Performance-Based Design of Ferronickel Slag Alkali-Activated Concrete for High Thermal Load Applications.

This study aimed to develop optimized alkali-activated concrete using ferronickel slag for high-temperature applications, focusing on minimizing environmental impact while maintaining high compressive strength and slump. A response surface methodology, specifically the mixture design of experiments, was employed to optimize five components: water, FNS-based alkali-activated binder, and three aggregate sizes. Twenty concrete mixes were tested for slump and compressive strength before and after exposure to 600 °C for two hours.

Optimal Design of Ferronickel Slag Alkali-Activated Material for High Thermal Load Applications Developed by Design of Experiment.

The development of an optimal low-calcium alkali-activated binder for high-temperature stability based on ferronickel slag, silica fume, potassium hydroxide, and potassium silicate was investigated based on Mixture Design of Experiment (Mixture DOE). Mass loss, shrinkage/expansion, and compressive and flexural strengths before and after exposure to a high thermal load (900 °C for two hours) were selected as performance markers. Chemical activator minimization was considered in the selection of the optimal mix to reduce CO emissions.

---Mechanical behavior of textile reinforced alkali-activated mortar based on fly ash, metakaolin and ladle furnace slag.

The need for repair and maintenance has become dominant in the European construction sector. This, combined with the urge to decrease CO emissions, has resulted in the development of lower carbon footprint repair solutions such as textile reinforced mortars (TRM) based on alkali-activated materials (AAM). Life cycle studies indicate that AAM CO savings, when compared to Portland cement, range from 80% to 30%.

Experimental Investigation of the TRM-to-Masonry Bond after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures: Cementitious and Alkali-Activated Matrices of Various Densities.

Limited research has focused on the effect of high temperatures on the textile-reinforced mortar (TRM)-to-masonry bond. In this study, masonry prisms that were furnished with double-layered TRM strips were tested under shear bond conditions after their exposure to 200 °C and 400 °C for 1 h using the single-lap/single-prism setup. A total of four TRM systems were applied sharing the same type of textile -a dry AR glass fiber one- and different matrices: two cementitious matrices, namely a normal-weight (TRCNM) and a lightweight (TRCLM) one, and two counterpart alkali-activated matrices (TRAANM and TRAALM) based on metakaolin and fly ash.

Residual TRM-to-Concrete Bond after Freeze-Thaw Cycles.

In the present work, the effect of various freeze-thaw cycles (namely, 0, 10, 30, 50, 60, and 70) on the residual bond characteristics of textile reinforced mortar (TRM)-to-concrete was experimentally examined. The TRM consisted of a carbon dry fiber textile embedded in a cement-based matrix. Two mortar types were used as the matrix: a normal-weight and a lightweight one sharing the same hydraulic powders but different aggregates (limestone and pumice sand, respectively).