There are increasing research endeavours on the application of nanotechnology in the construction... more There are increasing research endeavours on the application of nanotechnology in the construction industry and lightweight composites. In this study, the influence of different percentage (1%, 2%, and 3% by weight of cement) colloidal nano-silica particles on the mechanical, thermal, and durability properties of lightweight cementitious composites was studied through measurement of compressive strength, flexural response, micro-hardness measurement, pore structure analysis, thermal conductivity, water permeability, and chloride penetration. Moreover, 3D X-ray Compute Tomography together with digital image analysis and 3D fractal analysis was used to characterize the nano-silica, micro-structures, and the fracture surfaces. The experimental results show that incorporating nano-silica particles resulted in a mechanical strength increase up to 45.4 % and a water permeability and chloride migration decrease up to 51.2% and 48.2%, respectively. The micro-structural and 3D fractal analysi...
International Journal of Composite Materials, 2015
This paper reports on a study of the bond between Aramid fibre-reinforced concrete (AF) and glass... more This paper reports on a study of the bond between Aramid fibre-reinforced concrete (AF) and glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars. Three types of GFRP rebars were used, namely, ribbed, helically deformed, and sand-coated bars. Traditional concrete was used as the reference cementitious material. Comparative analysis showed that the compressive strength of the Aramid fibre concrete was lower than that of the traditional concrete and this was attributed to the flocculation of the fibres in the concrete. Conversely, the impact strength of the AF was superior to that of reference concrete. A comparison of the bond strength in the GFRP-reinforced control and the GFRP-reinforced AF concrete samples showed that the introduction of the GFRP rebars in the latter produced mixed results. That is, the bond strength between the concrete and the ribbed bars was increased when Aramid fibres were used. However, the addition of Aramid fibres to the concrete did not increase the bond strength ...
The use of waste materials and industrial by-products in high-strength concrete could increase th... more The use of waste materials and industrial by-products in high-strength concrete could increase the sustainability of the construction industry. In this study, the potential of using copper slag as coarse aggregate in high-strength concrete was experimentally investigated. The effects of replacing gravel coarse aggregate by copper slag particles on the compressive strength, chloride ion- migration, water permeability and impact resistance of highstrength concretes were evaluated. Incorporating copper slag coarse particles resulted in a compressive strength increase of about 14 % on average partly due to the low Ca/Si ratio through the interface area of this concrete (more homogenous internal structure) as confirmed by the energy dispersive X-ray micro chemical analysis. It was also found that the copper slag high-strength concrete provided better ductility and had much greater load carrying capacity compared to gravel high-strength concrete under dynamic conditions. Finally, it was o...
Proceedings of the 17th LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education, and Technology: “Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities and Communities”
The overall objective of this research project was to investigate the feasibility of incorporatin... more The overall objective of this research project was to investigate the feasibility of incorporating 100% recycled aggregates, either waste precast concrete or waste asphalt planning, as replacements for virgin aggregates in structural concrete and to determine the mechanical and environmental performance of concrete containing these aggregates. Four different types of concrete mixtures were designed with the same total water cement ratio (w/c=0.74) either by using natural aggregate as reference or by totally replacing the natural aggregate with recycled material. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) was used as a mineral addition (35%) in all mixtures. The test results showed that it is possible to obtain satisfactory performance for strength characteristics of concrete containing recycled aggregates, if these aggregates are sourced from old precast concrete. However, from the perspective of the mechanical properties, the test results indicated that concrete with RAP aggregate cannot be used for structural applications. In terms of leaching, the results also showed that the environmental behaviour of the recycled aggregate concrete is similar to that of the natural aggregate concrete.
There are increasing research endeavours on the application of nanotechnology in the construction... more There are increasing research endeavours on the application of nanotechnology in the construction industry and lightweight composites. In this study, the influence of different percentage (1%, 2%, and 3% by weight of cement) colloidal nano-silica particles on the mechanical, thermal, and durability properties of lightweight cementitious composites was studied through measurement of compressive strength, flexural response, micro-hardness measurement, pore structure analysis, thermal conductivity, water permeability, and chloride penetration. Moreover, 3D X-ray Compute Tomography together with digital image analysis and 3D fractal analysis was used to characterize the nano-silica, micro-structures, and the fracture surfaces. The experimental results show that incorporating nano-silica particles resulted in a mechanical strength increase up to 45.4 % and a water permeability and chloride migration decrease up to 51.2% and 48.2%, respectively. The micro-structural and 3D fractal analysi...
International Journal of Composite Materials, 2015
This paper reports on a study of the bond between Aramid fibre-reinforced concrete (AF) and glass... more This paper reports on a study of the bond between Aramid fibre-reinforced concrete (AF) and glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars. Three types of GFRP rebars were used, namely, ribbed, helically deformed, and sand-coated bars. Traditional concrete was used as the reference cementitious material. Comparative analysis showed that the compressive strength of the Aramid fibre concrete was lower than that of the traditional concrete and this was attributed to the flocculation of the fibres in the concrete. Conversely, the impact strength of the AF was superior to that of reference concrete. A comparison of the bond strength in the GFRP-reinforced control and the GFRP-reinforced AF concrete samples showed that the introduction of the GFRP rebars in the latter produced mixed results. That is, the bond strength between the concrete and the ribbed bars was increased when Aramid fibres were used. However, the addition of Aramid fibres to the concrete did not increase the bond strength ...
The use of waste materials and industrial by-products in high-strength concrete could increase th... more The use of waste materials and industrial by-products in high-strength concrete could increase the sustainability of the construction industry. In this study, the potential of using copper slag as coarse aggregate in high-strength concrete was experimentally investigated. The effects of replacing gravel coarse aggregate by copper slag particles on the compressive strength, chloride ion- migration, water permeability and impact resistance of highstrength concretes were evaluated. Incorporating copper slag coarse particles resulted in a compressive strength increase of about 14 % on average partly due to the low Ca/Si ratio through the interface area of this concrete (more homogenous internal structure) as confirmed by the energy dispersive X-ray micro chemical analysis. It was also found that the copper slag high-strength concrete provided better ductility and had much greater load carrying capacity compared to gravel high-strength concrete under dynamic conditions. Finally, it was o...
Proceedings of the 17th LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education, and Technology: “Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities and Communities”
The overall objective of this research project was to investigate the feasibility of incorporatin... more The overall objective of this research project was to investigate the feasibility of incorporating 100% recycled aggregates, either waste precast concrete or waste asphalt planning, as replacements for virgin aggregates in structural concrete and to determine the mechanical and environmental performance of concrete containing these aggregates. Four different types of concrete mixtures were designed with the same total water cement ratio (w/c=0.74) either by using natural aggregate as reference or by totally replacing the natural aggregate with recycled material. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) was used as a mineral addition (35%) in all mixtures. The test results showed that it is possible to obtain satisfactory performance for strength characteristics of concrete containing recycled aggregates, if these aggregates are sourced from old precast concrete. However, from the perspective of the mechanical properties, the test results indicated that concrete with RAP aggregate cannot be used for structural applications. In terms of leaching, the results also showed that the environmental behaviour of the recycled aggregate concrete is similar to that of the natural aggregate concrete.
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Papers by Marva Blankson