Available online at www.sciencedirect.

com

Construction and Building

Construction and Building Materials 22 (2008) 11781182

MATERIALS
www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat

Assessing of the fresh concrete properties of self-compacting concrete containing sawdust ash
Augustine U. Elinwa *, Stephen P. Ejeh, Ahmed M. Mamuda
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Civil Engineering, Bauchi, Nigeria Received 20 July 2006; received in revised form 5 February 2007; accepted 6 February 2007 Available online 20 April 2007

Abstract Evaluation of self-compactability of SCC mixes containing SDA as powder material and naphthalene sulphonate (NS) and melamine sulphonate (MS), respectively, shows that optimum workability range for the slump ow test lie between 665 mm and 680 mm, while the V-funnel test is 8.2 s and 8.4 s. These values show that adequate mix stability and self deaeration are achieved. Results of the self-compactability of the SCC mixes using the U- and L-box are within the targets and tolerance values stipulated by EFNAC (2002). These are 28.5 mm/29 mm and 0.85/0.85, respectively, for mix containing NS and MS. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Self-compacting concrete; Sawdust ash; Super-plasticizers; Flowable concrete; Self-compactability; Microstructure

1. Introduction Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a form of concrete that is able to ow under its own weight and completely lls the formwork even in the presence of dense reinforcement, without the need of any vibration, whilst maintaining homogeneity [1]. It was originally developed in Japan 10 years ago to o-set a growing shortage of skilled labour. At required levels, fresh self-compacting concrete must possess the following key properties [13]: (i) Filling ability: This is the ability of self-compacting concrete owing into all spaces within the formwork under its own weight. (ii) Passing ability: This is the ability of self-compacting concrete owing under its own weight, through tight openings such as spaces between steel reinforcing bars. (iii) Resistance to segregation: This is the ability of selfcompacting concrete remaining homogenous in composition during transport and placing.
*

The steps usually employed in achieving self-compactability are [4] (i) Limited coarse aggregate content. (ii) Low waterbinder ratio. (iii) Use of super-plasticizer. The development and use of SCC in many countries has shown that it can successfully be produced from a wide range of component materials, notably cement replacement materials (mineral admixtures) and super-plasticizers (high range water reducers). The present paper is an on-going research in the Civil Engineering Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria, on the use of sawdust ash (SDA) as powder material for the production of SCC. The work is in two phases: to determine self-compacting characteristics for concrete containing SDA and superplasticizers (MS and NS), and investigate the microstructural characteristics of Portland Ashaka cement mortar containing SDA and naphthalene sulphonate. This is a fundamental research into the properties of the material.

Corresponding author. Tel.: +234 0802 3715611. E-mail address: auelinwa@yahoo.com (A.U. Elinwa).

0950-0618/$ - see front matter 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2007.02.004

A.U. Elinwa et al. / Construction and Building Materials 22 (2008) 11781182

1179

The rst step of the investigation is to determine the mix parameters for fresh concrete test. This involved the establishment of workability of the fresh concrete when coarse aggregates were added. Self-compacting concrete achieves compaction by its weight and therefore, introduction of coarse aggregate must not violate the limit of acceptability. It is therefore necessary to assess the lling ability of the fresh concrete as a self-compacting concrete when coarse aggregate is added. In achieving the above, suitable test methods by which the corresponding requirements can be veried were developed to ensure that SCC meets these requirements. These are (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Concrete Concrete Concrete Concrete Concrete slump ow test. V-funnel test. U-box test. L-box test. V-funnel at T5 minutes test.

