Yijie HUANG, Li Dong, Xibo Qi, Tongcheng Wang, Peng Li, Jitao Zhong,

Effects of mix components on mechanical properties of marine volcanic-scoria

concrete under axial compression,
Case Studies in Construction Materials,
Volume 18,
2023,
e01837,
ISSN 2214-5095,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2023.e01837.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509523000165)
Abstract: This study systematically investigated the mechanical properties of
marine volcanic-scoria concrete (MVSC) under the coupled effects of the mix
components. Six groups and 408 specimens were used, including four different
experimental parameters: types of coarse and fine aggregates (volcanic-scoria
aggregate and natural aggregate), types of mixing water (seawater and freshwater),
and age (days 7, 14, and 28). The macro-mechanical properties, mechanism, and
microstructure of MVSC were analysed using a novel test system, including an axial
compression test, digital image correlation (DIC) method, and scanning-electron
microscopy (SEM). Variations in the failure pattern, stress–strain curve,
deformation field distribution, crack initiation, and propagation of MVSC were
studied. Generally, the failure of MVSC is brittle compared to that of ordinary
concrete (OC). The cubic compressive strengths of MVSC at day 7 and 14 were 82.7%
and 91.7% of the cubic compressive strength at day 28, respectively. The splitting
tensile strength of MVSC was 7.3% higher on average than that of OC. The mix
components changed the strength of MVSC. Seawater and sea sand accelerated the
development of compressive strength, volcanic-scoria fine, and coarse aggregates
(VSFA and VSCA, respectively) enhanced the tensile strength. After using volcanic-
scoria aggregates, the curvature of the concrete stress–strain curve decreased;
however, the curve declined sharply after the peak stress (σmax). Compared with OC,
the ductility of MVSC decreased by an average of 17.2%, whereas the peak strain
increased by 6.9%. Furthermore, VSCA significantly changed the displacement
distributions of the specimen, whereas the impacts of the mixing water and fine
aggregate were small. The crack initiation and propagation of MVSC were different
from those of OC; that is, microcracks first appeared in VSCA, and their
characteristics propagated slowly before σmax. Finally, a theoretical model of the
MVSC stress–strain curve involving the coupled impacts of the mix components was
established, which can prompt the practical application of MVSC structures.
Keywords: Marine volcanic-scoria concrete; Mechanical properties; Stress-strain
curve; Crack initiation and propagation; Deformation field distribution