Comparative carbon emission assessments of recycled and natural aggregate concrete:Environmental influence of cement content

This work examines the environmental and geochemical impact of recycled aggregate concrete produc-tion with properties representative for structural applications.The environmental influence of cement content,aggregate production,transportation,and waste landfilling is analysed by undertaking a life cycle assessment and considering a life cycle inventory largely specific for the region.To obtain a detailed insight into the optimum life cycle parameters,a sensitivity study is carried out in which supplementary cementitious materials,different values of natural-to-recycled aggregate content ratio and case-specific transportation distances were considered.The results show that carbon emissions were between 323 and 332 kgCO2e per cubic metre of cement only natural aggregate concrete.These values can be reduced by up to 17％by replacing 25％of the cement with fly ash.By contrast,carbon emissions can increase when natural coarse aggregates are replaced by recycled aggregates in proportions of 50％and 100％,and trans-portation is not included in analysis.However,the concrete with 50％recycled aggregate presented lower increase,only 0.3％and 3.4％for normal and high strength concrete,respectively.In some cases,the rel-ative contribution of transportation to the total carbon emissions increased when cement was replaced by fly ash in proportions of 25％,and case-specific transportation distances were considered.In absolute values,the concrete mixes with 100％recycled aggregates and 25％fly ash had lower carbon emissions than concrete with cement and natural aggregates only.Higher environmental benefits can be obtained when the transportation distances of fly ash are relatively short(15-25 km)and the cement replacement by fly ash is equal or higher than 25％,considering that the mechanical properties are adequate for prac-tical application.The observations from this paper show that recycled aggregate concrete with strength characteristics representative for structural members can have lower carbon emissions than conventional concrete,recommending them as an alternative to achieving global sustainability standards in construction.     

Behavior of expansive soils stabilized with fly ash

Expansive soils cause serious problem in the civil engineering practice due to swell and shrinkage upon wetting and drying. Disposal of fly ash, which is an industrial waste in both cost-effective and environment-friendly way receives high attention in China. In this study, the potential use and the effectiveness of expansive soils stabilization using fly ash and fly ash-lime as admixtures are evaluated. The test results show that the plasticity index, activity, free swell, swell potential, swelling pressure, and axial shrinkage percent decreased with an increase in fly ash or fly ash-lime content. With the increase of the curing time for the treated soil, the swell potential and swelling pressure decreased. Soils immediately treated with fly ash show no significant change in the unconfined compressive strength. However, after 7 days curing of the fly ash treated soils, the unconfined compressive strength increased significantly. The relationship between the plasticity index and swell-shrinkage properties for pre-treated and post-treated soils is discussed.     

高钙粉煤灰加固促淤地基机理和性状试验研究

结合高钙粉煤灰与上海浦东国际机场工期促淤软土拌和后加固土体的室内外试验,指出高钙粉煤灰足加固促淤软土地基的一种新型材料。基于在不同掺灰量、不同游离氧化钙含量和添加不同激发剂情形下拌和灰土的室内物理力学性能试验,探讨了高钙粉煤灰加固促淤软土的固化机理和工程特性,加固后土体在无侧限抗压强度、变形、渗透特性以及抗液化能力等方面均有明显改善,指出灰土强度与掺灰量、土体改性激发剂的品种和数量以及养护龄期有关,高钙灰与土体拌和后自膨胀特性下降为12％,消除了高钙灰的体积不稳定问题。现场进行粉喷桩加固软土地基试验表明,复合软土地基的极限承载力达到240kPa以上,可以替代水泥土搅拌桩,桩间土体强度和变形也得到改善。加固场地地下水质分析表明,高钙灰加固促淤软土地基不会影响地下水质和环境。     

Geotechnical Properties of Low Calcium and High Calcium Fly Ash

In this paper, a comparative study has been made for physical and engineering properties of low calcium and high calcium Indian fly ash. The grain size distribution of fly ash is independent of lime content. Fly ash particles of size >75 μm are mostly irregular in shape whereas finer fractions are spherical for low calcium fly ash. For high calcium fly ash, chemical and mineralogical differences have been observed for different size fractions. Compared to low calcium fly ash, optimum moisture content is low and maximum dry density is high for high calcium fly ash. Optimum moisture content is directly proportional and maximum dry density is inversely proportional to the carbon content. The mode and duration of curing have significant effect on strength and stress–strain behavior of compacted fly ash. The gain in strength with time for high calcium fly ash is very high compared to that of low calcium fly ash due to presence of reactive minerals and glassy phase.     

