Study of Robustness of Self-Compacting Concretes Made with Low Fines Content
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 25, Issue 4
Abstract
Viscosity-modifying admixtures (VMAs) are often used to increase the robustness of self-compacting concretes (SCCs); however, concretes produced in this way require a higher cement or additions content than those made with additional limestone filler and thus are less attractive from the point of view of economics and sustainability. In light of this, the objective of this paper was to study the robustness of a SCC made with VMAs and low filler content and to determine whether it was comparable to a commercial SCC, with high limestone filler content and less cement. Three types of SCCs with water/cement (w/c) = 0.6 were produced with water contents varying between and . A linear regression model was constructed from the experimental data for each of the properties analyzed so as to provide an easy method of calculating the acceptable percentage of water-content variation in concrete that satisfies certain robustness requirements. This model provides a comparison of the different types of SCCs and thus assists the concrete producer to select the appropriate mixes. The results show that variations in flowability and compressive strength due to changes in water content were very similar in the three concrete types considered in this study. However, when filler was replaced by VMA, the material’s cohesive properties (viscosity and segregation resistance) showed improvement. In the SCC made with additional limestone fines, slump flow spread time and V-funnel time were the properties that contributed the most to reducing the material robustness. It was also observed that segregation resistance and compressive strength do not play a significant role in the robustness of SCCs under consideration.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Consejería de Universidades, Empresa e Innovación de la Comunidad Autónoma of the Region of Murcia for funding the SUE-ICI 07/02-0013 project, in which the Region of Murcia Construction Technology Centre (CTCON) and the companies HOLCIM and SIKA Spain also took part. Laboratory technicians R. Calabuig and J. Martínez are also thanked for their disinterested collaboration in the tests. The translation of this paper was funded by the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 25 • Issue 4 • April 2013
Pages: 497 - 503
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 6, 2011
Accepted: Jun 7, 2012
Published online: Aug 25, 2012
Published in print: Apr 1, 2013
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