Self-Compacting Concrete Analysis
Self-Compacting Concrete Analysis
By:
Yared Kebede GSR/5367/13
Betelehem Solomon GSR/ 9192/13
Abraham Tesfaye GSR/ 0447/13
I
Acknowledgement
The group students would like to express their gratitude to Professor Dr-Ing.
Abebe Dinku and Dr. Biruktawit, for giving us the opportunity to work on this lab
work and who has been teaching and pushing us to become better professionals in our
respective fields. Working on this laboratory report had its challenges and we have
learned a lot not only on the subject matter but also regarding how to write such
papers and that will help us in the future. We would also like to acknowledge the
support and information provided by AAiT Civil Engineering laboratory technicians
specially Abiy and Biniam during our laboratory work.
II
Table of Contents
Acknowledgement............................................................................................II
Table of Contents............................................................................................III
List of Figure...................................................................................................VI
List of Table....................................................................................................VI
Abstract..........................................................................................................VII
1 Introduction.................................................................................................1
1.1 Background..........................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the Problem.....................................................................1
1.3 Objective of the paper..........................................................................1
1.4 Significance of the Paper.....................................................................1
2 Properties of Materials Used for the Production.........................................3
2.1 Cement.................................................................................................3
2.1.1 Normal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement....................................3
2.1.2 Setting Time of Hydraulic Cement................................................4
2.2 Fine Aggregate.....................................................................................5
2.2.1 Silt Content of Sand.......................................................................5
2.2.2 Particle Size Distribution of Fine Aggregate.................................6
2.2.3 Specific Gravity and Absorption Capacity of Fine Aggregates....7
2.3 Coarse Aggregate.................................................................................9
2.3.1 Particle Size Distribution of Aggregate.........................................9
2.3.2 S.G and Absorption Capacity of Coarse Aggregates...................10
2.3.3 Unit Weight of Coarse Aggregate...............................................11
2.4 Moisture Content of Aggregates........................................................12
2.5 Water..................................................................................................12
2.6 Admixture..........................................................................................13
3 Self-Compacting Concrete........................................................................14
3.1 Introduction........................................................................................14
3.2 Uses of SCC.......................................................................................15
3.2.1 Advantages of Self Compacted Concrete....................................16
III
3.2.2 Disadvantages of SCC.................................................................17
3.2.3 Ingredients of SCC.......................................................................18
3.3 Properties of SCC..............................................................................19
3.3.1 Fresh SCC Properties...................................................................19
3.3.2 Hardened SCC Properties............................................................20
3.4 Tests to Determine SCC Flow Properties..........................................23
3.4.1 General.........................................................................................23
3.4.2 Slump Flow Test..........................................................................24
3.4.3 U box test method........................................................................25
3.4.4 L box test method........................................................................26
3.4.5 V Funnel Test...............................................................................28
4 C-70 Concrete...........................................................................................30
4.1 General Overview..............................................................................30
4.1.1 Objectives....................................................................................30
4.1.2 Methodology................................................................................31
4.1.3 Introduction..................................................................................31
5 Mix Design................................................................................................32
5.1 Mix Design for SCC..........................................................................32
5.1.1 Determination of Slum Flow Performance Requirement............32
5.1.2 Selecting Coarse Aggregate and Proportion................................32
5.1.3 Estimating the required cementitious content and water.............33
5.1.4 Calculate paste and mortar volume..............................................33
5.1.5 Select Admixture.........................................................................33
5.1.6 Batching the trial mixture............................................................34
