Study on Mechanical and Durability Properties of Quaternary Concrete

Abstract

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is the main component for the concrete production in construction industry and production of OPC leads to pollution because of the emission of CO2 during its production. Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as, fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and metakaolin (MK) are often available as by-products from various industrial processes. Their judicious use in concrete production is desirable both for environmental and energy conservation as well as for the technical benefits. SCMs can have better mechanical and durability properties. In this major project, study is carried out for binary, ternary and quaternary paste and mortar and for quaternary concrete. The experimental work consists of production of paste, mortar and concrete incorporating fly ash, metakaolin and GGBS. Standard consistency and initial and final setting time are tested for binder mix. Mechanical properties such as compressive strength for 3, 7, 28 and 90 days is found out for control, binary, ternary and quaternary mortar mixes. Durability properties such as Rapid Chloride Permeability Test is conducted on 28 and 90 days and drying shrinkage for 7 and 35 days for mortar mixes. Performance parameters are decided and concrete satisfying these performance parameters is prepared. Mix design for control concrete and high performance quaternary concrete is prepared for M45 grade concrete. Mechanical properties such as compressive strength at 3, 7, 28, 56 and 90 days and modulus of elasticity at 28 and 56 days are evaluated. Durability properties such as Rapid Chloride Penetration, Water Impermeability, Sorptivity at 28, 56 and 90 days are evaluated. Water demand increases with the use of binary, ternary and quaternary mixes. Initial and final setting time is also delayed in all mixes compared to control mix. Compressive strength of quaternary mortar mixes are found at par to that of control mortar mix. Quaternary mortar mixes performs better in RCPT and drying shrinkage tests. Compressive strength of quaternary concrete mixes is found at par with control concrete at 56 and 90 days. Modulus of Elasticity of Quaternary concrete is found to be at par when compared to control concrete at 56 and 90 days. Quaternary concrete mix performs better when compared to control concrete in durability tests such as RCPT, Water Impermeability and sorptivity at 28, 56 and 90 days.