MICROSTRUCTURAL STUDY ON HIGH PERFORMANCE CONCRETE MADE WITH M SAND

This paper presents a scanning electron microscopy study performed on high performance concrete made with binary and ternary homogenised cement concretes. Concrete specimens were prepared with manufactured Sand as fine aggregates. The influence of different proportion of mineral admixtures on the microstructure and compressive strength of the concrete were studied. SEM observations discovered that the binary blended cement concrete – cement interfacial zone consisted primarily of loose and porous hydrates whereas the ternary homogenized cement concrete – cement interfacial zone consisted mainly of dense hydrates. The compressive strength results that the concrete ready with ternary alloyed cement was on top of that of the binary homogenized concrete. however the strength development of the HPC binary concrete was quicker than that of the ternary concrete at early ages. At 90 days, the both the concrete achieved similar strength values. The results are explained by the variations in porousness and pore structure of the two type's blends, and potential interactions between the aggregates and also the cement paste