Investigation of sandstone by-products as supplementary cementitious materials and fine aggregate

PhD by Publication


Cao, Yubin. 2022. Investigation of sandstone by-products as supplementary cementitious materials and fine aggregate. PhD by Publication Doctor of Philosophy (DPHD). University of Southern Queensland. https://doi.org/10.26192/w8w6z
Title

Investigation of sandstone by-products as supplementary cementitious materials and fine aggregate

TypePhD by Publication
AuthorsCao, Yubin
Supervisor
1. FirstProf Hao Wang
2. SecondDr Zuhua Zhang
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Qualification NameDoctor of Philosophy (DPHD)
Number of Pages192
Year2022
PublisherUniversity of Southern Queensland
Place of PublicationAustralia
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.26192/w8w6z
Abstract

Annually, a large volume of concrete is produced for infrastructure and housing building all over the world. Fine aggregate and cement as the main components of concrete are facing the problems of resource shortage and serious environmental pollution. It is worth noting that the output and storage of supplementary cementitious materials for preparing green concrete is facing the inability to meet the demand for clinker replacement. Recycling and value-added reutilization of industrial by-products to produce building materials to alleviate resource shortages and pollution has shown feasibility and has gradually attracted more interest.

Sandstone by-products are generated during the mining process. Different from previous studies that applied sandstone by-products as coarse aggregates, this research explored the potential of using sandstone by-products to produce and expand the sources of high-quality fine aggregate (sandstone sand) and supplementary cementitious materials (sandstone clay). One tonne of sandstone clay is produced for every 4 tonnes of sandstone sand. This thesis firstly investigated the chemical composition and physical properties of sandstone sand and thereby its application in mortar was studied. Secondly, the thermal activation mechanism and pozzolanic reactivity of sandstone clay (SC) were systematically investigated. Finally, the thermal stability of activated SC blended limestone calcined clay cement was studied.

Compared with river sand, sandstone sand exhibited better particle size distribution and similar microscopic morphology. Study found that sandstone sand contained around 15.7 % fine quartz particles smaller than 150 microns, which significantly reduced the workability. Compared with the method of increasing the water to binder ratio, adding 0.2% superplasticizer was more effective in improving the workability and achieving higher compressive strength and denser pore structure. It was found that although sandstone sand showed potential alkali silica reaction (ASR) risk, the incorporation of SCMs could significantly inhibit ASR-induced expansion. Additionally, length change caused by ASR showed a good linear relationship with the mass change, which can be used as an index to evaluate the ASR properties of fine aggregate.

On the other hand, sandstone clay contains around 50 wt. % kaolinite, which was the potential source of pozzolanic reactivity. FTIR and NMR results showed that the pozzolanic reactivity of the calcined clay comes not only from the kaolinite dehydroxylation process, but also from the variation of the Al and Si coordination environments resulting from the breakage of the Si-O-Al bond. Isothermal calorimetry results indicated that, compared with active silicon, the active alumina in the metakaolin played a major role in the early hydration. Finally, according to the definition of pozzolans, three methods of pozzolanic reactivity evaluation were designed to evaluate thermally activated sandstone clay with different calcination parameters.

For the application of calcined sandstone clay, the phase evolution and microstructure development of activated sandstone clay blended limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) at moderate temperatures (100 - 400 ºC) was investigated from macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic. Compared with PC, LC3 exhibited superior thermal resistance. After moderate temperature treatments, PC products were more sensitive than LC3 in terms of length change and the generation of cracks. It was found that the open porosity of both PC and LC3 samples increased significantly after thermal treatments due to the evaporation of free and chemically bound water and the decomposition of hydration products. Research by NMR analysis found that LC3 samples contained longer mean chain length (MCL) and lower Si/Al ratio in C-(A)-S-H gel, which was attributed to the addition of calcined clay, resulting in producing more C-(A)-S-H. Because of presence of aluminum in C-(A)-S-H gel, LC3 possessed superior heat resistance.

KeywordsFine aggregate; supplementary cementitious materials; kaolinitic clay; limestone calcined clay cement; thermal stability
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020400504. Construction engineering
400505. Construction materials
401602. Composite and hybrid materials
Public Notes

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.

