Materials and Structures (2011) 44:16711685 DOI 10.

1617/s11527-011-9726-9

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Inuence of the design materials on the mechanical and physical properties of repair mortars of historic buildings
P. Manita T. C. Triantallou

Received: 15 March 2009 / Accepted: 15 March 2011 / Published online: 26 March 2011 RILEM 2011

Abstract Historic buildings are subjected to deterioration by natural weathering or by corrosion due to polluted atmosphere and the materials more susceptible are the mortars used. This study examines the inuence of the type and quantity of design materials on compressive strength, creep, water absorption and length change of repair mortars produced. The design materials used were lime, natural pozzolan, sand and brick fragments in order to obtain the compatibility required between historic and repair mortars; different quantities of Portland cement were also used in order to quantify his inuence. Nine mixtures were then designed and produced considering as parameters two binder: aggregates ratios, three pozzolan: cement ratios and three sand: brick fragments ratios. The experimental measurements continued until the age of 3 years or the stabilization of the test values. The results indicate that compressive strength is strongly affected by cement content and aggregates dosage and type. It appears that the increase of

cement as well as brick fragments leads to connement of creep deformation, while the mixtures with high pozzolan and sand content experience considerably high creep values. Water absorption reaches higher values when pozzolan or aggregate dosage arises and brick is in excess. Shrinkage increases when binder or brick quantity arise and is considerably inuenced by cement content. Keywords Repair mortars of historic buildings Lime Pozzolan Compressive strength Creep coefcient Water absorption Length change Long-term measurements

1 Introduction During human history, masonries made up of stones or bricks and mortar are widely used. The art of mortars and masonries is especially developed in the Mediterranean basin from the most ancient times until our days. The Phoenicians used brick dust in order to give hydraulicity to the air lime mortars (tenth century BC). The Greeks added Santorinian earth (a natural pozzolan of volcanic origin) to the mixtures leading to the production of mortars with hydraulic properties and water-resistance (ninth century BC). The Romans also used hydraulic mortars; they achieved a great knowledge about their production and applications and they spread their use throughout their empire. The Byzantines, during the 1000 years of their empire, used

P. Manita (&) Laboratory of Building Materials, Department of Civil Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, P.O. Box 252, 67100 Xanthi, Greece e-mail: pmanita@hol.gr T. C. Triantallou Structural Materials Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece

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extensively the hydraulic mortars and they added crushed bricks in order to improve its performance [1]. The majority of historic mortars in Greece and generally in the Mediterranean basin have as binding material lime with natural pozzolan and/or brick dust; the last two possess hydraulic properties. The aggregates used are inert materials like silicate, carbonate or dolomite sand and/or gravel or porous aggregates, physico-chemically active, like crushed brick, etc. Usually, crushed brick is added in order to ameliorate the performance of mortar towards better adhesion or workability. Sometimes, a component could derive either from the binder or the aggregates used [2, 3]. The aggregate quality, the composition of binding material and the use, sometimes, of additives such as straw bres, milk or egg, in order to improve the characteristics of mortar, determined the mechanical strength and the durability of the mortar produced. A lot of mechanical, physical, biological and chemical reasons lead to historic mortars deterioration. The design of repair mortars for historic buildings depends on the type and use of historic mortar, the width of alteration, the reason of damage and, of course, the nancial resources. The research about the ideal repair mortar occupies a lot of scientists [48]. For the rst time, the characteristics of an ideal repair mortar were presented by Peroni et al. [9] as follow: (i) easy workability, (ii) rapid and reliable setting in both dry and wet environments, (iii) slow shrinkage during setting, (iv) mechanical and thermal characteristics and porosity similar to those of the components (natural stones, bricks, etc.) of the masonry and (v) soluble salts content as low as possible. The last two points indicate that an ideal repair mortar must be harmless and in order to obtain this scope scientists concluded that repair mortars must have characteristics as similar as possible to those of the materials to be repaired [10, 11]. However, the traditional lime pozzolansand mortars, extensively used in ancient masonry in Europe, can sometimes give unsatisfactory results due to their low workability, their poor and slow setting in humid environments and their incomplete carbonation beneath the surface [12]. In order to anticipate these problems, an extensive use of cement in repair mortars started at the beginning of the past century, which gave unsatisfactory results because of the high content of soluble salts and the limited compatibility between cement and the original components of the masonry. However, it must be pointed

out that, a lot of the present mistrust to the use of cement in restoration of historic buildings is basically due to its uncontrolled application without directed research [12]. Consequently, the controlled use of cement improves mechanical strength of repair mortar and eliminates its inuence on microstructure [13, 14]. The addition of cement in limepozzolancement mortar allows for the development of bond strength at early age of the mortar, whereas the pozzolanic reaction contributes to further enhancement of the mechanism mainly after the age of 28 days [15]. Moreover, the replacement of a part of traditional lime by cement permits the reduction of a potential source of damage ions, especially calcium. The free calcium dissolves in water present in the stone and then reacts with sulphates from the environment to form mainly gypsum, which is the most common and most damaging form of hydrated calcium sulphate; it is revealed a clear correlation between building areas of damaged granite and sources of calcium, such as lime mortars [16]. The importance of the repair and rehabilitation of historic mortars is recognized but the available experimental results are limited. Moreover, a large number of reported data concern an experimental investigation with a limited scope. In this study a systematic research of repair mortars is carried out in a general framework, without the articial bounds placed by the problems of a given monument. During the design an effort was made to connect the available experimental evidence with the demands of the practical application. The objective of the research was to extract conclusions about the main factors affecting the mechanical and physical behaviour of repair mortars, to quantify the inuences induced and to characterize the way and the degree of the inuence of each parameter. Thus, in this research is studied the inuence induced by the design parameters to compressive strength, creep, water absorption and length change of repair mortars, in order to extract conclusions that can served to select a suitable repair mortar for historic buildings.

