Papers

@article{rodriguez-alvaro_rheology_2025,

title = {Rheology and setting of self-compacting concrete incorporating high volume of fly ash and internal curing via coal and wood bottom ash},

author = {Roberto Rodríguez-Álvaro and Sindy Seara-Paz and Fernando Martínez-Abella and Belén González-Fonteboa},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710225016638},

doi = {10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113426},

issn = {2352-7102},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-10-01},

urldate = {2025-10-01},

journal = {Journal of Building Engineering},

volume = {111},

pages = {113426},

abstract = {The continuous development of innovative high performance concretes is encouraging the use of new and sophisticated techniques to study their performance. In this article, a rheometer is used to determine the rheological parameters (dynamic yield stress, viscosity, yield stress at rest and thixotropy) of an internally cured self-compacting concrete with fly ash blended cement. This research is motivated by the scarcity of rheological studies regarding internally cured concretes. Coal bottom ash (CBA) and wood bottom ash (WA) were used as internal curing water reservoirs. Air content, setting times and temperature rise under semi-adiabatic conditions were also analysed. The results indicate that ball bearing effect of fly ash decreased the amount of high range water reducer admixture added to the mortars to get similar workability. Furthermore, all the rheological parameters increased when using coal bottom ash and, more remarkably, wood ash, due to their irregular shape, rough texture and some minor water absorption. Internal curing of fly ash blended cement concrete has no detrimental effects on the fresh state properties, but special attention must be paid to the pre-wetting of porous aggregates. If the internal curing water reservoirs are wetted below their water absorption capacities, their use reduces workability and setting times. Therefore, the practicality of the proposed mixtures relay mainly on the care taken during their design and materials conditioning. The future research efforts should focus on the development of new mixes with different supplementary cementitious materials and new conditioning techniques that guarantee a precise pre-wetting.},

keywords = {Internal curing, Shear thickening, Thixotropy, Viscosity, Yield stress},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rojo-López2022,

title = {Rheology, durability, and mechanical performance of sustainable self-compacting concrete with metakaolin and limestone filler},

author = {Gemma Rojo-López and Belén González-Fonteboa and Fernando Martínez-Abella and Iris González-Taboada},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85134035376&doi=10.1016%2fj.cscm.2022.e01143&partnerID=40&md5=0f8f839bbe6aa5f1c5456f95d4cae965},

doi = {10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01143},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

urldate = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Case Studies in Construction Materials},

volume = {17},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

abstract = {This study analyzed the performance of self-compacting concrete with a paste composition that includes limestone filler and metakaolin replacing cement to design binary (75% cement and 25% limestone filler) and ternary binders (60% cement, 25% limestone filler and 15% metakaolin). Furthermore, to analyze the effect of the solid volume fraction (volume of sand and coarse aggregate) on concrete rheology, the concretes were designed using four volumes of paste (350 l, 400 l, 450 l and 500 l). Rheological tests were performed at three resting times to measure the viscosity and yield stress over time. The results indicated that the viscosity decreased by 43.3% when the cement was replaced by limestone filler and increased by 73.1% when the cement was replaced by 15% metakaolin while maintaining the limestone filler. These values were obtained as 27.6% and 62.2%, respectively, when the yield stress was analyzed. In addition, the hardened properties (mechanical behavior and durability) were studied by measuring the strengths at 28 days, as well as the electrical resistivity and ultrasonic pulse velocity over time. In this case, at 28 days the use of binary binder reduces the strength and resistivity (about 20%) and the employment of ternary binder reduces strength (15%) while increases the resistivity up to the double (when compared to the 100 C concrete). Moreover, to measure the efficiency of the concrete, a material index was designed that considers the fresh behavior, mechanical performance, durability, cost, and environmental impact. Self-compacting concretes with ternary binders provided the highest indices. The use of alternative materials, particularly metakaolin has been proven to be a good option to enhance concrete sustainable performance. © 2022 The Authors},

note = {Cited by: 40; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access},

keywords = {Aggregates, Binders, Biocompatibility, Cements, Durability, Durability performance, Efficiency, Elasticity, Environmental impact, Fillers, Life cycle, Light velocity, Lime, Limestone, Limestone filler, Material efficiency, Mechanical performance, Metakaolins, Plastic viscosity, Resistivity, Self compacting concrete, Supplementary cementitious material, Ultrasonic pulse velocity, Viscosity, Yield stress},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{di_mundo_masonry_2020,

title = {Masonry and render mortars with tyre rubber as aggregate: Fresh state rheology and hardened state performances},

author = {Rosa Di Mundo and Sindy Seara-Paz and Belén González-Fonteboa and Michele Notarnicola},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061820303640},

doi = {10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118359},

issn = {0950-0618},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-06-01},

urldate = {2026-08-06},

journal = {Construction and Building Materials},

volume = {245},

pages = {118359},

abstract = {This work shows how it is possible to tailor cement-rubber composites suitable as renders and masonry mortars with a reduced liquid water absorption. Recycled tyre rubber is used as aggregate in mixture with siliceous sand and its content is tuned in order to limit depletion of mechanical properties and, at the same time, ensure a sufficiently massive utilization of this secondary raw material. An extended investigation of the properties both at the fresh and hardened state is conducted. We show that presence of rubber sensitively reduces fluidity (hence workability) of the mortar. In particular, rubber modifies rheological properties such as thixotropy and dynamic torque, while does not affect viscosity. Overall, the fresh state properties are compatible with the casting and application of these mortar typologies, even for the highest rubber content (20–25% by volume). This rubber content is shown to be sufficient to ensure, just after few days of curing, an almost complete abatement of water drop absorption, specific functionality of these novel and more sustainable mortars.},

keywords = {Hydrophobic, Masonry mortar, Plasters/renders, Recycled tyre rubber, Rheology, Thixotropy, Viscosity, Water absorption, Water contact angle, Workability},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}