5.2 Mix Design for C-70..........................................................................34
5.3 Mixing................................................................................................38
6 Compressive Test Result...........................................................................43
6.1 Preparation of Concrete Cube Specimen...........................................43
6.1.1 Specimen......................................................................................43
6.1.2 Sampling of Cubes for Test.........................................................43
6.1.3 Curing of Cubes...........................................................................43
IV
6.1.4 Procedure for Concrete Cube Test...............................................44
6.2 Characteristics Compressive Strength Calculations..........................44
6.2.1 For C-70.......................................................................................44
6.2.2 For SCC.......................................................................................44
6.3 C-70 Compressive Strength Test Result............................................44
6.3.1 SCC Compressive Strength Test Result......................................46
7 Conclusion.................................................................................................47
8 Photos during Laboratory Work................................................................48
9 References.................................................................................................52
V
List of Figure
List of Table
Table 2-1 Grading of Fine Aggregate...............................................................6
Table 2-2 Particle Size Distribution of Aggregate..........................................10
Table 2-3 Unit Weight of Coarse Aggregate...................................................11
Table 2-4 Moisture Content of Aggregates.....................................................12
Table 5-1Batch Weight of Trial Mix...............................................................34
Table 5-2 Tests for SCC Mix..........................................................................42
Table 6-1Compressive strength result of C-70................................................45
Table 6-2 Compressive strength results of SCC-25........................................46
VI
Abstract
This report discusses about Self Compacted Concrete with C-25 grade and a
high strength concrete with grade of C-70 as an Assignment for Concrete
Construction course in AAiT material laboratory. It contains trial mix designs (mix
requirements and mix proportions) and experimental results (compressive strength) of
two concrete mixes to be used for two different applications (high-strength and self-
compaction).
After preparing the constituent material for concrete, then followed tests to
know constituent material properties. Particle size distribution, Specific gravity and
absorption test were conducted for both coarse and fine aggregate and measured the
silt content for the sand.
After curing taking place in the fresh water, the next step was to perform the
compressive test to know the achieved compressive strength. The Self compacting
concrete 28 day mean strength become 35.54 MPa, and the C-70 concrete, the 28th
day compressive strength is 79.62Mpa, which is not that much below the calculated
target-mean strength.
VII
Concrete Construction
1 Introduction
1.1 Background
Among the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians, the bonding substance most
often used was clay. The Egyptians developed a substance more closely resembling
modern concrete by using lime and gypsum as binders. Lime (calcium oxide), derived
from limestone, chalk, or (where available) oyster shells, continued to be the primary
pozzolanic, or cement-forming, agent until the early 1800s. In 1824 an English
inventor, Joseph Aspdin, burned and ground together a mixture of limestone and clay.
This mixture, called portland cement, has remained the dominant cementing agent
used in concrete production.
concrete strength with C-40 and above. This project helps to predict the achievability
of these concrete mixes and how to achieve them.
The choice of Pozzolanic cement over the ordinary one is because filler
materials like the pozzolans in the cement are known to increase workability even
though they might affect the early strength.
The Physical tests done for the cement are Normal consistency of hydraulic
cement and Setting time of hydraulic cement. The procedures taken for these tests are
similar to ones taken for the C60 concrete and in order to reduce redundancy only the
results are presented here.
Equipment
The following apparatus were used to determine the amount of water required
to prepare a standard cement paste: Vicat apparatus, Weight and weighing device,
Graduated Cylinder, Mixing dish, Trowel. (Dinku, June 2002)
Procedure
Then after, we tossed the cement paste 6 times in the approximate shape of a
ball from one hand to another through a free path of 15cm so that it became easily
inserted into the vicat ring mold. (Dinku, June 2002)
Immediately after we filled and leveled the paste, we lowered the plunger
gently until it touched the surface of the paste and tighten the screw and set the
movable indicator to the upper zero mark of the scale.
Then we released the plunger then the plunger records its penetration. (Dinku,
June 2002)
Laboratory Report on Production of SCC-25 and C-70 Page 3
Concrete Construction
Weight of water ∈ g
% water= X 100
weight of cement ∈ g
78
% wat er= X 100 = 26%
300
Equipment
The apparatuses we used to determine the setting time of cement include the
following: Vicat apparatus, Weights, graduated cylinder, Mixing dish, and Trowel.
Procedure
Therefore, it is necessary to determine the silt content of the sand and check
against permissible limits before it is used either for mortar or concrete making.