2 Experimental program 2.1 Design materials The constituents of the binder (B) used in the mixtures of repair mortars were hydrated lime as

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dry powder (L), a Greek natural pozzolan (P) and cement (C). The pozzolan used was a natural pozzolan of volcanic origin from Milos island, milled Milos earth (M.e.) with maximum grain size 0.5 mm. The cement used was a CEM I 42.5 N according to EN 197-1, i.e. ordinary Portland cement. The aggregates (A) were natural silicate sand (S) and brick fragments (Bf), both with maximum grain size 4 mm and their gradation was selected to be even and similar to those used in historic mortars of Mediterranean basin [4]. According to researchers the inuence of aggregate composition on lime mortars is signicant. For example, Pavia et al [17] evidence that the best graded sands (containing a wide range of particle sizes) improve the mechanical strength of a lime mortar simultaneously lowering porosity and water absorption. The aggregates were used after testing their suitability. In order to obtain the above mentioned purpose, the experimental program realized used as parameters the mixing proportions of design materials. (i) A considerable variable is the binder: aggregate ratio, which controls the main properties of the mortar. The two ratios studied were 1:2 and 1:4 by weight. (ii) It is important to study the contribution of each hydraulic material of the binder to the mechanical properties of the repair mortar. By including as parameter the pozzolan: cement ratio, the three ratios selected were 4:1, 1:1 and 1:4 by weight. It must be noticed that, the addition of cement in mixtures was decided for quantifying the degree of its inuence to repair mortars characteristics. Moreover, it is considerable the great number of historical buildings where repair mortars with signicant cement quantity have been used and where cement still affect the performance of the mortar. In order to provide further evidence on these, different percentages of cement participation have been designed, even a large one. (iii) Each type of aggregate used provides different special surface area, surface shape and surface texture. According to Ozol [18], surface texture is the most important aggregate property inuencing strength, followed by modulus of elasticity and shape. Concerning the shape of the aggregate grains used, each type of aggregate

contributes in a different way. Sand, made with rounded grains, improves the workability but hinders the adherence and the consequent good packed structure. Brick fragments provide good packing due to its angular shapes. Moreover, during mixing brick fragments as a porous aggregate absorb immediately part of the mixing water and render it during hydration. It is also noticed that, microscopical observations conrm the presence of reaction products at the binder- brick interface, dispersed in the form of veins along the matrix, lling the vacancies and discontinuities of its structure. The presence of calcium and silica in the reaction products supports the hypothesis of a pozzolanic reaction [1, 19]. In order to provide further data for the above mentioned and estimate the inuence of each aggregate type on the mortars properties, three sand: brick fragments ratios were studied, i.e. 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1 by weight. For the study of the previously mentioned variables nine mixtures were designed, as presented in Table 1. 2.2 Mixing, curing and testing procedure As it was expected, the two different aggregates, having different porosity and specic surface area, required different water content. Usually, the purpose is to ensure that all mortars included the correct amount of water that would provide a good workability and nal quality. The quantity of the tap water used in each mixture has been adjusted in order to provide to all mortars prepared a constant workability, corresponding to an initial ow diameter equal to 165 5 mm, measured according to EN 1015-3 [20]. A total of 296 specimens were produced and all specimens were prepared in accordance with EN 1015-11 [21]. The mortars were molded in the appropriate casts, according to the test requirement and then slightly compacted on a vibration table for 2 min. Compaction, although is not prescribed as necessary in relevant regulations, is considerable in the case of lime mortars, especially when produced with coarse aggregates, as resulting from the study of Stefanidou et al. [22]. The specimens were demolded

1674 Table 1 Composition of repair mortars (proportions by weight)

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Mixture number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

L, Lime

P (Me), Pozzolan (Milos earth) 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

