An Experimental Study on Quaternary Lime Pozzolana Based Mortar

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Madhukar This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8986185/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 16 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Lime mortar is the traditional construction material mostly used before 20th century as a primary binding material. In this study the performance of hydrate lime mortar is studied by addition of pozzolana materials such as micro silica, fly ash and metakaolin. Hydraulic lime contains a lower volume of silica and aluminates, pozzolanic materials are incorporated at various percentages to enhance mortar performance. Two distinct mortar ratios of 1:3 and 1:1 are prepared. In the 1:3 ratio, one part quaternary lime binder is mixed with three parts sand, while in the 1:1 ratio, one part quaternary lime binder is mixed with one part sand. Within the binder composition, 30% Hydrated lime and 10% metakaolin, micro silica is varied from 10% to 50%, and fly ash is varied from 50% to 10%. Based on the percentage replacement of pozzolanic materials, ten mixes are proposed and studied. Fresh mortars are evaluated to determine the water-to-binder ratio for each mix. The mechanical and microstructural properties of all mortars are investigated. Compressive strength is determined at 14, 28, and 56 days for all ten mixes. Among the 1:3 ratio mortars, the L3 mix shows optimum strength compared to other mixes, while in the 1:1 ratio mortars, the R2 mix exhibits optimum strength. Overall, 1:1 ratio mortar shows higher compressive strength than 1:3 ratio mortars. Microstructural analysis of the optimum strength mortars is carried out using SEM, EDS, and X-ray analysis. Hydrated lime mortar Pozzolanic materials Micro silica Fly ash Metakaolin Compressive strength Microstructural analysis SEM–EDS X-ray diffraction Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 1. Introduction Lime has been used as a binder since ancient times and well known for its durability and compatibility with traditional masonry [ 1 ]. Although Portland cement provides higher early strength, it often performs poorly in restoration works due to incompatibility with original lime mortars [ 1 , 2 ]. As a result, lime-based binders are again preferred in conservation projects because of their compatibility, sustainability and long-term performance [ 2 ]. Recent studies show that adding pozzolanic materials to lime mortars is an effective way to improve strength and durability [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]. Materials such as fly ash and GGBS enhance mechanical performance, reduce shrinkage and improve compatibility with ancient mortars. Fly ash helps in control of drying shrinkage and GGBS contributing to strength gain [ 1 ]. Natural hydraulic lime and ceramic waste residues have also demonstrated improved physical and mechanical properties, while supporting sustainability in restoration applications [ 2 , 4 ]. Beyond mortars, lime is increasingly used in sustainable construction materials. Lime-mud and sawdust masonry units improve thermal performance, though their strength depends on the type of by-product used [ 3 ]. Hemp-lime composites, made with hydrated lime and pozzolans, provide a carbon-negative option with improved strength and good resistance to freeze-thaw cycles, particularly at higher lime contents [ 5 ]. Pozzolanic additives, especially metakaolin, react effectively with lime, reducing shrinkage, improving stiffness and microstructure, which is important for heritage restoration [ 6 , 7 ]. Metakaolin-lime mixes perform well under both low humidity and accelerated carbonation conditions, making them suitable for conservation use [ 7 ]. In modern construction, metakaolin, fly ash and hydrated lime have been shown to improve workability, strength and sustainability in advanced concretes and alternative binders, including GGBS-activated and recycled aggregate concretes [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 13 ]. Lime-based materials have also been studied under harsh environmental conditions. Research shows that lime-cement concretes retain strength better than pure lime concretes in highly saturated and freeze-thaw environments, indicating that pure lime may be unsuitable below groundwater levels [ 11 ]. In geopolymer systems, the addition of Hydrated lime really makes a difference when it comes to strength. It also helps with stiffness. Let’s not forget about energy. Hydrated lime improves all of these things which's pretty great. The flexural strength of something is how well it can bend without breaking and hydrated lime helps with that. It makes things stiffer too which can be really useful. When we talk about energy hydrated lime is good for that as well. Overall hydrated lime is very good, for flexural strength and stiffness and energy. When we talk about absorption it is especially important, in mixes that have GGBS and fly ash in them [ 12 ]. Some new studies are showing us how to make the most of materials that are based on lime. Adding nano-silica to fly ash-lime blends enhances early strength by promoting C-S-H formation while lowering environmental impact [ 14 ]. In lime-cement systems, silica fume improves strength, whereas perlite mainly influences how much water is absorbed by the soil or whatever material it is in. Perlite is really good at helping with water absorption. This is because perlite has properties that make it useful, for this purpose. The strength improvement and perlites influence on water absorption are two things. Perlites main job is to deal with water absorption due to its porous nature [ 15 ]. For heritage restoration, natural additives such as jaggery and gallnut improve strength and reduce water absorption, with jaggery showing particularly good performance in lime mortars [ 16 ]. Recent reviews show that lime-pozzolana systems are really something people are talking about lately. People are looking into lime-pozzolana systems to see what they are about. The thing, about lime-pozzolana systems is that they have some features. Lime-pozzolana systems are worth learning more about. Materials that have metakaolin and fibre reinforcement in them these materials offer strength. The metakaolin and fibre reinforcement really make the materials stronger. When you use metakaolin and fibre reinforcement together the strength of the materials is improved and reduced cracking, which is crucial for heritage restoration [ 17 ]. Studies also confirm that recycled construction waste can be effectively used in lime and cement mortars, while fibres such as carbon, glass and basalt improve shrinkage resistance and dimensional stability, with carbon fibres giving the best performance [ 18 ]. Overall, researchers confirms that lime-based systems used in mortars, concrete, geopolymers and alternative masonry materials provide clear benefits in sustainability, durability and compatibility with historic structures [ 1 – 18 ]. Improving lime binders with pozzolans, recycled materials, natural additives and fibres enable the development of high-performance, eco-friendly materials suitable for both modern construction and heritage conservation. In this present study mechanical and micro structural behaviour of quaternary based lime pozzolana mortars were analysed. Different types of pozzolanic materials are incorporated into the lime mortar to study behaviour of the lime mortar. Mortars are prepared in 1:1 ratio and 1:3 ratio with same percentage of pozzolanic materials. The aim is to examine the influence of the pozzolanic materials on lime mortar. The results will provide further insight regarding lime mortar behaviour. 2. Experimental Work 2.1. Materials The material used in this study for the preparation of quaternary lime Mortar that is based on pozzolana has a main thing, in it. These are lime, which people often call Hydrated Lime and pozzolana materials. The pozzolana materials are a part of this mortar. When we talk about pozzolana based mortar we are talking about something that includes these materials and hydrated lime. River sand is used as fine aggregate (FA) in the mortar. Chemical composition of the binders are characterised by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) method to study the major chemical compounds in binders. Table 1 represents the chemical and mineral properties of materials used in experimental study. Table 1 Chemical and mineralogical properties of binders Oxide composition Lime Micro silica Fly Ash Metakaolin SiO 2 (%) 3.71 85.4 64.0 51.5 Al 2 O 3 (%) 0.88 0.041 24.0 43 Fe 2 O 3 (%) 0.56 0.42 5.32 < 1.0 CaO(%) 93.24 0.94 2.46 - MgO(%) 2.32 0.72 - < 0.50 SO 3 (%) - - 0.275 - K 2 O(%) - 5.28 2.00 < 0.20 NaO(%) - 0.50 - < 0.20 LOI - 4.61 - < 0.50 Hydrated lime Hydrated lime is produced fine, soft and workable powder by slaking the naturally available lime stone. Lime is available in different forms, were hydrated lime is used for construction of structures. Hydrated lime shows good workability, water retention and resistance to cracking. Hydrated lime is the primary binder in this study. For the better performance in strength and durability of hydrated lime pozzolanic materials are added for the better performance. Metakaolin Metakaolin is a pozzolanic material used to enhance the strength properties of the hydrated lime mortar. Metakaolin is prepared by calcination process of naturally available kaolinitic clay. As the metakaolin is too fine pozzolanic reaction takes place due to the presence of silicates and aluminates in metakaolin, which helps in the formation of CSH gel for enhancing the strength and mortar becomes denser. Micro Silica Micro silica is an amorphous material used as pozzolanic material produced as a by-product of silicon metal or ferrosilicon alloy production. Micro silica is highly reactive in nature due to its ultra fine particle size of < 1µm. In the lime-based mortar, during hydration micro silica reacts with lime to form CSH gel. This pozzolanic reaction enhances strength and densifies the mortar microstructure through improved particle packing. Fly Ash Fly as is another by-product of burning bituminous or anthracite coal. Class F grade fly ash is used in this study. This fly ash is rich in silica alumina which helps in the formation of CSH and CAH gel. This fly is too fine which makes the mortar to self-compact and internal structure of the mortar becomes denser. Fine Aggregate Fine aggregates used in this study is natural river sand of size less than 4.75mm. This sand falls under zone-II containing well-proportioned mix of medium and moderate course particles. This sand will achieve optimal packing density, reduced voids and improved cohesion within the mortar matrix. 