• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.357-373
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• 2006

The concepts of four parameters of nominal water-cement ratio, equivalent water-cement ratio, average paste thickness, fly ash-binder ratio were introduced. It was verified that the four parameters and the mix proportion of mortar can be transformed each other. The behaviors (strength, workability, et al.) of mortar primarily determined by the mix proportion of mortar now depend on the four parameters. The prediction models of strength and workability of mortar were built based on artificial neural networks (ANNs). The calculation models of average paste thickness and equivalent water-cement ratio of mortar can be obtained by the reversal deduction of the two prediction models, respectively. A mortar mix proportion design algorithm was proposed. The proposed mortar mix proportion design algorithm is expected to reduce the number of trial and error, save cost, laborers and time.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.160-165
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• 1999

Osmotic pressure induced by semi-permeability of hardened cement pasts and cement mortar was studied, which was considered to be a cause of failure such as separation and blistering of floor coatings or wall coatings from the concrete substrate. The specimens with a water cement ratio of 45, 60 and 75% were installed between the solution of sodium chloride and distilled water. First, we measured water flux from distilled water to sodium chloride and the ion flux of Na+ and Cl- through the specimens. Then, we measured osmotic pressure induced by semi-permeability of the specimens using an apparatus which was specially developed for this study. It was made clear that hardened cement paste and cement mortar have properties of semipermeability, and the osmotic pressure is closely related to their water cement ratio. Finally, we calculated the osmotic pressure according to Staverman's equation, which was obtained for organic membranes, and tried to explain quantitatively the observed pressure.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2011

Theoretical models for prediction of the mechanical properties of cement mortar are developed based on the morphology and interactions of cement hydration products, capillary pores and microcracks. The models account for intermolecular interactions involving the nano-scale calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) constituents of hydration products, and consider the effects of capillary pores as well as the microcracks within the hydrated cement paste and at the interfacial transition zone (ITZ). Cement mortar was modeled as a three-phase material composed of hydrated cement paste, fine aggregates and ITZ. The Hashin's bound model was used to predict the elastic modulus of mortar as a three-phase composite. Theoretical evaluation of fracture toughness indicated that the frictional pullout of fine aggregates makes major contribution to the fracture energy of cement mortar. Linear fracture mechanics principles were used to model the tensile strength of mortar. The predictions of theoretical models compared reasonably with empirical values.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2018

Accelerators are used to speed up the construction by accelerating the setting time which helps in early removal of formwork thus leading to faster construction rate. Admixtures are used in mortar and concrete during or after mixing to improve certain properties of material which cannot be achieved in conventional cement mortar and concrete. The various industrial by products make nuisance and are hazardous to ecosystem as well. These wastes can be used in the construction industries to reduce the consumption of cement/aggregates, cost; and save the energy and environment by utilising waste and eliminate their disposal problem as well. The effect of calcium nitrate and triethanolamine (TEA) as accelerators and marble powder (MP) as waste material on the various properties of cement paste and mortar has been studied in the present work. The replacement ratio of MP was 0-10% @ 2.5% by weight of cement. The addition of calcium nitrate was 0% and 1%; and variation of addition of TEA was 0-0.1@ 0.025% and 0.1-1.0@ 0.1% by weight of cement. On the basis of setting time, some mix proportions were selected and further investigated. Setting time and soundness of cement paste; compressive strength and microstructure of mortar mix of selected mix proportions were studied experimentally at 3, 7 and 28 days aging. Results showed that use of MP, calcium nitrate, TEA and their combination reduced setting time of cement paste for all the mixes. Addition of calcium nitrate increased the compressive strength at all curing ages while MP and TEA decreased the compressive strength. The mechanism of additives was discussed through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of the specimens.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.209-227
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• 2014

The use of limestone fines (LF) in mortar and concrete can in certain ways improve performance and thus has become more and more commonplace. However, although LF is generally regarded as a filler, it is up to now not clear how much filling effect it could have and how best the filling effect could be utilized. Herein, the packing density and filling effect of LF were studied by measuring the packing densities of LF, (LF + cement) blends and (LF + cement + fine aggregate) blends under dry and wet conditions, and measuring the performance of mortars made with various amounts of LF added. It was found that the addition of LF would not significantly increase the packing density of (LF + cement) blends but would fill into the paste to increase the paste volume and paste film thickness, and improve the flow spread and strength of mortar.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1990.10a
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• pp.131-134
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• 1990