C, Cement

S, Sand

Bf, Brick fragments 2 6 4 2 2 2 6 4 2

W, Water

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8

2 2 4 6 2 2 2 4 6

1.29 2.08 1.86 1.82 1.29 1.29 1.90 1.80 1.73

after 48 h. The mortars were cured in laboratory conditions, at 20 2C and 5565% RH, until the test day; the curing conditions were selected in order to simulate the exposure conditions of repair mortar in historic buildings. The mechanical and physical characteristics measured were compressive strength, creep coefcient, water absorption and length change. The compressive strength was measured at the ages of 7, 28, 90, 180, 365, 730 and 1095 days. The samples used were cubes of 50 mm edge; these specimens were selected in an effort to eliminate the effect of dimensions ratio on the fracture. The reported results are the average value of three specimens prepared in the same mold. Creep test was realized on cylinders 30 9 60 mm and reported results present the average value of two specimens. Creep is the result of a gradual arrangement of the solid phase to a more stable settlement of lower energy [23, 24]. As mentioned in Valluzzi [25], high compression loads, often characterizing massive brick masonry structures such as towers, curtain walls and heavily loaded pillars, can lead to critical conditions due to activation of creep. Typical damagevertical and sub-vertical; thin, but very diffuse cracksis worsened by cyclic stresses (due to thermal and hygroscopic strains) or low dynamic forces (wind action or bell ringing). This type of damage, generally disregarded in such structures, can induce sudden, unexpected brittle collapse, as observed in several cases, even at stress values 4060% lower than the strength of the masonry under short-term static loads [26]. The researchers use different design parameters in order to calculate the applied load [27]. In this research, the design value for the load applied was equal to 30% of the 28 days

compressive strength of the repair mortar; furthermore, a load level equal to 60% of the 28 days compressive strength was applied in representative mixtures of mortars. The compressive load was applied through a roller in order to provide axial stress only. The axial deformation measurements were taken by digital calliper of high accuracy, using as reference points two very small metal plates installed on the cylindrical surface of the specimen, at mid-height. All specimens were loaded at the age of 28 days in an effort to minimize the shrinkage inuence; as illustrated in length change test results the shrinkage effect was stabilized at this age. The duration of the test was 90 days, when a slight stabilization of the values was observed. During the period of testing, the curing conditions of the specimens were stable (20 2C and 5565% RH). The measurement of water capillary absorption of mortars was based on RILEM TC 167-COM Recommendations. The samples used were prismatic with dimensions 100 9 100 9 50 mm. The lateral surfaces of the specimens were sealed by selfadhesive tape, the weights of the prepared specimens m0 were measured and then the molded bottom sides were immersed in tap water up to a depth of approximately 3 mm. They were removed and weighed at time intervals of 10, 45, 60 and 120 min. The test was realized at the ages of 28, 90, 180 and 365 days. The measurement of each specimen was referred to the surface immersed and the reported value resulted as the average value of three specimens. Length changes were measured in three samples of 40 9 40 9 160 mm, in accordance with DIN 52450 [28]. The samples were kept in a room of the

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laboratory where the curing conditions were stable (20 2C and 5565% RH). The length change values were daily measured up to 29 days, where a stabilization of the values was noticed. The measurements of the length change were continued periodically for almost 6 months; the results of these measurements showed that the dimensions did not considerably change but they were signicantly affected by the variations of the relative humidity.

3 Test results and discussion 3.1 Compressive strength The results of the compressive tests of repair mortars specimens, at different ages, are plotted in Fig. 1. In the tested specimens, no cracks owing to shrinkage were observed. The results suggest an increment in strength between 7 and 365 days. After this age the development of strength is not regular: some mixtures presented uctuations or stabilization of the values and others mixtures showed a slight downward trend. This behaviour of lime mortars concerning long-term strength agrees with the references of other researchers, for example Karaveziroglou-Weber and Papayianni [29] and Lanas and Alvarez [30]. In order to give an explanation for this fact, Lanas and Alvarez [30] studied the compressive strength of lime-based mortars and give a hypothesis: mortars exhibit the highest strength value when a certain amount of portlandite stays uncarbonated. The decrease of this small amount produces a slight drop in mortar strength. 3.1.1 Inuence of the binder: aggregates ratio Studying the effect of binder: aggregates ratio (B:A) in compressive strength of repair mortars, different results appeared according to the pozzolan: cement ratio (P:C) of the mixtures compared. In the mixtures with more pozzolan content (P:C = 4:1), the mixture with the larger binder amount (No 1) reached higher strength values. Other researchers agree with this, evidencing that binder decrease in the lime-based mortars reduces its strength and mortars with more binder content show the highest compressive strength and this fact can be proved at any time and irrespective of the type of aggregate used [30, 31]. The mixture with the larger binder amount (No 1)

presented a 28 and 56% increment in compressive strength at the ages of 28 and 1095 days, respectively, when compared to the mortar with the lower binder content (No 3). A regular development of strength characterized the mortar No 1, while the No 3 presented a less regular development of strength after the age of 365 days, when a strength loss of 11% was computed. The mortars presented a 150160% increment of strength from the 7th to the 1095th day. Mosquera et al. state that cement-based mortars also develop higher strength values when binder amount arises. Mortars produced with lime, pozzolan and cement present the same behaviour [16]. Here, the results of the mixtures with increased cement content (P:C = 1:4) showed that the high content of aggregates in the mixture does not signicantly affect the values of compressive strength; in some ages leads to a slight increment of compressive strength. However, this trend is not clear due to the similarity of the values of the mixtures compared and to the uctuations of strength values of the mortar with the high content of aggregates, after the age of 180 days. The mortar with the larger binder content (No 6) showed a 14% decrease in strength compared to the mortar with low binder dosage (No 8), at the age of 28 days, while a same level value (3% increase for the No 6) was observed at the age of 1095 days. The development of strength was similar: an 88% increment was calculated in both mortars between 7 and 28 days. However, the mortar with the higher binder amount showed a regular strength development, while the other presented an 11% strength loss from the 365th to the 1095th day. The results suggest that the increase of aggregates in the mixture (B:A = 1:4) leads to a strength decrease, after the age of 365 days. On the contrary, when the dosage of aggregates is lower (B:A = 1:2), a stabilization of the values is noticed after the 365 days and a new increment in strength is showed at the age of 1095 days. These results agree with the results of other researchers [30] who studied the development of lime mortars until the age of 365 days. 3.1.2 Inuence of the pozzolan: cement ratio As it was expected, the mortars with the higher amount of cement showed the higher strength values.

