Construction & Early Performance of Rapid Strength Cement Concrete Mixture in MnROAD Test Cell 2437

Details

• Creators:
  Izevbekhai, Bernard Igbafen ; Aydin, Ceren
• Corporate Creators:
  National Road Research Alliance
• Corporate Contributors:
  Minnesota. Department of Transportation. Office of Materials and Road Research
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Admixtures BCSA Cement Compressive Strength Concrete Mixing Construction Durability Flexural Strength MnROAD Pavement Performance Thixotropic

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  NRRA202601
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Minnesota
• Edition:
  Final Report: 2024-25
• Corporate Publisher:
  Minnesota. Department of Transportation. Office of Research & Innovation
• Abstract:
  This initiative constructed and studied a rapid strength gaining concrete mixture placed in MnROAD Test Cell 2437. The innovative concrete made from a belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement was placed in a 36 ft by 12 ft test section on November 22, 2024, when the ambient temperature was approximately 35°F. The test cell was instrumented with vibrating wire strain gauges, thermistors, and maturity sensors to monitor strength development and performance. Initial laboratory results demonstrated high early compressive strength exceeding control mixtures. However, flexural strengths initially exceeded control cell values but was followed by an unexpected decline thus prompting petrographic and chemical analyses to further investigate internal structural integrity and hydration completeness. Petrographic analysis revealed some microcracking, typical of accelerated strength gain but with no sign of frost damage in spite of the low temperatures that proceeded the paving. It also revealed induced micro-cracking dispersed within the matrix and filled with ettringite. The material also passed the durability ASTM C666 test and was found to be constructible in spite of some anomalous rheological thixotropic tendency it exhibited in transforming from a very mobile and workable mix quickly to a stiff mix within the period of placement and finishing. That feature was associated with early strength gain.
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e9416c1c988867eb85b44e169812bb568d0a64b052811c953534bb1247dc2f08eddf8ae30e7efee20b6c2fba18cbc3aaf989ae592f8d1b9405083bb2ede45bee
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/92398/dot_92398_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.80 MB ]