The Synergistic Effects of Ultrafine Slag Powder and Limestone on the Rheology Behavior, Microstructure, and Fractal Features of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC)

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of the interaction between ultrafine slag powder (USL) and limestone (LS) on the rheology behavior, microstructure, and fractal features of UHPC. The results indicated that B2 with mass ratio of 2:1 between the USL and LS obtained the highest compressive strength and the lowest yield stress. The combination of the USL and LS facilitated the cement hydration, ettringite, and monocarboaluminate (Mc) formation, as well as the increase in the polymerization of the C–S–H. The synergistic action between the USL and LS refined the pore structure due to the formation of the Mc, compensating for the consumption of the CH by the pozzolanic reaction, which provided a denser microstructure in the UHPC. The fractal dimension (Ds) of the UHPC was strongly related to the concrete pore structures and the compressive strength, which demonstrated that a new metric called the Ds value may be used to assess the synergistic effect of the UHPC.

Effect of Ultrafine Slag Powder on the Rheological Behaviour, Compressive Strength, and Microstructure of Ultra-High Performance Concrete

“…Using cement on a large scale leads to severe environmental problems in terms of energy and material consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and an increase in the cost of UHPC [2]. To achieve a low carbon footprint and cost reduction, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as fly ash, mineral powders, and limestone powders, have gradually started to replace cement and become an integral part of concrete [2][3][4]. SCMs effectively improve the workability and bulk stability of concrete and enhance the durability of concrete, such as the impermeability and frost resistance.…”