The Design of Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) Mixtures Using Aceh Quartzite Powder

Abstract

Original reactive powder concrete (RPC) consists of a large amount of cement, fine sand, crushed quartz, and silica fume, with a very dense matrix achieved by optimizing the granular packaging of the materials. This study, therefore, applied the modified Andreasen & Andersen particle-packing model using Aceh quartzite powder to design a densely compacted matrix and low cement content RPC mixtures. The research involved the preparation of two series of the mixture with different percentages of silica fume and Aceh quartzite powder and the 70.7 mm cube specimens were treated with combined steam curing and normal curing after which their compressive strength was tested at the age of 7 days and 28 days. The result showed the use of 61% local quartzite powder by weight of cement through an optimized mix design and cured treatment improves the RPC strength at any variation of silica fume.