Kinetics and capacities of non-reactive phosphorus (NRP) sorption to crushed autoclaved aerated concrete (CAAC).

With growing interest in resource recovery and/or reuse, waste materials have been considered a promising alternative for phosphorus (P) adsorption because they are low-cost and easily accessible. Crushed autoclaved aerated concrete (CAAC), as representative construction waste, has been extensively studied for P removal in ecological technologies such as treatment wetlands. However, most of the previous studies focused on the adsorption of orthophosphate, namely reactive phosphorus, and lacked attention to non-reactive phosphorus (NRP) which is widely present in sewage. This study presents the first investigation on the potential and mechanism of CAAC removing four model NRP compounds. Adsorption isotherm and kinetics of NRP onto CAAC indicate that the removal of NRP was a chemisorption process and also involved a two-step pore diffusion process. The desorption experiment shows that different NRP species showed varying degrees of desorption. Most NRP was irreversibly adsorbed on CAAC. Among the model compounds considered in this study, the adsorption capacity and hydrolysis rate of organophosphorus were much less than that of inorganic phosphorus. Moreover, the adsorption of different NRP species by CAAC in the mesocosm study was different from the results of laboratory adsorption experiments, and the possible biodegradation was essential for the conversion and removal of NRP. The findings confirmed the validity of CAAC for NRP removal and the potential advantages of CAAC in terms of costs and environmental impact. This study will contribute to a better understanding of NRP conversion and environmental fate and that can be the basis for a refined risk assessment.

The Influence of Retreated Lithium Slag with a High Content of Alkali, Sulfate and Fluoride on the Composition and the Microstructure of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

In this paper, the possibility of retreated lithium slag (RTLS) with a high content of alkali, sulfate and fluoride as a partial replacement for fly ash (FA) to produce autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) was investigated. The influence of the RTLS dosage on the AAC performance were examined. The composition and microstructure of hydrates as well as the microstructure of the RTLS-FA-based AAC compositions were determined by XRD, FTIR, TG-DSC and SEM. The results illustrated that the incorporation of RTLS changed the crystal structure and the microstructure of the tobermorite. With increased RTLS contents, the morphology of tobermorite was changed, and the grass-like tobermorite gradually transformed into network-like tobermorite. The newly formed tobermorite improved the mechanical performance of the AAC. Compared with the RTLS10, the content of tobermorite in the RTLS30 increased by 8.6%.

Equation of State of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete-Oedometric Testing.

This paper aims at investigating the triaxial behavior of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) under extremely high pressures, and experimentally determine Equation of State (EOS) for several different AAC densities. Oedometric tests were carried out using a home-made high-pressure triaxial apparatus, and pressures up to ~500 MPa were applied. The complete pressure-bulk strain relationships were measured, and new findings and insights were obtained. The paper presents the testing set-up and the measurement system. The data processing method accounting for the AAC pronounced shortening during the ongoing test is described using a weighted functions procedure for the circumferential strains' calculation, with which the confining pressure was determined. The boundary conditions effects on the test results were investigated, and a new technique for specimen insulation was suggested to ensure loading without friction and the prevention of local shear failure. The experimental EOS for different AAC densities were obtained. EOS curves for different specimens with the same density demonstrated good to very good repeatability of the EOS curves over the entire pressure range. Based on the tests results and the density's span, three classes of AAC are proposed. A preliminary attempt to apply the newly obtained EOS curves has been carried out to examine the energy dissipation for three different dynamic load levels. Although this is a preliminary stage that is beyond the objective of this paper, early interesting results were observed where an optimal AAC density, for which the highest energy has been absorbed, was identified. This finding encourages inclusion of that preliminary study as a closure section. Numerical simulations of wave propagation through ACC layers of different densities, laid on rigid supporting slabs, was carried out. The minimum total impulse imparted to the rigid slab was found for the optimal AAC density that has been determined above.

Numerical simulation of autoclaved aerated concrete masonry wall subjected to close-in explosion and the structural damage assessment.

