Alkali-activated materials

Geopolymer concrete: A review of some recent developments

A review of the multi-component utilisation of coal fly ash

Advances in understanding alkali-activated materials

The development of new, sustainable, low-CO2 construction materials is essential if the global construction industry is to reduce the environmental footprint of its activities, which is incurred particularly through the production of Portland cement. One type of non-Portland cement that is attracting particular attention is based on alkali-aluminosilicate chemistry, including the class of binders that have become known as geopolymers. These materials offer technical properties comparable to those of Portland cement, but with a much lower CO2 footprint and with the potential for performance advantages over traditional cements in certain niche applications. This review discusses the synthesis of alkali-activated binders from blast furnace slag, calcined clay (metakaolin), and fly ash, including analysis of the chemical reaction mechanisms and binder phase assemblages that control the early-age and hardened properties of these materials, in particular initial setting and long-term durability. Perspectives fo...

Geopolymers and Related Alkali-Activated Materials

Multi-dimensional utility model for selection of a trenchless construction method

An evaluation of the standard installation direct design (SIDD) prediction method has been undertaken by constructing and monitoring full-scale test beds installed according to SIDD Type IV specifications at four test sites across southern Ontario, Canada. Stresses around the test beds were monitored over a period of 20 months. The inter- nal diameter of the test pipe segments varied from 600 mm to 900 mm; in situ soil conditions ranged from organic clay to sand, and burial depths varied from 1.5 to 3 times the diameter of the installed pipe. All test sections were sub- jected to frequent heavy traffic loads, representing a worse case loading scenario. Measurements from the 20 month monitoring period were compared with predictions from Ontario Provincial Standards and SIDD specifications. It was concluded that the SIDD method reasonably predicts the stress envelope around a buried rigid pipe installed using the cut-and-cover construction method. The indirect design method currently used by the Ontario Provincial Standards was found to provide an overly conservative prediction of soil stresses at the invert of the pipe. Field measurements also suggest that the value of the horizontal arching factor (HAF) currently recommended by SIDD for Type IV installa- tions is overly conservative and can be increased while maintaining a conservative design approach.

Long-term monitoring of SIDD Type IV installations

Geopolymer concrete is finding a growing number of niche applications in the field of civil engineering due to its high compressive strength and strength gain rate, retainage of structural properties in elevated temperature environments, chemical stability in highly acidic conditions and environmental benefits. Combining the above mentioned characteristics with induced electrical conductivity, could enable geopolymer cement to serve as a smart and sustainable cementitious material suitable for health monitoring of civil structures. Carbon fibers were added to fresh geopolymer and OPC (ordinary Portland cement) mixes to enhance their electrical conductivities. AC-impedance spectroscopy analysis was performed on the specimens with fiber fraction ranging from 0.008 to 0.8 with respect to the weight of cementitious binder, to measure their electrical resistivity values and to determine the maximum beneficial fiber content required to attain electrical percolation. Experimental observations suggest that CFR-geopolymer cement exhibits superior
performance to CFR-OPC in terms of conducting electrical current.

Experimental evaluation of electrical conductivity of carbon fiber reinforced fly-ash based geopolymer

Heating of soil using microwaves has several applications in geosciences, including soil remediation, neutralization of land mines, and microwave-enhanced thermography. Numerical simulation of micr...

Erez N. Allouche

Papers

Multi-dimensional utility model for selection of a trenchless construction method

Long-term monitoring of SIDD Type IV installations

Experimental evaluation of electrical conductivity of carbon fiber reinforced fly-ash based geopolymer

Temperature dependence of dielectric properties of moist soils

Electrokinetically deposited coating for increasing the service life of partially deteriorated concrete sewers