Cement Mortar with Nanosilica: Experiments with Mixture Design Method

• Published in: ACI materials journal Vol. 113; no. 1; p. 43
• Main Authors: El Hameed, Mohamed Fattouh Abd, Ghazy, Mariam Farouk, Elaty, Metwally Abd Allah Abd
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Farmington Hills American Concrete Institute 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Analysis; Blending; Cement; Cement hydration; Cements; Compressive strength; Concrete; Curing; Design analysis; Methods; Minimum cost; Mortars; Nanostructure; Optimization; Particle size; Permeability; Silica
• ISSN: 0889-325X; 1944-737X
• DOI: 10.14359/51688632

The statistical mixture design (SMD) method was used to find the optimum blending proportions of cement mortar by blending port-land cement with silica fume and nanosilica particles. Test results from 13 experimental runs with different combinations of materials were tested and analyzed to reach an optimum mixture proportion subject to several performance characteristics at a minimum cost. Response trace plots and contour plots were used for examining the mixture components on the response variables that included compressive strengths at 3, 7, and 28 days; splitting strength; flexural strength; water absorption; and capillary permeability coefficient. The desirability function approach was used to calculate desired optimum blend of cement mortar at a minimum cost. In mixture optimization, the SMD method is a useful tool to obtain a scientific solution instead of trial-and-error method with cost-effective mixture proportions.