Performance of self-compacting concrete containing different mineral admixtures

Abstract

This paper presents experimental study on the properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC). Portland cement (PC) was replaced with fly ash (FA), granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), limestone powder (LP), basalt powder (BP) and marble powder (MP) in various proportioning rates. The influence of mineral admixtures on the workability, compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, density and sulphate resistance of SCC was investigated. Sulphate resistance tests involved immersion in 10% magnesium sulphate and 10% sodium sulphate solutions for a period of 400 days. The degree of sulphate attack was evaluated using visual examination and reduction in compressive strength. The test results showed that among the mineral admixtures used, FA and GBFS significantly increased the workability and compressive strength of SCC mixtures. Replacing 25% of PC with FA resulted in a strength of more than 105 MPa at 400 days. Moreover, the presence of mineral admixtures had a beneficial effect on the strength loss due to sodium and magnesium sulphate attack. On the other hand, the best resistance to sodium and magnesium sulphate attacks was obtained from a combination of 40% GBFS with 60% PC. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.