Quantitative evaluation of mineral admixtures on the properties, pore structure, and durability of cement-based composites

Abstract

The influence of water/cementitious material ratio, silica fume, and fly ash as partial Portland cement replacement materials on the properties, pore structure, and durability of cement-based composites was evaluated by conducting compressive strength test, mercury intrusion porosimetry test, water absorption, rapid chloride penetration test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water/cementitious material ratio, and replacement percentage of silica fume and fly ash have significant effects on the pore structure and durability of cement-based composites. Composites with silica fume or fly ash have a denser structure than the control composite on SEM micrographs. Silica fume has about 5–10 times as much effect as fly ash, according to results of multiple linear regression analyses of testing data.

Keywords

• fly ash
• mercury intrusion porosimetry
• multiple regression analysis
• sem
• silica fume