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http://dx.doi.org/10.12989/cac.2014.13.6.781

Method for estimating workability of self-compacting concrete using mixing process images  

Li, Shuyang (State Key Laboratory of Hydro Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University)
An, Xuehui (State Key Laboratory of Hydro Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University)
Publication Information
Computers and Concrete / v.13, no.6, 2014 , pp. 781-798 More about this Journal
Abstract
Estimating the workability of self-compacting concrete (SCC) is very important both in laboratories and on construction site. A method using visual information during the mixing process was proposed in this paper to estimate the workability of SCC. First, fourteen specimens of concrete were produced by a single-shaft mixer. A digital camera was used to record all the mixing processes. Second, employing the digital image processing, the visual information from mixing process images was extracted. The concrete pushed by the rotating blades forms two boundaries in the images. The shape of the upper boundary and the vertical distance between the upper and lower boundaries were used as two visual features. Thirdly, slump flow test and V-funnel test were carried out to estimate the workability of each SCC. Finally, the vertical distance between the upper and lower boundaries andthe shape of the upper boundary were used as indicators to estimate the workability of SCC. The vertical distance between the upper and lower boundaries was related to the slump flow, the shape of the upper boundary was related to the V-funnel flow time. Based on these relationships, the workability of SCC could be estimated using the mixing process images. This estimating method was verified by three more experiments. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method could be used to automatically estimate SCC workability.
Keywords
self-compacting concrete; workability; mixing process; digital image processing; slump flow test; V-funnel test;
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