An experimental investigation of M30 grade self compacting concrete using mineral admixtures

Abstract

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is commonly used to create high-performance concrete since it does not require vibration to achieve a compacted state. The absence of standardized mix design and testing methods has hampered SCC's implementation. Since no vibration is required and noise pollution is reduced, it is gaining widespread acceptance. In construction, we have found a way to make every step of the process both less dangerous and more fruitful. This study aimed to produce a mix design for M30 grade SCC by the criteria established by EFNARC 2002. The SCC is made by substituting fly ash (FA) and metakaolin (MK) at percentages of 0%, 7.5%, 15%, 22.5%, and 30% of the cement volume and then adding 1.5 percent of superplasticizer to the resulting cement volume. According to EFNARC, the M30 grade SCC mix produced passed all of the tests above: the L-box test, the slump flow test, the V-funnel test, and the J-ring test. Additionally, compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths of 7- and 28-day-old SCC samples were tested, with results indicating that a 0%-30% substitute of MK and FA can be considered a suitable replacement and mix designs for M30 grade of metakaolin and fly ash-based self-compacting concrete have been proposed.