Abstract
Widespread gradations of aggregates have been blended together to produce concrete mixtures with adequate performance; yet, poor performance of some of the concrete mixtures has been instigated by certain gradation characteristics. This work investigates how fine aggregate gradation impacts the workability and finishability of a concrete mixture for slip-formed pavement. The Box Test AASHTO T 396, Slump Test ASTM C143, and a hand float for surface finishability will be used to measure workability and quantitatively compare how the different gradations impacted workability. The results establish fine aggregate gradation sieve size limits based on workability performance for sieve sizes of 4.75 mm (#4) through 0.075 mm (#200). The research also establishes volume limits for coarse sand [2.36 mm (#8) through 0.6 mm (#30)] and fine sand [0.6 mm (#30) through 0.075 mm (#200)]. The coarse sand volume of the combined gradation was shown to not only impact surface finishability but influence the cohesion within the mixture, which leads to segregation and edge slumping. The fine sand volume contributes to allowing the concrete to have a smooth surface finish and to properly consolidate the concrete through vibration, but deficient fine sand volume promotes segregation and excessive fine sand volume reduces workability. These guidelines can be utilized to aid producers in designing concrete mixtures with improved cost, durability, and sustainability with a mixture procedure called Tarantula Curve.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors want to convey their gratitude to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Transportation Center for funding (ODOT SP&R Item No. 2253). Also, the following people provided valuable feedback during the project: Nick Seader, Gary Fick, Kenny Seward, Bruce Russell, and Ralph Browne.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 35 • Issue 10 • October 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 16, 2022
Accepted: Mar 23, 2023
Published online: Jul 28, 2023
Published in print: Oct 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Dec 28, 2023
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