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Prediction and Measurement of the Bending Strength of the RCC

Article in International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials · June 2009

DOI: 10.4334/IJCSM.2009.3.1.057

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International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
Vol.3, No.1, pp. 57~61, June 2009

Prediction and Measurement of the Bending Strength of the RCC

1,2) 1) 3)
Mustapha Zdiri, Mongi Ben Ouezdou, Nor-edine Abriak, and Jamel Neji

(Received June 12, 2008, Revised March 30, 2009, Accepted April 30, 2009)

Abstract: The present work deals with the prediction, through models and experimental evaluation, of the bending strength of
roller compacted concrete (RCC) for pavement applications. This concrete was manufactured using low cement proportioning (150
3
to 250 kg/m ). The characterization of hardened RCC was carried out by experimental measurements of bending strengths. The
predictions of these characteristics were achieved using empirical models. Comparison, of the values found in experiments with
those empirically obtained, was made in order to choose and to propose the adapted and the most reliable models of prediction.
The study showed that the bending strengths of the RCC mixture, experimentally found, can be also identified by models.
Keywords: roller compacted concrete (RCC), bending strength, models, prediction, tests.

1. Introduction matrix and granular inclusions explain the high mechanical

strengths of the RCC mixtures. The low cement dosage of these
Roller compacted concrete (RCC) is a composite material mixtures produces a very low porous cementing matrix giving
made up of a matrix which is the hardened cement paste and of an improved behavior and high resistances.2
3
inclusions representing the aggregates. After hardening, the Ouellet et al. proved in their experimental studies that the
matrix forms a porous structure, containing interstitial and free mechanical characteristics of the RCC are also influenced by the
water (according to pores dimension). Aggregates such as properties of the two phases composing the mixture, which are
gravel, sand and fine elements are inert and have an elastic the hydrated cement paste and the aggregates.
behavior. Furthermore, RCC used in pavement, supports forces For the prediction of bending strength, the American Concrete
and consequently stresses which involve deformations and Institute (ACI)4 and Ouellet et al.,3 defined empirical models for
reciprocally. The mechanical characterization and the knowl- concrete simulations which were validated by experimental tests
edge of this material resistance represent a major importance for on pastes, mortars and CC.
the structural design of rigid pavements. In this study, ACI and Ouellet models were adopted for the pre-
Similar for conventional concrete (CC) mixtures, the RCC diction of bending strength of the RCC mixtures for pavements.
properties in a hardened state depend on many parameters such This study will include, also, the realization of experimental 3-
as the nature and quantity of the cement matrix, the water/ point bending tests on prismatic specimens. These specimens
cement ratio as well as the aggregates quality. Moreover, the were made according to the method of French National Project
RCC properties in a hardened state are particularly influenced by BaCaRa.5,6 Low cement proportioning ranging between 150 and
1 3
compaction quality. The CC mechanical behavior, under 250 kg/m , was chosen for economic reasons representing a pro-
mechanical loading, was the subject of many studies. However, portion ranging between 5 and 11.5% of the dry components.
only a limited number of studies relative to the mechanical Comparisons will, consequently, be realized between empirical
strengths of the RCC were found. and experimental results and an empiric low was proposed for the
Gauthier et al.2 carried out studies on RCC mixtures of cement prediction of the bending strength of the RCC.
dosages ranging between 12 and 16% of the dry components.
They showed in their studies that the properties of the cement 2. Experimental tests of bending strength
1)
Civil Engineering Laboratory, National Engineering School of The measurement of mechanical strengths of RCC specimens
Tunis, Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia. E-mail: zdiri_ms@yahoo.fr was carried out in accordance with the standards requirements
2)
Laboratoire LAMTI-Universite d'Artois-Technoparc Futura 62400
(European EN 12390-57 and ASTM C 293-028). The cast proce-
Béthune - France.
3) dure of RCC specimens, described and intended for strength
Labo de Génie Civil Environnemental - Ecole des Mines
de Douai, rue Charles Boursel B.P838-59508 France.
tests, was followed. In this experimental work, it was operated at
4)
Applied Mechanics and Systems Research Laboratary - constant loading speed. The objective was the studying of RCC
Polytechnic school of Tunis, Tunisia. bending strengths.
Copyright ⓒ 2009, Korea Concrete Institute. All rights reserved,
including the making of copies without the written permission of 2.1 Materials used
the copyright proprietors. The used binder is a hydraulic Portland cement, which repre-

