SELF COMPACTING CONCRETE

J.VANI* *III/IV B.Tech students, KONERU LAKSHMAIAH COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. E-mail: vaani_chinnu@yahoo.com supriya_12373@yahoo.com ________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT J.SUPRIYA*

Japan has used self-compacting concrete (SCC) in bridge, building and tunnel construction since the early 1990.s. In the last five years, a number of SCC bridges have been constructed in Europe. In the United States, the application of SCC in highway bridge construction is very limited at this time. However, the U.S. precast concrete industry is beginning to apply the technology to architectural concrete. SCC has high potential for wider structural applications in highway bridge construction.

This paper covers the applications of SCC. It discusses the potential for structural applications in the U.S. and the needs for research and development to make SCC technology available to the bridge engineers.

INTRODUCTION:

The application of concrete without vibration in highway bridge construction is not new. For examples, placement of seal concrete underwater is done by the use of a tremie without vibration, mass concrete has been placed without vibration, and shaft concrete can be successfully placed without vibration. These seal, mass and shaft concretes are generally of lower strength, less than 34.5 MPa and difficult to attain consistent quality. Modern application of selfcompacting concrete (SCC) is focused on high performance . better and more

reliable quality, dense and uniform surface texture, improved durability, high strength, and faster construction.

Recognizing the lack of uniformity and complete compaction of concrete by vibration, researchers at the University of Tokyo, Japan, started out in late 1980.s to develop SCC. By the early 1990.s, Japan has developed and used SCC that does not require vibration to achieve full compaction. More and more applications of SCC in construction have been reported in Japan as shown in Fig. 1. As of the year 2000, the amount of SCC used for prefabricated products (precast members) and ready-mixed concrete (cast-in-place) in Japan was about 400,000 m 3.

SCC offers many advantages for the precast, prestressed concrete industry and for cast-in-place construction: Low noise-level in the plants and construction sites. Eliminated problems associated with vibration. Less labor involved. Faster construction. Improved quality and durability. Higher strength.

Several European countries were interested in exploring the significance and potentials of SCC developed in Japan. These European countries formed a large consortium in 1996 to embark on a project aimed at developing SCC for practical applications in Europe. The title of the project is .Rational Production and Improved Working Environment through using Self-compacting Concrete.. In the last six years, a number of SCC bridges, walls and tunnel linings have been constructed in Europe.

In the United States, SCC is beginning to gain interest, especially by the precast concrete industry and admixture manufacturers. The precast concrete industry is beginning to apply the technology to commercial projects when specifications permit. The applications range from architectural concrete to complex private bridges.

DEVELOPING SCC MIXES

SCC mixes must meet three key properties: 1. Ability to flow into and completely fill intricate and complex forms under its own weight. 2. Ability to pass through and bond to congested reinforcement under its own weight. 3. High resistance to aggregate segregation.

The SCC mixes are designed and tested to meet the demands of the projects. For example, the mix for mass concrete is designed for pumping and depositing at a fairly high rate. SCC was used in the construction of the anchorages of the Akashi-Kaikyo Suspension Bridge.

The SCC was mixed at a batch plant at the job site and pumped through a piping system to the location of the anchorages 200 m away. The SCC was dropped

from a height of as much as 5 m without aggregate segregation. For mass concrete, the maximum size of coarse aggregates may be as large as 50 mm. The SCC construction reduced the construction time for the anchorages from 2.5 years to 2 years. Similarly, SCC mixes can be designed and placed successfully for concrete members with normal and congested reinforcement. The coarse aggregate size for reinforced concrete generally varies from 10 mm to 20 mm.

EXAMPLES OF SCC MIXES:

When designing an SCC mix, a suitable mix is selected among .Powder- type. by increasing the powder content, .VMA-type. using viscosity modifying admixture and .Combined- type. by increasing powder content and using viscosity agent in consideration of structural conditions, constructional conditions, available material, restrictions in concrete production plant, etc. Examples of SCC mixes are given in the following tables to provide a feel for how SCC mixes differ from normal concrete mixes and from each other based on the specific needs of a project. In comparison to the conventional concrete, all three types work with an increased amount of superplasticizer.
Table 1 shows typical SCC mixes in Japan. Mix J1(Powder-type) is an example of SCC used in a LNG tank, Mix J2(VMA-type) is an example of SCC used for a massive caisson foundation of a bridge, and Mix J3(Combined- type) is an example of SCC used in usual reinforced concrete structures.

