A la recherche d'un béton de 150 MPa

Abstract

It is possible to make in 1983 a field concrete in the Montreal area having a 28-day compressive strength of 120 MPa, using locally available materials.To obtain such a high compressive-strength concrete, it has been necessary to study the overall performances of 8 different cements, 3 types of sand, 16 types of aggregates, 3 types of superplasticizers, 9 grain-size distributions of the coarse aggregate, and 5 different ways of batching. An ultra high strength concrete is not obtained by chance, but through a long research effort planned in a laboratory as well as in the field.Such a concrete is feasible using: (1) high cement dosage of type 10, 20, or 30, according to the desired rate of compressive strength development; (2) a cubical coarse aggregate having a high compressive strength and an elastic modulus as near as possible as that of the mortar; (3) a manufactured sand having a high fineness modulus made from the same rock as the coarse aggregate; (4) a very high dosage of superplasticizer; and (5) 5 to 8% of condensed silica fume. The limited efficiency of the present industrial mixers (tilt mixers) for the very special mixes of this study is actually the main limitation for reaching a strength of 150 MPa. Keywords: high compressive strength concrete, superplasticizer, condensed silica fumes, manufactured sand, grain-sizes, aggregates, retarder, ready-mix concrete, precast plants.