While fixing the SF and BFS concentrations to 20% (each) of the total binder (cement + gypsum + supplementary

cementitious material), three different amounts (0%, 5%, and 10%) of a standard natural anhydrous gypsum with a
specific gravity of 2.7 and fineness of 3,500 〖cm〗^2/g were considered. By increasing the amount of gypsum, the
amount of cement was reduced from 60% to 50%. As shown in FigX, anhydrite and ettringite peaks were not observed
(at all ages) for the mixture where no anhydrous gypsum was added. However, a clear anhydrite peak was detected
for samples with 5% and 10% gypsum. This anhydrite peak decreases with increasing the curing age because anhydrite
is replaced with ettringite during the hardening process. Saying that, the peak intensity of ettringite increases with the
curing age when 5% and 10% gypsum are added. Moreover, the sample with 5% anhydrous gypsum showed a greater
decrease in the anhydrite peak intensity as compared with that of 10% gypsum. This greater decrease indicates that
the 5% amount of gypsum could effectively abrupt the setting of the cement paste and develop an early-stage
strength. Therefore, the appropriate amount of anhydrous gypsum is 5% of the total amount of binder materials.

While the SF and BFS concentrations were fixed to 20% of the total binder content, three different amounts of
gypsum, namely 0%, 5%, and 10% of the total amount of binder materials, were considered.
While the SF and BFS concentrations were fixed to 20% of the total binder content, three different amounts of
gypsum, namely 0%, 5%, and 10% of the total amount of binder materials, were considered. To determine the
optimum amount of gypsum, a standard natural anhydrous gypsum with a specific gravity of 2.7 and fineness of 3500
cm2/g was used. The amount of cement was reduced from 60% to 50% by increasing the amount of gypsum. Without
the addition of anhydrous gypsum, anhydrite and ettringite peaks were not observed (at all ages), while a clear
anhydrite peak was detected for the samples with 5% and 10% gypsum (Figure 4.1.3). With increasing curing age,
the peak intensity of anhydrite reduces because it is replaced with ettringite during the hardening process [19]. Due to
this replacement, the peak intensity of ettringite increases with the curing age when 5% and 10% gypsum are added
(Figure 4.1.4). The mixture without gypsum therefore does not show an ettringite peak (Figure 4.1.4). A greater
decrease of the anhydrite peak intensity was observed in the samples with 5% anhydrous gypsum as compared with
its counterpart (10% gypsum), indicating that they could effectively delay the abrupt setting of the cement paste and
develop an early-stage strength. Accordingly, similar to a previous study [20], the proper amount of anhydrous
gypsum is 5% of the total amount of binder materials.

W h ile th e S F a n d B F S c o n c e n tra tio n s w e r e fix e d to 2 0 % o f th e to ta l b in d e r c o n te n t, th re e d iffe re n t a m o u n ts o f g y p su m ,

n a m e ly 0 % , 5 % , a n d 1 0 % o f th e to ta l a m o u n t o f b in d e r m a te ria ls , w e re c o n sid e re d . T o d e te rm in e th e o p tim u m a m o u n t
o f g y p s u m , a sta n d a r d n a tu ra l a n h y d ro u s g y p s u m w ith a s p e c ific g r a v ity o f 2 .7 a n d fin e n e ss o f 3 5 0 0 c m 2 /g w a s u se d .
T h e a m o u n t o f c e m e n t w a s re d u c e d fro m 6 0 % to 5 0 % b y in c re a s in g th e a m o u n t o f g y p s u m . W ith o u t th e a d d itio n o f
a n h y d ro u s g y p s u m , a n h y d rite a n d e ttrin g ite p e a k s w e re n o t o b s e rv e d (a t a ll a g e s), w h ile a c le a r a n h y d rite p e a k w a s
d e te c te d f o r th e s a m p le s w ith 5 % a n d 1 0 % g y p s u m ( F ig u r e 4 .1 .3 ). W ith in c re a s in g c u rin g a g e , th e p e a k in te n s ity o f
a n h y d rite re d u c e s b e c a u s e it is re p la c e d w ith e ttrin g ite d u r in g th e h a r d e n in g p ro c e s s [1 9 ]. D u e to th is r e p la c e m e n t, th e
p e a k in te n s ity o f e ttrin g ite in c re a s e s w ith th e c u rin g a g e w h e n 5 % a n d 1 0 % g y p s u m a r e a d d e d ( F ig u r e 4 .1 .4 ). T h e
m ix tu r e w ith o u t g y p s u m th e r e f o re d o e s n o t s h o w a n e ttrin g ite p e a k (F ig u r e 4 .1 .4 ). A g re a te r d e c r e a s e o f th e a n h y d rite
p e a k in te n sity w a s o b se rv e d in th e sa m p le s w ith 5 % a n h y d ro u s g y p s u m a s c o m p a re d w ith its c o u n te rp a rt (1 0 % g y p s u m ),
in d ic a tin g th a t th e y c o u ld e f fe c tiv e ly d e la y th e a b ru p t s e ttin g o f th e c e m e n t p a ste a n d d e v e lo p a n e a rly -s ta g e s tre n g th .
A c c o rd in g ly , sim ila r to a p r e v io u s s tu d y [2 0 ], th e p ro p e r a m o u n t o f a n h y d r o u s g y p s u m is 5 % o f th e to ta l a m o u n t o f
b in d e r m a te ria ls.