The pursuit of sustainable and durable cementitious composites has led to a growing interest in alternative materials that can improve mechanical performance while reducing CO2 emissions. Nanomaterials, in particular, offer promising avenues due to their unique properties, including high surface area to volume ratio and increased reactivity. This study investigates the efficacy of Cellulose Nanofibers (CNF) in enhancing the durability of mortar exposed to sulfate attacks and alkali-silica reactions (ASR). Both MgSO4 and Na2SO4 solutions were employed to simulate sulfate attacks, while the role of CNF in mitigating ASR was also evaluated. Results indicate that CNF incorporation positively impacts the resistance of mortar against sulfate attacks and ASR, paving the way for eco-friendly and durable cement-based structures with extended service life.

The significance of this study lies in addressing critical issues prevalent in the worldwide construction sector, particularly concerning the durability and sustainability of cement-based materials. Plain cement composites commonly suffer from deficiencies in tensile strength and strain capacity, resulting in the formation of nano-cracks under relatively low tensile loads. These nano- cracks pose a significant challenge to the longevity and resilience of cement matrices, contributing to structural degradation and reduced service life of infrastructure. To mitigate these challenges, the integration of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) as reinforcements in cement composites presents a promising solution. CNF, renowned for their exceptional material properties including high stiffness, tensile strength, and corrosion resistance, offer the potential to significantly enhance the mechanical performance and durability of cement-based materials. Through systematic experimentation, this study investigates the effects of CNF reinforcement on the mechanical properties of cement composites. By leveraging ultrasonically dispersion techniques, CNF extracted from bamboo, broad leaf, and kenaf are uniformly dispersed within the cement matrix at varying concentrations. Compressive and flexural tests are subsequently conducted to evaluate the impact of CNF on the strength characteristics of the cement composites. By elucidating the efficacy of CNF reinforcement through rigorous experimentation, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the development of construction materials with improved durability and sustainability. Ultimately, this research contributes to addressing critical challenges in the construction industry, offering potential solutions to enhance the performance and longevity of cement-based infrastructure.

본 연구에서는 콘크리트의 내구성 및 낮은 인장강도를 향상시키기 위해 개발된 폴리비닐알콜(PVA) 혼입 시멘트 복합 체의 내약품성을 평가하였다. 시멘트 복합체에 대한 PVA 혼입률은 0%, 1.0%, 1.2%로 설계되었다. 각 혼입률에 따른 시멘트 복 합체의 압축강도, 인장강도, 휨강도를 측정하였다. 결과적으로 1.2% 혼입률에서 압축강도는 1.3배, 인장강도는 5.6배, 휨강도는 17.9배 증가하였다. 내약품성 실험을 위해 염화칼슘, 황산나트륨, 그리고 황산 용액에 시멘트 복합체를 침지시킨 후 30일, 40일, 50일 후 질량 소실률을 측정하여 내화학성을 평가하였다. 내화학성 실험 결과, PVA 혼입은 약품의 침투를 방지하여 시멘트 복 합체의 내화학성을 향상시키는 것으로 나타났다. 총체적으로, PVA 혼입은 시멘트 복합체의 내화학성을 향상시키는 동시에 강도 특성을 제공하는 것으로 확인되었다.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to experimentally analyze the flexural strength characteristics of cement mortar mixtures simultaneously incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers, and to understand the composite effect of those on enhancing resistance against the initiation and progression of micro-cracks, as well as the control of macro-cracks in flexural behavior. METHODS : Cement mortar(w/c=0.5) specimens for flexural strength test, mixing 6 mm and 12 mm PVA fibers at 1% and 2% volume ratios, were fabricated. Additionally, specimens incorporating GO at a cement weight ratio of 0.05% were prepared for each mixture to analyze the effect of GO. Therefore total eight types of mixture were prepared. The fabricated specimens were subjected to flexural strength tests after curing in waterbath for 7 and 28 days. Concurrently, digital images for analyzing deformation in accordance with loading history were obtained at a rate of 20 Hz using the DIC technique. Through displacement and strain calculation via DIC, the flexural behavior characteristics of the mixtures combined with GO and PVA fibers were precisely analyzed. Furthermore, the composite effect on flexural behavior characteristics when GO and PVA fibers are incorporated was discussed. RESULTS : For the PVA fiber-reinforced cement mortar mixture, the incorporation of 0.05% GO increased the crack initiation load by up to 23%, and the maximum resistive load after cracking by up to 24%. Moreover, introducing GO into the PVA fiber-reinforced mixture increased the flexural strain just before cracking by approximately 30 to 50%, while the maximum resistive load after cracking exhibited similar strain levels with or without GO incorporation. Therefore, under flexural behavior, the integration of GO might delay crack initiation by increasing the strain concurrent with the rise in flexural stress before crack occurrence. It also seems to contribute to reducing crack expansion by synergistically interacting with PVA fibers after crack occurrence. CONCLUSIONS : It was experimentally examined that the flexural strength of PVA fiber reinforced cement mortar is improved by incorporating GO. Moreover, GO enhances resistance of crack occurrance and reduces crack propagation in combination with PVA fibers. This study suggests that simultaneous incorporation of GO and PVA fibers can synergistically improve the performance of cement composites.

