes the selected methods of calculating the deflection of steel fiber reinforced concrete beams. Additionally, the results of the study on the deflection of steel fiber reinforced concrete beams based on waste sand are presented. This paper compares deflections measured during the four point bending test of the steel fiber reinforced, waste sand fine aggregate concrete beam with values determined in accordance with Eurocode 2, the proposal of Tan, Paramasivam, and Tan, the modified method of Alsayed, Bywalski, and Kaminski, and Amin, Foster, and Kaufmann’s method. The analysis conducted shows that the best accordance with the study and calculation results was obtained by using the modified Alsayed method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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18 pages, 10062 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Time-of-Flight and Phase-Shift TLS Intensity Data for the Diagnostics Measurements of Buildings

by Czesław Suchocki

Materials 2020, 13(2), 353; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13020353 - 12 Jan 2020

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 4264

Abstract

In recent years, the terrestrial laser scanning system (TLS) has become one of the most popular remote and nondestructive testing (NDT) methods for diagnostic measurements of buildings and structures as well as for the assessment of architectural heritage. Apart from 3D coordinates, the power of a laser beam backscattered from the scanned object can be captured by TLS. The radiometric information of the point cloud, called “intensity”, can provide information about changes in the physio–chemical properties of the scanned surface. This intensity can be effectively used to detect defects in the surfaces of walls, such as cracks and cavities, moisture, biodeterioration (mosses and lichens) or weathered parts of the wall. Manufacturers of TLS mainly use two different principles for distance measurement, time-of-flight (TOF) and phase-shift (PS). The power of energy in both types of rangefinders might be absorbed or reflected in a slightly different way and provide more or less detailed radiometric point cloud information. The main aim of this investigation is to compare TOF and PS scanners in the context of using TLS intensity data for the diagnostics of buildings and other structures. The potential of TLS intensity data for detecting defects in building walls has been tested on multiple samples by two TOF (Riegl VZ400i, Leica ScanStation C10) and two PS (Z + F 5016 IMAGER, Faro Focus^3D) scanners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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16 pages, 5020 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Lightweight SFRC Benefitting from a Pre-Soaking and Internal Curing Process

by Marie Hornakova, Jacek Katzer, Janusz Kobaka and Petr Konecny

Materials 2019, 12(24), 4152; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12244152 - 11 Dec 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2199

Abstract

The presented research program is focused on the design of a structural lightweight fiber-reinforced concrete harnessing an internal curing process. Pre-soaked waste red ceramic fine aggregate and pre-soaked artificial clay expanded coarse aggregate were utilized for the creation of the mix. Copper-coated steel fiber was added to the mix by volume in amounts of 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%. Test specimens in forms of cubes, cylinders, and beams were tested to specify the concrete characteristics. Such properties as consistency, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, static and dynamic modulus of elasticity, flexural characteristics, and shear strength were of special interest. The achieved concrete can be classified as LC12/13. A strength class, according to fib Model Code, was also assigned to the concretes in question. The proposed method of preparation of concrete mix using only pre-soaked aggregate (with no extra water) proved to be feasible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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Jump to: Research

11 pages, 3695 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

Pilbara Craton Soil as A Possible Lunar Soil Simulant for Civil Engineering Applications

by Janusz Kobaka, Jacek Katzer and Paweł K. Zarzycki

Materials 2019, 12(23), 3871; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12233871 - 23 Nov 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2740

Abstract

Recent fast development in lunar exploration exposed a lack of lunar soil simulant (LSS) fit for civil engineering applications. Permanent human presence on the Moon will be associated with significant construction efforts. Adequate technologies and building materials have to be developed and tested prior to setting the actual building site on the Moon. Current LSSs were created for non-civil engineering purposes, thus they are very expensive and available in limited amounts. In the paper, the authors proved that Pilbara Craton soil is a suitable material for the creation of an affordable LSS for civil engineering applications. The main tool of the conducted study was principal component analysis (PCA). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Structure and Properties of Concretes Based on Non-conventional Aggregates)

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