2.2 Methodology The overall experimental workflow adopted in the present study is represented in Fig. 2 . The flow chart systematically presents the sequence of activities, beginning with material selection and characterization, followed by mix design, specimen preparation, curing, and experimental testing. It provides a clear outline of the methodology implemented to evaluate the mechanical and microstructural performance of the modified lime mortar system. 2.2.1 Mortar design, mixing and curing Lime is considered as the primary binder were pozzolanic materials are fly ash, micro silica and metakaolin. Aim is to study the mechanical and micro structural properties of the binders and mortars for 1:3 and 1:1 ratio mortar prepared by changing percentage of addition of pozzolana materials. Addition of metakaolin is 10% considered as fixed in both the ratios. The addition of micro silica is varying from 10%-50%. Similarly, the addition of fly ash varies from 50%-10%. Binders are prepared based on the standard consistency. Based on percentage of addition of pozzolanic materials the consistency of the binders varies. As micro silica is ultra fine and increase in percentage of addition in binder demands more percentage of water for the normal consistency. Table 2 represents the binder percentage for preparation of paste. Table 2 Binder Mixes Sample Code Lime % Micro silica Fly ash Metakaolin B1 30% 10% 50% 10% B2 30% 20% 40% 10% B3 30% 30% 30% 10% B4 30% 40% 20% 10% B5 30% 50% 10% 10% Consistency of the mortar for the preparation of 1:3 and 1:1 ratio quaternary lime pozzolana mortar are considered based on flow table method of a flow of 13cm − 15cm. W/B ratio varies based on percentage replacement of the pozzolanic materials. Table 3 proposed mixed proportions of 1:3 and 1:1 mortar Mix ID Constituents in binder Binder: Sand Sand Lime Micro Silica Fly Ash Metakaolin L1 30% 10% 50% 10% 1:3 300% L2 30% 20% 40% 10% 1:3 300% L3 30% 30% 30% 10% 1:3 300% L4 30% 40% 20% 10% 1:3 300% L5 30% 50% 10% 10% 1:3 300% R1 30% 10% 50% 10% 1:1 100% R2 30% 20% 40% 10% 1:1 100% R3 30% 30% 30% 10% 1:1 100% R4 30% 40% 20% 10% 1:1 100% R5 30% 50% 10% 10% 1:1 100% Table 3 represents the mix ratios of 1:1 and 1:3 mortars as binders to fine aggregates. From the proposed mix proportions mortars are prepared based on W/B ratio of each respective proportion. Fresh state of the mortar is studied and casted the mortar cubes of standard size 70.5x70.5x70.5mm. For each mix 9 cubes are casted on an average of three samples for 14days, 28days and 56days. All the mortar samples were cured in same condition that is ambient curing in gunny bags. Condition of curing plays an important role for improving the strength of the mortar. Depending upon the properties of the material the curing condition is selected. 3. Results and Discussion 3.1 Physical properties of materials Table 4 Physical properties of materials S.NO Materials Surface Area(m 2 /g) Specific Gravity 1. Lime 1.4 2.5 2. Micro Silica 21 2.7 3. Fly Ash 0.35 2.0 4. Metakaolin 17 3.0 5. Sand 0.1 2.7 Table 4 represents the physical properties of the all the constituents such as fineness and surface area of the material. Among all the materials micro silica exhibits more Surface Area value than all other materials, which enhance the pozzolanic reactivity for early age strength. Metakaolin represents the higher specific gravity then other materials. Higer specific gravity constituents may influence the density, workability, and mechanical performance of the developed mortar mixes. Table 5 Physical properties of the binder S.NO Sample Code Consistency (%) Initial Setting Time (min) 1. B1 45 126 2. B2 48 135 3. B3 53 141 4. B4 67 225 5. B5 77 315 Table 5 presents the consistency and initial setting time of binder samples B1 to B5. The results indicate a progressive increase in consistency from 45% (B1) to 77% (B5). A corresponding increase in initial setting time is also observed, ranging from 126 minutes for B1 to 315 minutes for B5. This trend suggests that higher water demand leads to delayed setting behaviour. 3.2 Fresh mortar characteristics Table 6 Water to binder ratio Mortar code W/B Water % Flow test results (cm) L1 0.8 20% 13 L2 0.87 22% 13 L3 0.95 24% 13 L4 1.07 27% 13 L5 1.07 27% 13 R1 0.51 26% 14 R2 0.55 28% 14 R3 0.63 32% 14 R4 0.65 33% 14 R5 0.65 33% 14 Table 6 represents the water to binder ratio for the preparation mortar. After the preparation of mortar based on mix proportions with obtained consistency the fresh mortar is studied. Flow table test for the mixes defined the consistency for the preparation of mortar. In this study from 1:3 and 1:1 ratios, it’s observed that 1:1 ratio demands more water than 1:3 due to increase in binder to fine aggregate ratio (B/A). Among each ratio consists 5 mixes by varying the replacement percentage of pozzolanic material. As the micro silica percentage of volume increases the water demand is more. Due to the high surface are of micro silica, mixtures containing this additive required noticeably more water to reach the target consistency. Lime has water retentivity character will not show the segregation in the mortar as the water demand is more. 3.3. Mechanical characteristics of hardened mortar 3.3.1. Compressive strength of Binder: The compressive strength of the hardened binder at different ages 14days and 28days are observed. From the Fig. 3 it is clear that binder showing the maximum strength at two different ages among five mixes. Volumetric percentages of 10% micro silica and 50% fly ash in binder B1 showing the optimum strength. At an age of 14days strength is 12.33MPa and 28days 13.66MPa. Higher the percentage of fly ash with lower percentage of micro silica indicates the early age strength compare to lower percentage of fly ash and higher percentage of micro silica. At later age the micro silica will enhance the strength of the mortar due to high pozzolanic reactivity with ultrafine particle and ability to fill the micro size pores. But more quantity of micro silica will demand the more percentage of water. From the B1 we can observe there is higher pozzolanic reaction due to lower percentage of micro silica (10%) and maximum percentage of fly ash (50%) showing positive balance between fly ash and micro silica. And the density of B1 is more due to the maximum percentage of fly ash then other pozzolanic material. 3.3.2. Compressive strength of 1:3 mortar The compressive strength development of the 1:3 binder-sand mortar incorporating lime, metakaolin, micro silica, and fly ash was evaluated at 14, 28, and 56 days, as shown in Fig. 4 . The results indicate a clear trend of strength enhancement with increasing micro silica content up to 30%. Mix L3 exhibiting the highest compressive strengths at an age of 14days and 28days (7.8 MPa at 14 days, 10.5 MPa at 28 days, and 9.1 MPa at 56 days). High pozzolanic reactivity and ultra fine particle size attribute to early C–S–H formation and densification of the matrix. Beyond 30% addition of micro silica, observed reduction in strength in L4 and L5 mixes. Excess incorporation of micro silica leads to insufficient calcium hydroxide for reaction and less workability. The long-term strength gain across all mixes reflects the continued pozzolanic activity of fly ash. In L1 and L2 mix did not surpass the balanced micro silica-fly ash system. Overall, the findings demonstrate that a 30% micro silica and 30% fly ash blend yields the most efficient binder composition then other four mixes. L3 mix providing an optimal balance between early-age reactivity and long-term strength development. 3.3.3 Compressive strength of 1:1 mortar Compressive strength performance of the 1:1 mortar incorporating lime, metakaolin, micro silica, and fly ash was evaluated at 14, 28, and 56 days as shown in Fig. 5 . At 28 days, the compressive strength is increased in all the mixes compare with 14 days strength. R4 mix exhibiting the highest compressive strength of 18.5 MPa at 28 days out of five mixes. At 56 days, R2 mix exhibits the maximum strength then R4 mix at 28 days. This highlights the distinct role of the fly ash in enhancing later age performance. This outcome reflects the slow pozzolanic activity of fly ash for C-S-H formation at later age. 3.4. Microstructure Properties 3.4.1. SEM Analysis The microstructural characteristics of the 1:1 lime-pozzolana mortar at 28 days were examined using SEM, as shown in Fig. 6 . The binder system is made up of a few things: 30% hydrated lime, 10% micro silica 50% fly ash and 10% metakaolin. During SEM it is observed a really dense mixture. This mixture is mostly made up of calcium silicate hydrate gel, which's like a strong glue. The calcium silicate hydrate gel looks like a connected web that holds everything together giving the binder system its strength and binding the small particles of aggregate. The calcium silicate hydrate gel is really good, at doing this job. The calcium hydroxide crystals are easy to see because of their shape, which looks like plates. These calcium hydroxide crystals form when lime gets wet. The fact that we can still see calcium hydroxide crystals at this stage means that the pozzolanic reaction is not finished yet. It is also observed thin structures that look like needles and these are ettringite formations. The ettringite formations come from reactions, between sulphates and aluminates which're parts of the pozzolanic components. The ettringite formations are spread out evenly. Do not clump together which means that the microstructure is developing in a stable way. The calcium hydroxide crystals and ettringite formations are important