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Measurement and prediction of thermal properties of alkali-activated fly ash/slag binders at elevated temperatures

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Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive experimental study of thermal properties of various alkali-activated binders at ambient and elevated temperatures. The binders were prepared using alkali-activated low calcium fly ash/ground granulated blast-furnace slag at ratios of 100/0, 90/10, 50/50 and 0/100 wt%. These binders can be considered as a composite of solid, water and air. Accordingly, a three-phase model is applied to predict thermal conductivity of the binders at ambient temperature. At elevated temperatures, the Hashin–Shtrikman model is used to estimate the bounds of thermal conductivity for alkali-activated binders containing of fly ash. To validate the above models, a transient plane source measurement technique was applied to measure the thermal conductivity and heat capacity at temperatures ranging from 23 to 600 °C. Data generated is then utilised to develop analytical expressions for estimating thermal properties as a function of temperature. The simplified relationships can be used for estimating the fire resistance of structural elements made from alkali-activated cementitious materials.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support from Australian Research Council Linkage Grant No. LP160101484 and Western Sydney University ECA award. Authors would like to acknowledge the contributions from the laboratory staff Mr Murray Bolden and Mr Robert Marshall. The authors would also like to thank the Advanced Materials Characterisation Facility and staff at WSU.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Infrastructure Engineering, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia

    Zhu Pan, Zhong Tao & Yi-Fang Cao

  2. Advanced Materials Characterisation Facility, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW, 2116, Australia

    Richard Wuhrer

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  1. Zhu Pan
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  2. Zhong Tao
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  3. Yi-Fang Cao
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  4. Richard Wuhrer
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Correspondence to Zhu Pan or Zhong Tao.

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Pan, Z., Tao, Z., Cao, YF. et al. Measurement and prediction of thermal properties of alkali-activated fly ash/slag binders at elevated temperatures. Mater Struct 51, 108 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-018-1233-9

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