The apparatuses we used to determine the silt content of sand include the
following: Graduated cylinder, Dish for taking sample, Small size spoon, Sample
sand, Funnel.
Procedure
To determine the silt content of sand we took the sand by random sampling.
We poured 300ml of the sand to the graduated cylinder and filled the water
approximately ¾ of the cylinder. Then we shook the cylinder vigorously for about a
minute and left it for one hour till the silt settled on the layer of the sand. Finally, we
measured the amount of fines formed on top of the washed sand.
Hence, we washed the sand to have good quality SCC-25 and C - 70 concrete.
100
80
upper limits
60
Cumulative
Passing (%)
40 lower limits
20
0
6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Equipment’s
The apparatus used to determine the bulk and apparent specific gravity, and
absorption of fine aggregates includes: Balance, Pycnometer, Mold and Tamper.
Procedure
To determine the bulk and apparent specific gravity, and absorption of fine
aggregates, we took 1000g of the fine aggregate from the sample by the use of sample
splitter then after we oven dried the sample in a suitable pan to constant weight at a
temperature of 100 + 5oC, cooled in air at room temperature for 19hrs, and then
spread it on the flat surface and stirred it to have uniform drying till the sample
approached a free-flow condition. (Dinku, June 2002) Then we introduced 500gm of
the sample in to the Pycnometer and filled with water to approximately 90% of the
capacity.
Finally, we determined the total weight of the pycnometer, sample and water
and record the following data:
Therefore
W 2−W 1
Specific Gravity=
( W 4−W 1 )−(W 3−W 2)
699.2−210.7
Specific Gravity=
( 705.5−210.7 )−(995.7−699.2)
= 2.47
A
Bulk Sp . Gr=
[ ( B+500−C ) ]
464
Bulk Sp . Gr=
[ ( 705.5+ 500−995.7 ) ]
= 2.21
500
Bulk sp gr ( SSD)= [ B+500−C ]
500
Bulk sp gr ( SSD)= [ 705.5+500−995.7 ]
= 2.4
A
Apparent sp gr= [ B+ A−C ]
464
Apparent sp gr= [ 705.5+ 464−995.7 ]
= 2.67
Absorption Capacity
500− A
Absorption(%)= [ A ]* 100
= 7.76%
Coarse aggregates used for this project was taken from the AAiT’s laboratory.
Balance, series of sieves, shovels and sieve bush were used while we conduct
sieve analysis.
19 100% 1387.
6 1387.6 0.00 0% 0% 100%
12.5 90%
100% - 1151.
3 1351.3
0 200.00 10% 10% 90%
9.5 40%
70% - 1158.
8 2548.8
0 1390.0
0 70% 80% 21%
4.75 0% - 15% 1169.
9 1449.9
0 280.00 14% 94% 6%
Pan 0% - 5% 732.3 862.30 130.00 7% 100% 0%
Equipment’s
The apparatus used to determine the bulk and apparent specific gravity, and
absorption of coarse aggregates includes: balance, sample container and suitable
apparatus for suspending the sample container in water from the center of the scale
pan or balance. (Dinku, June 2002)
Procedure
The primary step, to determine the bulk and apparent specific gravity, and
absorption of coarse aggregates, was preparation of the test sample. The sample was
selected by use of sample splitter then after we washed the sample to remove dust
from the surface. The sample then oven dried to constant weight at a temperature of
100 + 5oC, cooled in air at room temperature for 1 to 3hrs, and then immersed in
water at room temperature for 24hrs. The immersed sample then removed from water
and rolled in a large towel until all visible films of water are removed. Then we
record
2000
Specific Gravity=
2000−1240
= 2.70
2000−1975
absorption capacity=
1975
= 1.26%
Weight of(gm)
Original weight
sampleof dry
(gm) Moisture Content
(%) {[A-
Aggregate Type Sample A B B]/B}*100
Coarse
Aggregate 2000 1971 1.47
Fine Aggregate 1000 968 3.31
2.5 Water
As the rule of the thumb for water quality is, “If you can drink it, you can
make concrete with it”, therefore potable water found in the AAiT compound was
used for all concrete mixes
2.6 Admixture
We have understood that as we decrease water content strength of concrete
increases but this is at the expense of workability. Workability of concrete can be
defined as the ease with which it can be used on field. Generally, on field high
workable concrete is required. So, for meeting both the criteria’s super plasticizers
are used. The super plasticizers (SP) are referred to as high range water reducing
admixture, mainly disperses the water in concrete matrix. There are many types of
SP’s present but a SP has to be selected keeping in view the conditions of the field
and the requirement. Here, we are going to use Sika Viscocrete for both C-70 and
SCC mixes.