PROPERTIES OF FRESH SCC

The main characteristics of SCC are the properties in the fresh state. SCC mix design is focused on the ability to flow under its own weight without vibration, the ability to flow through heavily congested reinforcement under its own weight, and the ability to obtain homogeneity without segregation of aggregates.

Several test methods are available to evaluate these main characteristics of SCC. The tests have not been standardized by national or

international organizations. The more common tests used for evaluating the compacting characteristics of fresh SCC in accordance with the draft standards of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers are described below.

TEST METHODS FOR FRESH SCC

The Slump Flow Test 1)This is a test method for evaluating the flowability of SCC, where the slump flow of SCC with coarse aggregates having the maximum size of less than 40 mm is measured

2). The basic equipment is the same as for the conventional slump test. However, the concrete placed into the mold is not rodded. When the slump cone has been lifted and the sample has collapsed, the diameter of the spread is measured rather than the vertical distance of the collapse.

Funnel Test

A test method for evaluating the material segregation resistance of SCC, using a funnel as shown in Fig. 3, where the efflux time of SCC with coarse aggregates having the maximum size of less than 25 mm is measured.

T50 Test

A test method for evaluating the material segregation resistance of SCC, where the 500-mm flow reach time is measured in the slump flow test above, that is, the time for the flow to reach 500 mm is measured in the slump flow test. SCC should give T50 = 2 . 5 seconds. U-Type and Box-Type Tests These are methods for testing flowability of SCC through an obstacle with coarse aggregates having the maximum size of less than 25 mm (Fig. 4 and Photo 1). Time and height to be filled in the chamber B and amount of aggregate passed through the obstacle are measured for self-compactability.

PROPERTIES OF HARDENED SCC

STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES

The basic ingredients used in SCC mixes are practically the same as those used in the conventional HPC vibrated concrete, except they are mixed in different proportions and the addition of special admixtures to meet the project specifications for SCC. The hardened properties are expected to be similar to those obtainable with HPC concrete. Laboratory and field tests have demonstrated that the SCC hardened properties are indeed similar to those of

HPC. Table 3 shows some of the structural properties of SCC.

Compressive Strength:

SCC compressive strengths are comparable to those of conventional vibrated concrete made with similar mix proportions and water/cement ratio. There is no difficulty in producing SCC with compressive strengths up to 60MPa.

Tensile Strength Tensile strengths are based on the indirect splitting test on cylinders. For SCC, the tensile strengths and the ratios of tensile and compressive strengths are in the same order of magnitude as the conventional vibrated concrete. Bond Strength

Pull-out tests have been performed to determine the strength of the bond between concrete and reinforcement of different diameters. In general, the SCC bond strengths expressed in terms of the compressive strengths are higher than those of conventional concrete.

Modulus of Elasticity SCC and conventional concrete bear a similar relationship between modulus of elasticity and compressive strength expressed in the form E/(f c)0.5, where E = modulus of elasticity, fc = compressive strength. This is similar to the one recommended by ACI for conventional normal weight concrete.

CLOSING REMARKS SCC has high potential for greater acceptance and wider applications in highway bridge construction in the U.S.. An NCHRP Research Project has been initiated to develop design and construction specifications to supplement the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design and Construction Specifications. The South

Carolina State Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has received an Innovative Bridge Research and Construction (IBRC) grant to study the use of SCC in drilled shafts. This study consists ofconstructing 4 test shafts, 2 with SCC and 2 with normal SCDOT concrete mixes. These tests will help SCDOT determine the use of SCC in production drilled shafts. The Kansas State Department of Transportation (KSDOT) has received an IBRC grant to study the fresh and hardened properties SCC for use in Kansas prestressed concrete bridge girders. KSDOT will build a 3-span bridge, using SCC in all the prestressed concrete girders in one of the spans and the remaining prestressed girders will be constructed of Kansas standard concrete mixes. The bridge will be instrumented and monitored for five years to determine the performance of the bridge. Japan and European countries have demonstrated by tests and applications the feasibility and benefits of SCC in highway construction. The advantages of SCC are already recognized by the concrete industry in the U.S. The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) reports that a significant number of fabricators in the U.S. are already retooling to use SCC. Cast-in-place concrete construction in tight space and congested reinforcement, such as, drilled shafts, columns and earth retaining systems, can be accelerated by using SCC. There will be a large payoff in not requiring vibration to achieve consolidation, and the low noise level to meet stringent environmental requirements in urban and suburban construction sites. Less labor and speedier construction will result in substantial cost savings, less traffic disruption and risk reduction. Better durability and high strength will allow the engineers to design and build bridges to last a century and beyond.