Table 2 Fineness of raw materials Fineness Passing 212 lm Specic surface Blaine PC 94 355 m2/kg SDA 92 151 m2/g

The second step of the investigation was to observe, by means of a scanning electron microscopy, thin sections of mortars containing various amounts of SDA and NS gaining more information about microstructure. 2. Materials The materials used in this study are Portland Ashaka cement and SDA obtained from thermally activated timber wastes at temperatures of between 400 C and 600 C. SDA is a waste product with a highly benecial eect. Its structure is so ne that it produces a very compact, tightly packed concrete texture. In addition, it is somewhat reactive, so it has certain binding properties. The chemical composition and average particle size (neness) are given in Tables 1 and 2. The ne aggregate is river sand with a specic gravity of 2.57, moisture content of 14.4% and a bulk density of 1472 kg/m3 and falls in zone 2 in the classication table in accordance with BS 882 [5]. The coarse aggregate has
Table 1 Chemical analysis of raw materials (%) by weight Oxides SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO Na2O K2O SO2 P2O5 MnO Bogue potential compound C3S 46 C2S 24 C3A 12 C4AF 7 Ashaka PC 20.7 6.1 2.3 62.1 1.2 0.9 1.0 1.6 Sawdust ash 67.2 4.1 2.3 10.0 5.8 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.01

a maximum aggregate size of 20 mm and 0.35% was retained on sieve 20 mm. The specic gravity of the aggregate is 2.54, bulk density, 1351 kg/m3 and a crushing value of 10.96. The coarse aggregate falls in zone 2 in the classication chart in accordance with BS 882. Two types of super-plasticizers are used. They are (i) melamine sulphonate (MS) and (ii) naphthalene sulphonate (NS). The MS is produced by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co, India, and contains Assay (ex N)-97.5% and Sulphated ash-0.1%. The NS is produced by W. R. Grace and Co, USA with the commercial name of Daracem 19. It has a specic gravity of 1.18, pH of 9.5 and the dry extract by mass is 40%. The mortar or paste in self-compacting concrete requires high viscosity as well as high deformability. This can be achieved by the employment of a super-plasticizer, which results in a low waterpowder ratio for high deformability [3]. The action of super-plasticizers is to equalize the surface charges (zeta potential) on all solid particles in the dispersion and in this way to disagglomerate the particles [6]. 3. Measurements and procedures In the work on the compatibility test [7] using MS and NS, saturation was achieved at w/c ratio of 0.6/0.42 and super-platicizers dosage of 2.5%/2.0%, respectively. In the case of MS, though saturation was achieved but the w/c was outside the specied range of 0.30.4 [1]. Also, the interactions of the powder materials and the admixture (MS and NS) in terms of the required spread diameter (24 26 cm) and ow time (711 s) were satised, respectively, as stipulated in EFNARC [1]. These conditions were met at 10 wt% by mixes containing MS and NS, respectively. The test for self-compactability was done using mixes that achieved compatibility for MS and NS (PC-03M and PC-03N), respectively. To these mix, 33% of the concrete volume was added as aggregates [1]. Table 3 shows the mix design used for this test. It is a mix of 1:1.66:1.66 (Cement, Sand, Coarse Aggregate). 4. Fresh concrete test Slump ow test is used to determine the ability of the concrete to ow in non-restricted condition. To determine the slump ow the hollow truncated cone (slump cone) from the slump test dened in EFNARC [1] is placed on a slump ow plate with an edge length of at least 750 mm 750 mm and is lled with SCC and lifted. The average ow diameter for the samples is determined when the cone is lifted (see Table 4).

1180 Table 3 Mix design SP type MS Mix no. PC-01M PC-02M PC-03M PC-04M PC-05M PC-01N PC-02N PC-03N PC-04N PC-05N

A.U. Elinwa et al. / Construction and Building Materials 22 (2008) 11781182

Cement (kg/ m3) 441 419 397 375 353 479 455 431 407 384

SDA (%, kg/ m3) 0 (0) 5 (22) 10 (44) 15 (66) 20 (88) 0 (0) 5 (24) 10 (48) 15 (72) 20 (96)

