Static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Modified Lime Mud Mortar

Abstract Ordinary lime mud (OLM), a solid waste with high CaCO 3 content produced during paper manufacturing, has been extensively studied as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) through static tests. However, research into the performance of OLM cement–based materials under dynamic loading conditions remains limited. In this study, cement mortar specimens were prepared with varying modified lime mud (MLM) contents and water-binder (W/B) ratios to investigate the static mechanical properties (flexural and static compressive strength), microstructure [scanning electron microscopy (SEM)], ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and dynamic mechanical properties (dynamic compressive strength, peak strain, and impact toughness index). The results revealed that incorporating MLM optimized the microstructure and enhanced compactness, resulting in significant improvements in both static and dynamic mechanical properties of cement mortar, particularly when MLM content did not exceed 15%. Furthermore, linear relationship models were established for both peak strain and impact toughness index versus strain rate, while a nonlinear relationship model was developed for dynamic compressive strength versus UPV. The degree of specimen failure and fractal dimension were found to be closely correlated with the impact toughness index and dynamic compressive strength.