Optimization of Concrete Durability in Corrosive Environments: Partial Replacement of Microsilica with Natural Pozzolan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17786166Keywords:
Concrete, natural pozzolan, microsilica, site durability testsAbstract
Structural foundations in southern Iran face significant corrosion challenges, necessitating strategies to enhance concrete strength and durability. The construction industry in this region commonly incorporates 8% microsilica by weight of cement to improve performance. However, since microsilica contributes to approximately 70% of total concrete costs, and locally available natural pozzolan is about 90% cheaper, this study investigates the feasibility of partially replacing microsilica with natural pozzolan while maintaining required durability and strength standards. To evaluate this approach, eight concrete mix designs were tested for compressive strength and durability parameters, including water absorption, freeze-thaw resistance, water permeability, chloride migration coefficient, electrical resistivity, and microstructural analysis (SEM/EDS/Mapping). The findings indicate that a mix containing 4% microsilica and 12.5% natural pozzolan achieved comparable durability and void distribution to the standard 8% microsilica mix, demonstrating its potential as a cost-effective alternative. Additionally, this study assessed water absorption testing as a site-based durability evaluation method, which aligns with regional technical specifications. A comparative analysis with other laboratory durability tests revealed a strong correlation, confirming its accuracy, reliability, and cost-effectiveness for field-based durability assessments.
Downloads
References
1. He, J.; Hong, J.; Gao, R.; Liu, F.; Li, L. Experimental Study on Permeability of Spun High Strength Concrete Material during Mechanical Loading. Constr. Build. Mater. 2023, 403, 133034, doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133034.
2. Mobaraki, B.; Vaghefi, M. The Effect of Protective Barriers on the Dynamic Response of Underground Structures. buildings 2024, 14, 3764, doi:doi.org/10.3390/buildings14123764.
3. Mobaraki, B.; Komarizadehasl, S.; Castilla Pascual, F.J.; Lozano-Galant, J.A. Open Source Platforms for Monitoring Thermal Parameters of Structures. In Proceedings of the Bridge Maintenance, Safety, Management, Life-Cycle Sustainability and Innovations; 2019; pp. 3892–3896.
4. Mobaraki, B.; Ma, H.; Lozano Galant, J.A.; Turmo, J. Structural Health Monitoring of 2D Plane Structures. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 2000, doi:10.3390/app11052000.
5. Herath, C.; Gunasekara, C.; Law, D.W.; Setunge, S. Performance of High Volume Fly Ash Concrete Incorporating Additives: A Systematic Literature Review. Constr. Build. Mater. 2020, 258, 120606, doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120606.
6. Aliyah, F.; Kambali, I.; Setiawan, A.F.; Radzi, Y.M.; Rahman, A.A. Utilization of Steel Slag from Industrial Waste for Ionizing Radiation Shielding Concrete: A Systematic Review. Constr. Build. Mater. 2023, 382, 131360, doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131360.
7. Lin Chan, C.; Zhang, M. Effect of Limestone on Engineering Properties of Alkali-Activated Concrete: A Review. Constr. Build. Mater. 2023, 362, 129709, doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.129709.
8. Firdous, R.; Stephan, D.; Djobo, J.N.Y. Natural Pozzolan Based Geopolymers: A Review on Mechanical, Microstructural and Durability Characteristics. Constr. Build. Mater. 2018, 190, 1251–1263, doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.09.191.
9. Shelote, K.M.; Bala, A.; Gupta, S. An Overview of Mechanical, Permeability, and Thermal Properties of Silica Fume Concrete Using Bibliographic Survey and Building Information Modelling. Constr. Build. Mater. 2023, 385, 131489, doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131489.
10. Federowicz, K.; Techman, M.; Sanytsky, M.; Sikora, P. Modification of Lightweight Aggregate Concretes with Silica Nanoparticles-a Review. Materials (Basel). 2021, 14, doi:10.3390/ma14154242.
11. Vaghefi, M.; Mobaraki, B. Evaluation of the Effect of Explosion on the Concrete Bridge Deck Using LS-DYNA. Int. Rev. Civ. Eng. 2021, 12, 135, doi:10.15866/irece.v12i3.19941.
12. Li, L.; Xuan, D.; Chu, S.H.; Lu, J.X.; Poon, C.S. Efficiency and Mechanism of Nano-Silica Pre-Spraying Treatment in Performance Enhancement of Recycled Aggregate Concrete. Constr. Build. Mater. 2021, 301, 124093, doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124093.
13. Mobaraki, B.; Vaghefi, M. Effect of the Soil Type on the Dynamic Response of a Tunnel under Surface Detonation. Combust. Explos. Shock Waves 2016, 52, 363–370, doi:10.1134/S0010508216030175.
14. Çevik, A.; Alzeebaree, R.; Humur, G.; Niş, A.; Gülşan, M.E. Effect of Nano-Silica on the Chemical Durability and Mechanical Performance of Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete. Ceram. Int. 2018, 44, 12253–12264, doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.04.009.
15. Mobaraki, B.; Vaghefi, M. Numerical Study of the Depth and Cross-Sectional Shape of Tunnel under Surface Explosion. Tunn. Undergr. Sp. Technol. 2015, 47, 114–122, doi:10.1016/j.tust.2015.01.003.
16. Uzal, B.; Turanli, L.; Mehta, P.K. High-Volume Natural Pozzolan Concrete for Structural Applications. ACI Mater. J. 2007, 104, 535–538, doi:10.14359/18910.
17. Rodríguez-Camacho, R.E.; Uribe-Afif, R. Importance of Using the Natural Pozzolans on Concrete Durability;
18. Lam, L.; Wong, Y.L.; Poon, C.S. Degree of Hydration and Gel/Space Ratio of High-Volume Fly Ash/Cement Systems. Cem. Concr. Res. 2000, 30, 747–756, doi:10.1016/S0008-8846(00)00213-1.
19. Mobaraki, A.; Nikoofam, M.; Mobaraki, B. The Nexus of Morphology and Sustainable Urban Form Parameters as a Common Basis for Evaluating Sustainability in Urban Form. Sustain. 2025.
20. Hosseinzadehfard, E.; Mobaraki, B. Investigating Concrete Durability: The Impact of Natural Pozzolan as a Partial Substitute for Microsilica in Concrete Mixtures. Constr. Build. Mater. 2024, 419, doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.135491.
21. Porras Soriano, R.; Mobaraki, B.; Lozano-Galant, J.A.; Sanchez-Cambronero, S.; Prieto Muñoz, F.; Gutierrez, J.J. New Image Recognition Technique for Intuitive Understanding in Class of the Dynamic Response of High-Rise Buildings. Sustainability 2021, 13, 3695, doi:10.3390/su13073695.
22. Mobaraki, B.; Lozano-Galant, F.; Soriano, R.P.; Pascual, F.J.C. Application of Low-Cost Sensors for Building Monitoring: A Systematic Literature Review. Buildings 2021, 11, 336, doi:10.3390/BUILDINGS11080336.
