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Properties of Cellular Concrete Made with Combustion By-Products
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- Author / Creator
- Stolz, Jonathan M
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With growing concern over global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, research must be undertaken to reduce the environmental footprint of buildings. Cellular concrete provides good strength to weight ratios and good thermal insulation because of its cellular structure. This makes it suitable for reducing the energy demands of buildings constructed with this material. However, the Portland cement currently used in cellular concrete releases large amounts of CO2 during its production. Alternative materials to Portland cement can provide lower carbon footprints. Alkali activated materials can fully replace Portland cement with an alumino-silicate source which is reacted with an alkaline solution. Common alumino-silicate sources are often industrial by-products, so the use of alkali activated materials both reduces the need for Portland cement and diverts by-products from landfills. Renewably sourced ashes also have potential for replacing Portland cement. Ash from the burning of hog fuel in the pulp and paper industry can be used to partially replace the Portland cement in concrete mixes. Applying these more environmentally friendly materials to cellular concrete will produce a material with low carbon emissions for production and high environmental performance for buildings constructed using them.
In this thesis, cellular concretes are prepared with cast densities from 100 kg/m3 to 1400 kg/m3 out of alkali activated fly ash, and out of Portland cement blended with up to 20% wood ash. The mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties of these cellular materials are characterised, and the effects of the differing cementitious materials on these properties are analysed. The cellular structure of the materials is characterised through the use of image analysis, and relationships between the structure and the thermal and acoustic properties of the materials are analyzed. -
- Graduation date
- Fall 2018
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
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