PURPOSES : The effects of strontium cations on the strength of hydrated cement composites as well as the morphology and chemical composition changes of cement hydrates due to strontium treatment are investigated in this study. Subsequently, the potential of a strontiumbased aqueous solution as a near-surface treatment method for hydrated cement composites is evaluated. METHODS : To supply strontium cations to a hydrated cement composite, a 30% strontium nitrate aqueous solution was used. Cement paste (w/c = 0.4) specimens were prepared and cured in the 30% strontium nitrate aqueous solution, which allows the strontium ions to penetrate into the specimen and treat the near-surface region. Compressive and flexural strength tests were performed on both specimens treated by the strontium ions and untreated specimens cured in deionized water, and the test results were compared. To investigate the changes in the morphology and chemical compositions of the cement hydrates due to the treatment, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) analyses were performed. RESULTS : The results of the strength tests indicate that both the compressive and flexural strengths of the specimens cured in the 30% strontium nitrate aqueous solution improved significantly compared with the specimens cured in deionized water for the same duration. In particular, the strontium nitrate aqueous solution shows greater improvement in terms of the flexural strength compared with the compressive strength. The maximum penetration depth of strontium into the hydrated cement composite is 5 mm during the first 7 d of immersion and increases to 6.5 mm during the subsequent 14 d. The SEM results show that the microstructure of the hydrated cement composite is densified by the strontium nitrate aqueous solution treatment. The EDS results show that morphology and chemical compositions of the cement hydrates are altered. This implies that the strontium cations can be combined with C–S–H and C–S–A–H phases to form new types of hydrates. CONCLUSIONS : The experimentally results show that the strength of hydrated cement composites can be improved by modifying their near-surface regions via the strontium cation penetration technique. This implies that the strontium-based aqueous solution exhibits high potential for the maintenance and rehabilitation of concrete structures.

최근 대규모 토목 및 건축 구조물 증가 추세로 건설 부재의 고강도 및 경량화에 대한 수요가 높아지고 있다. 기존 시멘트 경량 복합체의 경우 단위 체적 중량이 낮아 강도 저하 문제가 발생할 수 있다. 보통 경량화를 위해서 시멘트 복합체를 배합할 때 일반 경량골재와 고무재질의 경량골재, 플라스틱 펠릿 등 다양한 인공 경량골재를 적용한 시멘트 복합체로 경량화를 확보할 수 있다. 이 중에서도 시멘트 복합체의 인공 경량골재로 플라스틱을 사용하면 상대적으로 골재 자체의 강도를 확보하면서 경량화를 꾀할 수 있지만 재료의 매끄러운 표면 특성으로 인해 시멘트 페이스트와 부착하는 데 불리한 부분이 있고 이는 콘크리트 골재 또는 시멘트 복합체 골재로서의 사용에 있어 단점이 된다. 띠라서 이번 연구에서는 기존 연구에서 플라스틱 골재 로 가장 적합한 유형으로 확인된 PP, PE 두가지 유형의 플라스틱 골재와 강섬유, 양생방법을 변수로 하여 실험을 진행하였고 실험 결과 플라스틱의 비중이나 표면 재질뿐만 아니라 강섬유의 혼입유무, 양생방법에 의해서 시멘트 복합체의 물리적 특성이 변화된다는 것을 확인하였다.

최근에는 대규모 건축 및 토목 구조물로 인해 건설 부재의 고강도 및 경량화에 대한 요구가 높아지고 있다. 기존의 경량 시멘트 복합체의 경우 단위 체적 중량이 낮아질 수 있으나 강도 저하 문제가 발생한다. 일반적으로 경량화를 위해서는 시멘트 복합체를 배합할 때 일반 경량골재와 고무경량골재, 플라스틱 펠릿 등 다양한 인공 경량골재를 이용한 시멘트 복합체를 혼 합하여 경량화를 확보할 수 있다. 이 중 시멘트 복합체의 인공 경량골재로 플라스틱을 사용하면 상대적으로 골재 자체의 강도를 확보할 수 있지만 재료의 표면 특성으로 인해 시멘트 페이스트에 부착하는데 불리하고 골재로서의 사용이 불리하다. 이에 본 연구에서는 골재로 가장 적합한 플라스틱의 유형을 선택하기 위해 다양한 유형의 플라스틱 시멘트 화합물을 변수로 하여 실험을 진행하였고 실험 결과 플라스틱의 비중이나 표면 재질에 의해서 시멘트 복합체의 물리적 성질이 변화하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

