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Experimental studies of sustainable concrete modified with colloidal nanosilica and metakaolin

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Abstract

Introduction

Although the use of Colloidal Nanosilica (CNS) has shown significant advantages on strength and durability development of cement composites. However, the impact of CNS with Metakaolin (MK) has not been established well.

Objective

This study presents a novel amalgamation of nano and micro-sized supplementary cementing materials in cement composites. The rationale behind this was to study their effects on strength and durability properties. Besides this, the microstructural investigation was carried out using FESEM and XRD to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Before casting, the workability of concrete were tested. The mechanical and durability properties including compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, Rapid chloride permeability tests, water absorption, sulfate, and acid attack resistance tests were carried out. Furthermore, besides strength and durability studies, an extensive microstructural investigation was carried under FESEM and XRD to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Results

Twenty different concrete mixtures were designed and explored. The results indicate that the incorporation of CNS and MK in cement composites has increased the admixture demand. The strength of all mixtures increased at various curing ages up to 90 days compared to normal concrete. The maximum increase in strength parameters at 0.44 w/b ratio was observed at 0.45% CNS and 10% MK content. The durability parameters studied like water absorption and RCPT showed an increase in resistance to permeability. Which indicated less porosity of modified mixtures. In acid and sulfate attacks, the normal concrete showed the poorest performance, and CNS and MK enabled some resistance to sulphuric acid and sulfate attack at 120 days. The microstructural characterization conducted during this study has shown that the replacement of cement by MK and CNS has improved the microstructure compared to normal concrete.

Conclusion

The simultaneous incorporation of MK and CNS has reduced workability. In terms of mechanical strength, it is observed that the optimum amount of CNS and MK was 0.45% and 10% respectively. Also, the MK and CNS addition has decreased the water absorption, increased resistance to chloride ion permeability, acid, and sulfate attack compared to normal concrete.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are highly grateful and appreciate the Ministry of Human Resource Development's funding support and are thankful to National Institute of Technology for providing the laboratory facilities during this research work.

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This study was supported by Ministry of Human Resource Development.

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  1. Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, India

    Aabid Hussain Bhat & Javed Ahmed Naqash

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AHB: conceptualization, methodology, experimental investigation, writing. JAN: review and editing.

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Bhat, A.H., Naqash, J.A. Experimental studies of sustainable concrete modified with colloidal nanosilica and metakaolin. J Build Rehabil 7, 18 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41024-021-00157-8

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