3 Self-Compacting Concrete
3.1 Introduction
Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is defined as concrete that has an ability to
flow under its own weight, to fill the required space or formwork completely and to
produce a dense and adequately homogenous material without a need for vibrating
compaction,
Based on the original concept of Okamura and Ozawa SCC is often classified
as powder type, VMA type or combined type, depending on the method of providing
viscosity (Dehn F, et. al, 2000.)
fluctuations of the fresh concrete due to the variation of the surface moisture content
of the aggregates and their gradations during the production. This facilitates the
production control of the concrete.
Honeycombs are hollow spaces and cavities left in concrete mass on the
surface or inside the mass where concrete could not reach. These look like honey
bees nest. Improper vibration and workability of concrete are main causes of
honeycombs in concrete. Honeycombs which are on sides are visible to naked eyes
and can be detected easily as soon shuttering is removed. Honeycombs which are
inside mass of concrete can only be detected by advanced techniques like ultrasonic
testing etc. Then what can be done to avoid honeycombing?
The answer to the problem may be a type of concrete which can get
compacted into every corner of form work and gap between steel, purely by means of
its own weight and without the need for compaction. The SCC concept was required
to overcome these difficulties.
The SCC concept can be stated as the concrete that meets special performance
and uniformity requirements that cannot always be obtained by using conventional
ingredients, normal mixing procedure and curing practices. The SCC is an engineered
material consisting of cement, aggregates, water and admixtures with several new
constituents like colloidal silica, pozzolanic materials, chemical admixtures to take
care of specific requirements, such as, high flowability, compressive strength, high
workability, enhanced resistances to chemical or mechanical stresses, lower
permeability, durability, resistance against segregation, and possibility under dense
reinforcement conditions.
The properties, such as, fluidity and high resistance to segregation enables the
placement of concrete without vibrations and with reduced labor, noise and much less
wear and tear of equipment.
e. Because of its high fluidity, this concrete does not need any
vibrations so that it allows to save energy and ensure suitable cost
in place.
f. Reduction of expenses and manpower needed for patching finished
precast elements.
g. It can enable the concrete supplier to provide better consistency in
delivering concrete, which reduces the interventions at the plants
or job sites.
4. Construction with SCC is not affected by the skill of the workers, and
shape and arrangement of reinforcing bars of the structures.
5. SCC use at construction sites reduces the chance of accident by reducing
number of cables needed for the operation of compacting equipment,
hence, reduces the worker’s compensation premiums
Particles smaller than 0.125mm i.e. 125-micron size are considered as FINES
which contribute to the powder content.
The admixture consists chiefly of those which accelerate and those which
retard hydrations or setting of the cement, finely divided materials which improves
workability, water proofers, pigments, wetting, dispersing and air-entraining agents
and pozzolanas.
Variations in the powder content affect mainly the yield stress and
some extent the plastic viscosity.
Air content affects mainly the plastic viscosity.
Water affects the yield stress and the plastic viscosity.
Super-plasticizer dosage affects mainly the yield stress and marginally
the plastic viscosity.
Viscosity modifying admixtures affect mainly the plastic viscosity.
Hydration
Mechanical properties
Given the same raw material sources and the same specified compressive
strength, the engineering properties of SCC should be similar to those of conventional
concrete. (Kadri EH and Duval R, 2002.)
