High Performance Concrete Using Fumed

Silica

Dr. P. Jeyabalan, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, and B. N. Krishnaswami Faculty in

Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

Concrete is the second largest material consumed by the human being in the world next to water.
Environmental attack can severely reduce the strength and life of the concrete. In the present
study a series of 5 batches of concrete were cast containing fumed silica and the material
properties were determined. These properties include compressive strength and permeability.
The test results are compared with the values for high performance concrete without fumed silica
as a reference mix.

Introduction
Application of high performance concrete (HPC) has got momentum in various fields of
construction globally in the near past. HPC is being practised in the fields like construction of
nuclear reactors, runways at airport, railway sleepers, cooling towers, silos, chimneys and all
kinds of bridges. Considerable amount of development has been made in the field of HPC using
silica fumeas a mineral admixture which is produced from condensing the gases escaping from
furnace of a ferro silicon (or) silicon metal manufacturing process.
High fineness, uniformity, high pozzolanic activity and compatibility with other ingredients are
of primary importance in selection of mineral admixture as per ACI 363R – 5. As per the Table-1
Silica fume has the maximum fineness of 28 m2 g-1 whereas the fumed Silica has the fineness of
190 m2 g-1 which is 6 to 7 times finer than Silica fume. Finer the particle of pozzolano, higher
will be the modulus of elasticity, which enhances the durability characteristics of the HPC.

The high performance concrete is essentially a concrete having a low water/binder ratio (W/B).
A value of about 0.4 is suggested 1 as the boundary between usual concretes and high
performance concrete. Conventional concrete and high performance concrete have not only quite
different compressive strength but also significantly different microstructures (quite different
shrinkage behavior) and significantly different overall performances. Hence any grade of
concrete with water/binder ratio less than 0.4 will be called as high performance concrete and
with water/binder ratio greater than 0.4 will be called as an ordinary concrete.

Durability of Concrete
Concrete should be capable of withstanding the conditions for which it has been designed
throughout the life of a structure. Lack of durability can be caused by external agents such as
environmental changes (or) due to internal constituents of concrete shown in Table-2. Causes can
be categorized as physical, mechanical, and chemical. Physical cause arises from the action of
frost. Mechanical cause arises due to abrasion. Chemical causes are due to attack by sulphates,
chlorides, acids and seawater etc. These causes can be managed by reducing the permeability of
concrete (or) by using impermeable concrete. From the durability point of view, it is important to
achieve low permeability as quick as possible in the fresh concrete. Factors Controlling
Permeability:

There are 3 major factors, which determine the permeability in concrete.

a. Water/cement ratio
b. Compaction
c. Curing

Each factor is equally important. If one of these factors is not controlled, the result will be
increased in permeability.

ACI 301-89 recommends being water tight structural concrete can have a maximum permeability
of 1.5 x 10-11 m s-1.

Fumed Silica
It is a high reactive pozzolona made for some purpose. Fumed silica is produced by the vapour
phase hydrolysis of silicon Tetra chloride in a hydrogen oxygen flame. The reactions are,

The combustion process creates silicon dioxide molecules, which condense to form particles.
Fumed silica is being used in various fields such as pharmaceuticals, paints, adhesives and
sealants, plastics, rubber and ink except for concrete.

Properties of the fumed silica and silica fume have been shown in Table – 1. Since fumed silica
is much finer than silica fume its influence in the paste aggregate interface was found to be the
dominant factor in the development of increased strength.

Mechanism of HPC
Under compressive loads, failure in normal Concrete occurs either with in the hydrated cement
paste or along the interface between the cement paste and aggregate particles. This interface
called the "Transition zone" is a weak area in normal concrete.
To improve the strength and other properties, it is necessary to strengthen the weak areas.
Reducing the water-cement ratio and using supplementary cementitious materials like fumed
silica tends to strengthen the transition zone. When Portland cement hydrates, a considerable
quantity of calcium hydroxide is produced. Fumed silica which has a very high percentage about
99.97 percentage of amorphous silicon dioxide reacts with calcium hydroxide to form calcium
silicates hydrates (C-S-H). This improves impermeability as well as strength. There is a distinct
change in the refinement of the pore structure in a fumed silica concrete giving less of the
capillary pores and more of the finer gel pores, thus by improving the impermeability and
strength.

