Studies on Durability and Carbonation Characteristics of Limestone Calcined Caly Cement by Varying Clinker and GGBS Content

International Journal of Civil Engineering
© 2025 by SSRG - IJCE Journal
Volume 12 Issue 11
Year of Publication : 2025
Authors : K. Venkataraman, P.R. Kannan Rajkumar
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K. Venkataraman, P.R. Kannan Rajkumar, "Studies on Durability and Carbonation Characteristics of Limestone Calcined Caly Cement by Varying Clinker and GGBS Content," SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 12,  no. 11, pp. 276-292, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I11P121

Abstract:

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) production leads to CO2 emission, representing around 5%-10% of total emissions globally. To minimize these emissions, the Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) are being used as a partial replacement for Portland clinker, including LC3 cement. Studies on the durability properties of LC3 concrete comprising SCMs as a binary blended mix are limited. Hence, this study aimed to examine the durability and carbonation behavior of LC3 concrete with partial replacement (10%) of GGBS. It was found that the loss in weight and strength of the 10% GGBS-added LC3 concrete was slightly higher compared to conventional LC3 concrete mix after exposure to acid, sulphate, and chloride attack, because of the slower hydration kinetics of GGBS. The incorporation of 10% GGBS into LC3 concrete increases the carbonation depth by 6.67%, 16.67% and 17.24% at 120 days for M25-LC3, M30-LC3, and M50-LC3 concrete mix, respectively. The high compressive strength concrete possesses superior durability properties compared to the low compressive strength concrete, with lower strength loss, weight loss, reduced chloride penetration, and better carbonation resistance due to its dense microstructure. It was concluded that the inclusion of GGBS introduces a trade-off between sustainability and early-age resistance to chloride and carbonation due to delayed pozzolanic activity.

Keywords:

Global warming, Supplementary Cementitious Materials, Sustainability, Pozzolanic reaction, Porosity.

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