Development of High-Strengh Self-Compacting Concre

DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-STRENGTH SELF-COMPACTING
CONCRETE WITH REDUCED SEGREGATION POTENTIAL
ABSTRACT:
Self-compacting concrete having enhanced ability to flow is known to have
increased segregation and bleeding potential. Any attempt to increase the
stability of fresh concrete (cohesiveness) requires using increase amount of
fine materials in the mixes. This paper reports an investigation into the
development of self-compacting concrete with reduced segregation potential.
The self-compacted concrete mix having satisfied the criterion recognized by
the differential height method is modified in many ways to increase the fine
particle content by replacing partially the fine and coarse aggregates by low-
calcium fly ash. The systematic experimental approach showed that partial
replacement of coarse and fine aggregate could produce self-compacting
concrete with low segregation potential as assessed by the V-Funnel test. The
paper reports the results of bleeding test and strength development with age.
The results showed that fly ash could be used successfully in producing
selfcompacting high-strength concrete with reduced segregation potential.
KEYWORDS: Fly ash; Superplasticiser; Self-compacting concrete; Bleeding;
Segregation
INTRODUCTION :
Self-compacting concrete (SCC) was first developed in Japan as a mean to
create uniformity in the quality of concrete by controlling the ever present
problem of insufficient compaction by a workforce that was losing skilled
labour and by the increased complexity of designs and reinforcement details in
modern structural members. Durability was the main concern and the purpose
was to develop a concrete mix that would reduce or eliminate the need for
vibration to achieve consolidation. Self-compacting concrete achieves this by
its unique fresh state properties. In the plastic state, it flows under its own
weight and maintain homogeneity while completely filling any formwork and
passing around congested reinforcement. In the hardened state, it equals or
excels standard concrete with respect to strength and durability. Gibbs (1)
reported the prospects for self-compacting concrete. Although self-compacting
concrete has been successfully used in Japan and European there has been
some reluctance to employ it in Australia and as a consequence it has suffered
very little development with local materials.
The self-compacting concrete differs from conventional concrete in the
following three characteristic features, namely, appropriate flowability, non-
segregation, and no blocking tendency. An increase in the flowability of
concrete is known to increase the risk of segregation. Therefore, it is essential
to have proper mix design. This paper is to reports the results of an
investigation into the development of low-bleeding self-compacting concrete.
VFunnel test is used to assess the flowability and segregation resistance of
self-compacted concrete.
Mixing of concrete:
The coarse and fine aggregates with sufficient water to wet the
aggregate and mixed for 30 seconds in a pan-type mixer. The cement
and fly ash were added together with 70% of the mixing water and
mixed for further 2 minutes. Finally, the remaining water mixed with
superplasticiser was added and the mixing was continued for one
minute. Then the mixing was halted for 2 minutes and the mixing
was continued for another two minutes.
Testing of self-compacting concrete:
Fresh concrete was subjected to standard and non-standard tests to evaluate
the slump flow, bleeding capacity, and segregation potential. Standard slump
cone (200mm by 100mm by 300mm) was filled with concrete and the mean
diameter of the spread was measured on lifting the cone. The bleeding test
was carried out according to AS1012.6. V-Funnel test was used to determine
the segregation potential. The apparatus used consisted of a V-shaped funnel
having the thickness of 75mm is tapered from the top dimension of 490mm to
65mm over a height of 425mm. The bottom opening has the dimension of
75mm by 65mm to a depth of 150mm. The funnel is filled with concrete and
time taken for the concrete to leave the funnel is measured. Then, the funnel
is refilled with the same concrete and allowed to settle for 5 minutes. The new
time required for the concrete to leave the funnel is measured. The difference
in time is a measure of segregation resistance of the concrete mix. In addition,
a number of standard test cylinders (100mm diameter by 200mm) were cast
and continuously stored in water until testing for the compressive strength at
the ages of 7, 28 and 49 days.
Table 2: Summary of Test Results
Fly ash Coarse Fine Super

Cement Fly ash Water
Mix Addition Aggregate Aggregate Plastciser
)kg/m3( )kg/m3( )kg/m3(
)%( )kg/m3( )kg/m3( )kg/m3(
2 650 15 44 - - - -
3 665 13 29 - - - -
4 605 12 18 - - - -
5 750 7 10 154 46.0 53.5 60.0
6 695 13 17 33 46.6 59.0 68.0
7 740 8 12 163 45.0 55.6 62.0
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
Table 2 summarizes the fresh and hardened properties for the six concrete
mixes studied. Mixes 2, 3 and 4 containing 10% addition of fly ash to the
control mix showed noticeable difference in V-Funnel test results. The
difference between To and T5min was 29 seconds when fly ash addition
replaced the fine aggregate. However, the lowest time difference of 6 seconds
was noted when the fly ash replaced both fine and coarse aggregates in equal
proportion. Similar replacements were adopted in the mixes 5, 6 and 7. Since
the required slump flow for self-compacted concrete is between 650 mm and
800 mm, water content for these mixes was increased from 175 to 192.5
kg/m3.
Mixes 5 and 7 with 10% and 25% fly ash addition had similar V-Funnel times
indicating excellent flow and segregation resistance properties. The time
differences were 3 and 4 seconds for the Mixes 5 and 7, respectively. Both
mixes showed similar bleeding capacity. Although Mix 6 with 20% fly ash
addition, showed increased V-Funnel time compared to Mix 6, the time
difference was 4 seconds. The accepted criteria for V-Funnel test results for
self-compacted concrete is 6 to 12 seconds for To and below 3 seconds
addition for Tmin. From To. Mix 5 with 10% fly ash addition is found to satisfy
both slump flow and V-Funnel test criteria for self-compacting concrete. Mix 7
with 25% fly ash addition may be considered acceptable, although the time
difference was 4 seconds instead of allowable 3 seconds. Mix 6 with 20% fly
ash addition surprisingly showed reduced bleeding capacity compared to
Mixes 5 and 7. Considering the strength development with time, the presence
of fly ash in the mixes helped the compressive strength to increase between
11 to 15% from 28 days to 49 days. The compressive strength at 7 days was
over 45 MPa for Mixes 5, 6 and 7. This indicates that the self-compacted
concrete with fly ash addition has not suffered in early age strength and
continued to develop later age strength.
CONCLUSION:
This investigation showed that fine and coarse aggregates could be partially
replaced with fly ash in producing high-strength self-compacting concrete with
sufficient flow property and low segregation potential without affecting the
early age strength. In addition, fly ash in selfcompacting concrete helps to
improve later age strength beyond 28 days.
REFERENCE:
1. Gibbs, J. C., The prospects for self-compacting concrete, Proceedings of the
Concrete Communication Conference ’99, Cardiff University, pp. 391-402.

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DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-STRENGTH SELF-COMPACTING

CONCRETE WITH REDUCED SEGREGATION POTENTIAL

Fly ash Coarse Fine Super

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

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