In this study, we investigated the destructive effect of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) masonry walls subjected to close-in explosions. First, full-size refined finite-element models of the AAC masonry wall were established, and the accuracy of the models was verified by comparison with the test results. The destruction pattern and damage characteristics of the AAC wall were studied, and the effects of block size, wall thickness, mortar compressive strength, and explosion distance on the destruction degree of the AAC masonry walls were analyzed. The results showed that the destruction pattern of the AAC masonry wall subjected to close-in explosion manifested as punching damage in the middle of the wall. When the scaled distance remained unchanged, the punching damage area of the AAC masonry wall was positively correlated with the block size and negatively correlated with the wall thickness and mortar compressive strength. When the explosive equivalent remained unchanged and the explosion distance increased, the punching damage area first increased and then decreased. According to the damage mechanism of the AAC masonry wall, a calculation method for predicting the punching damage area of the AAC masonry wall was established, and the accuracy of this method was verified by comparing it with the numerical results. In addition, the damage criterion based on the punching damage area was established to determine the destruction levels of AAC masonry walls.

Comparative Studies of the Confined Effect of Shear Masonry Walls Made of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Masonry Units.

Confined walls are popular in areas exposed to seismic action. The advantage of such structures is increased load-bearing capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation. Confined masonry walls are also used to restrain the intensity of cracking and improve load-bearing capacity in areas exposed to seismic action. This paper describes the research on 18 confined walls and presents a comparison with research on unconfined walls (referenced models). The confined models were classified into three series: HOS-C-AAC-without openings and with confining elements around the perimeter; HAS-C1-AAC with a centrally positioned opening and circumferential confinement; and HAS-C2-AAC with a centrally positioned window opening and additional confinement along the vertical edges of the opening. The area of the window opening was 1.5 m2. All walls were made of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) masonry units of the nominal density class of 600. The walls were tested under initial compressive stresses σc = 0.1; 0.75; and 1.0 N/mm2. The reference models without confinement (six models of the series HOS-AAC without openings and the series HAS-AAC with openings) were prepared from the same masonry units, had almost the same outer dimensions, and were tested under the same initial compressive stresses σc. The analysis was performed for the morphology of cracks, stress values at the moment of cracking and failure, stiffness, and angles of shear strain. The morphology of cracks was found to depend on initial compressive stresses and the presence of an opening. A significant increase in compressive stress leading to cracks and failure stresses was observed with increasing values of initial compressive stresses. As the wall behavior was clearly non-linear, the bilinear relationship described by energy dissipation E, stiffness at the moment of cracking Kcr, and maximum displacement uu was proposed to be included in the engineering description of the relationship between horizontal load and displacement of confined walls. Confinement along the vertical edges of the opening having an area of 1.5 m2 (acc. to EN 1996-1-1) increased the maximum forces Pmax by ca. 45% and marginally affected the ductility of the wall when compared to the elements with circumferential confinement.

Assessing the embodied carbon and energy required for manufacturing sustainable concrete blocks using plastic pollution as a fiber.

This study explores the utilization of polyethylene bags and PET bottles as a fiber in the production of lightweight non-autoclaved plastic fiber-reinforced aerated concrete (NAPFRAC), which has the potential to replace conventional bricks. The study begins by examining global plastic pollutant production and their characterization and the need for a forecast of plastic pollution worldwide. Optimization using Design-Expert 9.0 is used to estimate the optimum mix of NAPFRAC. The mechanical properties of the optimum mix are determined, and a scaled-down model of wall panels is cast to study their behavior and vertical and horizontal ultimate load-carrying capacity. The results are compared to those of conventional first-class burnt clay bricks, and it is found that NAPFRAC wall panels show a 28% increase in vertical load-carrying capacity and 40% in horizontal load-carrying capacity. An analytical study of a high-rise building with NAPFRAC as infill panels is carried out to check the reduction of steel reinforcement in structural sections. Microstructural analysis using SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and XRD (X-ray diffraction) is conducted to identify the morphology and mineralogical composition of the NAPFRAC. Energy studies are also carried out on the mix ratio to identify the embodied carbon dioxide and energy required. Overall, this study highlights the potential of NAPFRAC as a lightweight alternative to conventional bricks. The use of plastic waste as a fiber in concrete production could have a positive impact on the environment by reducing plastic pollution. The results of this study could also have practical applications in the construction industry, especially in the design of high-rise buildings.

Influence of Waste Glass Powder Addition on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Autoclaved Building Materials.

