Statistical analysis of influential variables on microstructure and durability of concretes with mineral additions

Abstract

This study reports the statistical analysis of 7,308 tests performed to determine the effects of different types and contents of mineral additions, water/cement ratios, and axial compressive strength of binary and ternary concrete mixtures with mineral additions on microstructure and durability parameters. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses and analysis of variance indicated that porosity, combined water, and remaining calcium hydroxide have influenced microstructure, whereas carbonation, chloride penetration, and water absorption affected durability. Mineral addition content had the most significant influence, followed by water/cement ratio, addition type, and compressive strength. The statistical results confirm the beneficial effects of mineral additions on concrete properties, which is consistent with a large number of studies reported on the literature.