Reducing the negative effects of construction joints in roller compacted mass concrete structures using zeolite

Roller compacted concrete is a dry, hard concrete with zero slump, typically used in mass concrete structures where casting is done in stages with time intervals between each stage. However, the formation of joints in these concretes increases the penetration of destructive ions, leading to eventual failure and instability of mass concrete structures. This study aims to evaluate the impact of replacing part of cement with zeolite in reducing the destructive effects of joint formation in roller compacted concrete structural members.Samples were made with hot, warm, and cold joints, with zeolite replacing cement at percentages of 0, 15%, 30%, and 40%. Results showed that at 15% replacement percentage, samples had the highest compressive strength, so roller compacted concrete samples were made with 15% zeolite to test for Rapid Chloride Permeability Test (RCPT), water penetration depth, water absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and electrical resistivity. The tests showed that replacing 15% of the cement weight with zeolite improves compressive strength in warm joint areas and reduces destructive effects of warm and cold joints on durability properties. The electrical resistivity test revealed that replacing 15% of cement with zeolite significantly reduces the permeability of specimens. Zeolite also reduces the permeability of roller compacted concrete specimens based on the results of water penetration depth, RCPT, and electrical resistivity tests, but increases water absorption and decreases UPV.