Mechanical fracture characterization of alkali-activated slag mortars with standardized and natural sand

Abstract

This paper is focused on the development of the physical, mechanical and fracture characteristics of alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortars during ageing. The two AAS mortars were selected for the purpose of the experiment. The difference was in a type of used sand: first mortar was made using the standardized siliceous sand with the maximum nominal grain size of 2 mm and the second mortar using the natural sand with a maximum grain size of 4 mm. The results of the elastic, fracture and strength parameters determined within the time interval of 3 to 330 days of ageing are summarized in the paper. All experimental results were evaluated for the prismatic specimens with dimensions of 40 × 40 × 160 mm and were expressed by the average value and sample standard deviation calculated from three independent measurementsThis paper is focused on the development of the physical, mechanical and fracture characteristics of alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortars during ageing. The two AAS mortars were selected for the purpose of the experiment. The difference was in a type of used sand: first mortar was made using the standardized siliceous sand with the maximum nominal grain size of 2 mm and the second mortar using the natural sand with a maximum grain size of 4 mm. The results of the elastic, fracture and strength parameters determined within the time interval of 3 to 330 days of ageing are summarized in the paper. All experimental results were evaluated for the prismatic specimens with dimensions of 40 × 40 × 160 mm and were expressed by the average value and sample standard deviation calculated from three independent measurements