Stress–Strain Behaviour of Flowable Fill

Flowable fill is a self-levelling and self-compacting, cementitious material which is primarily used as a backfill. It is a mixture of fine aggregates, small amount of cement, water and a by-product material. In this present experimental study, three industrial by-products namely fly ash, rice husk ash and quarry dust were used as constituent materials in flowable fill. Mix proportions were developed for different combination of these industrial by-products, in addition to small amount of cement content. The main objective of the present investigation is to study the stress–strain behaviour of these mixes, namely unconfined compressive strength (UCS), strain corresponding to peak stress, strain corresponding to fracture and modulus of elasticity. In addition, several mixes were tested for few other properties such as flowability, density, water-absorption and volume changes. The range of strengths, strains and moduli of elasticity obtained for these flowable fill mixtures represents different types of clay soils ranging from soft clays to very stiff clays. Thus, industrial by-products such as fly ash, rice husk ash and quarry dust can be beneficially added in flowable fill that offers comparable strengths to soils used for conventional fills and many other low-strength applications.     

武汉地区粉煤灰和膨润土双掺合剂水泥土性能改良试验研究

近年来,水泥土被广泛应用于土体加固工程,其强度与加固效果密切相关。为研究膨润土和粉煤灰掺量对水泥土性能的影响,对25组不同膨润土和粉煤灰掺量的水泥土进行基本力学性能试验。通过抗压强度试验,发现当粉煤灰和膨润土掺量分别为40%和11%时,28 d的水泥土抗压强度最大,为7.30 MPa;当粉煤灰和膨润土掺量分别为20%和7%时,90 d的水泥土抗压强度最大,为7.19 MPa。通过室内直接剪切试验,发现当粉煤灰和膨润土掺量分别为20%和11%时,28 d的水泥土抗剪强度参数粘聚力c最大,为1144.8 kPa;当粉煤灰和膨润土掺量分别为30%和5%时,90 d的水泥土抗剪强度参数粘聚力c最大,为1753.71 kPa。研究成果可以为武汉地区的粉煤灰和膨润土双掺合剂改良水泥土的现场施工提供参考依据。     

掺土粉煤灰的工程性质试验研究

粉煤灰是火电厂燃煤的副产品,如何处理利用是国内外十分关注的问题。目前,解决这一问题的途径很多,利用粉煤灰进行筑坝或作为基础填筑材料是比较有效的消纳方法。粉煤灰是一种轻质、多孔松散体,在许多方面具有比较优越的工程性能,但因为纯的粉煤灰缺少必要的凝聚力,对水的反映较为敏感,从而对工程的安全运行造成不利影响。在粉煤灰中掺合不同量的黏土有望改善粉煤灰的工程性能,对不同掺土量粉煤灰力学特性的研究有助于更好促进粉煤灰的工程应用。以咸阳渭河电厂粉煤灰为研究对象,对其掺入不同比例的黄土掺合形成掺土粉煤灰,通过击实试验、压缩试验、直剪试验和三轴试验等研究不同掺土量下粉煤灰的工程特性,得到不同掺土量对粉煤灰变形及强度特性的影响规律,为在工程中有效利用粉煤灰,改善其工程性质提供参考。     

电阻率法评价膨胀土改良的物化过程

掺石灰、粉煤灰是工程中通常采用的改良膨胀土的方法。土电阻率是土的基本物理指标之一,其变化可反映土的其他物理性质指标的变化。通过掺灰改良膨胀土不同养护龄期下的电阻率测试以及膨胀量、膨胀力及无侧限抗压强度等试验研究,探讨了掺灰改良膨胀土养护过程中的物理化学反应过程。根据养护过程中的电阻率随龄期的变化规律,可将改良膨胀土的物理化学反应过程划分为瞬时反应阶段、主体反应阶段、残余反应阶段和稳定阶段4个不同阶段。针对改良膨胀土质量控制和评价体系中存在的不足,提出了基于电阻率指标的改性膨胀土的质量评价方法,通过试验证实了该方法的有效性和实用性。     

Laboratory Comparison of Crushed Aggregate and Recycled Pavement Material With and Without High Carbon Fly Ash