1676 Fig. 1 Compressive strength values (MPa) of repair mortars, at different ages

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10.0

MORTARS 1-9

Compressive strength (MPa)

9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0
0 90 180 270 360 450 540 630 720 810 900 990 1080 1170
No 1 No 2 No 3 No 4 No 5 No 6 No 7 No 8 No 9

Age (days)

The hydration of both pozzolan and cement leads to the formation of similar hydraulic compounds (CSH) providing consistency to mortar paste, which hardens. However, the hydration process of the two materials has a different development rate. Pozzolan presents a signicantly slower hydration than cement and, consequently its contribution to the compressive strength of the mixture is lower than the cement, especially at early ages. Here, the results agree with the above remarking that the values of compressive strength of mortars have shown a difference according to the binder: aggregates ratio used: the trend is more pronounced when the mixture contains large binder amount. In the case of mortars with larger amount of binder (B:A = 1:2), the mixture where pozzolan is in excess (No 1) presented considerable lower values of compressive strength compared to the mixtures with high cement content (No 6). The mortar made with the higher pozzolan dosage (No 1) also showed lower compressive strength than the mortar with the equal dosage of pozzolan and cement (No 5). The No 5 presented 33% strength increment compared to No 1, at the age of 28 days, while, the respective percentage was 28%, at the age of 1095 days. The difference in compressive strength is considerably higher when No 1 is compared to the mixture where cement is in excess (No 6). The No 6 showed 105% increase in strength compared to No 1, at the age of 28 days, while, the respective percentage was 64%, at the age of 365 days. The differences in strength between the mortar with equal dosage of pozzolan and cement and the mortar where cement is in excess are lower,

especially after the age of 365 days. However, it is noticeable the regular development of strength when pozzolan is in excess in the binder, as in mortar No 1. In the other case, where B:A = 1:4, the results are proportional to the above mentioned but the differences in values of compressive strength are higher. The mixture made with the higher pozzolan content (No 3) presented signicantly lower strength compared to the mixture where cement is in excess (No 8). The compressive strength of No 8 was 206 and 148% increased compared to No 3, at the ages of 28 and 1095 days, respectively. Therefore, it appears that repair mortars made with equal dosage of pozzolan and cement or with large cement amount showed signicantly higher strength values, at all ages. This is due, as mentioned, to the faster production of CSH during cement hydration when compared to the pozzolan hydration. Mosquera et al. evidence that cement mortars obtained higher compressive strength values compared to the mortars where lime and pozzolan were added; they relate the reduction of strength to the higher porosity of the latter binder type [16]. However, the high content of pozzolan in the binder provides a regular development of compressive strength and without considerable uctuations, while, the excess of cement in the binder produces a mixture without regular strength development. 3.1.3 Inuence of the sand: brick fragments ratio As before mentioned, each type of the aggregate contributes to the compressive strength of mortars in

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a different way. Brick is a porous material and have the property to retain mixing water, leading to an internal water supply for continuous hydration of cement and pozzolan [32]. Brick fragments allow the binderbrick interface reactions with consequent new formations, thus eliminating any breaks in continuity between the binder and the brick. In addition, brick fragments present angular shapes due to the crashing brick process, allowing a better packed structure. Sand provides to the mixture stiffness and high special surface area. It is obvious that the inuence of the type of aggregate on the compressive strength of mortars is signicant. From the results of compressive strength, it is evident that the mortars with equal amount of sand and brick fragments have developed an improved strength, probably due to the combined contribution of brick properties and sand stiffness. In the mortars with larger amount of pozzolan, the mixture with the equal content of sand and brick fragments (No 3) presented the higher values of strength at all ages and a regular development of strength. The No 3 showed 0 and 25% increased strength values when compared to the mortar made with higher quantity of brick fragments (No 2), at the ages of 28 and 1095 days respectively. The mortar made with higher quantity of sand (No 4) obtained 21 and 15% increment in strength when compared to the No 2, at the ages of 28 and 1095 days respectively. This suggests that, the increment of sand in the mixtures leads to higher strength. This is probably due to the sand stiffness that improves the slow strength development owned to the pozzolanic reaction. However, it is evident that the mixtures with larger amount of brick fragments present more regular development of strength; for example, when a strength loss was expected after 365 days, a stabilization of values was noticed. Therefore, this indicates that the water supply that bricks provide during hydration allow to a slower and more regular hydration process. The above conclusion is also resulting from the mixtures where cement is in excess. The mixture with the equal content of sand and brick fragments (No 8) obtained the higher strength values, almost at all ages. The No 8 reached a slight increment of strength values when compared to the mortar made with higher quantity of brick fragments (No 7), at the ages of 28 and 1095 days respectively. The mortar made with higher quantity of sand (No 9) showed 36%