57
sents the permanent element for RCC manufacture. In the cur- while varying the mixtures components and by fixing three
rent study, the cement used CEM II/C-L 32.5 came from the K. cement proportioning. Results of the 8 mixtures are summarized
cement factory (north of Tunisia) and had a relative density in Table 2.
equal to 3,029 kg/m3. In this work, it was impossible to use addi-
tions such as fly ash, slag, silica fume and pozzolan because they 2.3 Three point bending test on prismatic specimens
are not available in Tunisia (and are expensive to import). More- of RCC
over, different classes of aggregate are necessary to fill the inter- The bending strength of RCC is important in the design phase
aggregate space to the maximum extent. Two aggregate types of pavement slab. The evaluation of the bending strength of
were used: rolled for the siliceous sands and crushed for the RCC specimen consists in measuring, under loads effect, the
limestone sands, and gravels.6 Characteristics and data relative maximum strength reached at the specimen base. In this test, an
to these aggregates are presented in Table 1. RCC prism of (7 cm × 7 cm × 28 cm) was subjected to a bend-
ing stress by application, until load failure, in the mid-span. The
2.2 Preparation of the RCC mixtures maximum theoretical tensile strength reached on bottom fiber of
In RCC formulation, the dosage of the various proportions of the prism corresponds to the failure modulus.1
dry materials aims to the obtaining of higher strengths of these
mixtures. To determine the components percentages, the com- 2.3.1 Set-up method of prismatic RCC specimens (7 ×
pressible packing model (CPM) was applied by the use of the 7 × 28)
9,10
software “Rene LCPC.” It allowed RCC mixtures to be pro- The cast procedures of RCC specimens, for 3-point bending
duced with minimal porosity giving an optimal compactness. It tests, were completely different from those usually employed for
1
describes the compressive strength of hardened concretes using the CC. The vibro-compaction technique was developed for the
Portland cement. To increase compactness and to reduce the set-up of prismatic specimens 7 × 7 × 28 (bending strength)
porosity of the granular skeleton of RCC, this model was applied (Fig. 1). This method was used and described in the French

Table 1 Characteristics of aggregates.

3
Aggregates Type Source Relative density (ρ) (kg/m ) Los Angeles Flatting ratio (%)
(1)
Sand Kh Rolled sand 0/5 Khlidia 2,575 - -
Sand JO Crashed sand 0/5 Djebel Ouest(1) 2,530 - -
(1)
Gravel 4/16 Crashed gravel 4/16 Djebel El-Ressas 2,650 28.30 19.37
(1)
Gravel 0/20 Crashed gravel 0/20 Djebel El-Ressas 2,631 26.50 25.58
(1)
Area in the North of Tunisia.

Table 2 Constituents of the used aggregates for the RCC mixtures (%) - case of proportioning 250 kg/m3.
Constituent
No Cement Sand Kh Sand JO Gravel 4/8 Gravel 0/20 Gravel 4/16
Mixture
M1 Sand Kh and Gravel 0/20 11.22 26.63 - - 62.13 -
M2 Sand Kh, Sand JO and Gravel 0/20 11.22 18 17.51 - 53.26 -
M3 Sand Kh, Sand JO, Gravel 4/8 and Gravel 0/20 11.22 17.89 14 12.50 44.39 -
M4 Sand JO and Gravel 0/20 11.22 26.63 - 62.15 -
M5 Sand Kh, Sand JO and Gravel 4/16 11.22 22.50 21.91 - - 44.41
M6 Sand Kh and Gravel 4/16, 11.22 35.53 - - 53.29
M7 Sand Kh, Sand JO, Gravel 4/8 and Gravel 4/16 11.22 21.50 17.40 14.40 - 35.54
M8 Sand Kh and Gravel 4/8 11.22 44.41 - 44.41 - -

Fig. 1 (a) and (b) mould and load conceived for the set-up of the prismatic RCC specimens (7x7x28).