In-place recycling of asphalt pavement materials is a sustainable rehabilitation method. Existing hot-mix asphalt (HMA) layer is pulverized and blended with some or the entire base course and possibly some subgrade to form a broadly graded material referred to as recycled pavement material (RPM). The RPM is then compacted as the new base course and overlaid by a new layer of HMA. In some occasions, additives are added to increase the strength of RPM base course, such as cement, emulsion, fly ash. It is plausible to utilize high calcium high carbon fly ash, as the high level of carbon prevents fly ash from being used in concrete. A series of laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of these materials, including crushed aggregate, untreated RPM, and treated RPM with high carbon fly ash. The tests included compaction, California Bearing Ratio, resilient modulus, and unconfined compressive strength for treated RPM. The engineering properties of these materials were compared.     

Geotechnical characterization of fly ash composites for backfilling mine voids

Backfilling of mine voids is mandatory to avoid subsequent ground stability problems in the form of subsidence. River sand and mill tailings have been widely used since a long time as backfilling materials. However, with a strict regulation banning river sand mining in India, research for developing alternative engineering materials substituting sand has gained importance. In the present study four fly ash composite materials (FCMs) was developed from the fly ash obtained from a captive thermal unit of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP). The main constituent of the composite were fly ash, lime and gypsum. Detailed physical, and engineering properties were determined for the FCMs. Significant increases in the compressive strength were obtained after 56 days of curing time. A detailed SEM studies was undertaken to account for the increase in strength with time. The fly ash composite developed from RSP has potential to be used as substitute to sand for backfilling the mine voids.     

高钙粉煤灰固化重金属污染土的工程性质试验研究

高钙粉煤灰是燃煤电厂排出的固体废物,其堆放不仅需占用大量土地,而且对周围环境存在严重威胁。通过系统的室内试验,着重研究了高钙粉煤灰固化铅与锌污染土的工程性质,揭示了其作用机制,探讨了利用高钙粉煤灰固化重金属污染土的可行性。试验结果表明,土体受到重金属离子污染后其无侧限抗压强度降低,掺入高钙粉煤灰可提高土体强度,并能抑制重金属离子的滤出;污染物浓度较低时,固化污染土中的Pb2+和Zn2+均能得到有效固化,污染物浓度较高时,Zn2+的固化效果优于Pb2+。干湿循环试验结果表明,高钙粉煤灰固化污染土的强度随干湿循环次数的增加,先增大后减小;固化土体中重金属离子浓度较低时,滤出液中金属离子浓度随干湿循环次数增加而增大;重金属离子浓度较高时,滤出液中金属离子浓度基本保持不变。     

California Bearing Ratio and Brazilian Tensile Strength of Mine Overburden–Fly Ash–Lime Mixtures for Mine Haul Road Construction

The production and utilization of coal is based on well-proven and widely used technologies. Fly ash, a coal combustion byproduct, has potential to produce a composite material with controlled and superior properties. The major challenges with the production of fly ash are in its huge land coverage, adverse impact on environment etc. It puts pressure on the available land particularly in a densely populated country like India. In India the ash utilization percentage has not been very encouraging in spite of many attempts. Stabilization of fly ash is one of the methods to transfer the waste material into a safe construction material. This investigation is a step in that direction. This paper presents the results of an investigation on compressive strength and bearing ratio characteristics of surface coal mine overburden material and fly ash mixes stabilized with lime for coal mine haul road construction. Tests were performed with different percentages of lime (2, 3, 6 and 9%). The effects of lime content and curing period on the bearing ratio and tensile strength characteristics of the stabilized overburden and fly ash mixes are highlighted. Unconfined compressive strength test results cured for 7, 28 and 56 days are presented to develop correlation between different tensile strengths and unconfined compressive strength. Empirical models are developed to estimate bearing ratio and tensile strength of mine overburden–fly ash–quick lime mixtures from unconfined compressive strength test results.     

