Investigation of pozzolanic activity of volcanic rocks from the northeast of the Black Sea

Abstract

Mineralogical and chemical properties, as well as the pozzolanic activities, of the volcanic rocks in the northeast of the Black Sea were examined. Physical and mechanical tests were conducted on samples collected from the study area and the feasibility of using volcanic rocks as pozzolanic admixture in the concrete industry was investigated. Mortar samples containing admixture in the ratios of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% were prepared by keeping fineness of pozzolanic admixtures fixed. By using these mortar samples, prismatic mortar samples of 4×4×16 cm were prepared and the samples were cured in water. Their 7-, 28-, and 90-day tensile strengths, compressive strengths, and ultrasonic pulse velocity were determined. As a result, it was determined that volcanic rocks can be used to produce blended cement by considering their specific gravity, pozzolanic activities, and compressive strengths. It was noted that increase in trass rate significantly reduced tensile and compressive strength of cement in the early stage as expected.

Keywords

• cement
• pozzolan
• pozzolanic activity
• volcanic tuff (trass)