To the One Who Loved Me, Died for Me and Has Been Raised
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
To the One Who loved me, died for me and has been raised. (Bible 2 Corinthians 5:14-15) Acknowledgements In this age, with the next millennium fast approaching, no one can carry out research work alone. Therefore, the author would like to show his appreciation to the many people who assisted with this study. First, I would like to give thanks to my supervisor Dr. P. L. Domone, who helped with this work, gave valuable suggestions and also corrected my written English patiently. I also appreciated Dr. Y. Xu's kind suggestions and encouragement, and both Dr. K. Ozawa and Dr. J.C. Liu supplied useful information concerning this study. I also enjoyed discussing this research work with my junior colleagues: Mr. V. Sheikh, Mr. E.M. Ahmed and Mrs. J. Jin. Furthermore, Mr A. Tucker and Miss H. Kinloch carried out several mixes concerning the early strength of SCC as their final year project under my guidance. The help I received from the technical staff of the Elvery Concrete Technology Laboratory cannot be ignored, especially from Mr. 0. Bourne and Mr. M. Saytch. Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge the scholarship from my government, without which the dream of studying in this country could not have come true, after having spent 12 years teaching. I especially want to give thanks to my family - my mother, my wife Priscilla and May and Boaz for their support. I owe them very much. I also appreciated the care from the saints in the church - it is impossible to list all of them. Through their prayer and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, I finished this study and had a memorable time in the UK. Glory to God. DESIGN AND TESTING OF SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE A thesis submitted to the University of London for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by HSI-WEN CHAI BSc, MSc Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University College London University of London April 1998 Abstract 4 Abstract Self-compacting concrete (SCC) can flow into place and compact under its own weight into a uniform void free mass even in areas of congested reinforcement. The research reported in this thesis examined the production of SCC with readily available UK materials, with the overall aims of evaluating test methods and establishing a suitable mix design procedure. There have been significant recent developments and applications of SCC in several countries, notably Japan. A literature survey gave an understanding of the advantages and properties of SCC, test methods and the range of constituent materials and their relative proportions for its successful production. A range of SCC mixes can be produced with the common features of a lower aggregate content than conventional concrete and the use of superplasticizers. Most mixes also contained one or more of pulverized fuel ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and an inert powder filler. A four stage experimental programme was carried out: • tests on pastes to assess the effect of the types and proportions of the powders and superplasticizers on the rheology. • tests on mortars to determine suitable dosage of superplasticizers for high fluidity, low segregation and low loss of workability with time after mixing. Flow spread and funnel tests were used. • tests on fresh concrete to enable suitable types and quantities of coarse aggregate to be combined with these mortars to produce SCC. Fluidity and viscosity were measured using slump flow and V-funnel tests, and passing ability using L- and U- type tests. Two-point workability tests were also carried out, and a novel way of WIS assessing segregation resistanceAdeveloped. • tests on hardened concrete to determine compressive strength, bond to reinforcement and drying shrinkage. A mix design procedure, based on a method suggested by Japanese workers, has been developed. This includes optimisation of the mix with a linear optimisation tool from a commercial spreadsheet package. Contents 5 Contents Title page 1 Dedication 2 Acknowledgement 3 Abstract 4 List of figures 13 List of tables 20 List of photos 23 Notation 24 Chapter 1 Introduction 1. 1 Definition and requirements of Self-compacting concrete (SCC) 25 1. 2 Development of SCC 27 1. 3 Research Programme 28 Chapter 2 Advantages, applications, and disadvantages of SCC 2. 1 Advantages of SCC 30 2.1.1 Enhancement of the reliability of concrete 31 2.1.2 No consolidation noise 33 2.1.3 Reduced labour force and shorter construction schedules 34 2.1.4 Innovations in the construction system 36 2. 2 Structural applications 38 2.2.1 Examples 38 2.2.2 Examples of SCC mix proportions 42 Contents 6 2. 3 Disadvantages of SCC 45 2.3.1 Higher material cost 45 2.3.2 Higher standard of quality control in production 45 2.3.3 Higher lateral pressure on the formwork 46 2.3.4 Higher pumping resistance 46 2. 4 Conclusions 47 Chapter 3 Literature review 3. 1 Background of Japan's concrete industry 48 3. 2 Materials used in SCC 49 3.2.1 Cement 49 3.2.2 Cement replacement materials (CRMs) 51 3.2.3 Chemical admixtures 53 3.2.4 Aggregate 54 3. 3 Test methods for fresh properties of SCC 54 3.3.1 Slump flow test 54 3.3.2 Funnel test 55 3.3.3 Sieve test for segregation resistance 59 3.3.4 L-Test 59 3.3.5 Box test 60 3.3.6 U-Test 60 3.3.7 Filling capacity test 60 3.3.8 Two-point workability test 63 3. 4 Characteristic fresh properties 63 3.4.1 Passing ability through reinforcement 63 3.4.1.1 Ratio of clear spacing between rebars to the maximum aggregate size 64 3.4.1.2 Coarse aggregate content 66 3.4.1.3 Flowability 66 Contents 7 3.4.1.4 Mechanism of blocking in flowing mortar 70 3.4.2 Segregation resistance 72 3.4.2.1 Segregation of NC 72 3.4.2.2 Segregation resistance of SCC 72 3. 5 Methods of achieving self-compactability 74 3.5.1 Adding a viscosity agent 74 3.5.2 Limiting the coarse aggregate volume while controlling the water/powder ratio 74 3.5.3 Comments 76 3. 6 Mix design of SCC 78 3.6.1 Ozawa's approach 78 3.6.2 LCPC's approach 78 3.6.3 CBI's approach 84 3.6.4 Hwang's approach 85 3.6.5 Hon's approach 86 3.6.6 Comments 89 3. 7 Hardened surface of SCC 90 3. 8 Quality control of SCC 93 3.8.1 Variation of sand moisture content 93 3.8.2 Functions of viscosity agents 94 3.8.3 Quality control on site 99 3.8.4 Level of self-compactability 99 3. 9 Conclusions 101 Chapter 4 Materials and experimental methods 103 4. 1 Objectives 103 4. 2 Materials 105 4.2.1 Portland cement 105 Contents 8 4.2.2 Cement replacement materials (CRMs) 105 4.2.3 Admixtures 106 4.2.4 Water 108 4.2.5 Aggregate 108 4. 3 Mixing Procedures 111 4.3.1 Paste 111 4.3.2 Mortar 111 4.3.3 Concrete 112 4. 4 Test methods 115 4.4.1 Tests for paste 115 4.4.1.1 Flow spread test 115 4.4.1.2 Viscometer test 116 4.4.2 Tests for mortar 117 4.4.2.1 Flow spread test 117 4.4.2.2 V-funnel flow test 117 4.4.2.3 Adhesion test 117 4.4.2.4 compressive strength 120 4.4.3 Tests on fresh concrete 120 4.4.3.1 Slump flow test 120 4.4.3.2 V-fimnel test 121 4.4.3.3 L-test 121 4.4.3.4 U-test 123 4.4.3.5 Two-point workability test 123 4.4.3.6 Segregation resistance test 127 4.4.4 Tests on hardened concrete 131 4.4.4.1 Bond between concrete and reinforcement 131 4.4.4.2 Shrinkage 132 4.4.4.3 compressive strength 134 4.4.5 Test sequence for concrete 134 Contents 9 Chapter 5 Rheology of cementitious paste 5. 1 Objectives 135 5. 2 Materials and test methods 136 5. 3 Scope of experiments 137 5. 4 Results and discussion 138 5.4.1 Retained water ratio (Op) and deformation coefficient (Es) 138 5.4.2 Powder combinations 138 5.4.3 Yield stress 140 5.4.4 Viscosity 142 5. 5 Application of the rheology of the cementitious paste 147 5. 6 Prediction of the rheological properties of blended cementitious paste 149 5. 7 Conclusions 151 Chapter 6 Properties and composition of mortar for SCC 6. 1 Objectives of mortar tests 152 6. 2 Property requirements for mortar of SCC 152 6.2.1 Workability 153 6.2.2 Loss of workability with time 153 6.2.2.1 Influence of superplasticizer 156 6.2.2.2 Influence of cement replacement materials (CRMs) 158 6.2.3 Stability 159 6.2.3.1 Moderate viscosity 159 6.2.3.2 Limited bleeding 161 6.2.3.3 No aggregate segregation 162 6.2.4 Strength requirement of mortar 163 6.2.5 Criteria for mortar tests 165 6. 3 Composition of mortar 168 6.3.1 Sand content 168 Contents 10 6.3.2 Water/total fines ratio 170 • 6.3.3 Powder composition 172 6. 4 Factors influencing dosage of superplasticizer 176 6.4.1 Proportion and type of CRMs 176 6.4.2 Water/powder ratio 176 6.4.3 Sand content 178 6.4.4 Viscosity agent 178 6.4.5 Mixing procedure 178 6.