• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.69-88
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• 2015

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is a stable and cohesive high consistency concrete mix with enhanced filling ability properties that reduce the need for mechanical compaction. Limited standards and specifications have been reported in the literature on the structural behavior of reinforced self-compacting concrete elements. The significance of the research presented in this paper stems from the need to investigate the effect of enhanced fluidity of SCC on the structural behavior of high strength self-consolidating reinforced concrete beams. To meet the objectives of this research, twelve reinforced concrete beams were prepared with two different generations of superplasticizers and designed to exhibit flexure, shear, or bond splitting failure. The compared beams were identical except for the type of superplasticizer being used (second generation sulphonated-based superplasticizer or third generation polycarboxylate-based superplasticizer). The outcomes of the experimental work revealed comparable resistance of beam specimens made with self-compacting (SCC) and conventional vibrated concrete (VC). The dissimilarities in the experimental values between the SCC and the control VC beams were not major, leading to the conclusion that the high flowability of SCC has little effect on the flexural, shear and bond strengths of concrete members.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.175-191
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• 2014

In recent years, the emergence of nanotechnology and nanomaterial has created hopes to improve various properties of concrete. Nano silica as one of these materials has been introduced as a cement replacement material for concrete mixture in construction applications. It can modify the properties of concrete, due to high pozzolanic reactions and also making a denser microstructure. On the other hand, it is well recognized that the use of mineral admixtures such as silica fume affects the mechanical properties and durability of cementitious materials. In addition, the superior performance of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) and self-consolidating mortars (SCM) over conventional concrete is generally related to their ingredients. This study investigates the effect of nano silica and silica fume on the compressive strength and chloride permeability of self-consolidating mortars. Tests include compressive strength, rapid chloride permeability test, water permeability, capillary water absorption, and surface electrical resistance, which carried out on twenty mortar mixtures containing zero to 6 percent of nano silica and silica fume. Results show that SCMs incorporating nano silica had higher compressive strength at various ages. In addition, results show that nano silica has enhanced the durability SCMs and reduced the chloride permeability.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2013

The use of sustainable technologies such as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), and/or recycled materials is expected to positively affect the performance of concrete mixtures. However, it is imperative to qualify and implement such mixtures in practice, if the required specifications of their intended application are met. This paper presents the results of a laboratory investigation of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) containing sustainable technologies. Twelve mixes were prepared with different combinations of fly ash, slag, and recycled asphalt pavement (RAP). Fresh and hardened concrete properties were measured, as expected the inclusion of the sustainable technologies affected both fresh and hardened concrete properties. Analysis of the experimental data indicated that inclusion of RAP not only reduces the ultimate strength, but it also affected the compressive strength development rate. The addition of RAP to mixes showed a consistent effect, with a drop in strength after 3, 14, and 28 days as the RAP content increased from 0 to 50 %. However, most of the mixes satisfied SCC fresh properties requirements, including mixes with up to 50 % RAP. Moreover, several mixes satisfied compressive strength requirement for pavements and bridges, those mixes included relatively high percentages of SCMs and RAP.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.249-260
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• 2006

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) in the fresh state is known for its excellent deformability, high resistance to segregation, and use, without applying vibration, in congested reinforced concrete structures characterized by difficult casting conditions. Such a concrete can be obtained by incorporating either mineral or chemical admixtures. This paper presents the results of an investigation to asses the applicability of Abram's law in predicting the compressive strength of SCC to any given age. Abram's law is based on the assumption that the strength of concrete with a specific type of aggregate at given age cured at a prescribed temperature depends primarily on the water-to-cement ratio (W/C). It is doubtful that such W/C law is applicable to concrete mixes with mineral or chemical admixtures as is the case for SCC where water to binder ratio (W/B) is used instead of W/C as the basis for mix design. Strength data of various types of SCC mixtures is collected from different sources to check the performance of Abram's law. An attempt has been made to generalize Abram's law by using various optimization methodologies on collected strength data of various SCC mixtures. A set of generalized equations is developed for the prediction of SCC strength at various ages. The performance of generalized equations is found better than original Abram's equations.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.299-313
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• 2014

Effects of polypropylene (PP) fibers, steel fibers (SF) and hybrid on the properties of highstrength fiber reinforced self-consolidating concrete (HSFR-SCC) under different volume contents are investigated in this study. Comprehensive laboratory tests were conducted in order to evaluate both fresh and hardened properties of HSFR-SCC. Test results indicated that the fiber types and fiber contents greatly influenced concrete workability but it is possible to achieve self consolidating properties while adding the fiber types in concrete mixtures. Compressive strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and rigidity of concrete were affected by the addition as well as volume fraction of PP fibers. However, the properties of concrete were improved by the incorporation of SF. Splitting tensile and flexural strengths of concrete became increasingly less influenced by the inclusion of PP fibers and increasingly more influenced by the addition of SF. Besides, the inclusion of PP fibers resulted in the better efficiency in the improvement of toughness than SF. Furthermore, the inclusion of fibers did not have significant effect on the durability of the concrete. Results of electrical resistivity, chloride ion penetration and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests confirmed that HSFR-SCC had enough endurance against deterioration, lower chloride ion penetrability and minimum reinforcement corrosion rate.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.185-206
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• 2015