Byline AffiliationsSchool of Engineering
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/w8w6z/investigation-of-sandstone-by-products-as-supplementary-cementitious-materials-and-fine-aggregate

Download files


Published Version
Yubin Cao - Thesis_Redacted.pdf
File access level: Anyone

  • 48
    total views
  • 16
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 2
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Assessment of the performance of alkali-activated slag/fly ash using liquid and solid activators: early-age properties and efflorescence
Gong, Jihao, Ma, Yuwei, Wang, Yanru, Cao, Yubin, Fu, Jiyang and Wang, Hao. 2024. "Assessment of the performance of alkali-activated slag/fly ash using liquid and solid activators: early-age properties and efflorescence." Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials. 13 (2), pp. 300-310. https://doi.org/10.1080/21650373.2023.2266837
Intrinsic sulfuric acid resistance of C-(N)-A-S-H and N-A-S-H gels produced by alkali-activation of synthetic calcium aluminosilicate precursors
Wang, Yanru, Cao, Yubin, Zhang, Zuhua, Zhang, Peng, Ma, Yuwei, Wang, Aiguo and Wang, Hao. 2023. "Intrinsic sulfuric acid resistance of C-(N)-A-S-H and N-A-S-H gels produced by alkali-activation of synthetic calcium aluminosilicate precursors." Cement and Concrete Research. 165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2022.107068
Thermal stability of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) at moderate temperatures 100–400 °C
Cao, Yubin, Wang, Yanru, Zhang, Zuhu, Ma, Yuwei and Wang, Hao. 2023. "Thermal stability of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) at moderate temperatures 100–400 °C ." Cement and Concrete Composites. 135, pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2022.104832
Oral care measures for preventing nursing home-acquired pneumonia (Review)
Cao, Yubin, Liu, Chang, Lin, Jie, Ng, Linda, Needleman, Ian, Walsh, Tanya and Li, Chunjie. 2022. "Oral care measures for preventing nursing home-acquired pneumonia (Review)." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2022 (11), pp. 1-46. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012416.pub3
Study of acidic degradation of alkali-activated materials using synthetic C-(N)-A-S-H and N-A-S-H gels
Wang, Yanru, Cao, Yubin, Zhang, Zuhua, Huang, Jizhong, Zhang, Peng, Ma, Yuwei and Wang, Hao. 2022. "Study of acidic degradation of alkali-activated materials using synthetic C-(N)-A-S-H and N-A-S-H gels." Composites Part B: Engineering. 230, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.109510
Fresh and hardened properties of alkali-activated fly ash/slag binders: effect of fly ash source, surface area, and additives
Wang, Yanru, Cao, Yubin, Ma, Yuwei, Xiao, Shanshan, Hu, Jie and Wang, Hao. 2021. "Fresh and hardened properties of alkali-activated fly ash/slag binders: effect of fly ash source, surface area, and additives." Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials. https://doi.org/10.1080/21650373.2021.1932637
Turning sandstone clay into supplementary cementitious material: activation and pozzolanic reactivity evaluation
Cao, Yubin, Wang, Yanru, Zhang, Zuhua, Ma, Yuwei and Wang, Hao. 2021. "Turning sandstone clay into supplementary cementitious material: activation and pozzolanic reactivity evaluation." Composites Part B: Engineering. 223, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.109137
Recent progress of utilization of activated kaolinitic clay in cementitious construction materials
Cao, Yubin, Wang, Yanru, Zhang, Zuhua, Ma, Yuwei and Wang, Hao. 2021. "Recent progress of utilization of activated kaolinitic clay in cementitious construction materials." Composites Part B: Engineering. 211, pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.108636
Influence of Elevated Temperatures and Cooling Method on the Microstructure Development and Phase Evolution of Alkali-Activated Slag
Fu, Hua, Mo, Rui, Wang, Penggang, Wang, Yanru, Cao, Yubin, Guang, Wentao and Ding, Yao. 2022. "Influence of Elevated Temperatures and Cooling Method on the Microstructure Development and Phase Evolution of Alkali-Activated Slag." Materials. 15 (6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15062022
Recycled sand from sandstone waste: A new source of high-quality fine aggregate
Cao, Yubin, Wang, Yanru, Zhang, Zuhua and Wang, Hao. 2022. "Recycled sand from sandstone waste: A new source of high-quality fine aggregate ." Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 179, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.106116
Effective Utilization of Waste Glass as Cementitious Powder and Construction Sand in Mortar
Wang, Yanru, Cao, Yubin, Zhang, Peng and Ma, Yuwei. 2020. "Effective Utilization of Waste Glass as Cementitious Powder and Construction Sand in Mortar." Materials. 13 (3), pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13030707
Water absorption and chloride diffusivity of concrete under the coupling effect of uniaxial compressive load and freeze-thaw cycles
Wang, Yanru, Cao, Yubin, Zhang, Peng, Ma, Yuwei, Zhao, Tiejun, Wang, Hao and Zhang, Zuhua. 2019. "Water absorption and chloride diffusivity of concrete under the coupling effect of uniaxial compressive load and freeze-thaw cycles." Construction and Building Materials. 209, pp. 566-576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.091
Oral care measures for preventing nursing home‐acquired pneumonia
Liu, Chang, Cao, Yubin, Ng, Linda, Lin, Jie, Needleman, Ian, Walsh, Tanya and Li, Chunjie. 2018. "Oral care measures for preventing nursing home‐acquired pneumonia." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018 (9), pp. 1-44. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012416.pub2