I. Compressive strength
Holschemacher and Klug (2002) analyzed their database and found that the
elastic modulus of SCC could be 20% lower than that of NVC made of the same
aggregate with the same strength. Another analysis based on a vast amount of
literature showed that the elastic modulus of SCC was 40% lower than that of NVC at
low cube compressive strength; but the difference reduced to less than 5% at higher
strength (90~100 MPa).
Drying shrinkage results from the loss of water from the cement paste into the
atmosphere. Water held by capillary tension is one of the important factors
influencing the drying shrinkage.
It is related to the water and paste contents, as well as aggregate volume, size,
and stiffness. High paste volumes and reduction in aggregate content can lead to
greater potential for drying shrinkage. Paste volumes can be optimized during the
mixture-proportioning process through the selection of aggregate content,
composition, and admixtures. Drying shrinkage has been reported to be similar to or
lower than that of conventional concrete of similar compressive strength.
Mortsell and Rodum (2001) reported that the drying shrinkage of SCC
developed for housing applications was essentially the same as that of conventional
concrete with the same mixture proportions. For SCC, as for other types of concrete,
the higher the w/cm the lower the autogenously shrinkage, and the higher the drying
shrinkage
V. Creep in compression
Creep is defined as the gradual increase in strain for a constant applied stress.
It is also a timedependent deformation. Creep takes place in the cement paste and is
influenced by porosity which relates to the W/C ratio. As cement hydrates and
porosity decreases, creep decreases. In addition, aggregates restrain the creep of
paste. For this reason, a higher amount of aggregates and a higher elastic modulus of
aggregates will lead to a reduced creep.
VI. Durability
VIII. Permeability
3.4.1 General
It is important to appreciate that none of the test methods for SCC has yet
been standardized and the tests described are not yet perfected or standardized. The
methods presented here are descriptions rather than fully detailed procedures. They
are mainly ad-hoc methods, which have devised specifically for SCC. Hence for the
validation of concrete these tests have not been considered.
In considering these tests, there are number of points which should be taken
into account:
The slump flow is used to assess the horizontal free flow of SCC in the
absence of obstructions. It was first developed in Japan for use in assessment of
underwater concrete. The test method is based on the test method for determining the
slump. The diameter of the concrete circle is a measure for the filling ability of the
concrete.
Assessment of test
This is simple, rapid test procedure, though two people are needed, if the T50
time is to be measured. It can be used on site, though the size of the base plate is
somewhat unwieldy and level ground is essential. It is most commonly used test, and
gives a good assessment of filling ability.
Equipment required
Mold in the shape of a truncated cone with the internal dimensions 200mm at
the base, 100mm diameter at the top and a height of 300mm, confirming to EN12350-
2 Base plate of a stiff non-absorbing material, at least 700mm square, marked with a
circle marking the central location for the slump cone, and a further concentric circle
of 500mm diameter. The states of the test performed in these mix design are
described in chapter 6 Mixing.
The test was developed by the Technology Research Centre of the Taisei
Corporation in Japan. Sometimes the apparatus is called a “box shaped” test. The test
is used to measure the filling ability of self- compacting concrete. The apparatus
consists of a vessel divided by a middle wall into two compartments.
Assessment of test
Equipment Needed
Stop watch.
This test, based on a Japanese design for underwater concrete, has been
described by Peterson.
The test assesses the flow of the concrete, and also the extent to which it is
subjected to blocking by reinforcement. The apparatus is shown in figure.
The vertical section is filled with concrete, and then the gate lifted to let the
concrete flow into the horizontal section. When the flow has stopped, the height of
the concrete at the end of the horizontal section is expressed as a proportion of that
remaining in the vertical section (H2/H1 in the diagram). It indicates the slope of the
concrete when at rest. This is an indication passing ability, or the degree to which the
passage of concrete through the bars is restricted.
The horizontal section of the box can be marked at 200 mm and 400 mm from
the gate and the times taken to reach these points measured. These are known as T20
andT40 times and are an indication for the filling ability.
