DefinePK

Abstract

In recent years, self-compacting concrete (SCC) has gained wide use for placement in congested reinforced concrete structures with difficult casting conditions. For such applications, the fresh concrete must possess high fluidity and good cohesiveness. The use of fine materials such as kiln ash can ensure the required concrete properties. The initial results of an experimental program aimed at producing and evaluating SCC made with high-volumes of kiln ash are presented and discussed. Ten SCC mixtures and one control concrete were investigated in this study. Fresh properties, flexural and compressive strengths of self compacted concrete were determined. The use of SF in concrete significantly increased the dosage of superplasticiser (SP). At the same constant SP dosage (0·8%) and mineral additives content (30%), KA can better improve the workability than that of control and fine aggregate mixtures by (5 % to 45 %). However, the results of this study suggest that certain QD, SF and KA combinations can improve the workability of SCCs, more than QD, SF and KA alone. KA can have a positive influence on the mechanical performance at early strength development while SF improved aggregate-matrix bond resulting from the formation of a less porous transition zone in Concrete. SF can better reducing effect on total water absorption while QD and KA will not have the same effect, at 28 days.