Improvement of two-component grouts by the use of ground granulated blast furnace slag

This work investigated the impact of a partial replacement of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) by ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) in two-component grouts. Maximum GGBS content reached 50 %wt of the binder. Fluidity, open time, bleeding behaviour, gel time, compressive strength development and durability with respect to sodium sulfate were assessed. The impact of a variation of the volumetric ratio between the grout base and the accelerator (components A and B) was also considered. The results showed that increasing GGBS content led to multiple benefits of grouts behaviour. At fresh state, the bleeding was limited without decreasing the flowability. At hardened state, it increased the 28-day compressive strength, and improved the durability of the grouts in water/sodium sulfate solutions when used at 16% of the binder mass (mix designs based on jobsite trials).