Using Optimized Sulphoaluminate Cement to Enhance the Early Strength of Cement-Treated Aggregate Base for Rapid Traffic Opening
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Cement and Cement Admixtures
2.2. Measurements on SAC Paste
2.3. Preparation and Test Methods of CTA
2.3.1. Aggregates and Mixture Proportion of CTA
2.3.2. Compaction Test
2.3.3. Mechanical Performance Test
2.3.4. Scouring Test
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Performance Optimization of SAC and Mechanistic Investigations
3.1.1. Hydration Kinetics of SAC Paste
3.1.2. Setting Time and Compressive Strength of SAC Paste
3.1.3. SEM of SAC Paste
3.2. Optimum Moisture Content and Maximum Dry Density of CTA
3.3. Mechanical Performances of CTA
3.3.1. Unconfined Compressive Strength and Indirect Tension Strength
3.3.2. Effect of Delay Time on Unconfined Compressive Strength
3.3.3. Compression Modulus of Resilience
3.3.4. Interfacial Bonding Strength
3.3.5. Drying Shrinkage Strain
3.4. Scouring Test of CTA
4. Conclusions
- (1)
- The compound retarder (PCE + B) dramatically delayed the hydration and setting time and reduced the early strength of SAC. The addition of early strength agent (LC) enhanced the retarding effect of compound retarder on the hydration of SAC. The compound early strength agent (LC + CF) reduced the negative effect of the compound retarder (PCE + B) on the early strength of SAC. The incorporation of compound retarder and compound early strength agent ensured that SAC had enough setting time and high early strength to prepare CTA.
- (2)
- Increasing the optimized SAC content could increase the unconfined compressive strength, indirect tension strength, and compression modulus of resilience of SACTAs, which were higher than those of 4% OPCTA at the same curing time. The 1 d unconfined compressive strength of the SACTAs after 80 min delay time could meet the minimum requirement of surface layer paving of the highway.
- (3)
- The interfacial bonding strength between SACTA and OPCTA was higher than the indirect tension strength of OPCTA, indicating that optimized SAC was a good maintenance material for CTA.
- (4)
- The drying shrinkage strain of SACTA was lower than that of 4% OPCTA, indicating that SACTA had better cracking resistance. The results of the scouring test show that SACTA had better anti-scouring performance than OPCTA.
5. Recommendations
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Material | Content (%) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SiO2 | CaO | Fe2O3 | Al2O3 | SO3 | MgO | Other | |
SAC | 11.98 | 44.21 | 3.59 | 27.99 | 8.79 | 2.49 | 0.16 |
OPC | 22.28 | 60.65 | 4.02 | 4.41 | 2.02 | 1.98 | 0.98 |
Silica fume | 92.85 | 0.58 | 0.82 | 0.41 | 0.78 | 0.61 | — |
Samples | Cement (g) | PCE (g) | B (g) | LC (g) | CF (g) | Water (g) | SF (g) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L1 | 95 | - | - | - | - | 31 | 5 |
L2 | 95 | 0.4 | - | - | - | 31 | 5 |
L3 | 95 | - | 0.6 | - | - | 31 | 5 |
L4 | 95 | 0.4 | 0.6 | - | - | 31 | 5 |
L5 | 95 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.25 | - | 31 | 5 |
L6 | 95 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.25 | 0.6 | 31 | 5 |
Samples | Setting Time (min) | Compressive Strength (MPa) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Setting | Final Setting | 12 h | 1 d | 3 d | 7 d | |
L1 | 12 | 17 | 24.0 | 31.3 | 39.4 | 46 |
L4 | 120 | 180 | 19.3 | 26.8 | 35.9 | 43.1 |
L6 | 90 | 120 | 22.4 | 30.3 | 38.9 | 46.4 |
Samples | Interfacial Bonding Strength | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 d | 3 d | 7 d | 28 d | |
3.0% S-PCTA | 0.19 | 0.3 | 0.38 | 0.58 |
3.5% S-PCTA | 0.21 | 0.35 | 0.48 | 0.65 |
4.0% S-PCTA | 0.27 | 0.43 | 0.57 | 0.73 |
4.5% S-PCTA | 0.35 | 0.55 | 0.63 | 0.79 |
5.0% S-PCTA | 0.42 | 0.6 | 0.72 | 0.85 |
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Kong, L.; Xu, J.; Wang, D.; Wang, H.; Du, Y.; Wang, S. Using Optimized Sulphoaluminate Cement to Enhance the Early Strength of Cement-Treated Aggregate Base for Rapid Traffic Opening. Buildings 2025, 15, 1958. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111958
Kong L, Xu J, Wang D, Wang H, Du Y, Wang S. Using Optimized Sulphoaluminate Cement to Enhance the Early Strength of Cement-Treated Aggregate Base for Rapid Traffic Opening. Buildings. 2025; 15(11):1958. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111958
Chicago/Turabian StyleKong, Lingxiang, Junquan Xu, Dongtao Wang, Hong Wang, Yinfei Du, and Shungui Wang. 2025. "Using Optimized Sulphoaluminate Cement to Enhance the Early Strength of Cement-Treated Aggregate Base for Rapid Traffic Opening" Buildings 15, no. 11: 1958. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111958
APA StyleKong, L., Xu, J., Wang, D., Wang, H., Du, Y., & Wang, S. (2025). Using Optimized Sulphoaluminate Cement to Enhance the Early Strength of Cement-Treated Aggregate Base for Rapid Traffic Opening. Buildings, 15(11), 1958. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111958