decrease in strength when compared to the No 7, at the 28th and 1095th day. The inuence of sand can be attributed to the enlargement of the aggregates binder interface surface area that quanties the weak mortar mass in tension; the compression failure is caused from lateral tensile strains [33]. In contrary, concerning the brick fragments in terms of strength, the lower modulus of brick aggregate may have be compensated by their high angularity and rougher surface texture, which improved strength development by better mechanical interlocking and better adhesion. This trend is also reported from other researchers, referring lime mortars mixtures [31] or even concrete mixtures, where the inuence of brick and granite aggregate was examined [34]. There seems to be a contradiction: the mixtures made with cement in excess showed higher strength when brick fragments increased, while the mixtures made with pozzolan in excess obtained higher strength when sand increased. This may be due to the different effect of the main ingredient of the binder. However, the contribution of brick fragments was again underlined: the mixtures with larger amount of brick fragments present a more regular development of strength. 3.2 Creep As before mentioned, the main design value for the creep load was equal to 30% of the compressive strength, at the age of 28 days. The load was applied in all specimens at the age of 28 days, in order to eliminate the shrinkage inuence (drying creep), as suggested in Neville [27]. Figure 2a illustrates the creep coefcient values of repair mortars tested under load equal to 30% fcm,28. 3.2.1 Inuence of the binder: aggregates ratio In the mixtures with high quantity of pozzolan, the mortar with the higher binder amount (No 1) experienced signicantly higher creep coefcient values, at all ages. This mixture showed a 218% increment in creep coefcient when compared to the mortar with the lower binder amount (No 3), at the age of 90 days. The No 3 presented low creep coefcient values. Both repair mortars showed a normal rate and a slope decrease was noticed after the 56th day. The creep coefcient of No 1 and No 3 was

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MORTARS 1-9

12.00 10.00
No 1

Creep coefficient

8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 0.00 0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84 91

No 2 No 3 No 4 No 5 No 6 No 7 No 8 No 9

Age (days)

22.00 20.00 18.00

MORTARS 1, 5, 7, 9

Creep coefficient

16.00 14.00 12.00 10.00 8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 0.00 0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84 91

No 1 No 5 No 7 No 9

Age (days)
Fig. 2 Creep coefcient values of repair mortars tested at compressive load equal to a 30% fcm and b 60% fcm of 28 days, at different ages

increased 439 and 466% respectively, from the 3rd to the 90th day. In the mixtures with high amount of cement, the mortar with the higher binder content (No 6) as well as the mortar with the lower binder content (No 8) showed a slow development of creep coefcient and low rate values. The values of two mortars were similar until the age of 21 days, but after then, the mixture with the higher binder dosage (No 6) differs and its value is 131% increased compared to No 8, at the 90th day. The increment of creep coefcient value of No 6 and No 8 was 1664 and 970% respectively, from the 3rd to the 90th day. However, both mixtures reached low creep coefcient values comparatively to

all the others. This is due to the high content of cement in the mixtures which controls and restrains creep leading to low creep values. Note that, independently the main ingredient of the composition of the binder (pozzolan or cement), the higher dosage of aggregates leads to increase of slope of creep coefcient curve, nearly at the age of 56 days (2 months). This conclusion agrees with the results of Li et al. [35], who studied the creep of concrete in early ages. The measurements are realized from the age of 3 to 120 days (T = 30 2C and RH = 65 5%) and concluded that concrete mixtures with high aggregate dosage obtained low special compressive creep values until about the 50th day,

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after then the contrary effect was observed and later, after the 120th day, the aggregate quantity inuence was negligible. 3.2.2 Inuence of the pozzolan: cement ratio Evaluating the effect of pozzolan: cement ratio in creep, it is evident the cement property (when contained in considerable amount) to connes creep and to controls creep deformation, at all ages measured. In the case of mixtures produced with high binder content (B:A = 1:2), the lower creep coefcient values are obtained by the mixture with high cement quantity (No 6). The mixture where pozzolan is in excess (No 1) presented signicantly higher creep coefcient values, at all ages; a 300% increment was noticed compared to No 6, at the age of 90 days. The mixture with equal pozzolan and cement quantity (No 5) illustrated creep coefcient values within those of No 1 and No 6, approaching the values of No 1. The No 6 and No 5 showed 73 and 19% reduction of creep coefcient values compared to No 1, at the age of 90 days. In the case of mixtures with lower binder amount (B:A = 1:4), the same trend was apparent. The mixture with high pozzolan quantity (No 3) noticed creep coefcient values 3 times more than the mixture with high cement content (No 8), at all ages. The mortar No 8 resulted to 62% lower creep coefcient value compared to No 3, at the 90th day. 3.2.3 Inuence of the sand: brick fragments ratio In the mixtures with high pozzolan content (P:C = 4:1), the mortar made with high brick fragments quantity (No 2) as well as the mortar made with equal quantity of two aggregates (No 3) obtained similar and low creep coefcient values. The mixture with the higher pozzolan dosage (No 4) illustrated a very fast development of creep coefcient and showed considerable increased creep values. This is probably due to the low percentage of cement in the binder and to the high amount of sand in the dosage of aggregates. The sand has large special surface area and leads to high interfacial transition zone which facilitates the development of creep deformation. It is evident that the mixtures with low cement and brick fragments percentages reached enormous creep

