Pore Structure Characteristics of RAP-Inclusive Cement Mortar and Cement Concrete Using Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry Technique

Abstract The pore structure characteristics of cement mortar and concrete incorporating reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) fine aggregates as part replacements of natural fine aggregates (NAs) were studied using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) technique. NAs were replaced by RAP at 25, 50, 75, and 100 % by volume of total fine aggregates. Mineral admixtures, namely silica fume and activated sugarcane bagasse ash, were incorporated as part replacements of cement as well. MIP technique could identify the mesopores and macropores in the cementitious mixture. Porosity increases with an increase in RAP content in cementitious mixture, owing to larger and porous interfacial transition zone. Total intrusion pore volume increases with an increase in RAP content and is greater than the control mix irrespective of RAP content and mineral admixture. Mesopores and macropores follow a similar trend as total intrusion pore volume, suggesting finer and larger pores in RAP-inclusive cementitious mixtures. Threshold diameters were observed to initially decrease until 50 % RAP content and to increase thereafter for RAP-inclusive cement mortar, suggesting easy penetration of chemical species for higher RAP content mixes. From pore classification studies, entrained air, large capillaries, medium capillaries, and small capillaries were also analyzed. Large capillaries follow a similar trend to threshold diameter, in which the former affects the transport processes in cementitious mixture. RAP-inclusive cementitious mixtures have the ability to resist freeze as well as thaw and salt decay; this is concluded indirectly from pore structure studies. The pore-mass fractal dimension has the ability to describe the pore-solid structure, whereas the pore-surface fractal dimension failed to do so for RAP-inclusive cementitious mixtures.