Fresh and hardened properties of self consolidating Portland limestone cement mortars: Effect of high volume limestone powder replaced by cement

The main purpose of this experimental study is to elucidate the performance of self-compacting mortars (SCMs) composed of high volume limestone powder (LSP). In accordance with this purpose, four different SCMs at which limestone content varied as 0%, 15%, 25% and 35% were designed and later on fresh, hardened and durability properties of the mixtures were investigated for different curing ages depending on the testing method. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, rheological properties, mini-slump cone, carbonation, UPV and capillary water absorption were investigated in terms of fresh and hardened performance properties. In term of fresh properties, test results showed that there was a clear increase in the yield stress up to LSP content of 15% and beyond this level there was a tendency of reduction of the yield stress with the increase of limestone addition and also slumps values increased and pointed out a satisfactory fresh property in accordance with the increase in the replacement level of LSP. For mechanical properties, there was a steady decrease in the compressive strength values with the increase in LSP content while the addition of LSP in SCMs more than 15% did not improve splitting tensile strength of the mixtures for all curing ages. As a durability property, carbonation resistance of SCMs samples decreased with the increase in LSP replacement level for all of the mixtures and also UPV values were in an acceptable range of good (for 15%) and doubtful (for 35%) category intervals. Furthermore, the control mixture with the only PC had the lowest sorptivity coefficient as 2.73 cm/s(1/2) followed by SCMs with 15%, 25% and 35% LSP as 5.11, 6.13 and 6.14 cm/s(1/2), respectively. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.