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Fluidity of hydraulic grouts for masonry strengthening

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Abstract

Design of hydraulic grouts for strengthening of masonry historical buildings seems to follow a rather empirical procedure, with all the related uncertainties, both in economical and efficiency terms. This paper is part of a broader attempt to establish a rational methodology for the design of such grouts, based on their discrete injectability characteristics, i.e. (i) penetrability, (ii) fluidity and (iii) stability. The first part of this holistic methodology proposing a procedure to be followed in order to make a first selection of suitable grain size distribution of solid materials of the grout to fulfill penetrability requirements was published elsewhere. The second part regarding the fluidity of the grouts is the subject of this paper. A new practical fluidity measurement is proposed (the fluidity factor test [FFT]); and a “fluidity factor” is defined. It is proved that the follow-up of this factor as a function of the water-to-solids ratio may reveal fundamental characteristics of the grout-composition under design. The influence of the mixing method and superplasticizer on grout’s fluidity is also examined. The paper concludes with a case study to highlight the practical use of the proposed test. Furthermore, stability of the suspension against segregation or excessive bleeding should also be ensured since, otherwise, blockage may soon appear and the quality of the intervention could be severely affected. This matter is examined by the authors in a separate paper, where specific semi empirical formulae permitting a first selection of water content and percentage of ultrafine materials, useful for the design of a grout composition are proposed.

Résumé

L’étude de la composition des coulis hydrauliques pour le renforcement des structures historiques en maçonnerie obéit souvent à des procédures plutôt empiriques accompagnées d’incertitudes tant en termes d’économie que d’efficacité. Cet article fait partie d’une tentative plus générale destinée à établir une méthodologie rationnelle permettant la formulation des coulis hydrauliques par l’intermédiaire d’une analyse de leurs propriétés d’injectabilité i.e.(i) Pénétrabilité, (ii) Fluidité et (iii) Stabilité. La première partie de cette méthodologie proposant la procédure à suivre pour estimer la distribution adéquate des grains de la phase solide du coulis a déjà été publiée. La seconde partie de cette méthodologie traitant de la fluidité des coulis constitue le sujet de cet article. Une nouvelle méthode pour la mesure de la fluidité est proposée [Test de Facteur de Fluidité, - Fluidity Factor Test (FFT)] et un facteur de fluidité est défini. Il est prouvé que l’analyse de l’évolution de ce facteur en fonction du rapport eau sur solides peut révéler des caractéristiques fondamentales sur la composition du coulis en cours de définition. L’influence de la méthode de malaxage et du superplastifiant sur la fluidité du coulis est également examinée. L’article présente en conclusion un cas concret pour mieux démontrer l’usage pratique du test proposé. La stabilité du coulis contre une sédimentation excessive ou la ségrégation doit aussi être assurée. Dans le cas contraire, un blocage peut apparaitre et la qualité de l’intervention peut ainsi être sérieusement compromise. Ce sujet est examiné par les auteurs dans un article séparé, dans lequel des formules spécifiques semi-empiriques permettant une prédétermination du pourcentage d’eau et des éléments ultrafins sont proposées.

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Notes

  1. Relative references for the sand-column test is given in § 3. See also [1, 6, 11, 22, 29].

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to Sophie Anagnostopoulou, MSc. Chemical Engineer, Anna Kalagri, MSc. Chemical Engineer and Conservator of Art and Panagiota Psimogerakou MSc Civil Engineer, for their help with the experiments and the graphics of this paper.

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  1. Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 12 Sq. Karytsi, 10561, Athens, Greece

    Androniki Miltiadou-Fezans

  2. National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Theodossios P. Tassios

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  1. Androniki Miltiadou-Fezans
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  2. Theodossios P. Tassios
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Correspondence to Androniki Miltiadou-Fezans.

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Miltiadou-Fezans, A., Tassios, T.P. Fluidity of hydraulic grouts for masonry strengthening. Mater Struct 45, 1817–1828 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-012-9872-8

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