Portland Limestone Blended Cement in
AASHTO M240 and ASTM C595 Presented to NESMEA October 2010
ObjectivesWhy the proposed change?
What would change?
How do we propose to proceed?
What do we know about portland limestone blended
cements?
What additional information is needed?
Reason for Proposal Provide option that can:
Help DOTs and industry meet sustainability
initiatives
Implement proven technology
Reduce GHG emissions by up to 10%
Conserve energy and natural resources
Address legislative and regulatory challenges
Harmonize standards
Concept – Changes to M240/C595 Include provisions for a new portland-limestone
blended cement containing from 5% to 15%
limestone
Have same physical requirements as existing
Type IS, IP, and IT cements
Development Procedure Consider cement standards development objectives
Gather, review, and evaluate information
Identify and address questions
Develop and submit ballot item(s) with supporting
rationale and documentation
Known Use and Performance Experience in Europe and Canada
Proven technology
Fresh and hardened concrete properties
Compatibility with admixtures and SCMs
Historical Use of Limestone in Cements 1965 Heidelberger produces 20% limestone cement in Germany for
specialty applications (Schmidt 1992)
1979 French Cement Standards allows limestone additions.
1983 CSA A5 allows 5% in Type 10 (now GU) cement
1990, 15+/-5% limestone blended cements being used in Germany
1992, in UK, BS 7583 allows up to 20% in Limestone Cement
2000 EN 197-1 allows 5% MAC (Typ. Limestone) in all 27 common
cements, as was commonly practiced in various European cement
standards prior to that.
2000 EN 197-1 creates CEM II/A-L (6-20%) and CEM II/B-L (21-35%)
2006 CSA A3001 allows 5% in other Types than GU
2004 ASTM C 150 allows 5% in Types I-V
2007 AASHTO M85 allows 5% in Types I-V
2008 CSA A3001 includes PLC containing 5%-15% limestone
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
35.4 34.2 33.7 32.1 31.627.5
4.8 5.4 4.2 6.8 5.9
4.5
3.7 2.92.1 2.7
1.2
1.4
5.4 6.25.7
7.06.9
7.4
15.0 18.9 24.624.0
24.5 31.4
16.816.8
14.5 9.6 14.3 12.5
5.65.5 6.5
4.85.1 5.64.0
5.0 59.5 5.4 5.73.2
3.4 1.5 1.9 2.9 1.86.11.7 2.1 1.8 2.1 2.2
Ce
me
nt T
yp
es
in E
uro
pe
(%
)
Others
CEM V - Composite Cement
CEM IV - Pozzolanic
CEM III - Blast furnace slag
CEM II - Portland-composite
CEM II - Portland-limestone
CEM II - Portland-fly ash
CEM II - Portland-pozzolana
CEM II - Portland-slag
CEM I - Portland
PLC had the
largest use
in 2004
Most portland-
composite cements
contain limestone
too!
Cements Used in Europe
CSA A3001-08
Portland
cement
Blended
cement
Portland-
limestone
cement
Application
GU GUb GUL General use
MS MSb *- Moderate sulfate resistant
MH MHb MHL Moderate heat of
hydration
HE HEb HEL High early strength
LH LHb LHL Low heat of hydration
HS HSb *- High sulfate resistant
* CSA does not have provisions for sulfate resistant PLC cements
Concrete Tests
Cements and SCMs
10% to 15% PLC
Slag (15, 25, 30, 50%) and fly ash 25%
Slump, slump retention and air were measured
Strength and durability tests were performed
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Control
Hv
25% Slag
12% LS
Hv
25% Slag
12% LS
Hv
25% Slag
12% LS
Hv
Control 25% Slag
12% LS
Control
Hv
FA 12%
LS Hv
Control FA Mix
12% LS
MPa
1 Day MPa
7 Day MPa
28 Day MPa
Slag Mixes Fly Ash Mixes
Almost no impact of 12% PLC on f’c at any
age with 25% Slag or 20% Fly Ash
Concrete Strengths with Slag or Class C FA
0
20
40
60
80
100
No SCM (0.40)
No SCM (0.45)
35% Slag (0.45)
25% Fly Ash (0.45)
Du
rab
ility
Fac
tor
Supplementary Cementing Materials (w/cm)
Freeze-Thaw Resistance (ASTM C 666)
PC
PLC - 12%
0
200
400
600
No SCM (0.40)
No SCM (0.45)
35% Slag (0.45)
25% Fly Ash (0.45)
Mas
s Lo
ss (
g/m
2)
Supplementary Cement Materials (w/cm)
Scaling Resistance (ASTM C 672)
PC
PLC - 12%
0
1000
2000
3000
No SCM
(0.40)
No SCM
(0.45)
35% Slag
(0.45)
25% Fly Ash
(0.45)
Ch
arg
e P
ass
ed
(C
ou
lom
bs)
Supplementary Cement Materials (w/cm)
Chloride Permeability at 28 days
PC
PLC - 12%
0
1000
2000
3000
No SCM
(0.40)
No SCM
(0.45)
35% Slag
(0.45)
25% Fly Ash
(0.45)
Ch
arg
e P
ass
ed
(C
ou
lom
bs)
Supplementary Cement Materials (w/cm)
Chloride Permeability at 56 days
PC
PLC - 12%
Durability Tests – w/cm = 0.40, 0.45 & SCM
Field Trials – Jan CI, 8 Concretes
Cements = CSA A3001 PC and PLC (12% limestone)
Blended SCM = 33% FA, 67% Slag
Replacement levels =0, 25, 40, 50
Tests
Cast specimens - compressive strength (ASTM C39),
rapid chloride penetration (ASTM C1202), rapid
freeze/thaw (ASTM C666), hardened air void
analysis (ASTM C457), deicer scaling (C672),
Cored - strength (ASTM C42), chloride penetration
(C1202), chloride diffusion (ASTM C1556)
PLC + 50% SCM
PC + 50% SCM
PLC + 25% SCM
PC + 25% SCM
Field Trials – Strength Results
Field Trials – RCPT Results
TRB Paper – Three Case StudiesAll Used C1157 Cement Containing 10% Limestone
40th Avenue, Denver, 2007
Used with 20% Class C FA, Recycled
Aggregate
US HWY 287, Lamar, 2008-2009
Used with 20% Class F FA
I-25, Castle Rock, 2008-2009
Used with 20% Class F FA
2010 Spring TTCC/NCC
Summary Why the proposal?
Option to implement proven technology to obtain desired
performance and improve sustainability of concrete
What would change?
5% to 15% limestone in ASTM C595/M240
Same physical requirements as IP, IS, IT
How to proceed?
Remember standards development objectives
Gather, review, and evaluate information
Identify and address questions
Questions to Address Sulfate exposure
Others?
Portland Limestone Blended Cement in
AASHTO M240 and ASTM C595Presented to AASHTO TS3a August 2010
Thank you!