The Evaluation of Self Compacting Concrete Robustness Based on the Rheology Parameters

Abstract

The fresh properties of Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) might be more susceptible to quality and quantity changes of ingredients than conventional concrete because of a combination of detailed requirements, more complex mix design, and inherent low yield stress and viscosity. In spit of the low robustness of SCC, there are a few methods available to assess the SCC robustness that the accuracy of these methods has not been fully agreed. The current study provides an index for SCC robustness based on the rheology parameters. Thus, an experimental program was undertaken to evaluate the robustness of eight selected SCCs. For doing this, water content of each SCC was changed slightly and their fresh and hardened properties were measured. The results indicated that the length of rheology parameters curve due to variation of mixing water is able to assess the SCC robustness that is comparable with combined performance based on the workability tests changes. According to this index, the robustness of SCC increases about 10% using air-entraining admixture (AEA) and decreases considerably by reduction the paste volume (up to about 5 times). In addition, the most appropriate single workability test to assess the robustness is sieve segregation test. Moreover, the scattering of compressive strength results show that there is a level of robustness in fresh state that after that the scattering of results in hardened state can be affected.