## 2 Materials and Testing Methods  
### Raw Materials  
The following were as components of AAC:  
* ground granulated blast-furnace slag (further, GBFS) (oxides, % by mass: CaO--47.30; SiO\({}_{2}\)--39.00; Al\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{3}\)--5.90; Fe\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{3}\)--0.30; MgO--5.82; SO\({}_{3}\)--1.50; LOI--0.18), specific surface area (S) = 450 m\({}^{2}\)/kg (by [PERSON]), modulus of basicity M\({}_{\text{b}}\) = 1.2, glassy phase content--75.0%;
* Portland cement clinker (clinker) (oxides, % by mass: CaO--64.93; SiO\({}_{2}\)--22.60; Al\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{3}\)--5.29; Fe\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{3}\)--3.93; MgO--0.84; SO\({}_{3}\)--0.50; K\({}_{2}\)O + Na\({}_{2}\)--0.70; LOI--0.90), specific surface area (S) = 450 m\({}^{2}\)/kg (by Blaine), modulus of basicity M\({}_{\text{b}}\) = 2.4. The following were used as alkaline components of AAC:
* calcined soda-ash of technical grade (Na\({}_{2}\)CO\({}_{3}\)) (further, soda-ash) per CAS 497-19-8, pH (1.0% aqueous solution, 25 \({}^{\circ}\)C) = 11.4;
* sodium metasilicate pentahydrate Na\({}_{2}\)SiO\({}_{3}\):5H\({}_{2}\)O (sodium metasilicate) per CAS 497-19-8, pH (1.0% aqueous solution, 25 \({}^{\circ}\)C) = 12.7. To evaluate the basicity of the cement systems under study, a modulus of basicity, similar to that used in the evaluation of basicity of GBFS, namely M\({}_{\text{b}}\) = (CaO + MgO)/ (SiO\({}_{2}\) + Al\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{3}\))--a ratio of masses of oxides, was applied [36]. NaLST (sodium lignosulphonate) per CAS 8061-51-6 (pH \(\geq\) 8.5) was used as a component in AAC to ensure satisfactory setting time and strength. A waterproofing agent based on polyhydrosiloxane (0.06% by mass of grinding material) per CAS 63148-57-2 was used to intensify grinding, prevent sorption of water from air, and retain the properties of AAC over time. Calcium sulphate hemihydrate (CaSO\({}_{4}\)0.5H\({}_{2}\)O), density 2.7 g/cm\({}^{3}\), was used in AAC to retard the initial setting and enhance the physico-mechanical properties as recommended in [76]. Bentonite clay powder (bentonite) (oxides, % by mass: CaO--2.27; SiO\({}_{2}\)--66.17; Al\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{3}\)--16.51; FeO + Fe\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{3}\)--4.21; MgO--1.61; MnO--0.33; K\({}_{2}\)O + Na\({}_{2}\)O--8.90), output of clay solution 18 m\({}^{3}\)/t, density 2.64 g/cm\({}^{3}\), specific surface area (S) = 450 m\({}^{2}\)/kg (by Blaine). Bentonite was used in AAC lightened grouts to decrease of density and water separation, prolong the setting times, and increase of water-retaining capacity [77; 78]. Preparation of the one-part AAC was done by dry mixing the above-listed components. In total, the mixture compositions of AAC mortars and concretes are presented in Tables 1 and 2. A mortar mix design of the reference compositions of the AAC building mortars (Mix 1-Mix 4) was used according to [36]. A concrete mix design of the reference compositions of the AAC heavyweight concretes (Mix 5-Mix 10) was used according to [26]. A reference composition of the AAC lightened grout (Mix 11) was used according to [78]: AAC--100%, W/C--1.25. Its characteristics were: grout density--1.40 \(\pm\) 0.04 g/cm\({}^{3}\), consistency (flow) \(>\) 250 mm. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & & \multicolumn{10}{c}{**Components, \% by Mass**} \\ \cline{3-11}
**Mix** &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Modulus of** \\ **AAC** \\ **Basicity, M\(Milled silica sand fr. \(<\) 0.16 mm (sieve residue, %: \(<\)0.05 mm--80.0, 0.05 mm--9.5, 0.063 mm--7.0, 0.10 mm--2.5, 0.16 mm--1.0) was used as filler in the preparation of the building mortars. River silica sand (sieve residue, %: \(<\)0.16 mm--10.3, 0.16 mm--14.75, 0.315 mm--33.05, 0.63 mm--41.1, 1.25 mm--0.8) per the National Standard of Ukraine DSTU B V.2.7-232:2010 [79] (Sand for construction work. Testing methods) was used as fine aggregate in heavyweight concretes. Mix 4 contained NaLT--0.2% by mass, and carboxymethyl cellulose \"Gabrosa HV\" (Nouryon, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)--0.1 by mass. Consistency (flow) of reference composition for anchoring application: Mix 1--7.0 cm.