No abstract

Recently, remarkable types of carbon nanofilaments called carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have raised the interest of many concrete and cementitious composite researchers due to their significant mechanical, electrical, thermal, kinetic, and chemical properties. These nanofilaments are considered promising applicants to use in producing high-performance cement-based composite materials. In this research, the effect of CNT use on the flexural strength, strain capacity, permeability, and microstructure of concrete was investigated. Concrete batches of 0, 0.03, 0.08, 0.15, and 0.25 wt.% CNTs were prepared using a mixing method that consisted of a 30-minute solution sonication and a 60-minute batch mixing. On the 28th day, the mechanical properties were determined. The results indicated that concrete prepared using high CNT contents of 0.15 and 0.25 wt.% increased the flexural strength by more than 100% in comparison with 0% CNT concrete. Furthermore, the results showed that CNTs would increase the ductility of concrete beams by about 150%. The permeability test results showed the benefits of CNT inclusion in reducing the permeability of concrete. The permeability coefficient (kT) decreased by at least 45% when CNTs were added to concrete. A qualitative microstructural analysis illustrated the uniform dispersion of CNT filaments within the concrete hydration products in all batches.

This study investigated the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes' geometry on the dispersion and strength of cement composites. Mixes with CNTs contents ranging from 0.03 to 0.25% were prepared and tested using CNTs' diameters of 10-20, 20-30, and 30-50 nm and lengths of 0.5-2 and 10-30 m. The samples' microstructures were then examined using a scanning electron microscope. After that, Response Surface Methodologies techniques were implemented to determine the strength functions' response to the aspect ratio and weight fraction variables. The results showed that CNTs of smaller diameters and longer lengths resulted in the highest strength values in batches having CNT contents of up to 0.15%. At 0.25% CNTs, the results showed that those CNTs of shorter lengths attained higher strengths than those of longer ones. SEM images showed better dispersion properties at lower CNTs' contents regardless of their geometry. The analysis also indicated that short CNTs of 0.5-2 m length have better dispersion properties compared to long ones of 10-30 m length. The RSM model confirmed this finding. Furthermore, the model showed that the CNTs with the lowest aspect ratio of 83 and highest weight fraction of 0.25% provided the highest strength response among all batches.

This paper investigates the potential utilization of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) muck generated from Doha’s Metro Gold Line in different construction applications. The properties of the raw TBM muck were studied, and the results were compared to the specifications of Qatari Construction Standards (QCS 2014) of concrete aggregates, fill material under buildings and road subgrades. Compared to the requirements of concrete aggregates, the results indicated that the gradation of the raw TBM muck does not comply with the QCS 2014 requirements, and hence, sieving and screening may be essential. Moreover, the tests’ results showed that the properties of the muck meet the requirements of the concrete coarse aggregates, except for the water absorption, loss by magnesium sulphate soundness, loss by Los Angeles abrasion and the acid-soluble sulphate. As fill material under buildings or road subgrades, the gradation of the TBM muck complies with the QCS 2014 requirements, while the liquid limit and plasticity index are higher than the QCS 2014 permissible limits. Additionally, the morphological structure and the elemental composition of the raw TBM muck were determined by employing Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), respectively. Digital images were also taken at larger scale to draw a full picture of the TBM muck morphology. A mixture of rough-rounded to angular-elongated shaped particles with relatively large voids could be observed. The EDX analysis demonstrated the presence of silicon (Si) as the predominant component of the muck, which may alter the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) values for mixtures prepared using TBM muck. Hence, further investigations should be performed on the mechanical and thermal properties of mixtures containing TBM muck as aggregates’ replacement, and further work should be directed toward this end.

This study investigated the potential utilization of the TBM muck obtained from the Gold Line of the Doha Metro Project as a partial replacement of coarse aggregates in concrete mixes. First, the TBM muck particles were screened to coarse aggregate standard sizes. Then, concrete mixes were prepared using 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% TBM muck replacement of coarse aggregates. The compressive and flexural strengths were determined for all mixes at 28 and 56 days. Moreover, the results obtained were validated using EDX analysis and SEM images. A t-statistical analysis did not show a significant impact of TBM muck usage on the compressive strength results of the concrete mixes. However, another t-statistical analysis showed that TBM muck replacement of coarse aggregates had adversely affected the flexural strength results. The EDX analysis indicated the presence of Na+ ions, which can replace the Ca2+ ions in the C-S-H gel, cause discontinuities of it, and hence reduce the strength at later ages. Finally, the SEM images showed that the ettringite and carbon hydroxide (C-H) contents in the mixes with TBM muck were higher than that of the control mix, while the C-S-H gel was less in such mixes.