to understand what is happening at this curing stage. The image also highlights several voids distributed within the matrix, which represent entrapped air spaces or unfilled capillary pores. Although present, these voids appear limited in size and distribution, suggesting that the pozzolanic reactions have effectively contributed to matrix densification. Overall, the microstructure shown in Fig. 4 demonstrates a well-developed combination of C–S–H gel, CH crystals, and ettringite, reflecting active pozzolanic interactions and contributing to the mechanical performance of the mortar at 28 days. Figure 7 shows a picture of the lime pozzolana mortar that we made with a mix. It is observed that the lime pozzolana mortar is very dense and sticks well. The main thing we see is a gel called calcium silicate hydrate gel. This gel is over the place and it holds all the tiny particles together. The calcium silicate hydrate gel is, like a glue that keeps everything stuck together in the lime pozzolana mortar. The micro-silica content, in this thing is really high. It helps a lot to make a lot of C-S-H. This shows that the micro-silica is working well with the calcium ions that come from the hydrated lime and that is a good reaction. The micro-silica and the calcium ions are doing what they are supposed to do. That is making the C-S-H, which is what we want to see happening with the micro-silica. Well-defined calcium hydroxide (CH) crystals are observed in scattered regions, typically appearing as plate-like or crystalline clusters embedded within the C-S-H matrix. Their limited presence indicates the effective consumption of free lime by the pozzolanic blend, particularly due to the synergistic reactivity of micro silica, fly ash and metakaolin. The image also shows elongated needle-shaped formations corresponding to ettringite, which are locally concentrated in micro-void regions. The presence of ettringite suggests the interaction of alumina-bearing phases in fly ash and metakaolin with available sulphate ions during hydration. Additionally, voids of varying sizes are visible across the matrix appearing as dark and irregular zones. These voids may be attributed to entrapped air, incomplete packing of the fines or localized depletion of hydration products. Nevertheless, the overall microstructure demonstrates a predominance of C-S-H gel and reduced free lime content, reflecting a highly reactive binder system and confirming the development of a refined and well-consolidated internal structure at 28 days. The combined presence of C-S-H, limited CH and controlled ettringite indicates that the lime–pozzolana system successfully promotes long-term strength gain and densification, validating the synergistic role of the blended pozzolanic constituents. 3.4.2. EDS Analysis The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum of the 28-day, 1:1 lime pozzolana mortar (Fig. 8 ) confirms the presence of the key elemental constituents associated with the hydration products identified in SEM. The oxygen peak really stands out in the spectrum, which's not surprising because there are a lot of oxide-based hydration phases. These phases are mostly made up of calcium silicate hydrate and calcium hydroxide. It is also observed a clear calcium peak, which shows that compounds rich in calcium are being formed. This is what we would expect given that the lime content's thirty percent and that the pozzolanic reactions, with micro silica fly ash and metakaolin are still happening. The oxygen peak and the calcium peak are both related to these oxygen and calcium compounds. The presence of a well-defined sulphur (S) peak indicates the formation of sulphate-bearing phases, most likely ettringite, which aligns with morphological observations in the SEM image. Additionally, the carbon (C) peak arises from both unreacted pozzolanic materials and carbonation of lime, which is common in lime-based systems exposed to atmospheric CO₂ during curing. Overall, EDS spectrum represents the distribution of elements which supports microstructural features seen in corresponding SEM analysis, particularly the coexistence of C-S-H gel, CH crystals and sulphate-induced ettringite needles. These results confirm that the blended binder comprising hydrated lime, micro silica, fly ash and metakaolin facilitates a combination of rapid and long-term pozzolanic reactions, contributing to the development of a chemically diverse and well-bonded microstructure at 28 days. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy spectrum of the 28-day 1:1 lime pozzolana mortar, which is shown in Fig. 9 . The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy spectrum has a peak for oxygen. This means that the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy spectrum is showing us that the mortar has a lot of oxygen in it. This is because the lime pozzolana mortar has a lot of oxides in the hydration products the calcium silicate hydrate gel that forms when lime and pozzolana react with each other. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy spectrum is very useful for understanding what is, in the lime pozzolana mortar and how it changes over time. The calcium peak is really high which means that there are things, in the mix that have calcium in them like calcium hydroxide and this new thing called C-S-H. The calcium signal is what you would expect since the binder has a lot of lime in it which is thirty percent. This shows that the lime is doing its job in the hydration and pozzolanic processes and it is doing it actively with the calcium. The sulphur peak is related to the formation of sulphate-based hydrates, like ettringite. This is what we see in the pictures from the SEM images of lime pozzolana systems, where ettringite looks like needles. The carbon that is present comes from the residues that did not react and from the lime that got partially carbonated when it was being cured. The sulphur peak and the carbon presence are important, in these lime pozzolana systems. The silicon peak that shows up is also important. This peak confirms that silica materials like micro silica and fly ash are really contributing to the pozzolanic reaction. The pozzolanic reaction is what helps to form C-S-H. This makes the microstructure denser. The silica rich materials, like micro silica and fly ash are playing a role, in this process. Overall, the elemental composition indicated by the EDS spectrum validates the synergistic reactivity of the lime-micro silica-fly ash-metakaolin blend. The high levels of Ca, Si and O reflect a well-developed C-S-H matrix. This chemical profile is consistent with the improved microstructural refinement expected at 28 days in lime pozzolana mortars. Conclusions This study demonstrates the mechanical and micro structural performance of the quaternary lime pozzolana based mortar through the effect of multiple pozzolanic materials: Among the binder combinations, Mix B1 (30% lime, 10% micro silica, 50% fly ash, 10% metakaolin) delivered the highest compressive strength at 14 and 28 days due to the strong early pozzolanic reactivity of fly ash. From the proposed ratios 1:3(lean) and 1:1 (rich), both are performing good based on percentage of binder and sand ratios. For 1:3 mortar mixes, Mix L3 (30% micro silica, 30% fly ash), with equal proportions of micro silica and fly ash, consistently achieved the best compressive strength results, indicating that a balanced pozzolanic blend enhances performance. For 1:1 mortars, Mix R4 (40% micro silica, 20% fly ash) showed the highest 28-day strength, supported by increased early-age reactivity and improved microstructural densification. At 56 days, Mix R2 (20% micro silica, 40% fly ash) recorded the best long-term strength, emphasizing the significant contribution of fly ash to later-age pozzolanic activity. The 1:1 mortar exhibited higher overall strength compared with 1:3 mortars, primarily because the higher binder content led to better particle packing and denser hydration product formation. Micro silica was found to influence water demand the most, as its very fine particles and high surface area require additional mixing water to achieve workable mortar. The combined use of micro silica and fly ash produced a strong synergistic effect, where micro silica contributed to early strength and fly ash improved long-term performance. SEM analysis revealed a compact and dense microstructure dominated by C–S–H gel with reduced calcium hydroxide, confirming enhanced binder reactivity. EDS results showed clear peaks of Ca, Si, O, S, and C, supporting the presence of active pozzolanic reactions and improved chemical bonding within the mortar matrix. Declarations Acknowledgement The authors express their sincere gratitude to the management of Anurag University for providing the opportunity to carry out and publish this research work. Funding statement No funds are received for this research Consent to Publish The authors declare that they have no objection to the publication of this manuscript and have approved the final version for submission. Consent to Participate This study does not involve human participants or animals. Consent to participate is not applicable. Ethics Approval This study is experimental in nature and does not involve human participants, animals, or personal data. Therefore, ethics approval was not required. 