Continuous high-rate shearing as a tool to control the stiffness development of cementitious pastes

Continuous high-rate shearing as a tool to control the stiffness development of cementitious pastes | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Continuous high-rate shearing as a tool to control the stiffness development of cementitious pastes Husam H. Elgaali, Rui Bai, Mirian Velay-Lizancos This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9429685/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Controlling the development of stiffness in fresh cementitious composites is crucial for 3D printing. This study revealed that continuous shearing can be an effective tool for controlling stiffness in fresh cementitious pastes. The tool's sensitivity to the water‑to‑binder ratio and Class C fly ash (FAC) was also examined. Using a rheometer, the stiffness evolution was obtained by measuring the static yield stress (τ sy ) at 10-minute intervals until the paste reached a rigid stiffness threshold. Two binder systems were tested at w/b of 0.40 and 0.48: i) 100% Limestone Portland Cement (PLC) as the binder, and ii) a blended system with PLC (80%) + FAC (20%). Each mixture was assessed under static (no external agitation) and dynamic (continuous shearing at rest) conditions. Results indicate that, regardless of the mixture, it is possible to significantly alter the stiffening process and the physical setting time based on the rheological behavior. For both binder systems, increasing the w/b ratio made the paste more responsive to dynamic conditions, resulting in further delayed stiffening. Additionally, the use of fly ash enhances the ability to control stiffening and setting time through external continuous shearing. Therefore, increasing the water-to-binder ratio and incorporating fly ash extends the options for manipulating the stiffening process and setting time via external shearing. These findings emphasize the potential of pre-placement external continuous shearing as an active tool to regulate stiffening in real time, especially for 3D printing, as it alters stiffness development without altering the mix design. Civil Engineering Materials Engineering Rheology Hydration Fly Ash Class C 3D Printing Cement Paste Structural Build-Up Portland Limestone Cement Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9429685","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":623800581,"identity":"343bd92d-9b3c-4f0a-a43f-6a7c7a5f7516","order_by":0,"name":"Husam H. Elgaali","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Purdue University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Husam","middleName":"H.","lastName":"Elgaali","suffix":""},{"id":623800582,"identity":"b254828e-2aad-4a8e-8dfc-e00cbe2d7f6a","order_by":1,"name":"Rui Bai","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Purdue University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rui","middleName":"","lastName":"Bai","suffix":""},{"id":623800583,"identity":"beee9e12-4a3a-43f2-b21c-8351740e6aa3","order_by":2,"name":"Mirian Velay-Lizancos","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA3UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACxgMMDBY8/CAmD1gggbAeoBYJHskGUrUwGBwgVovujOQDB362ScgY3+4x+/C2zYaBnz3HAK8WsxtpCQd72yR4zO6cMZ45ty2NQbLnDQEtZ84YHOAFabmRY8zM23aYweAGIVvOnP9w8C9Qi/EMsJb/DPYEtRzvYTgMssVAAqzlAAOQQUhLm8FhmXMSPBJ3jhUzzjmXzCNx5lkBfi2HmR8+fFNmY88/u3kzw5syOzn+9uQNeLWAASMbAyhqwICHsHIw+IPQMgpGwSgYBaMAAwAAy6NF3olHt6YAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1539-7923","institution":"Purdue University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mirian","middleName":"","lastName":"Velay-Lizancos","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-15 16:45:04","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9429685/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9429685/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":107705383,"identity":"4241ea38-0d1f-44f4-8465-35344170f5d7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-24 09:12:10","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1705638,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Manuscripttosend.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9429685/v1_covered_2f8a71e1-88e5-45cd-8259-9c58f1d9745e.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContinuous high-rate shearing as a tool to control the stiffness development of cementitious pastes\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[{"identity":"6244ad9d-c74b-45de-b2f2-de7bf0187f54","identifier":"10.13039/100000006","name":"Office of Naval Research","awardNumber":"N000142512311","order_by":0},{"identity":"ab7fb6ea-78ce-4b18-bf83-5876f80a67c8","identifier":"10.13039/100000006","name":"Office of Naval Research","awardNumber":"N00014–21–1–2624","order_by":1}],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Purdue University West Lafayette","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Rheology, Hydration, Fly Ash Class C, 3D Printing, Cement Paste, Structural Build-Up, Portland Limestone Cement","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9429685/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9429685/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eControlling the development of stiffness in fresh cementitious composites is crucial for 3D printing. This study revealed that continuous shearing can be an effective tool for controlling stiffness in fresh cementitious pastes. The tool's sensitivity to the water‑to‑binder ratio and Class C fly ash (FAC) was also examined. Using a rheometer, the stiffness evolution was obtained by measuring the static yield stress (τ\u003csub\u003esy\u003c/sub\u003e) at 10-minute intervals until the paste reached a rigid stiffness threshold. Two binder systems were tested at w/b of 0.40 and 0.48: i) 100% Limestone Portland Cement (PLC) as the binder, and ii) a blended system with PLC (80%)\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FAC (20%). Each mixture was assessed under static (no external agitation) and dynamic (continuous shearing at rest) conditions. Results indicate that, regardless of the mixture, it is possible to significantly alter the stiffening process and the physical setting time based on the rheological behavior. For both binder systems, increasing the w/b ratio made the paste more responsive to dynamic conditions, resulting in further delayed stiffening. Additionally, the use of fly ash enhances the ability to control stiffening and setting time through external continuous shearing. Therefore, increasing the water-to-binder ratio and incorporating fly ash extends the options for manipulating the stiffening process and setting time via external shearing. These findings emphasize the potential of pre-placement external continuous shearing as an active tool to regulate stiffening in real time, especially for 3D printing, as it alters stiffness development without altering the mix design.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Continuous high-rate shearing as a tool to control the stiffness development of cementitious pastes","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-16 15:18:48","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9429685/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"c5f48ae5-f899-437b-9311-b7b51b2e4e19","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 16th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":66389932,"name":"Civil Engineering"},{"id":66389933,"name":"Materials Engineering"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-16T15:18:49+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-16 15:18:48","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9429685","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9429685","identity":"rs-9429685","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}