Lime quartz samples in which ground quartz sand was gradually substituted with waste glass powder (GP) were obtained under hydrothermal conditions to determine the influence of GP addition on the microstructure (observed by SEM), phase composition (analyzed by XRD), and compressive strength of autoclaved building materials. An additional series containing analytical grade NaOH and no GP was formed to evaluate the effect of sodium ions on tobermorite formation and its impact on the mechanical properties of the samples. GP addition hindered the formation of tobermorite during autoclaving. Instead, a higher amount of an amorphous and semi-crystalline C-S-H phase formed, leading to the densification of the composite matrix. Nevertheless, tobermorite-like structures were found during both XRD and SEM analyses, proving that the presence of small amounts of Al3+ ions allowed, to an extent, for the stabilization of the phase despite the high sodium content. The compressive strength values indicate that the presence of alkali in the system and the resulting formation of additional portions of C-S-H have a beneficial influence on the mechanical properties of autoclaved composites. However, the effect fades with increasing glass powder content which, together with a slight expansion of the samples, suggests that at high sand substitution levels, an alkali-silica reaction takes place.

Simulation and Experimental Substantiation of the Thermal Properties of Non-Autoclaved Aerated Concrete with Recycled Concrete Powder.

Non-autoclaved aerated concrete (NAAC) is a two-phase material with a concrete matrix and air, exhibits good thermal insulation performance and shows good potential in the insulating construction industry. In this study, recycled concrete fine powder was used as an auxiliary cementing material, and the NAAC with different porosity and distribution was fabricated by the non-autoclaved method at different curing temperatures. The effect of porosity on the thermal conductivity and mechanical strength of NAAC is analyzed by experimental tests. A prediction method of thermal conductivity combining pore structure reconstruction and numerical simulation was proposed, which is established by two steps. Firstly, the pore size distributions of NAAC with different porosities were characterized by stereology image analyses. Secondly, the thermal conductivity prediction model based on the pore structure information was established by a COMSOL steady-state heat transfer module. The thermal conductivity results of COMSOL simulations were compared with the experiments and other theoretical models to verify the reliability of the model. The model was used to evaluate the effect of porosity, pore size distribution and the concrete matrix's thermal conductivity on the thermal conductivity of NAAC; these are hard to measure when only using laboratory experiments. The results show that with the increase in curing temperature, the porosity of NAAC increases, and the number and volume proportion of macropores increase. The numerical results suggest that the error between the COMSOL simulations and the experiments was less than 10% under different porosities, which is smaller than other models and has strong reliability. The prediction accuracy of this model increases with the increase in NAAC porosity. The steady thermal conductivity of NAAC is less sensitive to the distribution and dispersion of pore size in a given porosity. With the increase in porosity, the thermal conductivity of NAAC is linearly negatively correlated with that of the concrete matrix, and the correlation is close to 1.

Experimental Study on the Interrelationship between the Moisture Content and Drying Shrinkage of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Wallboard.

Autoclaved aerated concrete wallboard (AACW) has been widely used as a building envelope component in the infill walls of frame structures, which has broad prospects for development and utilization. However, the cracking of AACW has become a pressing problem, and this problem needs be solved or relieved effectively. We need an effective control method to reduce the cracking problem of AACW. It is necessary to study the interrelationship between the moisture content and the dry shrinkage of AACW. In this paper, a moisture content test and a drying shrinkage test of AACW were conducted, to understand the effect of the moisture content on the drying shrinkage performance of AACW. In addition, the moisture content of AACW with time was explored, and changes in the dry shrinkage value of AACW with the moisture content of AACW were obtained. According to the results and the conditions and the hypothesis of the test, the drying shrinkage value of AACW increases with time, and the drying shrinkage speed was fast in the early stage and tended to be stable in the later stage. In AACW, the drying shrinkage value and the relative humidity have a notable negative correlation. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the drying shrinkage value and the initial moisture content and the ambient temperature. When the AACW lost water from its initial moisture content to the equilibrium moisture content, the accumulated dry shrinkage value of AACW increased with the water loss. Moreover, a time-varying model of the moisture content and a prediction model of the equilibrium moisture content of AACW were established, and time-varying models of the drying shrinkage value of AACW with different initial moisture contents were proposed. The results provide a scientific basis for the reasonable maintenance and profitable control of drying shrinkage cracking of AACW.

