Properties of high-volume limestone powder concrete under standard curing and steam-curing conditions

A comparative study of the mechanical properties, volume stability and durability of high-volume limestone powder concrete (HVLPC) and high-volume fly ash concrete (HVFAC) was conducted by testing pore structures of the paste and determining the adiabatic temperature rise,porosity, compressive strength, chloride ion permeability, 1 year's natural carbonation depth and dry shrinkage strains of the concrete. The test results illustrate that the reductive influence of high-volume limestone powder on the temperature rise of the massive concrete is identical to that of the high-volume fly ash. Compared with high-volume fly ash concrete, high-volume limestone powder concrete with the same water/binder ratio has relatively high interconnected porosity, low compressive strength, and low resistance to carbonation and chloride ion penetration, especially at the steam-curing conditions. The volume stability of concrete containing a high volume of limestone powder is almost identical to that of concrete containing fly ash with the same water/binder ratio. Reducing the water/binder ratio and replacing part of the limestone powder by ground granulated blast furnace slag can reduce the negative effects of limestone powder on the macro-properties of concrete. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.