58│International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials (Vol.3 No.1, June 2009)
National Project BaCaRa.5 To prepare the necessary specimens design and the analysis of RCC pavement structures.11
for RCC strength for the 3-point bending test, special mould was In this section, empirical models were applied which describe
prepared by the development of vibro-compaction technique. It the bending strengths (at 28 days) of hardened concretes using
consisted in consolidating the fresh RCC by suitable compaction Portland cement. These models take into account the characteris-
in steel moulds using a vibrating table and an applied load (Fig. 1). tic strength of cement, the cement concentration in paste, the
adhesion between paste and aggregates and the intrinsic strength
2.3.2 Test schedule of the rock.9 The used RCC mixtures were characterized by low
After the specimens cast according to the BaCaRa method,5,6 cement content and therefore the paste volume covering aggre-
o
they were stored in water at a temperature of about 20 C and rel- gates was relatively low. Compact granular skeleton should nec-
6
ative humidity more than 95%. The prisms were normally put essarily support the applied stresses and should contribute
at test on the perpendicular side compared to their set-up posi- strongly to the mechanical strength of RCC.6
tion. It was recommended to prepare three specimens per
expiry.11 In this 3-point bending test, failure occurred when the 3.2 Prediction of the bending strength
4
capacity of tensile strength of RCC in bottom fiber, immediately The Eq. (1), suggested by ACI, was applied for the prediction
under the loading point, was reached (Fig. 2). of the bending strength of RCC Ff based on the compressive
strength Fc.
3. Predictions of the RCC bending strengths
through models Ff = 0.6 Fc (1)

3
3.1 Mechanicals characteristics of the RCC In this research work, model suggested by Ouellet was also
Bending strength called also failure modulus of the RCC is used through the empirical Eq. (2) between compressive and
one among the parameters to be taken into account in the design bending strengths of the RCC at 28 days1,3:
of RCC pavement as for any other rigid concrete pavement. The
fatigue criterion was determined by the bending strength of con- Ff = ( Fc ) 0.459 (2)
crete, corresponding to cracking control in the RCC slab.1 Fur-
thermore, bending strengths represent the main elements for the The results of the two models for three cement proportioning

Fig. 2 (a) Loading in mid-span of RCC specimen, (b) Bending strength curve under loading.

Table 3 Bending strength for the 8 studied mixtures of RCC by the models - proportioning 150 kg/m3.
Mixture
M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8
Cement proportioning 150 kg
Compressive strength of the RCC Fc (MPa) 5.353 5.203 5.198 5.841 6.198 6.239 7.092 6.908
Bending strength Ff (MPa) (ACI) 1.388 1.369 1.368 1.450 1.494 1.499 1.598 1.577
Bending strength Ff (MPa) (Ouellet) 2.160 2.132 2.131 2.248 2.310 2.317 2.457 2.428

Table 4 Bending strength for the 8 studied mixtures of RCC by the models - proportioning 200 kg/m3.
Mixture
M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8
Cement proportioning 200 kg
Compressive strength of the RCC Fc (MPa) 10.002 9.751 9.772 10.950 11.530 11.586 13.153 12.903
Bending strength Ff (MPa) (ACI) 1.901 1.878 1.880 1.985 2.035 2.040 2.167 2.147
Bending strength Ff (MPa) (Ouellet) 2.878 2.844 2.847 3 3.072 3.078 3.263 3.234

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials (Vol.3 No.1, June 2009)│59
 Table 5 Bending strength for the 8 studied mixtures of RCC by the models - proportioning 250 kg/m3.
Mixture
M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8
Cement proportioning 250 kg
Compressive strength of the RCC Fc (MPa) 15.742 15.389 15.462 17.284 18.077 18.136 20.566 20.298
Bending strength Ff (MPa) (ACI) 2.381 2.354 2.359 2.494 2.551 2.555 2.721 2.703
Bending strength Ff (MPa) (Ouellet) 3.544 3.507 3.515 3.699 3.776 3.782 4.006 3.982

were presented in Tables 3, 4, and 5. Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The obtained variation of bending strength ver-
The experimental results of the present work were reported on sus compressive strength of the RCC mixtures (Figs. 3, 4, and 5)
can be assimilated by the power law described through Eq. (3).
This law differs from the laws suggested by Ouellet and ACI
and this is because of the aggregates specificity proving the
unsuitability of the application of these laws for these kinds of
mixtures.
0.91
Ff = 0.24 × Fc (3)

