Mechanical Behavior and Shrinkage of Algerian Very High Performance Concrete Using Local Materials

Abstract

In some parts of Algeria, the alluvial deposits are depleted. Optimizing the use of available resources, has become gradually urgent need and more and more important. Algeria does not remain on the sidelines of this idea, an approach is part of a sustainable development has been developed to make available to the manufacturer a steady stream of material coming from the exploitation of limestone. The importance of this production can be explained by the activity of the carrier ever growing sector. Research programs have been launched in Algeria to focus on aspects, related to the composition of concrete and influence of the nature of the constituents on the mechanical mixing quality, especially compressive strength remains the point of view of the engineer, the most important property of the material, if we exclude the sustainability indicators. Usual concretes were made using local materials. Results showed that the intrinsic properties of the constituents of concrete, and particularly studied the crushed aggregate, provide the concrete characteristics resistors quite satisfactory. To go further and in a growing cares about improving the mechanical strength of these concretes we tried to formulate a very high performance concrete (VHPC) made from local crushed aggregate, in this case the crushed limestone sands as a resource alternative to over-exploited rolled sands. The objective of this study is to enhance the crushed sand in the formulation of VHPC. The referred physical-mechanical performances are related to defer deformations within time (shrinkage) and instantaneous mechanical compressive and flexural strength.