Many papers have been published on drying shrinkage of hardened cement paste and cement mortar. The causes of drying shrinkage in cement mortar may be attributed to its mechanical properties, temperature, curing time and the evaporation of water from cement mortar. This paper deals only with drying shrinkage in cement mortar. In particular, the relationships between water evaporation and drying shrinkage are discussed.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.423-428
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• 2011

Hydration characteristics of cement containing zeolite mined at Daepo in Gyeongbuk province were studied for use as a mineral admixture. The cement paste containing zeolite was characterized by the measurement of heat evolution, XRD, EDS, nitrogen adsorption and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The cement paste containing zeolite exhibited tendencies toward acceleration of paste setting and promotion of cement hydration with the increase of zeolite content. The flow of mortar containing zeolite strongly reduced with increase of zeolite content. Compressive strength of the mortar containing zeolite increased very rapidly at an early age in comparison with plain mortar. These results would be related to aluminum species escaped from zeolite particles during the alkali dealumination of zeolite by the hydration process of cement.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.78-83
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• 2010

This paper presents the feasibility of incorporating ultrafine particles collected in the separator bag filter (separator bag filter cement, SBFC) during the cement manufacturing process as an substitution material for cement. SBFC does not require additional processes needed in the existing processes to manufacture high early strength cement such as modifying mineral components and adjusting the firing temperature. Moreover, it can also solve the issue of efficiency decrease resulted from the increase of the grinding time applied in the existing process of manufacturing microcement. Therefore, this research has examined the characteristics of SBFC and fresh properties and mechanical properties after making paste and mortar using SBFC in order to use SBFC as a material to gain early strength of concrete. For results, analyzing the chemical composition and physical properties of SBFC, its blaine value was $6,953cm^3/g$, about double than that of OPC, but its chemical composition showed no significant difference. According to the result of the paste and mortar examination, the paste and mortar mixed with SBFC showed a lower flowability, earlier setting time, and higher compressive strength than that with OPC. The result of microstructure analysis of paste, the paste mixed with SBFC indicated about 9% lower internal porosity at an early age than that of OPC. The compressive strength and flexural strength of mortar were higher in the order of SBFC ratio of 100, 50 and 0% SBFC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1568-1574
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• 2012

Microbiological calcium carbonate precipitation (MCCP) has been investigated for its ability to improve the durability of cement mortar. However, very few strains have been applied to crack remediation and strengthening of cementitious materials. In this study, we report the biodeposition of Bacillus subtilis 168 and its ability to enhance the durability of cement material. B. subtilis 168 was applied to the surface of cement specimens. The results showed a new layer of deposited organic-inorganic composites on the surface of the cement paste. In addition, the water permeability of the cement paste treated with B. subtilis 168 was lower than that of non-treated specimens. Furthermore, artificial cracks in the cement paste were completely remediated by the biodeposition of B. subtilis 168. The compressive strength of cement mortar treated with B. subtilis 168 increased by about 19.5% when compared with samples completed with only B4 medium. Taken together, these findings suggest that the biodeposition of B. subtilis 168 could be used as a sealing and coating agent to improve the strength and water resistance of concrete. This is the first paper to report the application of Bacillus subtilis 168 for its ability to improve the durability of cement mortar through calcium carbonate precipitation.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.489-495
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• 2007

Effects of ultrafinely ground ash on the rheological properties of cement paste were investigated. Also compressive strength development and setting time of ultrafine ash blended cement mortar were investigated in the study. A sample with silica fume was included for comparison. According to the results of ultra fine ash blended cement paste in the lower W/B ratio, the fluidity were high, and the setting time was a little retarded. And the compressive strength of ultrafine ash blended mortar was increased in the long term. In the case of hardened cement paste at 28 days, $Ca(OH)_2$ contents was decreased in order of control, ultrafine ash, silica fume blended cement due to difference of the pozzolanic reaction.