3.2.1 Interpretations
Through the present work, the following interpretations are
deduced:
- The empirical prediction gives a conventional indication of
the bending strengths.
- The strength variation depends specially on the maximum
Fig. 3 Relation bending strengths/compressive strengths:
diameter, the water proportioning and the mixtures compactness.
empirical and experimental curve - case of proportioning
250 kg/m3. - The values obtained by Ouellet model for the prediction of
bending strength, were higher than those calculated by ACI
model (Tables 3, 4, and 5).
- The experimental bending strengths obtained on RCC speci-
mens varied between 1.8 MPa for mixture M8 and 3.31 MPa for
mixture M6. These results confirmed the improved perfor-
mances of the RCC as a high compactness material.
- The proportionality was also found between compressive
strength and bending strength for the RCC mixtures. Indeed,
mixtures giving the higher compressive strengths had also the
powerful bending strengths.
- Generally, the ratio between bending strength and compres-
sive strength for the CC was about 0.10. For the present case of
RCC mixtures, this strengths ratio varied between 0.16 and 0.20.
Fig. 4 Relation bending strengths/compressive strengths: Marchand et al.1 showed that this ratio was rather about 0.12 to
empirical and experimental curve - case of proportioning 0.15.
3
200 kg/m .
4. Failure modes

The failure of specimens under the effect of a bending strength

applied in the mid-span of prismatic specimen appeared brutally
and by effect of tensile of the bottom fibers which were in trac-
tion. This phenomenon is explained by the low tensile strength
of RCC mixtures on the tended bottom fibers (Fig. 6) compared
to the applied strength. Indeed, granular compactness is opposed
to the propagation cracking which will require a higher energy to
be propagated.

5. Conclusions

Fig. 5 Relation bending strengths/compressive strengths: The present work comprises experimental measurements and
empirical and experimental curve - case of proportioning predictions of RCC bending strengths through empirical models
3
150 kg/m . which were proposed for conventional concrete (CC) mixtures.

60│International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials (Vol.3 No.1, June 2009)
 References

1. Marchand, J., Gagne, R., Ouellet, E., and Lepage, S., Mix-
ture Proportioning of Roller Compacted Concrete, A Review,
Concrete Technology Special Publication SP 171-22, 1997, pp.
457~487.
2. Gauthier, P., Marchand, J., Boisvert, L., Ouellet, E., and
Pigeon, M., Conception, Formulation, Production et Mise en
Oeuvre de Revêtement en Béton Compacté au Rouleau, Centre
de Recherche Interuniversitaire sur le Béton CRIB, Département
de Génie Civil, Université Laval, Canada, 2000.
3. Ouellet, E., Marchand, J., and Reid, E., Comportement
Mécanique et Durabilité au Gel de Mélanges de Béton Com-
pacté au Rouleau ACI, Section Quebec et de l'est de l'Ontario,
Fig. 6 Failure mode of the prismatic specimens in bending. Canada, 1998.
4. ACI, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete,
The following conclusions are drawn: ACI 318-05 and ACI 318R-05, Detroit, Michigan USA, 2005.
1) The prediction of bending strength was made by models 5. Projet National BaCaRa 1988-1996, Le Béton Compacté
which did not give results very converging with those given by au Rouleau, Presse ENPC, Paris, 1996, pp. 3~79.
the experimental tests. 6. Zdiri, M., Ben Ouezdou, M., and Neji, J., Theoretical and
2) Model, which follows the power law, was proposed for the Experimental Study of Roller Compacted Concrete Strength,
prediction of bending strength. It is adapted better to the studied Magazine of Concrete Research MCR, DOI: 10.1680/macr.2007.
mixtures in this work and led to the estimation of bending 00002, Vol. 60, No. 7, 2008, pp. 469~474.
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3) The high bending strengths of RCC mixture, experimen- a la Flexion sur éprouvettes, AFNOR, Oct. 2001.
tally measured, can be also identified by the proposed model. 8. ASTM C 293-02, Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength
This model was concluded suitable for the prediction of bending of Concrete (Using Simple Beam with Center-Point Loading), USA,
strength. 2002.
4) At equal bending strength, RCC mixtures required a cement 9. De Larrard F., Concrete Mixture Proportioning - A Sci-
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Eyrolles, France, 2000, pp. 255~401.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials (Vol.3 No.1, June 2009)│61

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