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Properties of alkali-activated mortar and concrete using lightweight aggregates

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Abstract

This study reports the testing of 12 alkali-activated (AA) mortars and six AA concretes using lightweight aggregates. These tests aimed to explore the significance and limitations of the development of lightweight AA mortar and concrete. Ground granulated blast-furnace slag, which was used as source material, was activated by sodium silicate powder. The main parameter investigated was the replacement level of lightweight fine aggregates to the natural sand. The effect of the water–binder ratio on the compressive strength development was also studied in AA mortars. Initial flow and development of compressive strength were recorded for the lightweight AA mortar. For the lightweight AA concrete, many factors were measured: the variation of slump with elapsed time, the development of compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, moduli of rupture and elasticity, stress–strain relationship, bond strength and shrinkage strain. Test results showed that the compressive strength of AA mortar decreased linearly with the increase of the replacement level of lightweight fine aggregates, regardless of the water–binder ratio. The compressive strength of AA concrete, however, sharply decreased when the replacement level of lightweight fine aggregates exceeded 30%. In particular, the increase in the discontinuous grading of lightweight aggregate resulted in the deterioration of the mechanical properties of AA concrete.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) grant funded by the Korea government (MEST) (R01-2008-000-20395-0), and the Grant of the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (The Regional Core Research Program/Biohousing Research Institute).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Architectural Engineering, Mokpo National University, Mokpo, Jeonnam, South Korea

    Keun-Hyeok Yang

  2. Department of Architectural Engineering, Chonnam National University, GwangJu, South Korea

    Jin-Kyu Song

  3. Division of Research and Development, REXCON Co. Ltd., Seoul, South Korea

    Jae-Sam Lee

Authors
  1. Keun-Hyeok Yang
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  2. Jin-Kyu Song
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  3. Jae-Sam Lee
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Correspondence to Keun-Hyeok Yang.

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Yang, KH., Song, JK. & Lee, JS. Properties of alkali-activated mortar and concrete using lightweight aggregates. Mater Struct 43, 403–416 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-009-9499-6

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