The water demand of concrete containing fumed silica increases dramatically, because of its
finerparticle size, but this can be overcome by the use of super plasticizers. Bleeding of concrete
mixtures containing fumed silica is almost non–existent. The super plasticizer deflocculates (5)
the cement particles and thus fluidifies the mixture so that very low water content is sufficient for
an adequate workability. Typically, 5 to 15 litres per of super plasticizer can effectively replace
45 to 70 litres per of water(2).

In the present study, a series of 5 batches of concrete were cast containing fumed silica and the
material properties were determined. These properties included compressive strength;
permeability. The test results are compared with the values of HPC without fumed silica as a
base mix.

Experimental Details
Materials: The cement used was ordinary Portland cement. The Physical and chemical
composition as provided by the manufacturer is given in Table 3. Naturally available fine and
coarse aggregates were used and their properties were shown in Table 4. Portable drinking water
was used. High range water reducing admixtures (HRWRA) were used which conforms to
ASTM C494 Type A and F.

Maximum size of coarse aggregate–12.5 mm

Minimum size of coarse aggregate–6.0 m

PH value of water - 6.5

Mix proportions were arrived based on the guidelines given by ACI 211.1 Slump which were
maintained as 25 to 50 mm

Required Average Compressive Strength

According to ACI – 318/318 R – 46, Table 5.3.2.2 the required average Compressive strength
(f'cr), when data are not available to establish a Standard deviation.
The required average compressive strength f' cr = f' c + 9.6561 = 60 + 9.6561 f' cr = 70 Mpa

Design Mix
Target strength : 70MPa

Ratio of Cement, Fine & Coarse

aggregate : 1:1.35:1.68

W/(C+P) Ratio : 0.31

Slump : 25 – 50 mm

A basic trial mix was prepared with above proportioned materials and without fumed silica.
Subsequently, four more companion mix was prepared by replacing 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 15% of
cement that required for basic mix with fumed silica, keeping the same slump and W/C+P ratio.

Compressive Strength
100 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm mould were used to prepare concrete cubes. There are about nine
cubes were cast in each trial mix. At the age of 3rd day, 7th day, and 28th day the average
compressive strength of all the trial mix are found out and are plotted in chart 1-4.
Results and Discussion
The 3rd day average compressive strength of M60 grade basic mix proportion was only 24 Mpa
without any admixture except HRWRA, which was used to maintain the required slump. The 1st,
2nd , 3rd and 4th companion trial mixes in which cement was replaced by fumed silica @ 5%,
7.5%, 10% and 15% respectively of the total cement quantity required for basic mix shows that
there were considerable increase in its compressive strength on the same age. This result shows
that the use of fumed silica as an admixture gives 'High Early Strength,' so as to attend the
emergency repair works immediately.

Similarly, the 28th day average compressive strength of M60 grade basic mix proportion was
only 63 Mpa without any admixture except HRWRA, which was used to maintain the required
slump. The 1st, 2nd , 3rd and 4th companion trial mixes in which cement replaced by fumed
silica with the addition of fumed silica @ 5%, 7.5%, 10% and 15% respectively of the total
cement quantity required for basic mix shows that there were considerable increase in its
compressive strength on the same age. This result shows that the use of fumed silica as a mineral
admixture gives 'High average Compressive strength.'

Permeability Assessment
Five batches of 450 x 450 x 100 mm plain concrete blocks were made to study the permeability
of each of trial mix; using Germann water permeability Instruments (GWT – 4000) and the
results are shown in Table–5.
For a fully water saturated concrete without surface porosities and cracking a measure of the
water permeability can be obtained without disturbance from capillary absorption. With the
GWT – 4000 a sealed pressure chamber is attached to the concrete surface, boiled water is filled
into the chamber and a required water pressure is applied to the surface.
Chart 1: Basic Mix Test Results with no Fumed Chart 2: First Companion Mix Test Results using
Silica 5% Fumed Silica
Chart 3: Second Companion Mix Test Results Chart 4: Third Companion Mix Test Results using
using 7.5% Fumed Silica 10% Fumed Silica

Chart 5: Fourth Companion Mix Test Results

using 15% Fumed Silica
The pressure is kept constant using micrometer gauge with attached pin that substitutes the water
leaving the chamber, to Chart 2: First Companion Mix Test Reults Using 5% Fumed Silica
measure the amount of water penetrating the substrate. The difference in the gauge position over
a given time (e.g., 5 minutes) is taken as a measure of the water penetrability for a given water
pressure. The pressure applied here is 5 BAR.

