Sulphate influence on strength development of cemented paste backfill with superplasticizer under field-like curing conditions

This study investigates the impact of sulphate on the strength development of cemented paste backfill (CPB) with polycarboxylate ether-based superplasticizers (PES) under curing conditions mimicking real field environments. These conditions include thermal (T, non-isothermal field temperature), hydraulic (H, drainage), mechanical (M, overburden stress), and chemical (C, PES, sulphate ions) factors. CPB samples with varying sulphate and PES contents were examined through mechanical and microstructural tests under these THMC conditions. The findings reveal that traditional methods for assessing sulphate influence on CPB strength, typically under standard lab conditions, do not adequately capture the mechanical response of CPB structures to sulphate in field scenarios. Real field curing conditions such as temperature, drainage, and stress significantly affect CPB’s mechanical response to sulphate. CPB samples incorporating PES and sulphate show notable improvements in early-age strength, emphasizing the beneficial role of elevated temperatures and the complex relationship between drainage, sulphate, and strength development. Elevated curing temperatures counterbalance sulphate's negative effects, boosting initial strength, while drainage conditions play a critical role in strength development by facilitating the removal of sulphate ions and reducing capillary water. Additionally, stress application at the start of curing aids solid particle rearrangement, promoting the release of free water and enhancing mechanical strength. The competitive adsorption between sulphate ions and PES on the cementitious matrix influences the dispersion of particles and strength development. This research offers crucial technical insights for designing durable CPB mixes suited to various on-site curing conditions, particularly enhancing initial strength across diverse field curing scenarios. • First study on sulphate effect on cemented paste backfill strength under field conditions. • Conventional method of assessing sulphate effect on CPB strength not accurate. • THMC field curing conditions significantly affect CPB strength response to sulphate. • Field non-isothermal field temperature is counterbalance to negative effect of sulphate. • Drainage conditions are an important factor influencing CPB response to sulphate.