Waste Originating from the Cleaning of Flue Gases from the Combustion of Industrial Wastes as a Lime Partial Replacement in Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

This paper aims to study the suitability of partial replacement of lime by waste originating from the cleaning of flue gases from the combustion of industrial wastes in the production of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). The compressive strength, bulk density, pore structure, phase composition, and microstructure of hydration products of the AAC were analyzed. According to the results, the addition of the waste can effectively enhance the mechanical properties of AAC due to the differences in morphology of hydration product-1.1 nm tobermorite and related dense microstructure. The pore size distribution was significantly influenced by waste addition, which was one of the main reasons for the increase in thermal conductivity. The XRD and SEM results showed that foreign ions introduced with the wastes affect the synthesis of 1.1 nm tobermorite. Moreover, it was shown that waste containing a high content of CaO can be used as lime replacement, which allows reducing CO2 emissions during the AAC production process.

The Effect of Pore Structure on Impact Behavior of Concrete Hollow Brick, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete and Foamed Concrete.

Porous concrete is an energy absorption material, which has been widely used in civil engineering, traffic engineering and disaster reduction engineering. However, the effect of pore structure on the impact behavior of the porous concrete is lacked. In this study, a series of drop-weight impact tests were carried out on three typical types of porous concrete, i.e., concrete hollow brick (CHB), autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) and foamed concrete (FC), to investigate the effect of pore structures on their impact behavior. For comparison, static load tests were also conducted as references. According to the damage to the samples, the developments of impact force, strain, contact stress-strain relationship and absorbed energy during drop-weight during the impact test were measured and analyzed. The results show that the ratio between the peak impact stress and compressive strength of CHB was 0.44, while that of AAC and FC increased to about 0.6, indicating that the small and uniform pore structure in AAC and FC had a higher resistance against impact load than the hollow cavity of CHB. In addition, the elastic recovery strain in AAC increased by about 0.2% and its strain at peak contact stress increased by about 160% for a comparison of CHB, implying that a small open pore structure could enhance ductility. Besides, the peak contact stress of FC was close to that of AAC during impact loading, while the strain at peak contact stress of FC increased by about 36% compared with AAC, revealing that the closed-pore structure could further enhance the deformation potential. Correspondingly, the energy absorption rates of CHB, AAC and FC were 85.9 kJ/s, 54.4 kJ/s and 49.7 kJ/s, respectively, where AAC decreased by about 58% compared with CHB, and FC decreased by about 10% compared with AAC.

Research on the Behavior of Stiffening Walls in Single-Storey Buildings Made of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Masonry Units.

Experimental identification of stiffening walls is often limited to studying single-wall models. However, these samples do not reflect many additional effects-torsion of the building and redistribution of internal forces. This paper presents the results of two full-scale buildings made of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) masonry elements. The primary purpose of the work was to determine the changes in the stiffness of the shear walls and to attempt the empirical distribution of loads on the stiffening walls. The intermediate goals were: a description of the crack morphology and the mechanism of failure, the designation of the stiffening walls' behavior. It was shown that the first crack formed in the tensile corner of the door opening, and the subsequent cracks formed in the wall without a hole. Based on the changes in the value of the shear deformation angles, the phases of work of the stiffening walls were determined. The presented research results are only a part of an extensive study of stiffening walls in masonry buildings conducted at the Silesian University of Technology.

Experimental and Modeling Investigations on the Water Sorption Behaviors of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

The thermal and moisture properties of building envelope materials determine their performance over many years of use. Moisture has a particularly negative impact, impairing all the technical parameters and adversely affecting the microclimatic conditions inside the building. This article presents research and analysis on the moisture behavior of partitions made of autoclaved aerated concrete. Autoclaved aerated concrete is a very popular material for building external walls because of its relatively good thermal insulation and sufficient strength, if it is not subjected to increased moisture. This study investigated how the moisture content of this material changes with the change in relative air humidity. The four most popular density classes were studied. The sorption isotherms were determined by the static gravimetric method throughout the whole hygroscopic range. Moreover, the applicability of various models to describe sorption isotherms of this material group has been extensively evaluated. The tested models (Peleg, Redlich, Chen, Oswin, Henderson, Lewicki, Caurie, and GAB) all provided a very good fit with the experimental results for the tested material group (R2 ranged from 0.9599 to 0.9978). This paper indicates that the use of two additional approximation parameters (SSE and RMSE) allows a more precise assessment of the quality of individual models.

