Pore Feature Study of Waste Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Tailings Recycled Aggregate Concrete Based on NMR Technology

Abstract

To examine the influences of waste polypropylene fiber (PPF) on the strength and internal pore structure of recycled aggregate concrete incorporating iron ore tailings, both the cubic compressive strength and axial compressive strength of the concrete were measured. Additionally, the microstructure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The evolution of pore structure parameters, including pore size distribution, pore type distribution, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral area in the concrete, was investigated through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. A model correlating the concrete’s pore structure with its macroscopic performance was subsequently developed based on fractal theory. The results demonstrate that an appropriate amount of PPF created a bridging effect that decelerated the progression of macro cracks, enhanced the ductility of the concrete’s failure mode, and increased both cubic compressive strength and axial compressive strength, with the most effective dosage being approximately 0.6%. An appropriate amount of PPF (ranging from 0.3% to 0.6%) facilitated the formation of harmless pores and shifted the pore size distribution towards medium and small sizes. Specifically, a fiber content of 0.6% resulted in the most significant reduction in the T2 spectral area. Furthermore, the pore structure of concrete exhibits distinct fractal characteristics. As the PPF content increased, the fractal dimension initially rose and then declined, demonstrating a strong correlation with the mechanical properties.

Keywords

polypropylene fibers / tailing recycled aggregate concrete / mechanical properties / pore structure / nuclear magnetic resonance

References

[1] Yoon S, Choi W, Jeon C. Effects of the Recycled Coarse Aggregate Mixing Ratio on the Characteristics of Concrete with Different Design Strengths[J]. J. Mater. Cycles Waste Manag., 2024, 15(3): 1-5

[2] Rezaei F, Memarzadeh A, Davoodi M R, et al.. Mechanical Features and Durability of Concrete Incorporating Recycled Coarse Aggregate and Nano-Silica: Experimental Study, Prediction, and Optimization[J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2023, 73: 3 555-3 571

[3] Luo H, Aguiar J, Wan X, et al.. Application of Aggregates from Construction and Demolition Wastes in Concrete: Review[J]. Sustainability, 2024, 16(3): 456-464

[4] Letelier V, Hott F, Bustamante M, et al.. Effect of Recycled Coarse Aggregate Treated with Recycled Binder Paste Coating and Accelerated Carbonation on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Concrete[J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2024, 82(7): 1 245-1 257

[5] Deverajan A, Sivamani J. Influence of Bio-Deposited Recycled Aggregate on the Concrete Properties[J]. Eur. J. Environ. Civ. Eng., 2024, 28: 2 080-2 098

[6] El Machi A, El Berdai Y, Mabroum S, et al.. Recycling of Mine Wastes in the Concrete Industry: A Review[J]. Buildings, 2024, 14(7): 654-667

[7] Cacciuttolo C, Pastor A, Valderrama P, et al.. Process Water Management and Seepage Control in Tailings Storage Facilities: Engineered Environmental Solutions Applied in Chile and Peru[J]. Water, 2023, 15(18): 4 222-4 234

[8] Xu F, Wang S, Li T, et al.. The Mechanical Properties and Resistance Against the Coupled Deterioration of Sulfate Attack and Freeze-Thaw Cycles of Tailing Recycled Aggregate Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2021, 269: 5 423-5 435

[9] Xu F, Wang S, Li T, et al.. The Mechanical Properties of Tailing Recycled Aggregate Concrete and Its Resistance to the Coupled Deterioration of Sulfate Attack and Wetting-Drying Cycles[J]. Structures, 2020, 27: 2 208-2 216

[10] Xu F, Li Z, Li T, et al.. The Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Tailing Recycled Aggregate Concrete[J]. Materials, 2024, 17(21): 2 353-2 365

[11] Tosic N, Martinez DP, Hafez H, et al.. Multi-Recycling of Polypropylene Fibre Reinforced Concrete: Influence of Recycled Aggregate Properties on New Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2022, 23(13): 331-346

[12] Mehrab AH, Esfahani MR. Experimental Study on Size Effect and Fracture Properties of Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Lightweight Aggregate Concrete[J]. Period Polytech-Civ. Eng., 2022, 66: 1 278-1 293

[13] Liang N, Geng S, Mao J, et al.. Investigation on Cracking Resistance Mechanism of Basalt-Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Concrete Based on SEM Test[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2024, 411(433): 2 344-2 356

[14] Kos Z, Kroviakov S, Kryzhanovskyi V, et al.. Strength, Frost Resistance, and Resistance to Acid Attacks on Fiber-Reinforced Concrete for Industrial Floors and Road Pavements with Steel and Polypropylene Fibers[J]. Materials, 2022, 15(31): 1 233-1 245

[15] Del Savio AA, La Torre D, Cedron JP. Experimental Volume Incidence Study and the Relationship of Polypropylene Macrofiber Slenderness to the Mechanical Strengths of Fiber-Reinforced Concretes[J]. Applied Sciences-Basel, 2022, 12(55): 1 332-1 348

[16] Yildizel SA, Uzun M, Arslan MA, et al.. The Prediction and Evaluation of Recycled Polypropylene Fiber and Aggregate Incorporated Foam Concrete Using Artificial Neural Networks[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2024, 411(234): 2 454-2 465

[17] Cruz DT, Saez PV, Cortina MG, et al.. Mechanical Characterization of Gypsum-Based Composites with Single-Use Sling Waste Fibers from Construction and Demolition Waste[J]. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 2024, 36(36): 3 432-3 446

[18] Alyousef R, Mohammadhosseini H, Ebid AAK, et al.. Enhanced Acoustic Properties of a Novel Prepacked Aggregates Concrete Reinforced with Waste Polypropylene Fibers[J]. Materials, 2022, 15(3): 754-768

[19] Alyousef R, Abbass W, Aslam F, et al.. Potential of Waste Woven Polypropylene Fiber and Textile Mesh For Production of Gypsum-Based Composite[J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2023, 18(25): 5 523-5 534

[20] Xu F, Li T, Li C, et al.. Compressive Behavior, Microstructural Properties, and Freeze-Thaw Behavior of Tailing Recycled Aggregate Concrete with Waste Polypropylene Fiber Addition[J]. Materials, 2021, 14(23): 4 141-4 157

[21] Ma Y. Multiscale Fractal Characterization of Pore Structure for Coal in Different Rank Using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry[J]. Processes, 2022, 10(42): 241-254

[22] Sethi S R, Ganguly S. Delineation of Diffusion Pathways in Nanostructured Porous Media By Applying Lattice Boltzmann Modeling on Scanning Electron Microscope Images[J]. Chemical Engineering Communications, 2023, 210: 1 726-1 741

[23] Pang Y, Wang S, Yao X, et al.. Evaluation of Gas Adsorption in Nanoporous Shale by Simplified Local Density Model Integrated with Pore Structure and Pore Size Distribution[J]. Langmuir, 2022, 38: 3 641-3 655

[24] Bakhshi A, Heidari A, Mohammadi M H, et al.. Estimation of Water Retention at Low Matric Suctions using the Micromorphological Characteristics of Soil Pores[J]. Eurasian Soil Science, 2023, 56: 1 751-1 764

[25] Lu R, Liu S, Cai Q, et al.. A Low-Cost Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Cryoporometry System for Nanopore Size Measurement[J]. Ieee Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 2022, 71(14): 523-537

[26] Zhao B, Santamarina J C. Fine-Grained Sediment Characterization and Process Monitoring Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)[J]. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 2022, 45: 877-90

[27] Rusu M M, Vilau C, Dudescu C, et al.. Characterization of the Influence of an Accelerator upon the Porosity and Strength of Cement Paste by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Relaxometry[J]. Analytical Letters, 2023, 56: 303-311

[28] Asteris P G, Lourenco P B, Roussis P C, et al.. Revealing the Nature of Metakaolin-Based Concrete Materials Using Artificial Intelligence Techniques[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2022, 322(42): 112-130

[29] Asikainen J, Aharony A B, Mandelbrot B M, et al. Fractal Geometry of Critical Potts Clusters[J]. Arxiv., 2003(23): 23–33

[30] Rong Z, Chen H, Gao Y, et al.. A Prediction Method for Chloride Ion Diffusion Coefficient of Hardened Cement Paste Based on Fractal Theory[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2024, 437(132): 2 131-2 143

[31] Guan D, Pan T, Guo R, et al.. Fractal and Multifractal Analysis of Microscopic Pore Structure of UHPC Matrix Modified with Nano Silica[J]. Fractal and Fractional, 2024, 8(34): 4 234-4 247

[32] General Office of the State Council. General Office of the State Council on Promoting the Building Materials Industry Guiding Opinions on Stabilizing Growth Adjusting Structure and Increasing Efficiency, 2016[OL]

[33] China Architecture & Building Press. Specification for Mix Proportion Design of Ordinary Concrete, 2011[S]. JGJ55-2011

[34] >China Architecture & Building Press. Standard for Test Method of Mechanical Properties on Ordinary Concrete, 2002[S]. GBT50081-2002

[35] Xu F, Wang S, Li T, et al.. Mechanical Properties and Pore Structure of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Made with Iron Ore Tailings and Polypropylene Fibers[J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2021, 33(3): 1 654-1 663

[36] Al-Hadithi AI, Hilal NN. The Possibility of Enhancing Some Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete by Adding Waste Plastic Fibers[J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2016, 8: 20-8

[37] Karahan O, Atis CD. The Durability Properties of Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Fly Ash Concrete[J]. Materials & Design, 2011, 32: 1 044-1 049

[38] Aslani F, Liu Y, Wang Y. The Effect of Niti Shape Memory Alloy, Polypropylene and Steel Fibres on The Fresh and Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2019, 215: 644-659

[39] Aslani F, Hou L, Nejadi S, et al.. Experimental Analysis of Fiber-Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Self-Compacting Concrete Using Waste Recycled Concrete Aggregates, Polypropylene, and Steel Fibers[J]. Structural Concrete, 2019, 20: 1 670-1 683

[40] Jiang P, Chen L, Li N, et al.. Study on The Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Modified Iron Tailings Stabilized by Lime and Fly Ash Based on Energy Analysis[J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2022, 17: 1 638-1 653

[41] Yi X W, Ma G W, Fourie A. Compressive Behaviour of Fibre-Reinforced Cemented Paste Backfill[J]. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 2015, 43: 207-215

[42] Guo D, Su C, Peng Z, et al.. Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Concrete Prepared with Coral Reef Sand and Sea Water[J]. Journal of Building Materials, 2018, 21: 41-46

[43] Qin Y, Zhang X, Chai J, et al.. Experimental Study of Compressive Behavior of Polypropylene-Fiber-Reinforced and Polypropylene-Fiber-Fabric-Reinforced Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2019, 194: 216-225

[44] Dris R, Gasperi J, Mirande C, et al.. A First Overview of Textile Fibers, Including Microplastics, in Indoor and Outdoor Environments[J]. Environmental Pollution, 2017, 221: 453-458

[45] Mlynarik V. Introduction To Nuclear Magnetic Resonance[J]. Analytical Biochemistry, 2017, 529: 4-9

[46] Huang G S, Su L, Xue C Z, et al.. Analysis on Pore Characteristics of Hybrid Basalt-Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technology[J]. Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica, 2024, 21(6): 1-17

[47] He Z J, Zhang L, Cheng C, et al.. Study on Mechanical Properties and Microcosmic Morphology of Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Recycled Concrete After Freeze-Thaw Cycles[J]. Eur. J. Environ. Civ. Eng., 2024, 21(42): 5 354-5 364

[48] Han X, Wang B, Feng J. Relationship Between Fractal Feature and Compressive Strength of Concrete Based on MIP[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2022, 322(66): 23-35

[49] He C H, Liu C. Fractal Dimensions of A Porous Concrete and Its Effect on the Concretes Strength[J]. Facta Universitatis-Series Mechanical Engineering, 2023, 21: 137-150

[50] Jin S S, Zhang J X, Han S. Fractal Analysis of Relation Between Strength and Pore Structure of Hardened Mortar[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2017, 135: 1-7

[51] Niu D, Huang D, Zheng H, et al.. Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties and Fractal Dimension of Pore Structure of Basalt-Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Concrete[J]. Applied Sciences-Basel, 2019, 9: 10-11

[52] Deng J L, Theory and Methods of Grey System of Social Economy[J], Social Sciences in China, 1984: 47–60

[53] Liu S F, Cai H, Yang Y J, et al.. Advance in Grey Incidence Analysis Modelling[J]. Systems Engineering-Theory & Practice, 2013, 42(7): 2 041-2 046

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Wuhan University of Technology and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, Part of Springer Nature