Utilization of lime,slag and fly ash for improvement of a colluvial soil in New South Wales,Australia

In Australia, colluvial soils form large terrains which are often subjected to considerable erosion and mass movement. This study presents a laboratory evaluation of the improvement effected by hydrated lime, milled blast furnace slag and fly ash on a fine grained (erosive) colluvial soil in New South Wales, Australia. Geotechnical tests were conducted to determine the compaction and consolidation characteristics and the compressive and shear strength properties of the blended and natural soil specimens. The effect of these additives on the Atterberg limits and pH levels is also investigated. As large amounts of fly ash and steel slag are produced in New South Wales, it is economically attractive to utilize these industrial by-products for ground improvement rather than employing conventional methods such as lime treatment. This study demonstrates that for the colluvial soil tested, milled slag is the most effective in terms of improving the internal friction angle of the treated soil, while lime is the most suitable for achieving the optimum compressive strength. Non-pozzolanic fly ash is found to be inappropriate as a soil improving agent. The cost of ground treatment using the various additives is also estimated and compared.     

粉煤灰增强回填碱渣工程特性的试验研究

碱渣与饱和卤水混合制成浆体回填到盐矿废弃盐腔可同时解决碱渣处理问题和地下废弃盐腔存在的地质隐患。回填碱渣强度是影响充填效果的重要因素。因此,为了提高回填碱渣强度,采用掺入粉煤灰制成复合碱渣对其强度特性进行改良。针对不同粉煤灰掺合比的碱渣开展了组成、力学和细观试验。研究结果表明：（1）掺入粉煤灰能明显改善碱渣的强度,使其黏聚力、内摩擦角都大幅提高,抗剪强度大幅增加;（2）粉煤灰掺合比越大,增强效果越明显,但强度并非随掺合比呈线性变化,对黏聚力而言,在0～20%内的掺合比下增加速度最快,而对内摩擦角则在20%～30%的掺合比区间增加最快,对抗剪强度而言,0～20%的掺合比内增加最明显;（3）粉煤灰掺入还可显著改善碱渣的压缩固结特性,使其固结系数大幅提高,从而提高碱渣固结速度,缩短充填工期,其中在0～10%的掺合比内对压缩固结特性改善最显著;（4）矿物组成分析表明,粉煤灰掺入改变了矿物组成,使得亲水性矿物含量急剧锐减,进而改变了其沉积特性。而细观分析则表明,粉煤灰掺入使碱渣从絮凝团细观结构变成了粉煤灰充当骨架的充填结构,且粒间支撑和拉联效应明显。从增强效果提高、压缩固结特性增强、控制成本和工期综合分析表明,最优掺合比为20%左右,建议工程中以不高于20%的掺合比作为实用掺合比即可取得较为理想的充填增强效果。该研究为揭示碱渣增强机制及废弃盐腔碱渣充填工艺优化提供了有益参考。     

Development of a pulverized fly ash suspension grout

A Greek lignite fly ash was selected because of its hydraulic properties and was pulverized to produce a specific surface of 8300 cm²/g, and a gradation with D₁₅, D₅₀, and D₈₅ equal to 1.3 m, 6 m and 20 m, respectively. The pulverized fly ash suspension properties were optimized by adding a suitable superplasticizer and a suitable accelerator at optimum dosages. The experimental evaluation of suspension properties included sedimentation tests, viscosity'measurements, rheological properties, setting times and development of strength with time. Groutability and effectiveness were evaluated by injecting selected suspensions into clean sands. Pulverization improves remarkably the behavior of fly ash suspensions. Suspensions with water to solids ratios of 1.5:1 and 2:1 by weight and containing additives, behave as Bingham fluids, have apparent viscosity lower than 70 cP, bleed capacity lower than 5%, initial setting time lower than 24 h, and can be injected into relatively coarse sands. These characteristics are comparable to those obtained for ordinary and microfine cement suspensions, showing that pulverized fly ash suspensions can be used for permeation grouting.     

粉煤灰改良膨胀土试验研究

研究掺粉煤灰对合肥膨胀土的物理性质指标以及胀缩性指标等的影响,探讨利用粉煤灰改良膨胀土的措施与效果。试验研究结果表明,在膨胀土中掺入适量的粉煤灰可有效降低膨胀土的塑性指数、降低膨胀势、减小线缩率与降低活性。在膨胀土中掺入粉煤灰还可改变膨胀土的击实特性,一定击实功作用下,随着掺灰率的增加,土体的最优含水率与最大干密度均减小,膨胀土中掺入粉煤灰后,膨胀土可在较小的含水率下通过击实或压实达到稳定。掺灰膨胀土的膨胀量与膨胀力随养护龄期的增长而减小;没有经过养护的掺灰土,其无侧限抗压强度随掺灰率的变化几乎没有变化,经过7 d养护后,土的无侧限抗压强度有所增长,并且存在一个峰值点,合肥膨胀土的无侧限抗压强度所对应的最佳掺粉煤灰率约为15 %～20 %。     