Effect of Pore Structure on Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

With the premise of investigating mechanical properties, the thermal conductivity of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a key index of self-insulation block walls for building energy conservation. This study focused on the effect of pore structures on the mechanical performance and thermal conductivity of AAC with the comparison of AAC base materials. Different kinds of AAC and their base materials were prepared and experimentally investigated. While maintaining a consistent mix proportion of the AAC base material, the pore structure of AAC was changed by the dosage of aluminum power/paste, foam stabilizer, and varying the stirring time of aluminum paste. The steam curing systems of AAC and the base material were determined based on SEM (Scanning Electronic Microscopy) and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) tests. With almost the same apparent density, the pore size decreased with the increasing content of foam stabilizer, and the mixing time of aluminum paste and foam stabilizer has a great influence on pore size. The thermal conductivity test and compressive test results indicated that that pore size had an effect on the thermal conductivity, but it had little effect on the compressive strength, and the thermal conductivity of sand aeration AAC was 8.3% higher than that of fly ash aeration AAC; the compressive strength was 10.4% higher, too. With almost the same apparent density, the regression mathematical model indicates that the thermal conductivity of AAC increased gradually with the increase of pore size, but it had little effect on the compressive strength. From the test results of basic mechanical properties, the mechanical model of cubic compressive strength, elastic modulus, axial compressive strength, and splitting tensile strength was obtained. The proposed stress-strain relationship model could well describe the relationship of AAC and the base material at the rising section of the curve.

Regulating Effect of Cement Accelerator on High Content Solid-Wastes Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (HCS-AAC) Slurry Performance and Subsequent Influence.

Adverse side-effects occurred in slurry foaming and thickening process when carbide slag was substituted for quicklime in HCS-AAC. Cement accelerators were introduced to modify the slurry foaming and coagulating process during pre-curing. Meanwhile, the affiliated effects on the physical-mechanical properties and hydration products were discussed to evaluate the applicability and influence of the cement accelerator. The hydration products were characterized by mineralogical (XRD) and thermal analysis (DSC-TG). The results indicated that substituting carbide slag for quicklime retarded slurry foaming and curing progress; meanwhile, the induced mechanical property declination had a negative effect on the generation of C-S-H (I) and tobermorite. Na2SO4 and Na2O·2.0SiO2 can effectively accelerate the slurry foaming rate, but the promoting effect on slurry thickening was inconspicuous. The compressive strength of HCS-AAC obviously declined with increasing cement coagulant content, which was mainly ascribed to the decrease in bulk density caused by the accelerating effect on the slurry foaming process. Dosing Na2SO4 under 0.4% has little effect on the generation of strength contributing to hydration products while the addition of Na2O·2.0SiO2 can accelerate the generation and crystallization of C-S-H, which contributed to the high activity gelatinous SiO2 generated from the reaction between Na2O·2.0SiO2 and Ca(OH)2.

Use of the AE Effect to Determine the Stresses State in AAC Masonry Walls under Compression.

Safety and reliability of constructions operated are predicted using the known mechanical properties of materials and geometry of cross-sections, and also the known internal forces. The extensometry technique (electro-resistant tensometers, wire gauges, sensor systems) is a common method applied under laboratory conditions to determine the deformation state of a material. The construction sector rarely uses ultrasonic extensometry with the acoustoelastic (AE) method which is based on the relation between the direction of ultrasonic waves and the direction of normal stresses. It is generally used to identify stress states of machine or vehicles parts, mainly made of steel, characterized by high homogeneity and a lack of inherent internal defects. The AE effect was detected in autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), which is usually used in masonry units. The acoustoelastic effect was used in the tests described to identify the complex stress state in masonry walls (masonry units) made of AAC. At first, the relationships were determined for mean hydrostatic stresses P and mean compressive stresses σ3 with relation to velocities of the longitudinal ultrasonic wave cp. These stresses were used to determine stresses σ3. The discrete approach was used which consists in analyzing single masonry units. Changes in velocity of longitudinal waves were identified at a test stand to control the stress states of an element tested by the digital image correlation (DIC) technique. The analyses involved density and the impact of moisture content of AAC. Then, the method was verified on nine walls subjected to axial compression and the model was validated with the FEM micromodel. It was demonstrated that mean compressive stresses σ3 and hydrostatic stresses, which were determined for the masonry using the method considered, could be determined even up to ca. 75% of failure stresses at the acceptable error level of 15%. Stresses σ1 parallel to bed joints were calculated using the known mean hydrostatic stresses and mean compressive stresses σ3.

