Exploring ASEAN Fly Ash for Enhancing Cement Hydration and Service Life Prediction of Portland Cement Mortar

Abstract

The durability of cementitious materials can be improved with the widespread utilization of fly ash (FA). Although FA has been available for use in cement and concrete industries for decades, there is still a practical barrier associated with its application. The difficulty stems from its wide variety and heterogeneity. The purpose of this research is to conduct both experimental and numerical investigations to achieve a better understanding of managing the variation of FA, which reflects its durability. The chemical properties and particle size distribution of FA from five distinct sources in ASEAN region were analyzed. In addition, the degree of reactivity, flow, toughened porosity, and apparent chloride diffusivity coefficients of blended FA-cement systems were studied (D_a). The Life365 service life model was executed. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and sensitivity analysis using linear regression, the experimental outcomes were statistically examined. Having a 15% FA replacement level resulted in a roughly 70% decrease of the D_a value, extending its serviceability by around 13%. The chemo-physical processes in multi-scale structures were shown to be the most important element by statistical analysis, and the degree of response in blended FA-cement systems and its toughened porosity were found to be among the most beneficial aspects affecting its durability.