The bars can principally be set at any spacing to impose a more or less severe
test of the passing ability of the concrete.
Assessment of test
This is widely used test, suitable for laboratory, and perhaps site use. It
assesses filling and passing ability of SCC, and serious lack of stability (segregation)
can be detected visually. Segregation may also be detected by subsequently sawing
and inspecting sections of the concrete in the horizontal section. Unfortunately, there
is no agreement on materials, dimensions, or reinforcing bar arrangement, so it is
difficult to compare test results. There is no evidence of what effect the wall of the
apparatus and the consequent ‘wall effect’ might have on concrete flow, but this
arrangement does, to some extent, replicate what happens to concrete on site when it
is confined within formwork.
Two operators are required if times are measured, and a degree of operator
error is inevitable. The states of the test performed in these mix design are described
in chapter 6 Mixing.
The test was developed in Japan and used Ozawa et al. The equipment
consists of a V-shaped tunnel, shown in fig. An alternative type of V-funnel, the O
funnel, with a circular section is also used in Japan.
The described V-funnel test is used to determine the filling ability (flow
ability) of the concrete with a maximum aggregate size of [Link] funnel is filled
with about 12 liter of concrete and the time taken for it to flow through the apparatus
measured. After this the funnel can be refilled concrete and left for 5 minutes to
settle. If the concrete shows segregation, then the flow time will increase
significantly.
Assessment of test
Though the test is designed to measure flow ability, the result is affected by
concrete properties other than flow. The inverted cone shape will cause any liability
of the concrete to block to be reflected in the result – if, for example there is too
much coarse aggregate. High flow time can also be associated with low deformability
due to high paste viscosity, and with high inter-particle friction.
While the apparatus is simple, the effect of the angle of the funnel and the
wall effect on the flow of concrete are not clear.
Equipment: -
V-funnel
Bucket (+/- 12 liter)
Trowel
Scoop
Stopwatch
4 C-70 Concrete
4.1 General Overview
High strength concrete (HSC) may be defined as concrete with a specified
characteristic cube strength between 60 and 100 N/mm2, although higher strengths
have been achieved and used. Strength levels of 80 to 100 N/mm2 and even higher
are being used for both precast and in-situ work in the USA, France, Norway and
some other countries. The main applications for HSC in-situ concrete construction are
in offshore structures, columns for tall buildings, long-span bridges and other
highway structures. The main advantage is the reduction in size of compression
elements and/or the amount of longitudinal reinforcement required.
The methods and technology for producing high strength concrete are not
substantially different from those required for normal strength concrete. The target
water/cement ratio should be in the range 0.30–0.35 or even lower. HSC can be
produced with all of the cements and cement replacements (additions) normally
available in the UK. A wide range of aggregates can be used though crushed rock
aggregates (of suitably high crushing value) are preferable.
The terms "High performance concrete" and "High strength concrete" are
often taken to mean the same thing. However, as indicated, "High performance"
strictly relates to a concrete that has been designed to have good specific
characteristics, such as high resistance to chloride ingress or high abrasion resistance.
As a result it may also have a high strength, but this is not the main consideration.
4.1.1 Objectives
WHY Do We Need High Strength Concrete?
1. To put the concrete into service at much earlier age, for example opening the
pavement at 3-days.
2. To build high-rise buildings by reducing column sizes and increasing
available space.
3. To build the superstructures of long-span bridges and to enhance the
durability of bridge decks.
4.1.2 Methodology
Optimum concrete mixture design results from selecting locally available
materials that make the fresh concrete placeable and finishable and that ensure the
strength development and other desired properties of hardened concrete as specified
by the designer. Some of the basic concepts that need to be understood for high
strength concrete are:
1. Aggregates should be strong and durable. They need not necessarily be hard
and of high strength but need to be compatible, in terms of stiffness and
strength, with the cement paste. Generally smaller maximum size coarse
aggregate is used for higher strength concretes. The sand may have to be
coarser than that permitted by ASTM C 33 (fineness modulus greater that 3.2)
because of the high fines content from the cementitious materials.
