Using GGBS for Partial Cement Replacement in Concrete: Effects of Water-binder Ratio and GGBS Level on Activation Energy

Ground granulated blast furnace slag (ggbs) is a waste material generated from iron production, and is one of the cementitious materials that can be used to replace part of the cement in concrete. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of the water-binder ratios and levels of ggbs in concrete, with regard to the activation energy, which is needed for predicting the concrete’s strength. A number of mixtures with different water-binder ratios (ranging from 0.30 to 0.51), ggbs levels, and curing temperatures were cast and tested at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 days. The activation energies were determined using the American society for testing and materials (ASTM) standard C1074, and the Freiesleben Hansen and Pedersen (FHP) method. The results of the experiment showed that the apparent activation energy was relatively independent of the water-binder ratio, and mainly affected by the ggbs level in the concrete. Higher ggbs levels in the concrete resulted in the higher apparent activation energies.

Activation energy, Cementitious materials, Curing temperature, ggbs level, Ground granulated blast furnace slag, Water binder ratio

ASTM-C-1074, 2004. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Standard Practice for Estimating Concrete Strength by the Maturity Method. West Conshoocken: ASTM International, pp. 2–8

Barnett, S.J., Soutsos, M.N., Millard, S.G., Bungey, J.H., 2006. Strength Development of Mortars Containing Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag: Effect of Curing Temperature and Determination of Apparent Activation Energies. Cement and Concrete Research, Volume 36(3), pp. 434–440

Carino, N.J., Tank, R.C., 1992. Maturity Function for Concretes Made with Various Cements and Admixtures. ACI Materials Journal, Volume 89, pp. 188–196

Euroslag, 2013. Granulated Blastfurnace Slag. Available online at http://www.euroslag.com/fileadmin/_media/images/Research/FACT_SHEETS/LeafletGBS.pdf, Accessed on June 2013

Hansen, P.F., Pedersen, E.J., 1977. Maturity Computer for Controlled Curing and Hardening of Concrete. Nordisk Betong Journal, Volume 1, pp. 21–25

Kehl, R.J., Constantino, C.A., Carrasquillo, R.L., 1998. Match-cure and Maturity: Taking Concrete Strength Testing to a Higher Level. The University of Texas at Austin

Malhotra, V.M., Carino, N.J., 2004. Handbook on Nondestructive Testing of Concrete. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, Chapter 5, pp. 2–13

Poole, J.L., Riding, K.A., Folliard, K.J., Juenger, M.C.G., Schindler, A.K., 2007. Methods for Calculating Activation Energy for Portland Cement. ACI Materials Journal, Volume 104, pp. 303–311

Saul, A.G.A., 1951. Principles Underlying the Steam Curing of Concrete at Atmospheric Pressure. Magazine of Concrete Research, Volume 2, pp. 127–140

Tank, R.C., Carino, N.J., 1991. Rate Constant Functions for Strength Development of Concrete. ACI Materials Journal, Volume 88, pp. 74–83

Turu’allo, G., 2013. Early Age Strength Development of Ggbs Concrete Cured under Different Temperatures, Liverpool: Unpublished PhD Thesis

Wikipedia, 2015. Activation Energy. Available online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activation_energy, Accessed on January 2015