Fractal Dimension Analysis of Drying-Wetting Cycle Failure in Cement by High Semi-Dry Desulfurized Ash Enhanced with Nano-SiO2@TiO2
摘要
Nano-SiO2@TiO2 effectively restricted the expansion behavior of the cementitious material with semi-dry desulfurized ash, thereby ensuring durability during practical application. In this study, a new kind of solid waste-based cementitious material (DTS) was prepared with 30 wt.% semi-dry desulfurized ash (D) as cement mixture and 5 wt.% nano-SiO2@TiO2 (TS) as the modifier. The 3 d and 28 d compressive and flexural strength of the DTS were all better than that of pure cement hardened paste. Its linear expansion rate after 28 d was only 0.21%, indicating better volume stability. Drying-wetting cycle tests demonstrated that DTS still maintained 80% of its initial strength after 110 cycles is much higher than D0, which only withstood 75 cycles, showing superior durability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the crystal form of the hydration products of DTS was intact, and there was little Afm-likeness crystal. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) further confirmed the increased formation of C-S-H gel, which verified that nano-SiO2@TiO2 exhibits the pozzolanic effect and effectively promotes the hydration process. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and fractal dimension analysis were used to analyze the pore structure evolution of DTS under drying-wetting cycles and its correlation with compressive strength was established. The model defines the relationship between pore structure and fractal dimension, and then links the fractal dimension to compressive strength, providing clear physical insights. The R2 of the fitting equation is 0.98796, which means that fractal dimension effectively characterizes the complexity of the pore structure and could be used to predict mechanical performance of DTS. This provides a theoretical basis and methodological reference for durability evaluation of various cement-based materials. This method can further monitor the damage of the material structure during the process of engineering service and can improve the environmental adaptability of the structure.