Analysis of cement paste and aggregate content of concrete using micro X-ray fluorescence
File(s)Analysis of cement paste microXRF - accepted.pdf (1.58 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Yio, MHN
Ho, YW
Abdul Wahid, F
Wong, Hong
Buenfeld, NR
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A new method for determining the cement paste, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate content of hardened concrete using micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) is presented. The method involves mathematical and morphological operations to extract aggregate particles from large-area (100 x 50 mm2) composite element maps acquired with μXRF. The method was tested on five concretes containing different types of aggregates including gravel, limestone, siliceous sand, and sintered lightweight aggregates. The results were compared against point count analysis and data from the actual mix design. The average errors in relation to the mix design for the measured fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, total aggregate, cement paste contents and fine/coarse aggregate ratio were 12%, 12%, 3.4%, 10%, and 27% respectively. All measured values fell within ±4% of those point-counted. An image size of > 2000 mm2 (at least five times maximum aggregate size) was found to be required to obtain representative results. The advantages and limitations of the proposed method are discussed.
Date Issued
2022-09
Date Acceptance
2022-01-20
Citation
Magazine of Concrete Research, 2022, 74 (17), pp.889-904
ISSN
0024-9831
Publisher
ICE Publishing
Start Page
889
End Page
904
Journal / Book Title
Magazine of Concrete Research
Volume
74
Issue
17
Identifier
https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/jmacr.21.00094
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Construction & Building Technology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Materials Science
aggregates
cement paste
testing
apparatus & methods
IMAGE-ANALYSIS
BACKSCATTERED ELECTRON
SIZE DISTRIBUTION
PARTICLE-SHAPE
RATIO
WORKABILITY
SANDS
Building & Construction
0905 Civil Engineering
1202 Building
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-03-25