Influence of treated mud on free shrinkage and cracking tendency of self-compacting concrete equivalent mortars

The present work aims at studying the formulation and characterization of self-compacting concrete equivalent mortars, using calcined mud from the dredged sediments brought from the dam (Western Algeria) and fly ash from the Central Thermal EDF (France). Three SCCEM samples were prepared; a control mortar sample and two mortar samples containing 22% of mineral additions, with a ratio W/B = 0.47. The analysis of the experimental results obtained indicates that mortars comprising calcined mud develop greater compressive strengths than those containing fly ash. Regarding free shrinkage, mortar with calcined mud is characterized by an autogenous shrinkage similar to those of control and fly ash mortars. However, it is more sensitive to total shrinkage and drying as compared to the other mortars. Under the conditions of restrained shrinkage, control and calcined mud mortars are more sensitive to early cracking than mortar based on fly ash.