Sand (kg/ m3) 662 662 662 662 662 719 719 719 719 719

Water (kg/ m3) 265 265 265 265 265 201 201 201 201 201

SP dosage (%) 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

w/c 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42

Mortar spread (cm) 27 25 24 23 20 26 25 24 23 20

Flow time (s) 4 7 7 12 18 5 7 8 12 18

NS

Table 4 Mix proportions for fresh concrete test Mix No Water (kg/m3) Binder (kg/m3) Cement FC-01M FC-01N 265 201 397 432 SDA 44 (10%) 48 (10%) Aggregate (kg/m3) Fine 662 719 Coarse 662 719 2.5 2.0 SP Dosage (%)

The ow time of self-compacting concrete is a lling ability test. It serves as a measured variable for describing the viscosity of a SCC. With the outlet ap closed the funnel is lled with the sample of SCC to the top. The ap is then opened. The time taken by the concrete to ow out of the funnel is measured.

The U-box and the L-box tests are for assessing the placeability of SCC. In both methods a closed vertical chamber is lled with the concrete to be tested so that
45 40 Compressive Strength (MPa) 35 30 25 20 15 10 5
3 days 7 days 14 days 28 days 60 days 90 days

Table 5 Results of fresh concrete tests Measurement Mix FC-01M Experimental value Flow V-funnel T5 minutes U-box L-box 680 mm 8.4 s 9.8 s 29 mm 0.85 FC-01N Experimental value 665 mm 8.2 s 9.9 s 28.5 mm 0.85 650800 mm 812 s 815 s 030 mm 0.81.0 Standard (EFNARC 2002)

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 Powder Content (%)

Fig. 1. Compressive strength (powder content eect).

45

Table 6 Results of the micrograph Mix no. Property (%) Age (days) 3 PC-01N (Control) Porosity Unhydrated cement Ca(OH)2 CSH Porosity Unhydrated cement Ca(OH)2 CSH 25 14 10 39 18 9 14 59 7 18 12 12 58 12 8 8 72 28 15 10 14 61 9 6 7 78 60 15 10 14 61 7 6 6 81 90 15 10 14 61 6 6 4 84

Compressive Strength (MPa)

40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 20 40 60 Ages (Days) 80 100

PC-01N PC-02N PC-03N PC-04N PC-05N

PC-03N (SCC)

Fig. 2. Compressive strength (curing eect).

A.U. Elinwa et al. / Construction and Building Materials 22 (2008) 11781182

1181

a hydrostatic pressure head is produced. After a slide is opened the concrete has to level out through vertical (box test) or horizontal (L-box) ow obstacles. The dierence in levels determines the tendency to blocking. The V-funnel at T5 minutes test is carried out to determine the segregation resistance of the concrete. The same

test method is used as that of the concrete V-funnel test except that the concrete is left to stand for ve (5) minutes before the trap door is opened. The essence of leaving it for 5 min is to see if there will be any segregation. For all the above named tests, two (2) readings are taken each for the mixes containing MS and NS and the average

Fig. 3. Microstructure of normal and self-compacting concrete.

