REPLACEMENT OF "COARSE" CEMENT PARTICLES BY INERT FILLERS IN LOW W/C RATIO CONCRETES. II. EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION

Computer simulations have suggested that limestone powder, an inert filler, can be made in low water to cement (w/c) ratio concretes, with little if any detrimental effects on performance in terms of hydration and compressive strength development. While adding limestone to cement to achieve cost savings is a common practice in many parts of the world, the judicious replacement of coarse cement particles by similarly sized limestone may provide economic benefits with no reduction in long-term quality. This article presents the results of a preliminary experimental study conducted to directly verify this hypothesis. The study used a coarse limestone filler and a classified cement. The cement and limestone powders were both classified with a cutoff diameter of about 30 micrometers. The coarse limestone was then blended with the fine cement, and water-to-solids ratio equal 0.3 pastes and mortars were prepared to compare to reference (original cement powder) systems. The results support the idea that coarse limestones could be used to replace equivalent size cement particles in low w/c concretes with little loss in hydration and strength performance. In mortars, the predicted compressive strength loss in the filled system at 7 days was consistent with model predictions, and furthermore, at 56 days, no detectable difference in strength was measured.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00088846
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  The Boulevard, Langford Lane
  Kidlington, Oxford  United Kingdom  OX5 1GB
• Authors:
  • Bentz, D P
• Publication Date: 2005-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 185-188
• Serial:
  • Cement and Concrete Research
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0008-8846
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00088846

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Cement additives; Cement content; Cement mortars; Coarse aggregates; Compressive strength; Grain size (Geology); Hydration; Limestone aggregates
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00988995
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 18 2005 12:00AM