Publications related to Development and evaluation of methods to follow microstructural development of cementitious systems including slags

Decarbonization potential of steel fibre-reinforced limestone calcined clay cement concrete one-way slabs

This study deals with a comparison of the environmental performance of one-way slabs utilizing steel fibrereinforced limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) concrete with the control case of Ordinary Portland cement concrete. The experimental program constitu ...

Elsevier Sci Ltd2024

Water weakening and the compressive brittle strength of carbonates: Influence of fracture toughness and static friction

Marie Estelle Solange Violay, Barnaby Padraig Fryer, Corentin Jean-Marie Rémi Noël

Water is ubiquitous within the pore space of rocks and has been shown to affect their physical and mechanical behaviour. Indeed, water can act on the rock strength via mechanical (i.e., reducing the effective stresses) or chemical effects (e.g., mineral di ...

2024

Contradict mechanism of long-term magnesium and sodium sulfate attacks of nano silica-modified cement mortars - Experimental and thermodynamic modeling

Qiao Wang

The mechanisms of external sulfate attack on cement mortars containing nano silica have been studied under full immersion conditions after 3 years. The sulfate degradation processes were compared between sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate solutions with ...

Elsevier Sci Ltd2024

Influence of model uncertainty and long term deformations in action effects calculation in reinforced concrete structures

Xhemsi Malja

Most codes of practice adopt a semi probabilistic design approach for the dimensioning and assessment of structures. Accordingly, structural safety is ensured by performing limit state verifications using design values determined with adequately calibrated ...

EPFL2024

Insights from an extensive triaxial testing campaign on a shale for comparative site characterization of a deep geological repository

Lyesse Laloui, Alessio Ferrari, Eleonora Crisci

Several boreholes were drilled for site comparison of a deep geological repository (DGR) in Northern Switzerland. The main target of the exploration program was the >100m thick Opalinus Clay, the designated host rock encountered at approximately 450 to 100 ...

Elsevier2024

CO2 Capture and Management Strategies for Decarbonizing Secondary Aluminium Production

François Maréchal, Daniel Alexander Florez Orrego, Meire Ellen Gorete Ribeiro Domingos, Réginald Germanier

The production of aluminium largely depends on the use of fossil fuels, resulting in the emission of significant amounts of greenhouse gases. As the aluminium industry is working towards decreasing its environmental burdens, the elimination of direct emiss ...

2024

Micro modeling of irregular stone masonry walls using mathematical programming

Katrin Beyer, Qianqing Wang, Ketson Roberto Maximiano Dos Santos

While understanding the shear strength of stone masonry structures is important for the design and the mainte- nance, we still lack computational tools for predicting the strength as a function of the stone layout. Here we implement an end-to-end image bas ...

Springer2024

The Effect of Rivers on Energy Balance at the Neighborhood Scale. A comparative analysis of four Rhodanian sites in France and Switzerland

Emmanuel Rey, Sara Sonia Formery Regazzoni, Martine Laprise, Sergi Aguacil Moreno

This research aims to compare the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of new neighbourhood projects near the Rhône River in France and Switzerland. The study considers the influence of the river on energy demand and resilience to climate change of 12 project-ba ...

Wrocław University of Science and Technology Publishing House2024

The role of Zn in C-S-H atomic structure, nucleation and growth

Anna Morales Melgares

The most promising solution towards cementitious materials with a lower carbon footprint is the partial substitution of the clinker by supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, limestone and calcined clays. The produc ...

EPFL2023

Influence of temperature on phase assemblages of belite-ye'elimite cement

Karen Scrivener, Barbara Lothenbach, Natechanok Chitvoranund, Diana Londoño Zuluaga

This paper studies the effect of temperature on the phase assemblages of belite-ye'elimite cement. A comparison is made between thermodynamic modelling and experimental data at 28 and 180 days of hydration at 5, 20, 40, and 60 degrees C. The fast reaction ...

Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd2023

Characterisation and hydration kinetics of beta-C2S synthesised with K2SO4 as dopant

Karen Scrivener, Shashank Bishnoi, Franco Alberto Zunino Sommariva, Sreejith Krishnan

In this study, a protocol for synthesising beta-C2S using K2SO4 as a dopant has been reported. Quantitative X-Ray diffraction was used to characterise synthesised samples. It was observed that it is possible to synthesise beta-C2S with high purity (>96 wt% ...

Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd2023

Atomistic modeling of C-S-H: bulk and surface

Ziga Casar

By replacing part of Portland cement with so-called supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) it is possible to reduce the CO2 footprint of the cement industry. These SCMs are commonly limestone, calcined clay, slag and fly ash. While doing so the early ...

EPFL2023

Durability Challenges of Low-Grade Calcined Clay Opposed to High-Volume Fly Ash in General Purpose Concrete

Karen Scrivener, Matea Flegar

With the decrease in availability of common supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash in Europe, the search for appropriate SCMs should be dealt with locally. A com-bination of abundant low-grade calcined clay and limestone powder has pro ...

AMER SOC TESTING MATERIALS2023

Going Below 50% Clinker Factor in Limestone Calcined Clay Cements (LC3): A Comparison with Pozzolanic Cements from the South American Market

Karen Scrivener, Franco Alberto Zunino Sommariva

Limestone calcined clays are a promising technology as they offer similar performance to OPC from 7 days onwards, while enabling a reduction of the clinker content of 50%. In some regions of the world like South America, pozzolanic cements (i.e., blended c ...

SPRINGER INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING AG2023

Influence of Low- to Medium-Kaolinite Clay on the Durability of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) Concrete

Karen Scrivener, Matea Flegar

The kaolinite content is principally responsible for the durability performance of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3), which calls into question its global applicability. The clay supply has a significant impact on the LC3 system's reduced carbon footpri ...

MDPI2023

Atomic-Level and Surface Structure of Calcium Silicate Hydrate Nanofoils

Paul Bowen, Karen Scrivener, Aslam Kunhi Mohamed, Ziga Casar

Deciphering the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) surface is crucial for unraveling the mechanisms of cement hydration and property development. Experimental observations of C-S-H in cement systems suggest a surface termination which is fundamentally differ ...

AMER CHEMICAL SOC2023

Data-driven optimization tool for the functional, economic, and environmental properties of blended cement concrete using supplementary cementitious materials

Hisham Tarek Mohamed Hafez

The need to produce more sustainable concrete is proving imminent given the rising environmental concerns facing the industry. Blended cement concrete, based on any of the prominent supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash, ground granul ...

ELSEVIER2023

Unidirectional penetration approach for characterizing sulfate attack mechanisms on cement mortars and pastes

Karen Scrivener, Qiao Wang, William Wilson

Degradation of cementitious materials by sulfate ions is commonly classified into chemical and physical sulfate attack. So-called "physical" attack dominates in many field situations, but laboratory testing focuses on "chemical" attack under full-immersion ...

Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd2023

Incorporation of Lignin in Bio-Based Resins for Potential Application in Fiber-Polymer Composites

Mário Alexandre De Jesus Garrido, Mateus De Assunção Hofmann

Bio-based resins, obtained from renewable raw materials, are a more sustainable alternative to oil-based resins for fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The incorporation of lignin in those resins has the potential to enhance their performance. This ...

MDPI2023

Does carbon footprint reduction impair mechanical properties and service life of concrete?

Karen Scrivener, Diana Londoño Zuluaga

The aim of this study is to evaluate how much the changes in the concrete mix design, which enable carbon footprint reduction, are impacting mechanical properties and predicted service life of concrete structure. The starting point of this study was concre ...

SPRINGER2023