Setting Time and Strength Monitoring of Alkali-Activated Cement Mixtures by Ultrasonic Testing

Alkali-activated cement (AAC) is a promising binder that replaces ordinary Portland cement (OPC). In this study, the development of setting time and strength of AAC mixes were studied using ultrasonic testing method. The test results were compared with traditional Vicat setting time and compressive and flexural strengths. The findings showed that setting times and strengths have a strong correlation with ultrasonic velocity curve. The initial setting time corresponds well with the ultrasonic velocity curve’s dormant period, and the final setting time with the time it takes to reach the velocity curve’s maximum acceleration. Both setting times also showed a correlation with the value of the maximum acceleration. An exponential relation was found between the ultrasonic velocity and the compressive and flexural strengths. The effect of binder content, alkaline solid to binder ratio (AS/B), sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide solids ratio (SS/SH), and total water to total solid binder ratio (TW/TS) on the strength and setting time are also studied using Taguchi method of experimental design. AS/B ratio showed a significant influence on the setting time of AAC while TW/TS ratio showed only a minor effect. The ultrasonic velocities were able to capture the effect of the different parameters similar to the compressive strength. The velocity decreased mainly with the increase of TW/TS ratio and binder content, while AS/B and SS/SH ratios showed a lower influence.