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Construction and Building Materials, 253, 119205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119205 J. Esfandiari, & P. Loghmani. (2019). Effect of perlite powder and silica fume on the compressive strength and microstructural characterization of self-compacting concrete with lime-cement binder. Measurement, 147, 106846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2019.07.074 Chippymol James1, & Greeshma Sivasankarapillai. (2023). Assessment of Natural Additives Modified Lime Mortars for Repair of Historic Structures with Strength, Durability and Microstructural Parameters. Periodica Polytechnica Civil Engineering, 67, 282-297. https://doi.org/10.3311/PPci.21135 Ayinala Naga Sai, & Ravi Ramadoss. (2021). A review on role of additives & pozzolanic materials in ancient structures. Materials Today: Proceedings, 43, 1383-1388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.09.173 A. Mor´on Barrios, D. Ferr´andez Vega, P. Saiz Martínez, & E. Atanes-Sanchez,C. Mor´on Fern´andez. (2021). Study of the properties of lime and cement mortars made from recycled ceramic aggregate and reinforced with fibres. Journal of Building Engineering, 35, 102097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.102097 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 16 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 11 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 09 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 05 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 04 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 02 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 26 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 26 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 25 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 12 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 11 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 11 Mar, 2026 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. 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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-8986185","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":612907744,"identity":"aa2e5695-376f-452f-a089-683456984bd5","order_by":0,"name":"Perumandla Vinay Bhargav","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Anurag University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Perumandla","middleName":"Vinay","lastName":"Bhargav","suffix":""},{"id":612907746,"identity":"9329ef8d-4cf6-42d7-b992-66c2e1de69c5","order_by":1,"name":"M. Madhukar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Anurag University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"M.","middleName":"","lastName":"Madhukar","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-27 09:38:47","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8986185/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8986185/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105554655,"identity":"3b5b2cfe-b2ec-4adc-acd9-d72ac894c9c7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 10:42:25","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":339565,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterials (a) Lime, (b)Fly ash, (c)Micro silica, (d) Metakaolin\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8986185/v1/cdce6d128d2db70c56bc00b4.png"},{"id":105554626,"identity":"d4ba3331-0b3d-4a0b-b442-fab9dbaf70b1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 10:42:16","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":62514,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlow chart\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8986185/v1/afd42ad4ee394a8444b4a35a.png"},{"id":105554652,"identity":"87bb3fc5-3b91-4df1-acb1-61a36572ffbb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 10:42:21","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":16617,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompressive strength of Binders\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8986185/v1/98612b103298a1d37d1c7534.png"},{"id":105554646,"identity":"372ff3b5-eecb-4b76-b71d-9db629beed86","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 10:42:18","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":13975,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompressive strength of Lean Mix\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8986185/v1/ddcc97e04aee1ada34f8b333.png"},{"id":105554628,"identity":"4c307ae4-6435-4f0a-af6e-5ca32d91006e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 10:42:16","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":17686,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompressive strength of Rich mix\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8986185/v1/09d4381f339af318563582d3.png"},{"id":105554643,"identity":"da2f1f33-258c-4fdd-9441-9e8c56475196","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 10:42:18","extension":"png","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":408862,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSEM images of Rich mortar mix R1 with 20μm and 50μm.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8986185/v1/1e9e520a406f5c3b33006651.png"},{"id":105554645,"identity":"b4af1c05-c147-4cd0-b021-1f620acd86cc","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 10:42:18","extension":"png","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":406000,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSEM images of Rich mortar mix R4 with 20μm and 50μm.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"7.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8986185/v1/ed4b7c65c19ecafeb9ab4239.png"},{"id":105554627,"identity":"5fa8de3d-65e5-4304-894e-1cae22d8a6cb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 10:42:16","extension":"png","order_by":8,"title":"Figure 8","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":37147,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEDS graph of sample R1 mix.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"8.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8986185/v1/bc653fb6e75ccdb64c762baf.png"},{"id":105554656,"identity":"27f1cb8d-6f48-45d4-bd90-9e5b9bbaebb1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 10:42:25","extension":"png","order_by":9,"title":"Figure 9","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":38094,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEDS graph of sample R4 mix.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"9.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8986185/v1/48dc74ba997ae59001e4bca6.png"},{"id":105554674,"identity":"eab4714f-bada-4e47-ac31-2c68c080171c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 10:42:31","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2353197,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8986185/v1/daa35541-e29b-4201-a2c1-19a3afbe474c.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"An Experimental Study on Quaternary Lime Pozzolana Based Mortar","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eLime has been used as a binder since ancient times and well known for its durability and compatibility with traditional masonry [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Although Portland cement provides higher early strength, it often performs poorly in restoration works due to incompatibility with original lime mortars [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. As a result, lime-based binders are again preferred in conservation projects because of their compatibility, sustainability and long-term performance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecent studies show that adding pozzolanic materials to lime mortars is an effective way to improve strength and durability [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. Materials such as fly ash and GGBS enhance mechanical performance, reduce shrinkage and improve compatibility with ancient mortars. Fly ash helps in control of drying shrinkage and GGBS contributing to strength gain [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Natural hydraulic lime and ceramic waste residues have also demonstrated improved physical and mechanical properties, while supporting sustainability in restoration applications [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeyond mortars, lime is increasingly used in sustainable construction materials. Lime-mud and sawdust masonry units improve thermal performance, though their strength depends on the type of by-product used [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. Hemp-lime composites, made with hydrated lime and pozzolans, provide a carbon-negative option with improved strength and good resistance to freeze-thaw cycles, particularly at higher lime contents [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePozzolanic additives, especially metakaolin, react effectively with lime, reducing shrinkage, improving stiffness and microstructure, which is important for heritage restoration [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. Metakaolin-lime mixes perform well under both low humidity and accelerated carbonation conditions, making them suitable for conservation use [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. In modern construction, metakaolin, fly ash and hydrated lime have been shown to improve workability, strength and sustainability in advanced concretes and alternative binders, including GGBS-activated and recycled aggregate concretes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLime-based materials have also been studied under harsh environmental conditions. Research shows that lime-cement concretes retain strength better than pure lime concretes in highly saturated and freeze-thaw environments, indicating that pure lime may be unsuitable below groundwater levels [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. In geopolymer systems, the addition of Hydrated lime really makes a difference when it comes to strength. It also helps with stiffness. Let\u0026rsquo;s not forget about energy. Hydrated lime improves all of these things which's pretty great. The flexural strength of something is how well it can bend without breaking and hydrated lime helps with that. It makes things stiffer too which can be really useful. When we talk about energy hydrated lime is good for that as well. Overall hydrated lime is very good, for flexural strength and stiffness and energy. When we talk about absorption it is especially important, in mixes that have GGBS and fly ash in them [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSome new studies are showing us how to make the most of materials that are based on lime. Adding nano-silica to fly ash-lime blends enhances early strength by promoting C-S-H formation while lowering environmental impact [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. In lime-cement systems, silica fume improves strength, whereas perlite mainly influences how much water is