Faculty Publications
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Item Recuring studies on concretes subjected to elevated temperatures and suddenly cooled by water quenching(Multi-Science Publishing Co. Ltd, 2015) Yaragal, S.C.; Kittur, M.M.; Babu Narayan, K.S.Concrete is found to undergo degradation when subjected to elevated temperatures during an accidental event, such as fire and lose substantial amount of its original strength. The loss of strength in concrete is mainly attributed to the decomposition of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H) and release of chemically bound water, which begins when the exposure temperature exceeds 500°C. When such a concrete is supplied with water and allowed to recure, it is found to recover substantial amount of its lost strength. This work is carried out to investigate the effect of recuring on strength recovery of un-blended and blended concrete specimen (100 mm cubes) subjected to elevated temperatures from 400°C to 700°C, in steps of 100°C, for a retention period of two hours at the designated temperatures. The concrete cubes immediately after exposure were subjected to thermal shock by quenching them in water, and then temperature of thermally shocked concrete is allowed to cool to room temperature. The cooled specimen were then recured in water for 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 56 days and tested for compressive strength recovery. These studies were carried out for Portland Cement (PC) based concrete and Portland & Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (70% PC + 30% GGBS) based concrete (blended concrete), and some interesting results are presented and discussed in this paper. © 2015, Multi-Science Publishing Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.Item Optimization of ferrochrome slag as coarse aggregate in concretes(Techno Press technop2@chollian.net, 2019) Yaragal, S.C.; Kumar, B.C.; Mate, K.The alarming rate of depletion of natural stone based coarse aggregates is a cause of great concern. The coarse aggregates occupy nearly 60-70% by volume of concrete being produced. Research efforts are on to look for alternatives to stone based coarse aggregates from sustainability point of view. Response surface methodology (RSM) is adopted to study and address the effect of ferrochrome slag (FCS) replacement to coarse aggregate replacement in the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) based concretes. RSM involves three different factors (groUnd granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) as binder, flyash (FA) as binder, and FCS as coarse aggregate), with three different levels (GGBS (0, 15, and 30%), FA (0, 15, and 30%) and FCS (0, 50, and 100%)). Experiments were carried out to measure the responses like, workability, density, and compressive strength of FCS based concretes. In order to optimize FCS replacement in the OPC based concretes, three different traditional optimization techniques were used (grey relational analysis (GRA), technique for order of preference by similarity (TOPSIS), and desirability function approach (DFA)). Traditional optimization techniques were accompanied with principal component analysis (PCA) to calculate the weightage of responses measured to arrive at the final ranking of replacement levels of GGBS, FA, and FCS in OPC based concretes. Hybrid combination of PCA-TOPSIS technique is foUnd to be significant when compared to other techniques used. 30% GGBS and 50% FCS replacement in OPC based concrete was arrived at, to be optimal. © 2019 Techno-Press, Ltd.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 Effect of slag and solid activator on flowability and compressive strength of fly ash based one-part geopolymer pastes(Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Srinivasa, A.S.; Swaminathan, K.; Yaragal, S.C.The geopolymerization process has led to the transformation of industrial by-products into sturdy and long-lasting construction materials, such as geopolymer binders, which can be used to mitigate the massive CO2 emissions associated with the production of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). These binders are produced from aqueous solutions of alkali activators and alumina and silica rich industrial waste materials. Strong, caustic, and viscous aqueous solutions are used in alkali activation. Its handling, usability, and mass production are all tough, even transport and site difficulties compound these issues. The solid alumina-silica rich components, solid alkali activators, and free water are dry mixed in this work to create a unique “one-part” or “simply add water” geopolymer binder that is equivalent to OPC in its manufacture. Researchers looked at the flowability and compressive strength properties of fly ash based one-part geopolymer mixes while adding ground granulated blast furnace slag and a solid activator (anhydrous sodium metasilicate powder). At the 25 and 50% replacement levels, GGBS was used in place of fly ash. Solid activator content varied from 8 to 16% at an interval of 2% for each replacement level of GGBS. Microstructural and mineralogical alterations were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. According to the findings of the tests, the flowability and compressive strength improved with decreasing slag and solid activator concentration. It was found that activator content increments beyond 12% result in minor reduction in compressive strength, and that the highest compressive strength was measured at 50% GGBS and 12% activator content. Both flowability and compressive strength were improved by the 50% GGBS and 12% activator mixture, which also displayed symptoms of having a dense and compacted microstructure. © 2023Item Microstructural and optimization studies on novel one-part geopolymer pastes by Box-Behnken response surface design method(Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Srinivasa, A.S.; Swaminathan, K.; Yaragal, S.C.This paper reports the work on developing an optimized mix proportion of novel one-part geopolymer (OPG) binder produced by dry blending the solid aluminosilicate precursor and solid alkali source and then adding free water to the blended mix similar to the preparation of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). A three-level Box-Behnken Response Surface Method (RSM) design was used to study the properties of OPG mixes at fresh and hardened state and to test and develop the regression models. The Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) substitution, water to geopolymer solids (w/s) ratio, and the activator dosage were considered as the independent variables. The response target values were the flow value, initial and final setting time, and compressive strength. The multiple regression analysis with the quadratic polynomial model was used to fit the data, which offered an accurate and reliable match to the actual data. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to study changes in microstructure, mineral phase, and molecular bonding of OPG mixes, respectively. Based on the material characterization observation, the change in GGBS addition, w/s ratio, and activator dosage were discovered to have a considerable impact on both the fresh and hardened properties. The optimum mix proportion obtained was 51.39% GGBS substitution, 0.32 w/s, and 12.35% activator content, with 191 mm flow, 68.56 MPa of compressive strength, 59 and 191 mins of initial and final setting time, respectively. The target values obtained using the one-part geopolymer mix with 50% GGBS substitution, 0.3 w/s, and 12% activator content were in close agreement with the target values predicted by the optimized mix, confirming the efficiency of RSM in obtaining the optimum one-part geopolymer mix proportion. © 2023 The AuthorsItem Performance and microstructural investigations of processed lateritic fine aggregates in blended cement mortars exposed to elevated temperatures(Emerald Publishing, 2023) Basavana Gowda, S.N.; Yaragal, S.C.; C, C.; Goudar, S.K.Purpose: In recent years, fire accidents in engineering structures have often been reported worldwide, leading to a severe risk to life and property safety. The present study is carried out to evaluate the performance of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and fly ash–blended laterized mortars at elevated temperatures. Design/methodology/approach: This test program includes the replacement of natural river sand with lateritic fine aggregates (lateritic FA) in terms of 0, 50 and 100%. Also, the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was replaced with fly ash and GGBS in terms of 10, 20, 30% and 20, 40 and 60%, respectively, for producing blended mortars. Findings: This paper presents results related to the determination of residual compressive strengths of lateritic fine aggregates-based cement mortars with part replacement of cement by fly ash and GGBS exposed to elevated temperatures. The effect of elevated temperatures on the physical and mechanical properties was evaluated with the help of microstructure studies and the quantification of hydration products. Originality/value: A sustainable cement mortar was produced by replacing natural river sand with lateritic fine aggregates. The thermal strength deterioration features were assessed by exposing the control specimens and lateritic fine aggregates-based cement mortars to elevated temperatures. Changes in the mechanical properties were evaluated through a quantitative microstructure study using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The phase change of hydration products after exposure to elevated temperatures was qualitatively analyzed by greyscale thresholding of SEM images using Image J software. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.Item Numerical and experimental studies on sustainable alkali activated concretes at elevated temperatures(Emerald Publishing, 2023) Yaragal, S.C.; Kumar, B.; Abhinav, M.U.Purpose: To reduce environmental impact caused by excessive use of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and to mitigate scarcity of base materials such as natural coarse aggregate (NCA), industrial by-products can be carefully used as alternatives to OPC and NCA, in production of concrete. This paper aims to describe the performance of using ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), fly ash (FA) as a complete replacement to OPC and ferrochrome slag (FCS) as replacement to NCA in production of novel FCS based alkali activated slag/fly ash concretes (AASFC) and evaluate their performance at elevated temperatures. Design/methodology/approach: Two control factors with three levels each i.e. FA (0, 25 and 50 per cent by weight) and FCS (0, 50 and 100 per cent by volume) as a GGBS and NCA replacement, respectively, were adopted in AASFC mixtures. Further, AASFC mixture specimens were subjected to different levels of elevated temperature, i.e. 200°C, 400°C, 600°C and 800°C. Compressive strength and residual compressive strength were considered as responses. Three different optimization techniques i.e. gray relational analysis, technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution and Desirability function approach were used to optimize AASFC mixtures subjected to elevated temperatures. Findings: As FA replacement increases in FCS based AASFC mixtures, workability increases and compressive strength decreases. The introduction of FCS as replacement to NCA in AASFC mixture did not show any significant change in compressive strength under ambient condition. AASFC produced with 75 per cent GGBS, 25 per cent FA and 100 per cent FCS was found to have excellent elevated temperature enduring properties among all other AASFC mixtures studied. Originality/value: Although several studies are available on using GGBS, FA and FCS in production of OPC-based concretes, present study reports the performance of novel FCS based AASFC mixtures subjected to elevated temperatures. Further, GGBS, FA and FCS used in the present investigation significantly reduces CO2 emission and environmental degradation associated with OPC production and NCA extraction, respectively. © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited.Item One-part eco-friendly alkali-activated concrete – An innovative sustainable alternative(Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Rakesh Kumar Reddy, R.; Yaragal, S.C.; Srinivasa, A.S.The primary objective of this study is to develop an eco-friendly one-part alkali-activated concrete (OPAAC) by incorporating a combination of fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), and micro silica (MS). In this investigation, the proportion of MS is maintained at 20% of FA, while the maximum replacement of FA with GGBS is set to 60%, varying in 20% intervals (i.e., 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60%). Further, the natural aggregates (NA) are substituted with recycled coarse aggregates (RCAs), ferrochrome slag aggregates (FCSAs), or a combination of both. The influence of GGBS and alternative aggregates (RCAs, FCSAs) on the mechanical properties of OPAAC is thoroughly examined. To provide a comprehensive assessment, the properties of OPAAC are compared against Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete (CC) of equivalent grades. Additionally, microstructural and mineralogical investigations are conducted to determine the formation of distinct hydration products, utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) techniques. In OPAAC containing FA, the primary hydration products identified are alkaline alumino silicate hydrates (CASH and NASH). As the GGBS content increases, calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) becomes the predominant hydration product. Furthermore, in order to assess the sustainability of OPAAC, an analysis of embodied CO2 emissions is performed, and the results are compared with CC and alkali-activated concrete. Notably, OPAAC comprising 40% FA replaced with GGBS, 50% RCAs, and 50% FCSAs demonstrates the most favourable mechanical properties and exhibits lower CO2 emissions. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd