Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications
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ItemConstructing a novel nano-TiO2/Epoxy resin composite and its application in alkali-activated slag/fly ash pastes(Elsevier, 2020-01-30)A novel in-situ synthetic method is developed for fabrication of inorganic-organic hybrid structured TiO2/Epoxy resin composite without adding any surfactants. It is discovered for the first time that the inorganic-organic micro-structured TiO2/Epoxy composite can be homogeneously dispersed in one type of alkali-activated binders: alkali-activated slag/fly ash (AASF) pastes with slag/fly ash at 50/50. Besides, it is found that TiO2/Epoxy composite is capable of enhancing the mechanical properties including compressive and flexural bending strengths, improving porous structures and reducing drying shrinkage of the AASF paste. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy results showed that the AASF binder enhanced by TiO2/Epoxy resin composite has a smooth and flat morphology with fewer cracks as compared to the control paste, leading to a denser microstructure. It is assumed that both TiO2 and epoxy resin are beneficial in improving the microstructure and hence the macroscopic properties of AASF binders were also improved. Since the preparation of TiO2/Epoxy composite through in-situ polymerization method is attractive because of its simple manufacturing procedure and cost-effectiveness, its modified AASF binders have an appealing potential to be used for large-scale production and field applications in the foreseeable future.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableCorrosion protection of steel elements in façade systems – A review(Elsevier, 2020-11)Corrosion of steel elements in a façade system may cause failure that can adversely affect building performance. In this paper we review and synthesize the scientific literature in order to provide practical guidance for engineers, designers and material/product specifiers to avoid or minimize the corrosion of steel elements in façade systems as well as to identify the challenges for future research. The review covered different types of corrosion such as atmospheric, galvanic or bimetallic, embedded, and cut-edge corrosion and how different factors affect the corrosion rate of steel. Preventing or minimising the potential for steel corrosion in a building façade involves examination of the surrounding environment, a proper design of façade system, selecting a suitable steel grade, choosing an appropriate coating, and undertaking maintenance regularly. Further research has been identified, including the development of environmentally friendly and low cost nanocoatings, and establishing locally-validated corrosion rates of steel elements. The latter can form the basis for the development of hazard zone maps that consider industrial pollutants and other local environment factors.
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ItemDegradation process of alkali-activated slag/fly ash and Portland cement-based pastes exposed to phosphoric acid(Elsevier, 2020-01-30)High costs are currently involved in the repair and replacement of sewage concrete pipes due to the severe damage caused by the acid-rich aggressive environments of sewage and drainage wastewater. Although it is known that, a high concentration of phosphoric acid exists in some sewer pipes, very few studies have been focused on its impact on various cementitious materials. The purpose of this study is to experimentally investigate the resistance of alkali-activated slag/fly ash-based pastes and compare them to ordinary Portland cement-based pastes exposed to phosphoric acid with different pH values (pH = 2, 3 and 4) for a period of 150 days. The experimental results revealed that alkali-activated slag/fly ash-based pastes are more resistant to phosphoric acid attacks compared to ordinary Portland cement-based peers. Furthermore, it is also observed that the kinetics of degradation of the pastes are vastly different, depending on their binders: the degradation process of ordinary Portland cement-based pastes can be described by using Power law, while the degradation process of alkali-activated slag/fly ash-based pastes is divided into an early stage and a later stage which can be described by using the Hill function and the Power law, respectively. The theoretical model developed in this study predicts that, under strong phosphoric acid condition for a period of 50 years, alkali-activated slag/fly ash-based pastes could potentially reduce the degradation depth by around 70%–80% in comparison to ordinary Portland cement-based pastes.