coefcient values and fast creep development also. The No 3 and the No 4 presented 3 and 326% increased creep coefcient compared to No 2, at the age of 90 days. The above mentioned trend is not apparent in the mixtures produced with high quantity of cement. This is probably due to the large cement amount that controls the behaviour of mixtures. The mixture with equal percentage of aggregates (No 8) and the mixture with the higher sand quantity (No 9) noticed 66 and 14% increment in creep coefcient compared to the mixture with the higher brick fragments content (No 7), at the 90th day. The mortars produced with higher amount of the one aggregates type showed similar creep development and values, whereas the No 8 resulted to lower values. This indicates that the contribution of cement is higher when the angular shapes and the water supply of brick fragments as well as the stiffness of sand are provided by an equal dosage of the aggregates. 3.2.4 Creep provided by compressive load equal to 60% fcm,28 Moreover, in order to provide further results, the creep development of repair mortars was studied when the compressive load applied was equal to 60% of the 28 days compressive strength. This load was applied in four representative mixtures. The mixtures tested were selected considering their behaviour during compressive strength measurements: the mortar No 1 (representing the group of 14), the mortar No 5, the mortar No 7 (representing the group of 68) and the mortar No 9. The reported results are showed in Fig. 2b. The production, curing and testing conditions of specimens remained as mentioned, excepting the load value. The results extracted agree to those mentioned above: here, the trends were the same but more pronounced. The results suggest that the mixtures made with considerable pozzolan amount have shown a vast increment in creep, at all ages and the major part of cement content contribution occurs until the age of 60 days, with maxima values at early ages. The mixture made with high pozzolan content (No 1) showed 86% increment in creep coefcient value compared to the mixture with equal pozzolan and cement dosage (No 5), at the age of 3 days, but the respective percentage was 6%, at the age of 90 days.

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It is noticeable that the mortar No 1 developed an outstanding increment in creep compared to the other mixtures, at early ages. This is probably due to the fact that No 1 contained low cement percentage allowing an uncontrolled deformation. The development of creep coefcient of No 1 was enormous until the 28th day, when a slope decrease was noticed. The creep coefcient value was 94% increased from the 3rd to the 90th day; note that, the 48% of the nal measured creep coefcient value (at 90 days) was already reached at the 3rd day. Concerning the mortar No 5, it showed a 240% increment in creep coefcient from the 3rd to the 90th day of testing. However, the increment of aggregates and cement amount in the mixtures leads to considerably lower creep values. The mortar No 1 showed 521% increment in creep coefcient value compared to the mixture with higher cement dosage (No 7), at 90 days; the respective percentage was 322% when No 1 was compared to the mortar with larger aggregates amount (No 9). The difference between No 7 and No 9 is the percentage of each aggregate types participation: No 7 contained S:Bf = 1:3 and No 9 contained S:Bf = 3:1. Both mixtures obtained low values of creep coefcient and their development was regular. Concerning the aggregates types inuence, it appeared that the values of No 7 where brick was in excess are lower. The creep coefcient value of the mixture made with sand in excess (No 9) was 47% increased compared to No 7, at the age of 90 days. The No 7 presented 1584% increment in creep coefcient from the 3rd to the 90th day of testing. The creep coefcient of No 9 showed 371% increment between 3 and 90 days. Note that, in the case of mixtures with pozzolan in excess, as in No 1, the reduction of cement acts as critical factor leading to extremely high creep coefcient values. This inuence diminishes when the mixture contained equal quantities of cement and pozzolan (No 5). In the case of mixtures with cement in excess and high aggregates amount (No 7, No 9) a signicant restrain of creep occurred and considerably decreased creep coefcient values are calculated. 3.3 Water absorption The water absorption was evaluated at the ages of 28, 90, 180 and 360 days. The specimens were measured

at specic time intervals of 10, 45, 60 and 120 min. The results of the water absorption measurements are included in Fig. 3ad. During the discussion of results, is considered that the measurement at 10 min shows the initial value of water absorption and the measurement at 120 min provides the nal value of water absorption. 3.3.1 Inuence of the binder: aggregates ratio In the mortars made with high pozzolan content, the mixture with low binder proportion (No 3) presented slightly higher water absorption values compared to the mixture with high binder proportion (No 1), at all ages. The No 3 showed 16% increased nal water absorption value compared to No 1, at the age of 28 days; the relative percentage was 12%, at the age of 365 days. The mixture No 1 showed initial and nal water absorption value 9 and 3% decreased, respectively, between 28 and 365 days. The initial and nal absorption values of No 3 were 65 and 5% decreased, respectively, between 28 and 365 days. The results suggest that in the case of mortars with large pozzolan amount, the mixture made with large amount of aggregates reaches the higher water absorption values. This is probably due to the fact that the larger amount of aggregates causes discontinuities in the structure and provides higher quantity of brick fragments, a considerably porous aggregate that increases the total porosity of the mortar. This trend becomes less pronounced in the case of mortars with high cement content. According to the results obtained, the values of water absorption diminished after long-term hydration time: the initial values noticed a considerable reduction while the nal values were slightly decreased, between 28 and 365 days. This is probably due to the fact that cement hydration forms a binder with dense structure. The mixture with the lower binder percentage (No 8) presented similar water absorption values, at all ages. The water absorption value of No 8 was 1.3% increased compared to No 6, at the age of 28 days; the relative percentage was 3.5%, at the age of 365 days. The initial and nal absorption values of No 6 were 26 and 5% decreased, respectively, between 28 and 365 days. The mixture No 8 showed initial and nal absorption value 71 and 3% decreased, respectively, between 28 and 365 days.

