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Shape-dependent calculation of specific surface area of aggregates versus X-ray microtomography
Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå Technical University, Luleå, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2567-5891
Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå Technical University, Luleå, Sweden | Faculty of Civil Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland.
Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå Technical University, Luleå, Sweden | RandD Betongindustri AB, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3997-3083
Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå Technical University, Luleå, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6287-2240
2020 (English)In: Magazine of Concrete Research, ISSN 0024-9831, E-ISSN 1751-763X, Vol. 72, no 2, p. 88-96Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The specific surface area (SSA) of constituents in a concrete mixture has a significant effect on its workability in the fresh state. Excess layer theories relate the SSA to the flow behavior of mixtures and can be used as part of an approach to the mix design. However, measurement of SSA is complex and includes several issues, and thus is commonly replaced by mathematical estimation of the parameter. The mathematical approximation of surface area is based on the assumption of a spherical shape for the particles, which leads to failure of taking into account the effect of shape and the square-cube law. The article explores the possibility of replacing the assumption of a spherical shape with that of Platonic solids as the representative shape to account for the angularity of aggregates. The calculation was conducted based on information on the particle size distribution (PSD) obtained from the dry sieving method. A calculated surface area on the assumption of a dodecahedron shape for natural aggregates and a cubical shape for crushed aggregates showed good agreement with SSA measurements conducted by X-ray microtomography. Furthermore, the effect of changes in PSD on the accuracy of the approach was also studied. It was found that the estimated value of SSA was improved in comparison with the traditional way of calculation on the assumption of a spherical shape. © 2018 ICE Publishing: All rights reserved.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
London: I C E Publishing , 2020. Vol. 72, no 2, p. 88-96
Keywords [en]
Mix design, Water film thickness, Excess water layer theory, specific surface area, aggregates, testing, apparatus & methods, workability
National Category
Building Technologies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-44471DOI: 10.1680/jmacr.18.00121ISI: 000502339000003Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85063323413OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hh-44471DiVA, id: diva2:1558139
Funder
Swedish Research Council FormasSwedish Research CouncilAvailable from: 2021-05-28 Created: 2021-05-28 Last updated: 2021-08-19Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Flowability and proportioning of cementitious mixtures
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Flowability and proportioning of cementitious mixtures
2019 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Understanding the role of constituents of cementitious mixtures as the most globally used human-made material and their effect on the flowability of the blends is of great importance. A comprehensive understanding of the ingredients of mixtures allows for optimized proportioning of constituents and can lead to a reduction in cement and water demand of the blends.

The thesis focuses on relating the flow of mixtures to the specific surface area of the particles through the concepts of excess water layer theory by assuming that the particles are enveloped by a thin film layer that separates the grains and lubricates their surfaces. However, in order to study the film thickness, it is inevitable to consider packing density and specific surface area of the particles. Both of the mentioned parameters and their influence on water requirement of mixtures were investigated as a part of the project.

The theoretical part of the thesis includes background and explanation of the concepts and theories used in conducting the research including particle packing theory, specific surface area, and excess layer theories. In addition, the thesis attempts at defining and formulating terms and parameters such as representative shape, mixer efficiency, and optimal packing.

The experimental part of the thesis consists of laboratory measurements of packing density in the loose state, estimation of specific surface area using microtomography and slump tests for mortar and concrete.

The results of the thesis indicate that the available packing models can estimate the packing density with acceptable accuracy. In addition, it was shown that it is possible to estimate flowability of mixtures based on information about the specific surface area of the constituents. A mix design approach is introduced which predicts flow spread of slump test, a measure that is often used in laboratories and at the building sites.

Moreover, the research revealed that the estimation of the specific surface area of particles can be improved by assuming a platonic solid shape for the particles instead of spheres. Furthermore, the mixer efficiency was quantified and optimization of mixtures against packing density and water requirement was explained.

The finding of the project lays a foundation for a simple workability based mix design approach.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Luleå: Luleå University of Technology, 2019. p. 88
Series
Doctoral thesis / Luleå University of Technology, ISSN 1402-1544
Keywords
Particle packing, excess layer theory, mix design
National Category
Building Technologies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-44480 (URN)978-91-7790-328-4 (ISBN)978-91-7790-329-1 (ISBN)
Public defence
2019-05-03, F1031, Luleå, 10:30 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2021-08-12 Created: 2021-05-28 Last updated: 2021-08-12Bibliographically approved

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Ghasemi, Yahya

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