不同压实度和基质吸力的粉煤灰三轴试验研究

粉煤灰的非饱和抗剪强度是准确分析非饱和状态灰坝的稳定性所必需的,但目前对其研究积累较少。通过控制不同压实度、不同基质吸力、不同净围压对粉煤灰进行一系列非饱和土三轴试验,探讨压实度和基质吸力对粉煤灰应力?应变关系曲线和强度参数的影响。研究结果表明,基质吸力较低时粉煤灰的应力?应变曲线没有峰值,呈硬化型;基质吸力逐渐增大时应力?应变曲线有明显的峰值,呈软化型;压实度越大,非饱和粉煤灰试样的应力?应变曲线的软化特征越明显,总黏聚力和内摩擦角均越大;非饱和粉煤灰的总黏聚力随着基质吸力的增大而逐渐增大,增大速率逐渐变缓,最后趋于稳定;不同基质吸力粉煤灰试样的内摩擦角变化不大,并且都近似等于饱和试样的内摩擦角;随着基质吸力的增大,吸力内摩擦角对粉煤灰试样的抗剪强度的贡献越来越小。研究得出的非饱和粉煤灰的抗剪强度特性对灰坝的设计和稳定性分析具有理论意义和工程实用价值。     

垃圾焚烧飞灰水泥固化体强度稳定性研究

针对垃圾焚烧飞灰安全处置技术要求,采用水泥对其进行固化、稳定化处理,研究了不同水泥添加量、不同养护时间和渗沥液浸泡时间对固化体无侧限抗压强度及破坏特性的影响,并对垃圾渗沥液的侵蚀机制进行了分析。结果表明：当水泥添加量小于5%,养护时间小于3 d时,飞灰固化体在渗沥液浸泡下迅速解体,垃圾渗沥液的侵蚀对飞灰固化体的强度有较大的影响,浸泡后的固化体呈现出明显的应变软化特征,而未经浸泡的固化体的强度增长符合y=a[1-exp(-bt)]模式。随着水泥添加量及养护时间的增加,飞灰固化体无侧限抗压强度增加,破坏应变减小,而随着浸泡时间的增加,飞灰固化体的无侧限抗压强度先增大后减小,转折点大约在5～7 d,破坏应变近似呈线性增大。渗沥液对飞灰固化体的侵蚀主要是其成分抑制了固化体水化反应和破坏了水化产物。研究成果可为垃圾焚烧飞灰的安全处置技术提供理论依据和参数支持。     

Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash sintered lightweight aggregates and kinetics model establishment

Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash blended with pine sawdust and shale, using a neotype trefoil rotary kiln to form lightweight aggregates, is an effective and a potential means method of fly ash disposal. The optimum sintering conditions of Trefoil rotary kiln were determined in terms of an orthogonal test by measuring the pellets’ bulk density, granule strength, 1 h water absorption. As far as the kinetics is concerned, an integral method of Coats–Redfern was introduced to analyze the kinetics characteristics of the mixture samples. Also, the kinetic triplets (apparent activation energy, pre-exponential factor and reaction order) were estimated by the reaction of kinetics model functions. It is shown that the optimum sintering conditions are as follows: (a) preheating temperature of 500 °C, (b) sintering temperature of 1130 °C, (c) holding time of 4 min. The optimum reaction models of the four stages are Avrami–Erofeev, Mample, Avrami–Erofeev and There-dimensional diffusion (Jander), respectively.     

高掺量粉煤灰绿色建筑材料的开发应用

高掺量粉煤灰（掺量≥50%）绿色建筑制品的研究开发是目前粉煤灰综合利用的重点开发研究课题。高掺量粉煤灰砖固化技术是高效高值利用粉煤灰的一项新技术，具有显著的经济效益、社会效益和环保效益。本课题组发明的粉煤灰固化技术其粉煤灰掺量达到85%以上，砖强度达到10MPa以上，本文对粉煤灰砖的抗冰性能及其强度的影响因素进行了讨论。