Materials and Structures (2011) 44:16711685 Fig. 3 Water absorption values (g/m2) of repair mortars at a 10 min, b 45 min, c 60 min, and d 120 min measurements
MORTARS 1-9, 10minutes

1681

a 18000
Water absorption (gr/m2)
16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 0 30 60 90

No 1 No 2 No 3 No 4 No 5 No 6 No 7 No 8 No 9

120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390

Age (days)

b 18000
Water absorption (gr/m2)
16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 0 30 60 90

MORTARS 1-9, 45minutes

No 1 No 2 No 3 No 4 No 5 No 6 No 7 No 8 No 9

120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390

Age (days)

c 18000
Water absorption (gr/m2)
16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 0 30 60 90

MORTARS 1-9, 60minutes

No 1 No 2 No 3 No 4 No 5 No 6 No 7 No 8 No 9

120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390

Age (days)

d 18000
Water absorption (gr/m2)
16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 0 30 60 90

MORTARS 1-9, 120minutes

No 1 No 2 No 3 No 4 No 5 No 6 No 7 No 8 No 9

120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390

Age (days)

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3.3.2 Inuence of the pozzolan: cement ratio Evaluating the water absorption of mortars produced with high binder content, it can be observed that the values increased when pozzolan quantity rises. The mixture made with the greater pozzolan quantity (No 1) presented the higher water absorption values while the mixture with the lower pozzolan content (No 6) showed the lower values; the values of the mixtures compared lied close. The No 1 obtained 3 and 5% increased absorption value compared to No 6, at the ages of 28 and 365 days, respectively. The mixture with equal amount of pozzolan and cement (No 5) reached values between those of No 1 and No 6. It seems that cement controls the behaviour of the mixture No 5 creating a dense structure, which leads the values of the specimens close to those of No 6. The absorption value of No 5 was 1% increased compared to No 6, at the age of 28 days; the relative percentage was 2%, at 365 days. The above results are nearly directly proportional to those arising from the mixtures with low binder content: the mixture with high cement quantity (No 8) reached lower water absorption values compared to the mixture with high pozzolan quantity (No 3). The No 3 obtained 16 and 14% increased absorption value compared to No 8, at the ages of 28 and 365 days, respectively. It is evident that, the increment of cement in the mixture leads to denser structure of mortar, allowing a reduction in water absorption values. This trend is more intense in the mortars with low binder: aggregates ratio (1:4). 3.3.3 Inuence of the sand: brick fragments ratio As it was expected, the mixtures with brick fragments in excess presented the higher water absorption values, due to the high porosity of brick. The results obtained from the mortars with high pozzolan quantity showed that the mixture with high brick fragments amount (No 2) reached the higher water absorption values compared to the mixture with high sand quantity (No 4) which noticed the lower absorption values. The values of No 2 were 36 and 38% increased compared to No 4, at the ages of 28 and 365 days, respectively. The values reached by the mixture with equal percentage of the two aggregates (No 3) fall within those of No 2 and No 4. The No 3 obtained 20 and 19% increased absorption value compared to No 4, at the ages of 28 and 365 days,

respectively. The development of the water absorption was regular; however, the values reached by the mortars with high pozzolan quantity were comparatively high, especially for No 2 and No 3. The same trend appeared in the mortars made with high cement content: the mixture with high brick fragments quantity (No 7) presented the higher water absorption values compared to the mixture with high sand amount (No 9) which showed the lower absorption values. The water absorption value of No 7 was 13% increased compared to No 9, at the age of 28 days; the relative percentage was 19%, at 365 days. The values of the mortar with equal dosage of sand and brick fragments (No 8) lied between those of No 7 and No 9. The No 8 obtained 4 and 8% increased water absorption value compared to No 9, at the ages of 28 and 365 days, respectively. The development of water absorption was regular and the values reached were similar. Therefore, this indicates that the increment of brick fragments percentage in mixture leads to increased water absorption values, independently of pozzolan: cement ratio. In case that cement amount in the mixture is considerable, the trend is less pronounced and the values of water absorption are reduced. 3.4 Length change The length change values were daily measured up to the age of 29 days, where a stabilization of the values was noticed. The measurements of the length change were continued periodically for almost 6 months. The results showed that the latter values did not considerably vary, but they were signicantly affected by the variations of the relative humidity of the laboratory: the increase of the relative humidity leads to higher length change values. The results of the length change measurements are showed in the Fig. 4. 3.4.1 Inuence of the binder: aggregates ratio Studying the mortars produced with high pozzolan content, it was evident that the mixture with larger binder amount (No 1) presented higher length change values compared to the mixture with low binder dosage (No 3). The No 1 showed 53% increased length change value compared to No 3, at the 28 days. The development of shrinkage was regular and the values were stabilized at the age of 9 days.

