Influence of Pozzolan, Slag and Recycled Aggregates on the Mechanical and Durability Properties of Low Cement Concrete

The sustainability of the construction sector demands the reduction of CO₂ emissions. The optimization of the amount of cement in concrete can be achieved either by partially replacing it by additions or by reducing the binder content. The present work aims at optimizing the properties of concrete used in the production of reinforced concrete poles for electrical distribution lines, combining the maximization of compactness with the partial replacement of cement by fly ash, natural pozzolans, and electric furnace slags. Natural aggregates were also partially replaced by recycled ones in mixtures with fly ash. Two types of concrete were studied: a fresh molded one with a dry consistency and a formwork molded one with a plastic consistency. The following properties were characterized: mechanical properties (flexural, tensile splitting, and compressive strengths, as well as Young's modulus) and durability properties (capillary water absorption, water penetration depth under pressure, resistance to carbonation, chloride migration, and concrete surface resistivity). The service life of structures was estimated, taking the deterioration of reinforcement induced by concrete carbonation or chloride attack into account. Results revealed that mixtures with fly ash exhibit higher mechanical performance and mixtures with fly ash or pozzolans reveal much higher durability results than the full Portland cement-based mixtures.

Durability and Time-Dependent Properties of Low-Cement Concrete

The sustainability concerns of concrete construction are focused both on the materials’ eco-efficiency and on the structures’ durability. The present work focuses on the characterization of low cement concrete (LCC), regarding time-dependent and durability properties. LCC studies which explore the influence of the formulation parameters, such as the W/C (water/cement ratio), W/Ceq, (which represents the mass ratio between water and equivalent cement), W/B (water/binder) ratio, and the reference curves, on the aforementioned properties are limited. Thus, several LCC mixtures were formulated considering two dosages of binder powder, 350 and 250 kg/m³, the former with very plastic consistency and the latter with dry consistency, which were combined with a large spectrum of cement replacement rates (up to 70%), through adding fly ash and limestone filler, and with different compactness levels. The main objectives were to study the influence of the formulation parameters on the properties: shrinkage and creep, accelerated carbonation and water absorption, by capillarity, and by immersion. The lifetime of structures produced with the studied LCC was estimated, considering the durability performance, regarding the carbonation effect on the possible corrosion of the steel reinforcement. LCC mixtures with reduced cement dosage and high compactness, despite the high W/C ratios, have low shrinkage and those with higher strength have reduced creep, however depending on W/C_eq ratio. Those mixtures can be formulated and produced presenting good performance regarding carbonation resistance and, consequently, a long lifetime, which is mandatory for a sustainable construction. LCC with 175 kg/m³ of cement dosage is an example with higher lifetime than current concrete with 250 kg/m³ of cement; depending on the XC exposure classes (corrosion induced by carbonation), the amount of cement can be reduced between 37.5% and 42%, since the LCC with 175 kg/m³ of cement allows reducing the concrete cover below the minimum recommended, ensuring simultaneously the required lifetime for current and special structures.