2. High strength concrete mixtures will have a high cementitious materials
content that increases the heat of hydration and possibly higher shrinkage
leading to the potential for cracking. Most mixtures contain one or more
supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash (Class C or F), ground
granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume, metakaolin or natural pozzolanic
materials.
3. High strength concrete mixtures generally need to have a low water-
cementitious materials ratio (w/ cm). W/cm ratios can be in the range of 0.23
to 0.35. These low w/cm ratios are only attainable with quite large doses of
high range water reducing admixtures (or superplasticizers) conforming to
Type F or G by ASTM C 494. A Type A water reducer may be used in
combination.
4. The total cementitious material content will be typically around 700 lbs/yd3
(415 kg/m3) but not more than about 1100 lbs/yd3 (650 kg/m3).
5. The use of air entrainment in high strength concrete will greatly reduce the
strength potential.
4.1.3 Introduction
High strength concrete is planned to design to achieve the 28 days’
compressive strength required to attain is 70MPa of 15×15×15cm specimen.
Accordingly, mix design process is done as per DOE- Building Research
Establishment Ltd mix design manual.
5 Mix Design
5.1 Mix Design for SCC
According to this guide, separate the nominal maximum aggregate into two
categories:
Category I: 1/2 in. (12.5 mm) and larger nominal maximum size of
aggregate; and
Category II: nominal maximum size smaller than 1/2 in. (12.5 mm)
For this case, we have assumed that the concrete is to be placed in a highly
congested steel reinforcement and used a maximum aggregate size of 12.5mm.
Therefore, we have assumed a 50-50 ratio between the sand and coarse
aggregate as our initial mix.
Given the bulk dry-rodded unit weight of coarse aggregate of 1667 Kg/m 3 ,
the kilograms of dry coarse aggregate are calculated as
As for the coarse aggregate content the ACI recommends that as a starting
point 28-32% of the total absolute volume of the concrete would be coarse aggregate.
Hence we have used 30% as a starting point 800 * 0.32 = 256 kg/m3.
The code also specifies that when performing trial batches, it may be more
prudent to start with higher cement (powder) contents, and then optimize the mixture
for improved economy. Hence we have taken 475 kg/m3 as the cement content for
our first trial batch.
Material Proportion
Water 289.75 liters
Cement 475 kg/m3
Coarse Aggregate 833 Kg/m3
Fine Aggregate 256 kg/m3
Admixture 1.50%
The following requirements are specified and thus entered under the relevant
item on the mix design form,
Minimum cement content is not specified and thus there is no entry under
Item 3.3. There are no previous control data and thus a standard deviation of 8 N/mm 2
obtained from Figure 3 (D C Teychenné; R E Franklin;H C Erntroy, Second edition
1997) is used in Item 1.2. The fine and coarse aggregates to be used are uncrushed
and crushed respectively, the relative density is unknown and is assumed to be 2.7 as
stated in 5.4, and the fine aggregate has 16.48% passing a 600 μm sieve. These details
are entered in mix design Table under Items 1.6, 4.1 and 5.1 respectively.
The cement content 592 kg/m3 (Item 3.1) is obtained from calculation of C3
and, since this is greater than the specified maximum cement content of 550 kg/m3
according to BS, it is suitable for the design. The modified free water to cement ratio
will be
Using the relative density of 2.7 and the free water content of 177.5 kg/m3, a
wet density of concrete of 2450 kg/m3 (Item 4.2) is obtained from Figure 5 (D C
Teychenné; R E Franklin;H C Erntroy, Second edition 1997) of mix design table, and
calculation C4 gives a total aggregate content of 1722.5 kg/m3 (Item 4.3)
completing Stage 4.
Finally, the fine and coarse aggregate contents are obtained in Stage 5 by
selecting the proportion of fine aggregate of 43% (Item 5.2) from Figure 6 (D C
Teychenné; R E Franklin;H C Erntroy, Second edition 1997) for the given maximum
aggregate size, required slump and derived freewater/cement ratio. The fine and
coarse aggregate contents (Items 5.3 and 5.4) are obtained through calculations C5.