Mechanism study on co-processing of water-based drilling cuttings and phosphogypsum in non-autoclaved aerated concrete.

The feasibility of coordinated use of water-based drilling cuttings (WDC), fly ash, and phosphogypsum (PG) as raw materials for the preparation of WDC non-autoclaved aerated concrete (WNAAC) was evaluated by laboratory experiment. The results showed that the pozzolanic reaction of the multi-component cementitious system containing 40% (in mass) of WDC is significantly promoted. Newly formed C-S-H gel and ettringite with the uniform distribution of fibrous and flake-like shape occur, presenting a denser and interlock microstructure. In addition, after cured by steam at 80 °C for 24 h, the mechanical property and unit weight of the WNAAC prepared with 40% WDC fully meet the B06, A3.5 grade of China state standard (GB/T11968-2006). Environmental performance tests confirm that the WNAAC prepared with 40% WDC does not create any secondary contamination.

Use of autoclaved aerated concrete particles for simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorus as filter media from domestic wastewater.

ABSTRACT In this study, autoclaved aerated concrete particles (AACPs) from construction waste were used to simultaneously remove phosphorus and nitrogen in biological aerated filters (BAFs). The effects of air/water (A/W) ratio on the removal performance of phosphorus (PO4 3-), total organic carbon, total nitrogen (TN), and ammonia nitrogen were investigated. Results showed that AACP BAF was more efficient than commercially available ceramsite (CAC) BAF. For example, the removal rates of TN with AACP and CAC were 45.96% and 15.64%, respectively, and those of PO4 3- with AACP and CAC were 72.45% and 33.97%, respectively, at the A/W ratio of 3:1. Different characterization methods were utilized to evaluate the surface shape, elemental compostion, and internal and surface structure of AACP. The interconnectivity and uniformity of pores and the rough surface of AACP were found to be suitable for the growth of microbial biofilm. In addition, the growth of internal pores in AACP promoted the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen. The surface of used AACP contained a small amount of irregular crystals and was covered with a layer of aggregates, which were characterized as hydroxyapatite [HAP, Ca5(OH)(PO4)3]. The formation of HAP as a final byproduct confirmed the successful removal of phosphorus. Therefore, construction wastes, such as AACPs, could be recycled and utilized as a promising biofilter media for excellent wastewater treatment.

In situ monitoring of hydrothermal reactions by X-ray diffraction with Bragg-Brentano geometry.

This note describes an autoclave chamber developed and constructed by Anton Paar and its application for in situ experiments under hydrothermal conditions. Reactions of crystalline phases can be studied by successive in situ measurements on a conventional laboratory X-ray diffractometer with Bragg-Brentano geometry at temperatures <483 K and saturated vapour pressure <2 MPa. Variations in the intensity of X-ray diffraction reflections of both reactants and products provide quantitative information for studying the reaction kinetics of both dissolution and crystal growth. Feasibility is demonstrated by studying a cementitious mixture used for autoclaved aerated concrete production. During a period of 5.7 h at 466 K and 1.35 MPa, the crystallization of torbermorite and the partial consumption of quartz were monitored.

Finite Element Study on the Shear Capacity of Traditional Joints between Walls Made of AAC Masonry Units.

This paper presents the development of a numerical model aimed at the simulation of nonlinear behaviour of traditional joints between walls made of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) masonry units. Nonlinear behaviour and cracking of AAC and mortar were simulated using the concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model available in the ABAQUS finite element software. The paper also presents and discusses the results of an experimental campaign involving testing six T-shaped, monosymmetric samples with traditional joints between walls loaded in shear. The results were used to validate the numerical model. The validation confirmed that the model is capable of producing accurate results and predicting the structural behaviour with a reasonably good accuracy in elastic and post-elastic stages. Furthermore, a sensitivity study was conducted, in which the variation of elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, tensile strength, compression strength and fracture energy of AAC was investigated. Results showed that the variation of elastic modulus, tensile strength and fracture energy is most critical to the structural behaviour of the model, while variation of the remaining parameters has a negligible effect on the results.