Changes in the Strength Characteristics of Sediment-Based Concrete as a Binder Substitute over Time

Abstract

The article summarizes the development of the strength characteristics of concrete over 5 years of curing, prepared on the basis of 40% replacement of the binder with sediments from the Ruzin water reservoir. The results showed, that the use of the original fine-grained sediment as a binder indicates a continuous increase in the strengths of the composites during 5 years of curing. The addition of fly ash to the mixture confirm its slower effect on increasing compressive strengths at the beginning of hardening. An increase in the compressive strengths of the composites by 35% was observed after one year of curing. The compressive strengths of the composites prepared with 40% cement replacement by sediments after 5 years of hardening were at the level of 30 MPa and more. The decrease in strength in the initial stages of hardening, after 28 days, was at the level of 50% compared to the comparative sample while the decrease in strength compared to the comparative sample was only 35% after 5 years of hardening.