Proceedings of the 3rd International RILEM Symposium , Reykjavik, Iceland, 17-20 August 2003, Edited by O.

Wallevik and I. Nielsson , (RILEM Publications), 1 Vol., 1048 pp., ISBN: 2-912143-42-X, soft cover

DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-STRENGTH SELF-COMPACTING

CONCRETE WITH REDUCED SEGREGATION POTENTIAL

Dr. R. Sri Ravindrarajah, D. Siladyi and B. Adamopoulos

Centre for Built Infrastructure Research, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia

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 self-
compacting 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. V-
Funnel test is used to assess the flowability and segregation resistance of self-compacted
concrete.
EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS

Materials and Mix Compositions

General purpose Portland cement and low-calcium fly ash were used as binder materials in
making the concrete mixes. Crushed river gravel having a maximum size of 20mm and 10mm
were used in equal weight proportion combination as coarse aggregate. Napean river coarse
sand and Botany fine sand were used as fine aggregate in equal weight proportion. A control
concrete (Mix 1) having the cement and fly ash contents of 350 and 134 kg/m3, respectively
was used in this study. A high-performance superplasticiser (Glenium 51) used and the
dosage level was fixed at 0.54% of the binder (i.e. cement + fly ash) content. In order to
reduce the bleeding capacity of the concrete mix, the fly ash content was increased by 10%,
by partially replacing the one of the following: fine aggregate, coarse aggregate or a
combination of fine and coarse aggregates. Once the appropriate replacement method is
decided based on the test results, the fly ash content was increased to 20% and 25%. Table 1
shows the compositions of concrete mixes.

Table 1: Compositions (kg/m3) of the Self-Compacting Concrete Mixes

Mix Cement Fly ash Fly ash Coarse Fine Water Super
(kg/m3) (kg/m3) addition aggregate aggregate (kg/m3) Plastciser
(%) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) (kg/m3)
1 350 134 0 934 852 175 2.61
2 350 147 10 934 838 172 2.68
3 350 147 10 921 852 175 2.68
4 350 147 10 927 845 175 2.68
5 350 147 10 921 840 192.5 2.68
6 350 161 20 921 840 192.5 2.75
7 350 168 25 917 835 192.5 2.79

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

Mix Slump To T5min 2h 7d Comp. 28d Comp. 49d Comp.

Flow (sec.) (sec.) Bleeding Strength Strength Strength
(mm) (ml) (MPa) (MPa) MPa
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 self-
compacting 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.