absorbed by the soil or whatever material it is in. Perlite is really good at helping with water absorption. This is because perlite has properties that make it useful, for this purpose. The strength improvement and perlites influence on water absorption are two things. Perlites main job is to deal with water absorption due to its porous nature [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. For heritage restoration, natural additives such as jaggery and gallnut improve strength and reduce water absorption, with jaggery showing particularly good performance in lime mortars [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecent reviews show that lime-pozzolana systems are really something people are talking about lately. People are looking into lime-pozzolana systems to see what they are about. The thing, about lime-pozzolana systems is that they have some features. Lime-pozzolana systems are worth learning more about. Materials that have metakaolin and fibre reinforcement in them these materials offer strength. The metakaolin and fibre reinforcement really make the materials stronger. When you use metakaolin and fibre reinforcement together the strength of the materials is improved and reduced cracking, which is crucial for heritage restoration [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Studies also confirm that recycled construction waste can be effectively used in lime and cement mortars, while fibres such as carbon, glass and basalt improve shrinkage resistance and dimensional stability, with carbon fibres giving the best performance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOverall, researchers confirms that lime-based systems used in mortars, concrete, geopolymers and alternative masonry materials provide clear benefits in sustainability, durability and compatibility with historic structures [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR2 CR3 CR4 CR5 CR6 CR7 CR8 CR9 CR10 CR11 CR12 CR13 CR14 CR15 CR16 CR17\" citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. Improving lime binders with pozzolans, recycled materials, natural additives and fibres enable the development of high-performance, eco-friendly materials suitable for both modern construction and heritage conservation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this present study mechanical and micro structural behaviour of quaternary based lime pozzolana mortars were analysed. Different types of pozzolanic materials are incorporated into the lime mortar to study behaviour of the lime mortar. Mortars are prepared in 1:1 ratio and 1:3 ratio with same percentage of pozzolanic materials. The aim is to examine the influence of the pozzolanic materials on lime mortar. The results will provide further insight regarding lime mortar behaviour.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Experimental Work","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1. Materials\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe material used in this study for the preparation of quaternary lime Mortar that is based on pozzolana has a main thing, in it. These are lime, which people often call Hydrated Lime and pozzolana materials. The pozzolana materials are a part of this mortar. When we talk about pozzolana based mortar we are talking about something that includes these materials and hydrated lime. River sand is used as fine aggregate (FA) in the mortar. Chemical composition of the binders are characterised by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) method to study the major chemical compounds in binders. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e represents the chemical and mineral properties of materials used in experimental study.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChemical and mineralogical properties of binders\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOxide composition\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLime\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMicro silica\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFly Ash\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetakaolin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e85.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAl\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e(%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.041\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e(%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;1.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCaO(%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e93.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMgO(%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e(%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.275\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eK\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO(%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNaO(%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLOI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.61\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eHydrated lime\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHydrated lime is produced fine, soft and workable powder by slaking the naturally available lime stone. Lime is available in different forms, were hydrated lime is used for construction of structures. Hydrated lime shows good workability, water retention and resistance to cracking. Hydrated lime is the primary binder in this study. For the better performance in strength and durability of hydrated lime pozzolanic materials are added for the better performance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eMetakaolin\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetakaolin is a pozzolanic material used to enhance the strength properties of the hydrated lime mortar. Metakaolin is prepared by calcination process of naturally available kaolinitic clay. As the metakaolin is too fine pozzolanic reaction takes place due to the presence of silicates and aluminates in metakaolin, which helps in the formation of CSH gel for enhancing the strength and mortar becomes denser.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eMicro Silica\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMicro silica is an amorphous material used as pozzolanic material produced as a by-product of silicon metal or ferrosilicon alloy production. Micro silica is highly reactive in nature due to its ultra fine particle size of \u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;1\u0026micro;m. In the lime-based mortar, during hydration micro silica reacts with lime to form CSH gel. This pozzolanic reaction enhances strength and densifies the mortar microstructure through improved particle packing.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eFly Ash\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFly as is another by-product of burning bituminous or anthracite coal. Class F grade fly ash is used in this study. This fly ash is rich in silica alumina which helps in the formation of CSH and CAH gel. This fly is too fine which makes the mortar to self-compact and internal structure of the mortar becomes denser.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eFine Aggregate\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFine aggregates used in this study is natural river sand of size less than 4.75mm. This sand falls under zone-II containing well-proportioned mix of medium and moderate course particles. This sand will achieve optimal packing density, reduced voids and improved cohesion within the mortar matrix.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2 Methodology\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe overall experimental workflow adopted in the present study is represented in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e. The flow chart systematically presents the sequence of activities, beginning with material selection and characterization, followed by mix design, specimen preparation, curing, and experimental testing. It provides a clear outline of the methodology implemented to evaluate the mechanical and microstructural performance of the modified lime mortar system.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2.1 Mortar design, mixing and curing\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eLime is considered as the primary binder were pozzolanic materials are fly ash, micro silica and metakaolin. Aim is to study the mechanical and micro structural properties of the binders and mortars for 1:3 and 1:1 ratio mortar prepared by changing percentage of addition of pozzolana materials. Addition of metakaolin is 10% considered as fixed in both the ratios. The addition of micro silica is varying from 10%-50%. Similarly, the addition of fly ash varies from 50%-10%.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBinders are prepared based on the standard consistency. Based on percentage of addition of pozzolanic materials the consistency of the binders varies. As micro silica is ultra fine and increase in percentage of addition in binder demands more percentage of water for the normal consistency. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e represents the binder percentage for preparation of paste.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBinder Mixes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSample Code\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLime %\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMicro silica\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFly ash\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetakaolin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConsistency of the mortar for the preparation of 1:3 and 1:1 ratio quaternary lime pozzolana mortar are considered based on flow table method of a flow of 13cm \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;15cm. W/B ratio varies based on percentage replacement of the pozzolanic materials.