Combining Traditional Materials-Concrete and Reinforcement - in a Modern Manner-SCC and WWF - for Cost Effective and Zero Defects Construction

Abstract

The paper describes how two traditional construction materials-Concrete and Steel Reinforcement can contribute better value to RCC and Precast Concrete structures by modernizing their forms as Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) and Welded Wire Fabric (WWF). SCC is widely accepted by infrastructural, industrial, commercial and even individual house builders – due to its assured quality delivery, especially for cast–in-situ RCC construction. Many defects with conventional vibrated concrete -- honeycombing, segregation and bleeding, loss of workability, choking in concrete pump pipelines and overheating -- have been eliminated or at least minimized by using SCC. For any type of congested reinforcement, mainly in beam – column junctions, edges and corners, SCC has delivered satisfactory filling and honeycomb free densification. Also due to the absence of the use of vibrators, formworks have been spared from joint leakages – saving both the concrete and the formwork itself. But however, even in many advanced construction companies, due to poor detailing practices, and non-mechanized bar-bending (or mechanization limited to only cutting and bending of rebars ), reinforcement laps, splices and bends, hooks, pose an additional burden on the free flow, filling and densification of SCC. Thus using SCC alone may not ensure defect free construction in RCC. The changes should be wholesome and comprehensive. This paper describes how SCC and WWF enhance the quality of RCC construction and ensuring defect free construction. The effects of WWF and SCC are elaborated in detail considering all the physical properties and practical issues. Along with the technical analysis, the commercial and sustainable benefits of SCC and WWF are discussed.