Comprehensive Investigation of the Mechanical and Durability Properties of High-Performance Concretes Containing CSA Cement
Source abstract
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive experimental evaluation of high-performance concretes incorporating calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement as a partial replacement for ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Five CSA replacement levels (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60%) and two water-to-cement ratios (0.40 and 0.45) were examined to assess their effects on mechanical performance and key durability parameters. The experimental program simultaneously investigated compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, water absorption, sorptivity, gas permeability, and freeze–thaw resistance, offering an integrated assessment rarely addressed in previous studies, which typically focus on selected parameters or narrower replacement ranges. The results show that CSA addition enhances microstructural densification, substantially reducing sorptivity and gas permeability and markedly improving freeze–thaw performance even without air entrainment. High CSA contents (45–60%) yielded superior transport-related durability while maintaining competitive 28-day strengths, especially for w/c = 0.40. These findings clarify the interplay between CSA content, transport properties, and frost resistance, highlighting CSA–OPC hybrid binders as a durable and sustainable solution for high-performance concrete applications.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Concrete and Cement Materials Research · Innovative concrete reinforcement materials · Concrete Properties and Behavior
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Affiliations
Department of Civil Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 24 Grunwaldzki Sq., 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5b, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
Faculty of Civil Engineering Mechanics and Petrochemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, 17 Łukasiewicza Str., 09-400 Płock, Poland
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