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eproposed mixed proportions of 1:3 and 1:1 mortar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMix\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eID\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConstituents in binder\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBinder:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSand\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSand\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLime\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMicro Silica\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFly Ash\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetakaolin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1:3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1:3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1:3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1:3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1:3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1:1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1:1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1:1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1:1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1:1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e represents the mix ratios of 1:1 and 1:3 mortars as binders to fine aggregates. From the proposed mix proportions mortars are prepared based on W/B ratio of each respective proportion. Fresh state of the mortar is studied and casted the mortar cubes of standard size 70.5x70.5x70.5mm. For each mix 9 cubes are casted on an average of three samples for 14days, 28days and 56days.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll the mortar samples were cured in same condition that is ambient curing in gunny bags. Condition of curing plays an important role for improving the strength of the mortar. Depending upon the properties of the material the curing condition is selected.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results and Discussion","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1 Physical properties of materials\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhysical properties of materials\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS.NO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMaterials\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSurface Area(m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e/g)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpecific Gravity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLime\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMicro Silica\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFly Ash\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetakaolin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSand\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e represents the physical properties of the all the constituents such as fineness and surface area of the material. Among all the materials micro silica exhibits more Surface Area value than all other materials, which enhance the pozzolanic reactivity for early age strength. Metakaolin represents the higher specific gravity then other materials. Higer specific gravity constituents may influence the density, workability, and mechanical performance of the developed mortar mixes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhysical properties of the binder\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS.NO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSample Code\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConsistency (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInitial Setting\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTime (min)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e126\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e135\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e141\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e225\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e315\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e presents the consistency and initial setting time of binder samples B1 to B5. The results indicate a progressive increase in consistency from 45% (B1) to 77% (B5). A corresponding increase in initial setting time is also observed, ranging from 126 minutes for B1 to 315 minutes for B5. This trend suggests that higher water demand leads to delayed setting behaviour.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2 Fresh mortar characteristics\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWater to binder ratio\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMortar code\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eW/B\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWater %\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFlow test results (cm)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e represents the water to binder ratio for the preparation mortar. After the preparation of mortar based on mix proportions with obtained consistency the fresh mortar is studied. Flow table test for the mixes defined the consistency for the preparation of mortar. In this study from 1:3 and 1:1 ratios, it\u0026rsquo;s observed that 1:1 ratio demands more water than 1:3 due to increase in binder to fine aggregate ratio (B/A). Among each ratio consists 5 mixes by varying the replacement percentage of pozzolanic material. As the micro silica percentage of volume increases the water demand is more. Due to the high surface are of micro silica, mixtures containing this additive required noticeably more water to reach the target consistency. Lime has water retentivity character will not show the segregation in the mortar as the water demand is more.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3. Mechanical characteristics of hardened mortar\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3.1. Compressive strength of Binder:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe compressive strength of the hardened binder at different ages 14days and 28days are observed. From the Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e it is clear that binder showing the maximum strength at two different ages among five mixes. Volumetric percentages of 10% micro silica and 50% fly ash in binder B1 showing the optimum strength. At an age of 14days strength is 12.33MPa and 28days 13.66MPa. Higher the percentage of fly ash with lower percentage of micro silica indicates the early age strength compare to lower percentage of fly ash and higher percentage of micro silica.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAt later age the micro silica will enhance the strength of the mortar due to high pozzolanic reactivity with ultrafine particle and ability to fill the micro size pores. But more quantity of micro silica will demand the more percentage of water. From the B1 we can observe there is higher pozzolanic reaction due to lower percentage of micro silica (10%) and maximum percentage of fly ash (50%) showing positive balance between fly ash and micro silica. And the density of B1 is more due to the maximum percentage of fly ash then other pozzolanic material.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3.2. Compressive strength of 1:3 mortar\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe compressive strength development of the 1:3 binder-sand mortar incorporating lime, metakaolin, micro silica, and fly ash was evaluated at 14, 28, and 56 days, as shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e. The results indicate a clear trend of strength enhancement with increasing micro silica content up to 30%. Mix L3 exhibiting the highest compressive strengths at an age of 14days and 28days (7.8 MPa at 14 days, 10.5 MPa at 28 days, and 9.1 MPa at 56 days). High pozzolanic reactivity and ultra fine particle size attribute to early C\u0026ndash;S\u0026ndash;H formation and densification of the matrix. Beyond 30% addition of micro silica, observed reduction in strength in L4 and L5 mixes. Excess incorporation of micro silica leads to insufficient calcium hydroxide for reaction and less workability. The long-term strength gain across all mixes reflects the continued pozzolanic activity of fly ash. In L1 and L2 mix did not surpass the balanced micro silica-fly ash system. Overall, the findings demonstrate that a 30% micro silica and 30% fly ash blend yields the most efficient binder composition then other four mixes. L3 mix providing an optimal balance between early-age reactivity and long-term strength development.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3.3 Compressive strength of 1:1 mortar\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCompressive strength performance of the 1:1 mortar incorporating lime, metakaolin, micro silica, and fly ash was evaluated at 14, 28, and 56 days as shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e. At 28 days, the compressive strength is increased in all the mixes compare with 14 days strength. R4 mix exhibiting the highest compressive strength of 18.5 MPa at 28 days out of five mixes. At 56 days, R2 mix exhibits the maximum strength then R4 mix at 28 days. This highlights the distinct role of the fly ash in enhancing later age performance. This outcome reflects the slow pozzolanic activity of fly ash for C-S-H formation at later age.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.4. Microstructure Properties\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.4.1. SEM Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe microstructural characteristics of the 1:1 lime-pozzolana mortar at 28 days were examined using SEM, as shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e. The binder system is made up of a few things: 30% hydrated lime, 10% micro silica 50% fly ash and 10% metakaolin. During SEM it is observed a really dense mixture. This mixture is mostly made up of calcium silicate hydrate gel, which's like a strong glue. The calcium silicate hydrate gel looks like a connected web that holds everything together giving the binder system its strength and binding the small particles of aggregate. The calcium silicate hydrate gel is really good, at doing this job. The calcium hydroxide crystals are easy to see because of their shape, which looks like plates. These calcium hydroxide crystals form when lime gets wet. The fact that we can still see calcium hydroxide crystals at this stage means that the pozzolanic reaction is not finished yet. It is also observed thin structures that look like needles and these are ettringite formations. The ettringite formations come from reactions, between sulphates and aluminates which're parts of the pozzolanic components.