Cement 550 kg
Water 177.5 kg
Fine aggregate 740 kg (saturated surface-dry)
Coarse aggregate 982.5 kg (saturated surface-dry)
Cement 27.5 kg
Water 9 kg
Fine aggregate 37 kg (saturated surface-dry)
Coarse aggregate 50 kg (saturated surface-dry)
Total aggregate and cement required for 3, 7, 14 and 28 day cubes 3 for each.
Cement 22.3 kg
Water 7.2 kg
Fine aggregate 30 kg (saturated surface-dry)
Coarse aggregate 40 kg (saturated surface-dry)
5.3 Mixing
The next step is to test the fresh property of the Batched concrete. From the
tests outlined above, the Slump flow test, V-funnel and L-box tests were conducted
on the mixed concrete to check its flowability and pass-ability.
For SCC
Trowel.
Scoop.
Ruler.
Stopwatch
Procedure:
L-Box Test
Equipment’s: -
Scoop
Stop watch
Procedure
200mm marks =
When the concrete stops flowing, the distance “H1” and “H2” are measured.
Calculate H2/H1, the Blocking Ratio.
As seen from the above 4 tests our batch passes all the criteria’s stated.
Therefore it is passed to be casted to cubes and pass to the compressive test.
6.1.1 Specimen
We prepared 12 cubes of 15 cm by 15 cm by 15 cm size for both the SCC-25
and C-70 concrete specimen.
Record the maximum load and note any unusual features in the type of failure.
Unit
Failure Compresiv
Test Weigh Volume Weight
No Dimensions (cm) Load e Strength
Age t (kg) (cm3) (kg/m3
(KN) (Mpa)
)
0.00337 1745.8
1 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.34 81.3 2471.1
5 7
0.00337 1690.8
2 28 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.23 80.34 2438.5
5 7
0.00337 1645.8
3 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.43 77.23 2497.8
5 7
1694.2
Mean 79.62
0
0.00337
1 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.21 1456.2 68.33 2432.6
5
0.00337
2 14 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.12 1401.3 62.42 2405.9
5
0.00337
3 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.34 1512.2 67.45 2471.1
5
1456.5
Mean 66.07
7
0.00337
1 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.22 1027.9 48.78 2435.6
5
0.00337
2 7 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.33 947.9 45.3 2468.1
5
0.00337
3 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.11 1041.5 49.3 2403.0
5
1005.7
Mean 47.8
7
0.00337
1 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.43 846.2 40.62 2497.8
5
0.00337
2 3 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.23 530.2 39.9 2438.5
5
0.00337
3 0.15 0.15 0.15 8.22 793.7 39.22 2435.6
5
723.37 39.91
7 Conclusion
As it is indicated in our report, we can produce Self Consolidating Concrete
(SCC) and C-70 concrete mix design. In order to produce such mix designs, we used
aggregate from laboratory, Dangote OPC 42.5N for C-70 and SCC. As admixture, we
used super plasticizer (SASplast SP60) for both SCC and C-60.
The result obtained shows that, the 28th day compressive strength of SCC is
35.54 MPa, which is not that greater than the calculated target mean strength,
35.24MPa. This shows that the design mix we prepared is good enough. However, for
the C-70 concrete, the 28th day compressive strength is 79.62Mpa, which is not that
much below the calculated target-mean strength, 80.24Mpa. This indicates that we
need to perform second trial mix proportion.
Apart from this, we have got good experience on how to use laboratory tools
and also be able to perform mix design of any grade.
In general, from our laboratory, we have concluded that the production of high grade
concrete strength, especially from C-70 concrete is highly possible and producing
SCC in controlled process is also possible, if we follow scientific procedure and
selecting good quality materials.
Mixing
9 References
ACI 237R-07 Self-Consolidating Concrete: reported by ACI Committee
237R- April, 2007