Evaluation of the Efficiency of Limestone Powder in Concrete and the Effects on the Environment

Yoo-Jae Kim, Ryno van Leeuwen, Bum-Yean Cho, Vedaraman Sriraman and Anthony Torres
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Yoo-Jae Kim: Department of Engineering Technology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
Ryno van Leeuwen: Department of Engineering Technology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
Bum-Yean Cho: Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Seoul, 163, Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02504, Korea
Vedaraman Sriraman: Department of Engineering Technology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
Anthony Torres: Department of Engineering Technology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 2, 1-24

Abstract: The major environmental impact of concrete comes from the CO 2 emissions, produced during the cement manufacturing process. The main goal of this research project is to evaluate the efficiency of limestone powder as a partial cement replacement, in order to reduce energy consumption and CO 2 emissions. This study utilizes limestone powders, with different particle sizes, to replace a portion of Portland cement using various ratios. Due to the dilution effect when partially replacing cement, there is a reduction in the concrete’s physical properties. To assess the dilution effect, a modification to Féret’s equation is used to calculate an efficiency factor for the limestone powder when compared to cement. To measure the environmental impact, a life cycle assessment is conducted on concrete made with limestone powder combined with cement. This allows for an evaluation of the various cement/limestone powder ratios that will maximize the environmental benefit, with minimal reduction in concrete strength. Additional microstructural analysis using petrographic examination was completed to provide a visual understanding of the distribution of the limestone particles within the cement paste. The results indicate that the efficiency of limestone powder in partially replacing cement can be achieved by particle packing and particle distribution in the concrete and the benefits of emission reductions exceed the loss in compressive strength when higher levels of limestone powder is used to replace cement.

Keywords: limestone powder; fineness; efficiency factor; life cycle assessment; particle size; cement replacement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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