We demonstrated the sensitivity of optically active single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a diameter below 1 nm that were homogeneously dispersed in cement composites under a mechanical load. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was selected as the dispersing agent to achieve a homogeneous dispersion of SWCNTs in an aqueous solution, and the dispersion state of the SWCNTs were characterized using various optical tools. It was found that the addition of a large amount of DNA prohibited the structural evolution of calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrate. Based on the in-situ Raman and X-ray diffraction studies, it was evident that hydrophilic functional groups within the DNA strongly retarded the hydration reaction. The optimum amount of DNA with respect to the cement was found to be 0.05 wt%. The strong Raman signals coming from the SWCNTs entrapped in the cement composites enabled us to understand their dispersion state within the cement as well as their interfacial interaction. The G and G’ bands of the SWCNTs sensitively varied under mechanical compression. Our results indicate that an extremely small amount of SWCNTs can be used as an optical strain sensor if they are homogeneously dispersed within cement composites.

본 연구에서는 패류 껍질의 경계조건을 모사한 고연성 시멘트 복합재료의 휨 성능을 평가하였다. 패류 껍질층 경계면 구조를 모방 하여 프리캐스트 형식으로 제조된 패널 사이를 후 타설 HDCC로 충전한 실험체와 PE-mesh를 HDCC층의 경계면에 배치한 실험체 등 2가지 경계면 특성을 고려하여 제작한 4종류 실험체의 휨 성능을 평가하였다. 패류 껍질의 경계조건을 모사한 고연성 시멘트 복합재료의 휨 성능 평가 결과 일반적인 휨 시험체 대비 층상화 단면을 적용한 모든 실험체의 연성이 증가하였다. 특히 PE-mesh를 삽입하여 층상화한 방법이 가장 우수한 연성을 나타내는 것을 확인하였다. 이는 삽입된 PE-mesh가 층을 분리하는 경계면 역할을 하고, PE-mesh 체눈 내의 각주형 HDCC는 층과 층 사이의 부착을 견고히 하는 역할을 하였기 때문이라고 사료된다.

탄소섬유는 경량이면서 높은 기계적 특성 때문에 우주항공, 선박, 자동차, 토목 및 건축과 같은 산업분야에서 그 어느 때 보다 더 광범위하게 적용되고 있다. 본 연구는 섬유혼입률 및 섬유길이 변화에 따른 탄소섬유 보강시멘트 복합재료( CFRC)의 역학적 특성과 휨 거동을 분석하였으며, 또한 자연 낙하시험에 의한 모르타르 시편에 대한 내충격성을 비교, 검토하였다. 더불어, 탄소섬유(CF)의 혼입률은 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% 및 3.0%로 변화를 주었으며, 각각의 섬유길이는 6 mm와 12 mm를 사용 하였다. 실험결과, 플로우 값은 탄소섬유의 뭉침현상으로 인해 유동성 측면에서 매우 불리하였으며, 단위용적질량은 다소 감소하였다. 특히, 압축강도는 탄소섬유 혼입량이 증가함에 따라 감소하는 것으로 나타내었다. 반면 휨 강도는 섬유 길이가 12 mm이고 2% 혼입한 것이 가장 높은 휨 강도를 보였다. 내충격성 시험결과, 보통 모르타르 시편은 완전파괴까지의 낙하횟수가 2∼3회 정도 걸리지만 반면 CFRC 시편은 섬유혼입량이 증가함에 따라 다소 차이가 있지만, 섬유길이가 12 mm이고 섬유혼입량 2% 인 경우 충격에 대한 저항성이 가장 높았다.

In this study, the effect of compressive loading of carbon nanotube (CNT) mixed cement composites was investigated. To evaluate the electrical resistivity variation of 30%∼60% of compressive load of cement composites containing 1.0% CNT, 1.0% CNT was added to cement composites and compressive strength was calculated. The greater the change in electrical resistance to compressive load, the more vulnerable to internal conductive networks. Also, as the amount of CNT mixed increases, the electrical resistance to the load is more sensitive and it is expected to be mixed more than 1.0%.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of self-sensing performance on strain-hardening cement composite containing CNT by curing age. The mixing amount of CNT was set at 1.0%, and SHCC fibers were mixed with PE 1.0% and steel fiber 0.5%. The electrical resistance measurement for the tensile strain sensing performance was based on AC method and 4 probe methods. Test results indicated that electrical sensitivity of SHCC decreased with an increase in curing age.

This research is to investigate the effect of borosilicate glass powder on neutron shielding capability of cement mortar. The average particle size of the borosilicate glass powder was 13 μm. It was found that the addition of borosilicate glass powder increased 28 day compressive strength. In addition, neutron shielding capability of cement mortar also increased by the addition of borosilicate glass powder. Considering our earlier findings on enhanced thermal neutron shielding of cement mortar by borosilicate glass powder, the use of borosilicate glass powder was found to be effective to shield neutron when the cement mortar was exposed to the neutron radiation. It can be concluded that borosilicate glass powder is a good alternative material for neutron shielding purposes.