Materials and Structures (2011) 44:16711685 Fig. 4 Length change values (Dl %) of repair mortars, at different ages
MORTARS 1-9
0.250

1683

0.200

No 1 No 2

Length change (%)

No 3

0.150

No 4 No 5 No 6

0.100

No 7 No 8

0.050

No 9

0.000 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Age (days)

In the mortars with high cement quantity, it was observed that the mixture with the lower binder percentage (No 8) noticed the higher length change values. However, the values obtained by the mortars No 8 and No 6 were similar, especially after the 12th day. The mixture with the higher binder amount (No 6) presented 26% decreased length change value compared to No 8, at the age of 30 days. As the results suggest, the length change values of No 6 and No 8 illustrated close to those of No 1. 3.4.2 Inuence of the pozzolan: cement ratio In the case of mortars with high binder amount, the mixtures noticed similar length change development and values. The mixture with equal pozzolan and cement percentage (No 5) obtained the lower length change values. The No 5 and No 6 reached 38 and 25% decreased length change value compared to No 1, respectively, at the age of 30 days. The mixture with the higher pozzolan quantity (No 1) showed a stabilization of values at the 14th day, while the mixtures with considerably cement amount (No 5 and No 6) were easily affected by humidity and their values presented a slight uctuation even after the 14th day. In the case of mortars with low binder amount, the mixture with the higher cement quantity (No 8) showed higher length change values. The No 8 obtained 55% higher length change value compared to No 3, at the age of 30 days. Concerning the inuence of the components of the binder on the length change, Mira et al. [36] evidence

that, when lime putty is added in concrete made by OPC, a smooth increase in the length change of the specimens is observed. However, when pozzolanic materials are contained in the concrete, a rather signicant decrease in the length change is observed. The authors suggest that in the latter case, the faster formation of strength components as a result of the reaction between lime and pozzolanic materials improve the total stability of concrete. 3.4.3 Inuence of the sand: brick fragments ratio The mortars produced with high pozzolan amount noticed similar rate and values of length change. The mixture with equal aggregate dosage (No 3) and the mixture with sand in excess (No 4) reached 21 and 27% increased length change values compared to the mixtures with large brick fragments quantity (No 2), at the age of 30 days. The measurements showed that, in the case of high pozzolan content in the binder, the length change values are signicantly low and the proportion of the aggregates seems to not affect the shrinkage. The mortars made with high cement content showed higher length change values when compared to those of the above group. The mixture with the higher sand quantity (No 9) presented the higher length change values, while the mixture with the higher brick fragments quantity (No 7) obtained the lower values. The mixture with equal quantity of each aggregate (No 8) and the mixture with large amount of the sand (No 9) noticed 45 and 50% increment of length change value compared to No 7, respectively,

1684

Materials and Structures (2011) 44:16711685

at the age of 30 days. The large differences of the values are probably due to high porosity of the brick that facilitates the move of the water in the microstructure of the mixture. Thus, the lower length change values are noticed by the mixtures with the larger brick fragments quantity. This result is in agreement with other researchers who report that brick-aggregate concrete shrunk less than granite-aggregate concrete; they state that drying shrinkage in brick-aggregate concrete is delayed by continued hydration due to the presence of internal moisture in the aggregate [34]. Also, Hansen [37] suggests that the reduced shrinkage of brick-aggregate mixture contradicts the expectation that brick aggregates offer less deformation resistance to the shrinkage of cement paste due to its lower modulus of elasticity. As shown here, this trend is obvious in mixtures where cement is in excess. However, it is not clear in the mixtures with high pozzolan content, probably because the values reached lie close.

4.

5.

6.

7.

4 Conclusions 1. It is observed that, in the case of mixtures produced with high pozzolan content, the increment of binder in the mixture improves the compressive strength but also allows to develop a considerably high creep and leads to slightly higher length change values. The mixtures with large cement amount noticed higher compressive strength and lower creep values; these properties are not signicantly affected by the proportion of the binder. These mixtures showed lower length change values when larger binder amount was used. The compressive strength of the mixtures noticed uctuations after the age of 12 months. The increment of pozzolan in the binder allows a more regular development of strength; the same effect is obtained when brick fragments quantity increases. It was observed that, in case of mixtures with high pozzolan content the increment of sand leads to improved strength, while, in the mixtures with high cement amount, this result is reached when brick fragments rises.

Cement as well as brick fragments counteract the creep deformation. Mortars made with high pozzolan and sand quantities have noticed extremely high creep values. Specimens produced with low binder content showed increased water absorption values, probably due to the fact that the larger amount of aggregates causes discontinuities in the structure and produces a mixture with higher quantity of brick fragments, a considerably porous aggregate that increases the total porosity of the mortar. The water absorption values are higher when the percentage of brick fragments increased; this trend is more pronounced when pozzolan content rises. The length change measurements suggest that, the mixtures made with large brick fragments quantity present lower values and the trend becomes more intense when cement percentage increases. Further research is in progress in order to estimate the porosity and the water permeability of the mortars tested; the pore structure and the water move considerably affect the properties of mortars. The compatibility between the repair mortars and the original components must also be determined. In addition, the carbonation of the mortars tested will be studied in order to evaluate the hardening process.

References
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27. 28.

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32. 33.

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34. 35. 36.

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