Use of the response surface methodology to determine the k factor of natural pozzolans and their influence on the durability of concrete

Abstract

Pozzolans of natural origin have been widely used in the manufacture of mortars and concretes for millennia, from the ancient Greeks and Romans civilizations to the present. In the present work, the k factor of the natural pozzolans of the Western region of Cuba is studied, and its influence on the quality of the concretes is evaluated. Response surface methodology
was used to locate the optimal replacement values. The design of the experimental program was used to determine the compressive strength at 7 and 28 days, as well as the effective porosity at 28 days. Although the study showed that, according to Cuban regulations, the k factor of these pozzolans is 0.2, with the use of the proposed methodology it was possible to optimise the replacement levels and the curing time.