Strength and durability properties of SCC developed using limestone calcined clay cement (LC3)

Abstract

Cement is the one of the most consumable materials in construction industry. Now a days due to rapid growth of population which further leads to increase in infrastructure. Therefore, there is a huge demand for the conventional clinker which could be threat for future requirements, hence it is necessitated to think about the best alternative for the conventional clinkers to adhere the natural resources and to lower the emission of harmful gases into atmosphere. Use of SCMs in developing special concretes like self-compacting concrete and ggbs is becoming regular practice in concrete sector, which further demands the usage of flyash, ggbs, metakaolin and rice husk ash in large quantities. At present availability of SCMs are sufficient to produce blended cements but in future due to high demand, there will be scarcity in such materials. Low calcite minerals are the only other alternative to produce sustainable clinker which can alter the conventional binder up to 50%. The production of LC3 has significant environmental benefits, including reducing global warming and manufacturing costs. In the present investigation the fresh and hardened properties of SCC are developed using OPC-53 and LC3. Strength and durability studies were conducted on two grades of concrete (70 MPa and 40 MPa) which includes hardened tests and durability properties like chloride permeability test and water sorptivity test. From test results it was evident that the functioning of SCC made by limestone calcined clay cement show better resistance than that of OPC based SCC.