Portland slag and composites cement concretes: engineering and durability properties

The use of different cementitious main constituents is permitted within the BS EN 197-1 for use in concrete construction. The selection of cement types made depends on requirement of enhanced engineering and durability properties of concrete as well as exploiting potential for producing environmentally friendly concretes for practical applications. The main results of a laboratory experimental programme aimed at examining the performance of Portland-slag and composite cement (CEM II/B-S, CEM II/B-M, CEM V/A and CEM V/B) concrete mixes designed for equivalent 28-day compressive cube strengths of 40 and 50 N/mm(2) are reported in paper. The effect of up to 30-50% of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and its' combination with the silica fume (SF) and fly ash (FA) -within the BS EN 197-1 permitted limits-on fresh, engineering and durability properties have been established and its suitability for use in a range of practical applications was assessed. The loss of workability in all mixes was of a uniform nature and was found to be more for CEM V/B concrete mixes. Studies of hardened concrete properties, comprising bulk engineering properties (compressive cube and cylinder strength, flexural strength, drying shrinkage) and durability (initial surface absorption, carbonation rates) showed enhanced performance for Portland-slag and composite cement concrete mixes of equivalent strength, except resistance to carbonation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.