IMPLICATION OF HIGH-VOLUME MINERAL ADMIXTURE ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MICROSTRUCTURE AT STEEL-CONCRETE INTERFACE

Abstract

The existence of a non-homogeneous unique zone in concrete along the periphery of steel surface is being referred as steel-concrete interface (SCI). The interface between steel and concrete exhibits a porous zone, with a thickness measuring several micrometers. This porous zone thickness around SCI plays a crucial role in influencing bond strength, durability, and is a significant parameter used in service life prediction models for reinforced concrete structures. The value of porous zone thickness around SCI is being assumed and adopted without any practical studies in service life prediction models as well as in reinforced concrete mesoscale structure modelling. In the present study, porous zone thickness was experimentally measured through obtaining backscattered electron images around SCI. Gray scale-based thresholding technique was employed to ascertain the porous zone thickness (PZT) around SCI. Furthermore, the influence of incorporating ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) in high-volume on the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between steel reinforcement bars and the surrounding concrete was investigated. It was observed that porous zone thickness around SCI varies in every other point along the periphery of reinforcement bar. The pozzolanic reaction in high volume GGBS concrete resulted in a substantial decrease of porous zone thickness (PZT) and reduced the accumulation of Portlandite around SCI with the progress in curing age. The factors contributing to the enhanced ultimate bond strength of high volume GGBS concrete compared to control concrete are the decrease in the Porous Zone Thickness (PZT) along with the reduced Ca/Si ratio around the SCI. © 2023, Associated Cement Companies Ltd.. All rights reserved.