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe ettringite formations are spread out evenly. Do not clump together which means that the microstructure is developing in a stable way. The calcium hydroxide crystals and ettringite formations are important to understand what is happening at this curing stage. The image also highlights several voids distributed within the matrix, which represent entrapped air spaces or unfilled capillary pores. Although present, these voids appear limited in size and distribution, suggesting that the pozzolanic reactions have effectively contributed to matrix densification. Overall, the microstructure shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e demonstrates a well-developed combination of C\u0026ndash;S\u0026ndash;H gel, CH crystals, and ettringite, reflecting active pozzolanic interactions and contributing to the mechanical performance of the mortar at 28 days.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e shows a picture of the lime pozzolana mortar that we made with a mix. It is observed that the lime pozzolana mortar is very dense and sticks well. The main thing we see is a gel called calcium silicate hydrate gel. This gel is over the place and it holds all the tiny particles together. The calcium silicate hydrate gel is, like a glue that keeps everything stuck together in the lime pozzolana mortar. The micro-silica content, in this thing is really high. It helps a lot to make a lot of C-S-H. This shows that the micro-silica is working well with the calcium ions that come from the hydrated lime and that is a good reaction. The micro-silica and the calcium ions are doing what they are supposed to do. That is making the C-S-H, which is what we want to see happening with the micro-silica. Well-defined calcium hydroxide (CH) crystals are observed in scattered regions, typically appearing as plate-like or crystalline clusters embedded within the C-S-H matrix. Their limited presence indicates the effective consumption of free lime by the pozzolanic blend, particularly due to the synergistic reactivity of micro silica, fly ash and metakaolin. The image also shows elongated needle-shaped formations corresponding to ettringite, which are locally concentrated in micro-void regions. The presence of ettringite suggests the interaction of alumina-bearing phases in fly ash and metakaolin with available sulphate ions during hydration.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdditionally, voids of varying sizes are visible across the matrix appearing as dark and irregular zones. These voids may be attributed to entrapped air, incomplete packing of the fines or localized depletion of hydration products. Nevertheless, the overall microstructure demonstrates a predominance of C-S-H gel and reduced free lime content, reflecting a highly reactive binder system and confirming the development of a refined and well-consolidated internal structure at 28 days. The combined presence of C-S-H, limited CH and controlled ettringite indicates that the lime\u0026ndash;pozzolana system successfully promotes long-term strength gain and densification, validating the synergistic role of the blended pozzolanic constituents.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.4.2. EDS Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum of the 28-day, 1:1 lime pozzolana mortar (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e) confirms the presence of the key elemental constituents associated with the hydration products identified in SEM. The oxygen peak really stands out in the spectrum, which's not surprising because there are a lot of oxide-based hydration phases. These phases are mostly made up of calcium silicate hydrate and calcium hydroxide. It is also observed a clear calcium peak, which shows that compounds rich in calcium are being formed. This is what we would expect given that the lime content's thirty percent and that the pozzolanic reactions, with micro silica fly ash and metakaolin are still happening. The oxygen peak and the calcium peak are both related to these oxygen and calcium compounds. The presence of a well-defined sulphur (S) peak indicates the formation of sulphate-bearing phases, most likely ettringite, which aligns with morphological observations in the SEM image. Additionally, the carbon (C) peak arises from both unreacted pozzolanic materials and carbonation of lime, which is common in lime-based systems exposed to atmospheric CO₂ during curing.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOverall, EDS spectrum represents the distribution of elements which supports microstructural features seen in corresponding SEM analysis, particularly the coexistence of C-S-H gel, CH crystals and sulphate-induced ettringite needles. These results confirm that the blended binder comprising hydrated lime, micro silica, fly ash and metakaolin facilitates a combination of rapid and long-term pozzolanic reactions, contributing to the development of a chemically diverse and well-bonded microstructure at 28 days.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy spectrum of the 28-day 1:1 lime pozzolana mortar, which is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig9\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy spectrum has a peak for oxygen. This means that the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy spectrum is showing us that the mortar has a lot of oxygen in it. This is because the lime pozzolana mortar has a lot of oxides in the hydration products the calcium silicate hydrate gel that forms when lime and pozzolana react with each other. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy spectrum is very useful for understanding what is, in the lime pozzolana mortar and how it changes over time. The calcium peak is really high which means that there are things, in the mix that have calcium in them like calcium hydroxide and this new thing called C-S-H. The calcium signal is what you would expect since the binder has a lot of lime in it which is thirty percent. This shows that the lime is doing its job in the hydration and pozzolanic processes and it is doing it actively with the calcium. The sulphur peak is related to the formation of sulphate-based hydrates, like ettringite. This is what we see in the pictures from the SEM images of lime pozzolana systems, where ettringite looks like needles. The carbon that is present comes from the residues that did not react and from the lime that got partially carbonated when it was being cured. The sulphur peak and the carbon presence are important, in these lime pozzolana systems. The silicon peak that shows up is also important. This peak confirms that silica materials like micro silica and fly ash are really contributing to the pozzolanic reaction. The pozzolanic reaction is what helps to form C-S-H. This makes the microstructure denser. The silica rich materials, like micro silica and fly ash are playing a role, in this process. Overall, the elemental composition indicated by the EDS spectrum validates the synergistic reactivity of the lime-micro silica-fly ash-metakaolin blend. The high levels of Ca, Si and O reflect a well-developed C-S-H matrix. This chemical profile is consistent with the improved microstructural refinement expected at 28 days in lime pozzolana mortars.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study demonstrates the mechanical and micro structural performance of the quaternary lime pozzolana based mortar through the effect of multiple pozzolanic materials:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eAmong the binder combinations, Mix B1 (30% lime, 10% micro silica, 50% fly ash, 10% metakaolin) delivered the highest compressive strength at 14 and 28 days due to the strong early pozzolanic reactivity of fly ash. From the proposed ratios 1:3(lean) and 1:1 (rich), both are performing good based on percentage of binder and sand ratios.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor 1:3 mortar mixes, Mix L3 (30% micro silica, 30% fly ash), with equal proportions of micro silica and fly ash, consistently achieved the best compressive strength results, indicating that a balanced pozzolanic blend enhances performance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor 1:1 mortars, Mix R4 (40% micro silica, 20% fly ash) showed the highest 28-day strength, supported by increased early-age reactivity and improved microstructural densification.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eAt 56 days, Mix R2 (20% micro silica, 40% fly ash) recorded the best long-term strength, emphasizing the significant contribution of fly ash to later-age pozzolanic activity.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe 1:1 mortar exhibited higher overall strength compared with 1:3 mortars, primarily because the higher binder content led to better particle packing and denser hydration product formation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eMicro silica was found to influence water demand the most, as its very fine particles and high surface area require additional mixing water to achieve workable mortar.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe combined use of micro silica and fly ash produced a strong synergistic effect, where micro silica contributed to early strength and fly ash improved long-term performance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eSEM analysis revealed a compact and dense microstructure dominated by C\u0026ndash;S\u0026ndash;H gel with reduced calcium hydroxide, confirming enhanced binder reactivity.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eEDS results showed clear peaks of Ca, Si, O, S, and C, supporting the presence of active pozzolanic reactions and improved chemical bonding within the mortar matrix.