Self-consolidating concrete properties with binary and ternary blends in hot weather

Abstract

Hot weather adversely affects the fresh, mechanical and durability properties of concrete. This study was conducted in an outdoor environment during the summer of 2014 at the construction material laboratory at Abu Dhabi University. The self-consolidating concrete (SCC) mixtures were continuously mixed for 2 h at temperatures ranging from 25 to 40°C, to simulate concrete in a transit truck during transportation to a construction site in hot weather. The paper displays the results of the fresh, mechanical and durability properties of SCC in hot weather. The SCC mixtures incorporated silica fume (SF) and fly ash (FA) in binary and ternary blends. A polycarboxylate-based high-range water-reducing admixture was used to maintain a consistent initial slump for all SCC mixes investigated. The flowability of SCC was evaluated using the slump flow test, visual stability index and T50. The concrete compressive strength was measured at 3, 7 and 28 d. The durability was evaluated using the rapid ion chloride penetration test. The results showed that both the fresh and mechanical properties of the SCC mixtures were highly affected by SF and FA dosage, temperature and prolonged mixing.