Test has been carried out as shown in figures 1 and 2

A flux of water penetrating the surface for a given water pressure may be calculated as simply
the difference in micrometer readings in mm for a given testing time (e.g. 5 minutes).

Alternatively, the flux q may be calculated for a given water pressure as

q = B (g1-g2) A-1 .t-1 = 78.6 (g1-g2) 3018-1 t-1= 0.026(g1-g2) t-1 (mm sec-1)

'B' is the area of the micrometer pin being pressed into the chamber, 78.6mm2 for the 10mm pin
diameter.

g1 and g2 the micro–meter gauge readings in mm at the start of the test and after the test has been
finished.

'A' is the water pressure surface area 3018 mm2 (Gasket inner diameter 62mm), 't' the time the
test is performed over in seconds.

Conclusion
Mineral admixture such as fumed silica is an ideal constituent for high performance concrete as
it has the inherent ability to contribute to continued strength development through their
pozzolanic/ cementations reactivity and to enhance durability and chemical resistance through
their pore refinement and reduced sorptivity characteristics.

References
• P. C. AITCIN "High performance concrete" E&FN Spon –1998 Page- 5.
• Pierre – Clande Aitcin and Adam Neville – High Performance concrete Demystified "
Concrete Int ernational" features January 1993, Volume 15, number I, Page No: 21-26.
• R.Shridhar and Y. P. Kapoor – "Roll of construction chemicals in ensuring durability of
concrete structure " compilation from Indian concrete Journal – Repair and Rehabilitation
First edition 2001, Page No: 126 – 130.
• A.M.NEVILLE and J.J.Brooks – Concrete Technology First ISE serpent, 1999,
Publishers M/s. Addison Wesler Longman, Inc. 1999 PP – 262 – 266.
• V.M. Malhotra–FlyAsh, Silica Fume, and Rice–Husk ash in concrete A Review concrete
International features April 1993,Volume 15, number 4,PP 23-28.
• Aitcin. P.C. and Adam Neville 'High Performance Concrete demnystified,' Concrete
International pp 21-26 V-15 (January 1993).
• S. Rajeev and J.Rajesh – An expert system for diagnoising causes and repairs of defects
in R.C. structures. Repairs and Rehabilitation compilation from "The Indian Concrete
Journal."
• Alexander M. Vaysburd, Peter H. Emmons and Gajanan M.Sabnies Repair &
Rehabilitation compilation from "The Indian Concrete Journal."
• J.K. Patel, N.B.Desai and J.C.Rana, Properties and application of steel fibre reinforced
concrete.
 • Ambuja Technical Literature on Fibre reinforced concrete.

American Concrete Institute Code

1. Cement Concrete Terminology–ACI 116R-00.
2. Standard Practice for selecting proportions for normal, heavy weight and mask concrete–
ACI 211.1- 91 (Reapproved 1997).
3. Guide for selecting proportions for High Strength concrete with portland Cement and
Flyash–ACI 211-4R-93 (Reapproved 1998).
4. Chemical admixtures for concrete–ACI 212 3R-91 (Re,approved 1999)
5. Guide for the use of High– Range water reducing admixtures ( S u p e r plasticizers) in
concrete ACI 212.4.4R-93 (Reapproved 1998).
6. Guide for silica Fume in concrete ACI 234R-96 (Reapproved 2000).
7. State-of-the-Art Report on High–strength concrete ACI 363R–92 (Reapproved 1997).
8. Guide to Quality control and Testing of High strength concrete ACI 363.2R-98.

Bureau of Indian Standard

• IS: 456-2000 Plain and reinforced concrete–code of practice (Fourth Revision)
• IS: 12269-1987 Specification for 53 grade Ordinary Portland Cement
• IS: 383-1970 Specification for coarse and fine aggregates from natural sources for
concrete (Second Revision)
• IS: 3025-1964 Methods of sampling and Test (Physical and Chemical) for water used in
Industry IS: 9103-1979 Specification for admixture for concrete.