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgement\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors express their sincere gratitude to the management of Anurag University for providing the opportunity to carry out and publish this research work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding statement\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo funds are received for this research\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent to Publish\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no objection to the publication of this manuscript and have approved the final version for submission.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent to Participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study does not involve human participants or animals. Consent to participate is not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics Approval\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study is experimental in nature and does not involve human participants, animals, or personal data. Therefore, ethics approval was not required.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of Interest\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that there are no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eD.Nikhil Kumar, \u0026amp; P.Rathish kumar. (2022). Investigations on alternate lime-pozzolana based mortar for repair of heritage structures. Construction and Building Materials, 341,127776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127776\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eMaria Apostolopoulou, Asterios Bakolas, \u0026amp; Meletis Kotsainas. (2021). Mechanical and physical performance of natural hydraulic lime mortars. Construction and Building Materials, 290, 123272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123272\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eMaggi Madrid a, Aimar Orbe a, H\u0026eacute;l\u0026egrave;ne Carr\u0026eacute; b, \u0026amp; Yokasta Garc\u0026iacute;a a. (2018). Thermal performance of sawdust and lime-mud concrete masonry units. Construction and Building Materials, 169, 113\u0026ndash;123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.02.193\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eIsabel Torres, Gina Matias, \u0026amp; Paulina Faria c. (2020). Natural hydraulic lime mortars - The effect of ceramic residues on physical and mechanical behaviour. 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Physical and chemical assessment of lime\u0026ndash;metakaolin mortars: Influence of binder:aggregate ratio. Cement \u0026amp; Concrete Composites, 45, 264-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2013.06.010\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eMarcos A.S. Anjos, Aires Camoes, Pedro Campos, Givanildo A. Azeredo, \u0026amp; Ruan L.S. Ferreira. (2020). Effect of high volume fly ash and metakaolin with and without hydrated lime on the properties of self-compacting concrete. Journal of Building Engineering, 27, 100985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2019.100985\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eM.S. Morsy, S.H. Alsayed, \u0026amp; Y.A. Salloum. (2012). Development of eco-friendly binder using metakaolin-fly ash\u0026ndash;lime-anhydrous gypsum. Construction and Building material, 35, 772-777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.04.142\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eRajib Kumar Majhi, \u0026amp; Amar Nath Nayak. (2020). 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Mukharjee. (2020). Characterization of lime activated recycled aggregate concrete with high-volume ground granulated blast furnace slag. Construction and Building Materials, 259, 119882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119882\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eChamila Gunasekara, Malindu Sandanayake, Zhiyuan Zhou, David W. Law, \u0026amp; Sujeeva Setunge. (2020). Effect of nano-silica addition into high volume fly ash\u0026ndash;hydrated lime blended concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 253, 119205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119205\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eJ. Esfandiari, \u0026amp; P. Loghmani. (2019). Effect of perlite powder and silica fume on the compressive strength and microstructural characterization of self-compacting concrete with lime-cement binder. Measurement, 147, 106846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2019.07.074\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eChippymol James1, \u0026amp; Greeshma Sivasankarapillai. (2023). Assessment of Natural Additives Modified Lime Mortars for Repair of Historic Structures with Strength, Durability and Microstructural Parameters. Periodica Polytechnica Civil Engineering, 67, 282-297. https://doi.org/10.3311/PPci.21135\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAyinala Naga Sai, \u0026amp; Ravi Ramadoss. (2021). A review on role of additives \u0026amp; pozzolanic materials in ancient structures. Materials Today: Proceedings, 43, 1383-1388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.09.173\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eA. Mor\u0026acute;on Barrios, D. Ferr\u0026acute;andez Vega, P. Saiz Mart\u0026iacute;nez, \u0026amp; E. Atanes-Sanchez,C. Mor\u0026acute;on Fern\u0026acute;andez. (2021). Study of the properties of lime and cement mortars made from recycled ceramic aggregate and reinforced with fibres. Journal of Building Engineering, 35, 102097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.102097\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-civil-engineering","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Civil Engineering](https://www.springer.com/journal/44290)","snPcode":"44290","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44290","title":"Discover Civil Engineering","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Hydrated lime mortar, Pozzolanic materials, Micro silica, Fly ash, Metakaolin, Compressive strength, Microstructural analysis, SEM–EDS, X-ray diffraction","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8986185/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8986185/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eLime mortar is the traditional construction material mostly used before 20th century as a primary binding material. In this study the performance of hydrate lime mortar is studied by addition of pozzolana materials such as micro silica, fly ash and metakaolin. Hydraulic lime contains a lower volume of silica and aluminates, pozzolanic materials are incorporated at various percentages to enhance mortar performance. Two distinct mortar ratios of 1:3 and 1:1 are prepared. In the 1:3 ratio, one part quaternary lime binder is mixed with three parts sand, while in the 1:1 ratio, one part quaternary lime binder is mixed with one part sand. Within the binder composition, 30% Hydrated lime and 10% metakaolin, micro silica is varied from 10% to 50%, and fly ash is varied from 50% to 10%. Based on the percentage replacement of pozzolanic materials, ten mixes are proposed and studied. Fresh mortars are evaluated to determine the water-to-binder ratio for each mix. The mechanical and microstructural properties of all mortars are investigated. Compressive strength is determined at 14, 28, and 56 days for all ten mixes. Among the 1:3 ratio mortars, the L3 mix shows optimum strength compared to other mixes, while in the 1:1 ratio mortars, the R2 mix exhibits optimum strength. Overall, 1:1 ratio mortar shows higher compressive strength than 1:3 ratio mortars. Microstructural analysis of the optimum strength mortars is carried out using SEM, EDS, and X-ray analysis.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"An Experimental Study on Quaternary Lime Pozzolana Based Mortar","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-27 10:41:57","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8986185/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-04-16T18:04:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-11T13:24:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-09T17:12:50+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"21940637214796034851443030154023360447","date":"2026-04-08T14:55:50+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-05T05:31:29+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-04T08:43:58+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-02T22:22:15+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"286012500069861772576894071946242574912","date":"2026-03-28T16:53:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"16087077306785203809087022282854642148","date":"2026-03-26T21:38:25+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"236947313087727739669363481935432807758","date":"2026-03-26T10:57:25+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"229852059447426945983054669097779077150","date":"2026-03-25T17:10:32+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"227069395177098066833879146955675776492","date":"2026-03-25T10:21:44+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-03-25T09:13:46+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-03-12T13:36:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-03-11T08:29:06+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Civil Engineering","date":"2026-03-11T06:02:01+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-civil-engineering","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Civil Engineering](https://www.springer.com/journal/44290)","snPcode":"44290","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44290","title":"Discover Civil Engineering","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"aa3cf41b-ed48-45b1-8397-302347515e55","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 27th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-05T10:23:35+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-27 10:41:57","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8986185","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8986185","identity":"rs-8986185","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}