This paper presents statistical models developed to study the influence of key mix design parameters on the properties of lightweight self-consolidating concrete (LWSCC) with expanded shale (ESH) aggregates. Twenty LWSCC mixtures are designed and tested, where responses (properties) are evaluated to analyze influence of mix design parameters and develop the models. Such responses included slump flow diameter, V-funnel flow time, J-ring flow diameter, J-ring height difference, L-box ratio, filling capacity, sieve segregation, unit weight and compressive strength. The developed models are valid for mixes with 0.30-0.40 water-to-binder ratio, high range water reducing admixture of 0.3-1.2 % (by total content of binder) and total binder content of $410-550kg/m^3$. The models are able to identify the influential mix design parameters and their interactions which can be useful to reduce the test protocol needed for proportioning of LWSCCs. Three industrial class ESH-LWSCC mixtures are developed using statistical models and their performance is validated through test results with good agreement. The developed ESH-LWSCC mixtures are able to satisfy the European EFNARC criteria for self-consolidating concrete.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.561-583
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• 2018

A variety of polycarboxylate ether (PCE)-based superplasticizers are commercially available. Their influence on the rheological retention and slump loss in respect of concrete differ considerably. Fluidity and slump loss are the cardinal features responsible for the quality of concrete. These are related to the dispersion of cement particles and the hydration process which are greatly influenced by type of polycarboxylate ether (PCE)-based superplasticizers. On the backdrop of relatively less studies in the context of rheological retention of high strength self-consolidating concrete (HS-SCC), the experimental investigations were carried out aiming at quantifying the effect of the six different PCE polymers (PCE 1-6) on the rheological retention of HS-SCC mixes containing two types of Ordinary Portland Cements (OPC) and unwashed crushed sand as the fine aggregate. The tests that were carried out included $T_{500}$, V-Funnel, yield stress and viscosity retention tests. The supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash (FA) and micro-silica (MS) were also used in ternary blend keeping the mix paste volume and flow of concrete constant. Low water to binder ratio was used. The results reveal that not only the PCEs of different polymer groups behave differently, but even the PCEs of same polymer groups also behave differently. The study also indicates that the HS-SCC mixes containing PCE 6 and PCE 5 performed better as compared to the mixes containing PCE 1, PCE 2, PCE 3 and PCE 4 in respect of all the rheological tests. The PCE 6 is a new class of chemical admixtures known as Polyaryl Ether (PAE) developed by BASF to provide better rheological properties in even in HS-SCC mixes at low water to binder mix. In the present study, the PCE 6, is found to help not only in reduction in the plastic viscosity and yield stress, but also provide good rheological retention over the period of 180 minutes. Further, the early compressive strength properties (one day compressive strength) highly depend on the type of PCE polymer. The side chain length of PCE polymer and the fineness of the cement considerably affect the early strength gain.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.05b
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• pp.205-208
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• 2006

Damage of hydraulic concrete structures by the abrasion and erosion process is very severe and it indicates that the necessity of considering the influence of this process while designing concrete mixtures. Abrasion wear of concrete in hydraulic structures is caused by the movement of particles, water-borne debris. The resistance against erosion for high-strength self-consolidating concrete(SCC) was examined in this paper. A newly designed testing method is presented in order to quantitatively estimate the erosion of concrete. It was shown that loss of volume in abraded concrete can be explained as function of material parameters such as the amount of fly ash and blast furnace slag. Those admixtures have been widely used to reduce heat of hydration and improve resistance against sulfate attack. The results of current study can be used as a guideline in selecting the composition of concrete exposed to abrasion-wear.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.341-344
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• 2008

Lightweight concrete is known for its advantage of reducing the self-weight of the structures, reducing the areas of sectional members as well as making the construction convenient. Thus the construction cost can be saved when applied to structures such as long-span bridge and high rise building. However, the lightweight concrete requires specific mix design method that is quite different from the typical concrete, since using the typical mix method would give rise the material segregation as well as lower the strength by the reduced weight of the aggregate. In order to avoid such problems, it is recommended to apply the mix design method of self-consolidating concrete for the lightweight concrete. Therefore experimental tests were performed as such mechanical properties(compressive strength, dry density and structural efficiency) of concrete and dry shrinkage according to ACI committee 209.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.63-64
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• 2019

Due to the rapid deterioration of the domestic atmosphere, people are suffering from inconveniences such as wearing fine dust masks all the time during outdoor activities. In this study, light transmitting concrete, LEFC(Light Emotion Friendly Concrete), using TiO2 photocatalyst was produced. Since the characteristics of LEFC where acrylic rods are inserted require self-consolidating performance, the purpose was to utilize UHPC(Ultra High Performance Concrete) materials to obtain high-flowability. Further, the compressive strength and flexural strength were evaluated to prevent the reduction of epidemiological performance by utilizing UHPC materials. As such, a basic study was carried out to develop LEFC materials using photocatalyst that can purify the air and stimulate human sensibility.