An Experimental Study on Mitigating Alkali Silica Reaction by Using Fly Ash (FA) in Combination with Silica Fume and Expanded Perlite Powder (EPP)
ASR suppression by FA, SF, EPP, FA in combination with SF and EPP were evaluated by both mortar bar and concrete prism test. Mortar bars were made based on JIS A 1146, meanwhile concrete prism bars were casted in accordance with Rilem AAR-3. Both specimens were stored in 40°C 100% R.H. controlled room. Mortar and concrete mixtures used reactive aggregate in pessimum proportion. The results indicated that FA in combination with SF and EPP showed smaller expansion compared to FA. The best of concrete mixtures in reducing expansion is combination of FA with SF (FA15SF10).
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ULTRASONIC VELOCITY AND COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH FOR HIGH-VOLUME MINERAL-ADMIXTURED CONCRETE
Abstract Ultrasound is used to evaluate the compressive strength of concrete with mineral admixtures. In addition, the relationship between ultrasound velocity and compressive strength of concrete are evaluated. High-volume fly ash (FA), blast furnace slag (BFS) and FA+BFS are used as the mineral admixtures in replacement of Portland cement (PC). Compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) were determined at the 3-, 7-, 28- and 120-day curing period. Both compressive strength and UPV were very low for all the levels of mineral admixtures at an early age of curing, especially for samples containing FA. However, with the increase of curing period, both compressive strength and UPV of all the samples increased. The relationship between UPV and compressive strength was exponential for FA, BFS and FA+BFS. However, constants were different for each mineral admixture and each level replacement of PC.
Brushite-collagen composites for bone regeneration.
Brushite-based biomaterials are of special interest in bone regeneration due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability; on the other hand, collagen is a well-known osteoconductive biomaterial. In the present study a new brushite-collagen composite biomaterial is reported. This new biomaterial was prepared by combining citric acid/collagen type I solutions with a brushite cement powder. The obtained biomaterial was a cement paste, with improved handling properties. The effect of collagen on the setting reaction of brushite cement was studied, and was found to speed up the cement setting reaction. The cement paste set into a hard ceramic material within 18.5+/-2.1min and had compressive strength similar to that of spongeous bone (48.9+/-5.9MPa in dry conditions and 12.7+/-1.5MPa in humid conditions). The combination of collagen with citric acid revealed an interesting synergistic effect on the compressive strength of the composite material. Moreover, this new biomaterial had excellent cohesion properties (ninefold better than brushite cement), and high cellular adhesion capacity (threefold higher than brushite cement). The composite biomaterial described in this study combines good handling properties, compressive strength, cohesion and cell adhesion capacity, along with the osteoconductive and biodegradable properties inherent in brushite and in collagen-based biomaterials.