Influences of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) on the compressive strength and crack-healing ability of self-compacting concrete containing high-volume ground bottom ash
Issued Date
2025-07-01
Resource Type
ISSN
22145095
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85214004349
Journal Title
Case Studies in Construction Materials
Volume
22
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Case Studies in Construction Materials Vol.22 (2025)
Suggested Citation
Chitthawornmanee S., Kaur H., Tran T.N.H., Chindasiriphan P., Jongvivatsakul P., Tangchirapat W. Influences of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) on the compressive strength and crack-healing ability of self-compacting concrete containing high-volume ground bottom ash. Case Studies in Construction Materials Vol.22 (2025). doi:10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e04196 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/102989
Title
Influences of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) on the compressive strength and crack-healing ability of self-compacting concrete containing high-volume ground bottom ash
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
This study investigated the use of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) as an internal curing and crack-healing material in self-compacting concrete (SCC) made with high-volume ground bottom ash (GBA). With a total binder content of 600 kg/m3 and a water-to-binder (w/b) ratio of 0.27, ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was replaced with pozzolanic materials by up to 70 % by weight of the binder. The pozzolanic blend comprised high-volume GBA, original fly ash (FA), and nano-silica (NS) in three weight ratios: 70:0:0, 60:10:0, and 58:10:2 (GBA:FA:NS). Additionally, pre-absorption with SAP and a saturated calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) solution was employed, and the crack-healing ability of SCC with SAP was observed. The results demonstrated that SAP significantly controlled the slump flow and T50 while reducing the required dosage of superplasticizer. However, an increase in SAP content led to a decrease in compressive strength. Reduced water flow rate through the cracked concrete was observed for the first two weeks in SCC mixes containing 0.6–1.8 % of SAP by weight of the binder, decreasing by over 90 % after curing for 28 days. In SCC mixes incorporating SAP saturated with Ca(OH)2, a 98 % reduction in water flow rate was achieved, in addition to a slight increase in compressive strength, due to the additional formation of calcium-silicate-hydrate (CSH) gels and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation. Furthermore, the inclusion of SAP or SAP saturated with Ca(OH)2 significantly reduced chloride penetration in SCC. Microstructure analysis revealed the presence of crack-healing products including CSH gels and CaCO3 precipitation.