Faculty Publications
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Item Microstructural study of steel-concrete interface and its influence on bond strength of reinforced concrete(ASTM International, 2019) Goudar, S.K.; Das, B.B.; Arya, S.B.In this investigation, the variations in steel-concrete interface (SCI) properties, such as porous zone thickness and calcium hydroxide content around the reinforcing steel, were studied with respect to curing time. Three kinds of commercially used cements, ordinary portland cement (OPC), portland pozzolana cement (PPC), and portland slag cement (PSC), were used, and their significance regarding SCI properties was investigated. A reliable thresholding grayscale-based technique was used to determine the porous zone thickness at the SCI. The properties of SCI were found to be quite influenced by the curing period. The PSC concrete showed significant reduction in mean porous zone thickness at SCI compared with OPC and PPC concrete after 90 days of curing. The reduction in mean porous zone thickness can be considered one of the many influencing factors that resulted in increased ultimate bond strength at 90 days of curing. Also, the variation in calcium hydroxide content from the SCI toward the bulk concrete was examined with a scanning electron microscope empowered with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The findings indicate a gradual decrease in calcium hydroxide content away from the steel surface toward the bulk concrete. The prolonged curing resulted in a slightly higher reduction of calcium hydroxide content around the SCI for PPC and PSC concrete because of the pozzolanic reactions. Higher reduction of calcium hydroxide content around the SCI for PPC and PSC concrete is predicted to be the reason for improved ultimate bond strength after prolonged curing. © 2019 by ASTM International.Item Effect of elevated temperatures on ferrochrome ash based mortars(Associated Cement Companies Ltd., 2019) Kumar, B.; Yaragal, S.C.; Das, B.B.Due to boom in construction sector, large amount of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is being consumed. Cement production is energy intensive and releases large amount of CO2 into atmosphere. Efforts are on to bring down cement consumption by the use of secondary cementitious materials. An attempt is made to study the influence of combined effect of various levels of ferrochrome ash (FCA) and lime, as replacement to OPC for different cement mortar mixtures at elevated temperatures. FCA replacement considered is in the range of 0% to 20% and along with 7% lime as replacement to cement. Compressive strength of cementitious materials is being an important parameter in the design of structures. The main objective of this work is to assess the residual compressive strengths at different levels of temperatures (200, 400, 600, and 800ºC) for a retention period of half an hour. Residual strengths of mortar mixtures produced, using FCA, have shown a good performance. Upto 20% FCA and 7% lime, mixture turns out to be a good elevated temperatures enduring material. This would increase the suggested application for environmental friendly materials. Important differences were seen in microstructural observations with scanning electron microscope (SEM) for various levels of FCA and lime incorporated mortars. © 2019, Associated Cement Companies Ltd. All rights reserved.Item Ferrochrome ash – Its usage potential in alkali activated slag mortars(Elsevier Ltd, 2020) Kumar, K.B.; Yaragal, S.C.; Das, B.B.This study is an attempt to develop a sustainable construction material, i.e., alkali activated slag (AAS) in combination with ferrochrome ash (FCA) as a replacement to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The effect of the various levels of FCA (0, 25, and 50%) replacing ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) in AAS mortars with 4% of Na2O dosage is studied. Further, five levels of the modulus of silica (Ms = 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.5, and 1.75) are chosen to achieve targeted compressive strength at 28 days under ambient temperature curing conditions. The compressive strength decreases with the increase in level of the FCA replacement. The targeted design compressive strength is achieved with 25% FCA replacement to GGBS in the AAS mortar system with Ms = 1.25. In addition, microstructure and mineralogical studies are undertaken to ascertain the formation of different hydration products with the aid of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Gismondine and calcium aluminate silicate hydrate (C-A-S-H) are the major hydration products in the AAS mortar mixes. Sodium aluminate silicate hydrate phases (N-A-S-H) are also observed prominently as the FCA replacement level increases in the AAS mortar mixes. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirms the presence of the Si–O-(Si or Al) functional group. The addition of FCA in the AAS system is of vital significance in the reduction of the embodied carbon dioxide (ECO2eq), embodied energy (EEeq) and cost. © 2020 Elsevier LtdItem Pozzolanic reactivity and drying shrinkage characteristics of optimized blended cementitious composites comprising of Nano-Silica particles(Elsevier Ltd, 2022) Snehal, S.; Das, B.B.Measurement of reaction rate amid Pozzolans and portlandite (Ca(OH2) in the pore solution of cementitious system is the essential mechanism that need to be quantified for any blended cementitious system. So, in this study pozzolanic reactivity of multi-blended cementitious composites (binary, ternary and quaternary) was determined and corroborated using three different techniques i.e., strength activity index (SAI), selective dissolution method (SDM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, efforts were made to correlate the measured drying shrinkage values of multi-blended cementitious mix with pozzolanic reactivity indices. Theory of particle packing which works on the basis of modified Andreasen and Andersen model was adopted to design the optimized blended cementitious mixes. It is observed that pozzolanic reactivity was found to be the highest for 3% nano-silica admixed binary cementitious mix, however, this binary mix reported that associated drying shrinkage is a cause of concern. Further measurement on ternary and quaternary blended mix revealed that SCMs at triplet scale (quaternary blended) is found to be equally pozzolanic and also sustainable with respect to the phenomenon of drying shrinkage. This is attributed to the fact that synergic effect of multiple SCMs (quaternary blend) triggered the pozzolanic activity by enhancing the CH consumption rate from the pore solution. From the results of the experimental investigation, it is also proposed that there exists a “three-phase drying system” for all kind of cementitious mixes. Drying shrinkage results also showed best fit in correspondence to measured pozzolanic reactivity indices. © 2021 Elsevier LtdItem Influence of Geopolymerization Factors on Sustainable Production of Pelletized Fly Ash-Based Aggregates Admixed with Bentonite, Lime, and GGBS(American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2023) Sharath, B.P.; Snehal, K.; Das, B.B.; Barbhuiya, S.This experimental research investigates the influence of geopolymerization factors such as Na2O dosages, water and mineral admixture [bentonite (BT), burnt lime (BL), and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS)] on physiomechanical properties of the pelletized fly ash (FA)-based aggregates. Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array was adopted to design the mixing ratios for three kinds of fly ash-based aggregates (in the combinations of FA-BT, FA-BL, and FA-GGBS). The degree of geopolymerization of the produced aggregates was characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Most influential response indices in the production of pelletized aggregates were identified using gray relational analysis. The physiomechanical characteristics of the fly-ash aggregates were significantly improved by admixing BL than that of GGBS and BT. However, pelletization efficiency was seen to be superior for GGBS-substituted fly-ash aggregates. The quantified amount of hydration products, i.e., sodium alumino-silicate hydrate (N-A-S-H)/calcium alumino-silicate hydrate (C-A-S-H) for fly ash-based aggregates intensified on increasing Na2O and mineral admixture dosages. The results strongly suggest the existence of a linear relationship between the quantified amount of N-A-S-H/C-A-S-H and individual pellet strength of produced aggregate. The FTIR spectrum showed strong and broadened bands of Si-O terminal for all types of aggregates, representing the conversion of unreacted minerals to chains of aluminosilicate gel (geopolymerized hydration product). Further, it can also be inferred from gray relational analysis that among all other factors, Na2O content significantly impacted the engineering properties of produced fly ash-based aggregates. © 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.Item 3D printing aspects of fly ash and GGBS admixed binary and ternary blended cementitious mortar(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2025) Mishra, S.K.; Upadhyay, B.; Das, B.B.This study investigates the integration of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and fly ash to sustainably reduce the usage of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in 3D printable mortar to enhance printability and engineering performance. Four mortar mixes were developed, and their printability parameters, such as flowability, extrudability, open time, yield stress, shape retention, and buildability, were assessed. Among mixes, O70G30 (70% OPC, 30% GGBS) showed the best printability, with an 18.3% and 54.3% higher shape retention factor than the control and O70F30 mixes, respectively, which can be attributed to improved particle packing and 5.5% higher yield stress. However, its open time was 22.2% lower than the control. This reduction can be attributed to the finer particle size and higher specific surface area of GGBS, which increased water demand and accelerated the loss of workability. In the hardened state, O70G30 exhibited 24% lower water absorption and 18.5% reduced permeable porosity than the control, indicating a denser microstructure. Printed specimens exhibited anisotropic strength, with the highest values observed on the YZ plane and the lowest on the ZX plane. Depending on the loading direction and mix composition, their compressive strength was 9.4–35.6% lower than that of mould-cast samples, while the flexural strength improved by 16.19% to 40.18%. Microstructural analysis revealed a denser matrix with a lower Ca/Si ratio and enhanced secondary hydration, evidenced by stronger C–S–H peaks in XRD, pronounced Si–O–Si/Al bands in FTIR, and 41.22% higher bound water (WH) with reduced portlandite (CH) in TGA compared to O70F30. These promising results can be attributed to GGBS’s role in enhancing hydration, refining the microstructure, and improving the performance of 3D printable mortar, offering a sustainable and effective pathway for digital construction. Also, the Life Cycle Impact Analysis (LCIA) revealed that the incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) significantly reduces environmental impacts compared to the control mix. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Item Life cycle assessment and environmental impact of blended cementitious mortar with incinerated biomedical waste Ash as partial replacement to cement(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Tripathi, P.; Joshi, S.; Snehal, K.; Das, B.B.In a sustainability-driven world, repurposing industrial byproducts into construction materials is vital for reducing environmental impact and resource conservation. Incinerated biomedical waste ash (IBWA), typically regarded as hazardous landfill waste poses significant environmental challenges. However, high calcium (?45 %) and silicate phases in IBWA contribute to hydration and pozzolanic reaction making it a potentially sustainable cementitious material. From this perspective, this study investigates the life cycle assessment and environmental impact of blended cementitious mortar incorporated with IBWA as a partial replacement for cement, focusing on its ecological and technical benefits. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) confirmed that uutilization of IBWA in cementitious mortar conserves natural resources, reduces embodied energy consumption, lowers CO2 emissions, and minimizes eutrophication and human toxicity potential by capturing heavy metal within hydration products. To ensure environmental safety, TCLP-ICP-MS analysis was conducted, which affirms that IBWA leachate concentrations were well below EPA regulatory limits and further reduced during hydration, stabilizing heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, etc.) in the solidified matrix. The optimal IBWA dosage of 10 % offered a balance between both technical performance and sustainability. The porous and non-spherical morphology of IBWA increased water demand and inter-particle friction, and its SiO? + CaO content (>50 %) enhanced cement hydration. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Xray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses confirmed the progressive formation of secondary hydration products (C-S-H, and C-A-S-H), contributing to densified microstructure (Ca/Si ratio: ?1.2). The final sustainable performance score of 0.77 for the IBWA10 mix signifies an eco-efficient and balanced formulation, offering structural integrity along with environmental and economic advantages. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd