Setting time acceleration of cement concrete with addition of termite mound clay

Abstract

Abstract As part of government programs, strategies are put in place to militate against cost of construction, geared towards encouraging reduction in the use of construction inputs such as cement, aggregates, steel, reinforcement steel, etc. The objective of this research is based on the use of wastes and natural local materials as substitutes to the conventional materials. It is observed that termite clay mound (TMC) can be used as an accelerator. The setting times decreased as the percentage addition of cement by TMC increased, this is because the dissolved TMC form a close network that acts as dense barrier for the needle (used to measure the setting time) to penetrate the paste and thus, indicate accelerated setting time. The setting of cement paste is honored to be caused by adding volume of hydration products and leads to a decrease in the distance between individual particles until plastic flow is confined by cohesive forces. The water affinity of TMC cement pastes increased as the dosage increased. With this behaviour, the termite mound clay can be classified as an accelerator and thus it can be used for cold weather concreting. Along with this, the strength of concrete by the addition of TMC is analysed.