1182

A.U. Elinwa et al. / Construction and Building Materials 22 (2008) 11781182

recorded. Experimental results of the slump ow, V-funnel, U- and L-boxes and the concrete V-funnel at T5 minutes are tabulated in Table 5. 5. Mortar compressive strength/microstructural study The study on the compressive strengths of mortar cubes and microstructure were undertaken for only the mix containing NS using the mix design in Table 3. For the mortar compressive strength, cube specimens of 50 mm were cast. A total of 75 cubes were cast and cured for 3, 7, 28, 60 and 90 days, respectively. At the end of the curing regime three specimens were crushed using the motorized ELE-machine and the average recorded. The microstructure study was on the control specimen and the specimen containing 10% SDA replacement of cement (the spread and ow time are satised). Thin sections of 30 lm were prepared and mounted on slides. The samples were covered with Canada Balsam. A total of 10 slides were prepared. Five each from the control and SCC mix. The micrographs of the thin sections were produced in the National Metallurgical Centre, Jos, Nigeria, using a petrograhic microscope model (Olympus Tokyo 209828) and analysed using the back-scattered electron images. Results of the analysed micrographs are shown in Table 6. 6. Discussion of results Table 5 shows that the ow and V-funnel values are 680 mm/8.4 s and 665 mm/8.25 s for MS and NS, respectively. Adequate mix stability and self deaeration can be assumed since these values are within the specied limits. The T5 minutes values are 9.8 s and 9.9 s, respectively. This shows that there is no segregation. The evaluation of the self-compactability of the SCC mix using the U- and Lboxes shows that good compactability can be achieved. The values achieved from Table 5 are within the targets and tolerance values of 030 mm and 0.81.0 [1]. Figs. 1 and 2 are the results of the mortar compressive strength. Fig. 1 shows that maximum performance was at 10 wt% replacement for all ages and decreased after that. Also maximum strength was derived at 90 days of curing. Fig. 2 shows that the process of hydration and the development of CSH hydrates continued to increase with age. SDA can absorb Ca(OH)2 to form CSH, making the microstructure denser. SCC shows better microstructure and homogeneity. This is because the void ratio of SCC in the interfacial transition zone between cement paste and aggregate is essentially lower and the pores are distributed much more evenly. SCC showed better microstructure and homogeneity as shown in Table 6 and Fig. 3. This is because the void ratio of SCC in the interfacial transition zone between cement

paste and aggregate is essentially lower and the pores are distributed much more evenly. The results in Table 6 showed that at 28 days virtually all reactions in the control specimens have stopped while, that of the SCC specimen continued. At 90 days only 4% of Ca(OH)2 was remaining in the SCC specimen and the CSH formation was 84%. Ca(OH)2 occurs in the form of crystal and produces interfaces (weak combination) inside the paste, and it is a continuum structure (there is no interface) [8]. 7. Conclusion The results reported in this paper show that SDA can be used as powder material with cement and super-plasticizers to produce owable concrete. It can be seen that the workability ranges uctuate around the characteristic value for self-compaction of 665/680 mm and ow time of 8.2/8.4 s for NS and MS, respectively, as recommended by EFNARC [1]. The segregation resistance of the concrete and the placeability of the concrete as determined by the T5 minutes and the U- and L-box are within the limit recommended by EFNARC. The compressive strength development of SCC mortar shows a tremendous improvement over the control. At 90 days, the best strength was recorded at 10 wt% replacement and this is approximately 30% above the value of the control. SDA can defer the reaction of cement hydration and prolong the setting time of cement paste [9]. It also reacts with Ca(OH)2 released during the cement hydration to produce secondary CSH gel inside the cement paste. The microstructure of cement paste matrix is improved by this gel and therefore imparts denseness on the structure. References
[1] EFNARC. Specication and Guidelines for Self-Compacting Concrete. London: EFNARC Publication; 2002. p. 132. [2] Bartos PJM. Measurement of key properties of fresh self-compacting concrete. In: CEN/STAR PNR workshop on self-compacting concrete, Great Britain: University of Paisley, 56 June 2000. p. 5262. [3] Okamura H, Ouchi M. Self-compacting concrete. J Adv Concrete Technol 2003;1:515. [4] Okamura H, Ozawa K. Mix design for self-compacting concrete. Concrete Lib JSCE 1995;25:10720. [5] BS 882, Part 1201. Aggregates from natural sources for concrete (including granolithic). British Standard Code of Practice, 1973. [6] Grube H, Rickert J. Selbstverdichtender Beton-ein weiterer Entwicklungsschritt des 5-Sto-Systems Beton, Beton 49, H.4, 1999; p. S.23944. [7] Elinwa AU, Ejeh SP, Mamuda AM. Compatibility of Ashaka Portland cement containing sawdust ash (SDA) with superplasticizers. J Mater Civil Eng, ASCE, [in preparation]. [8] Ding Zhu ZL. Property improvement of Portland cement by incorporating with metakaolin and slag. Cem Concr Res 2003;33: 57984. [9] Elinwa AU, Mahmood YA. Ash from timber waste as cement replacement material. Cem Concr Comp 2001;24:21922.