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Self-Compacting Concrete - Procedure for Mix Design

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 Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies Issue 12, January-June 2008
ISSN 1583-1078 p. 15-24

Self-Compacting Concrete - Procedure for Mix Design

Paratibha AGGARWAL1, Rafat SIDDIQUE2,*, Yogesh AGGARWAL1, Surinder M GUPTA1

1
Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology (Deemed University),
Kurukshetra (Haryana), India
2
Department of Civil Engineering, Thapar University, Patiala (Punjab), India
[email protected] (*Corresponding author)

Abstract
Self-compacting concrete is a fluid mixture suitable for placing in structures
with congested reinforcement without vibration. Self-compacting concrete
development must ensure a good balance between deformability and stability.
Also, compactibility is affected by the characteristics of materials and the mix
proportions; it becomes necessary to evolve a procedure for mix design of
SCC. The paper presents an experimental procedure for the design of self-
compacting concrete mixes. The test results for acceptance characteristics of
self-compacting concrete such as slump flow; J-ring, V-funnel and L-Box are
presented. Further, compressive strength at the ages of 7, 28, and 90 days was
also determined and results are included here.
Keywords
Self-compacting Concrete; Fly Ash; Mix Design; Fresh Properties; Hardened
Concrete Properties; Compressive Strength.

Introduction

Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC), which flows under its own weight and does not
require any external vibration for compaction, has revolutionized concrete placement. SCC,
was first introduced in the late 1980’s by Japanese researchers [1], is highly workable

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 Self-Compacting Concrete - Procedure for Mix Design
Paratibha AGGARWAL, Rafat SIDDIQUE, Yogesh AGGARWAL, Surinder M GUPTA

concrete that can flow under its own weight through restricted sections without segregation
and bleeding. Such concrete should have a relatively low yield value to ensure high flow
ability, a moderate viscosity to resist segregation and bleeding, and must maintain its
homogeneity during transportation, placing and curing to ensure adequate structural
performance and long term durability. The successful development of SCC must ensure a
good balance between deformability and stability. Researchers have set some guidelines for
mixture proportioning of SCC, which include i) reducing the volume ratio of aggregate to
cementitious material [1-2]; (ii) increasing the paste volume and water-cement ratio (w/c);
(iii) carefully controlling the maximum coarse aggregate particle size and total volume; and
(iv) using various viscosity enhancing admixtures (VEA) [1].
For SCC, it is generally necessary to use superplasticizers in order to obtain high
mobility. Adding a large volume of powdered material or viscosity modifying admixture can
eliminate segregation. The powdered materials that can be added are fly ash, silica fume, lime
stone powder, glass filler and quartzite filler.
Since, self-compactibility is largely affected by the characteristics of materials and the
mix proportions, it becomes necessary to evolve a procedure for mix design of SCC. Okamura
and Ozawa have proposed a mix proportioning system for SCC [3]. In this system, the coarse
aggregate and fine aggregate contents are fixed and self-compactibility is to be achieved by
adjusting the water /powder ratio and super plasticizer dosage. The coarse aggregate content
in concrete is generally fixed at 50 percent of the total solid volume, the fine aggregate
content is fixed at 40 percent of the mortar volume and the water /powder ratio is assumed to
be 0.9-1.0 by volume depending on the properties of the powder and the super plasticizer
dosage. The required water /powder ratio is determined by conducting a number of trials. One
of the limitations of SCC is that there is no established mix design procedure yet.
This paper describes a procedure specifically developed to achieve self-compacting
concrete. In addition, the test results for acceptance characteristics for self-compacting
concrete such as slump flow, J-ring, V-funnel and L-Box are presented. Further, the strength
characteristics in terms of compressive strength for 7-days, 28-days and 90-days are also
presented.

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 Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies Issue 12, January-June 2008
ISSN 1583-1078 p. 15-24

Materials Used

Cement
Ordinary Portland cement (Grade 43) was used. Its physical properties are as given in
Table 1.
Fly ash
Class F Fly ash obtained from “Panipat Thermal Power Station, Haryana, India. The
physical and chemical properties of fly ash are given in the Table 2 and Table 3, respectively.

Table 1. Physical Properties of Cement

Physical property Results obtained IS: 8112-1989 [4] specifications
Fineness (retained on 90-µm sieve) 8.0 10mm
Normal Consistency 28% -
Vicat initial setting time (minutes) 75 30 minm
Vicat final setting time (minutes) 215 600 maxm
Compressive strength 3-days (MPa) 23 22.0 minm
Compressive strength 7-days (MPa) 36 33.0 minm
Compressive strength 28days(MPa) 45 43.0 minm
Specific gravity 3.15 -

Table 2. Physical Properties of Fly Ash

Sr. Physical Properties Test Results
No.
1. Colour Grey
(Blackish)
2. Specific Gravity 2.13
3. Lime Reactivity -average compressive strength after 28 days of mixture 4.90 MPa
‘A’

Table 3. Chemical Properties of Fly Ash

Sr. No. Constituents Percent by Weight
1. Loss on ignition 4.17
2. Silica (SiO2) 58.55
3. Iron Oxide (Fe2 O3) 3.44
4. Alumina (Al2 O3) 28.20
5. Calcium Oxide (CaO) 2.23
6. Magnesium Oxide (MgO) 0.32
7. Total Sulphur (SO3) 0.07
8. Insoluble residue -
9. Alkalies a) Sodium Oxide (Na2O) 0.58
b) Potassium Oxide (K2O) 1.26

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 Self-Compacting Concrete - Procedure for Mix Design
Paratibha AGGARWAL, Rafat SIDDIQUE, Yogesh AGGARWAL, Surinder M GUPTA

The properties of fly ash conform to IS: 3812-2003 [5].

Admixtures
A polycarboxylic ether based superplasticizer complying with ASTM C-494 type F,
was used.

Aggregates
Locally available natural sand with 4.75 mm maximum size was used as fine
aggregate, having specific gravity, fineness modulus and unit weight as given in Table 4 and
crushed stone with 16mm maximum size having specific gravity, fineness modulus and unit
weight as given in Table 4 was used as coarse aggregate. Both fine aggregate and coarse
aggregate conformed to Indian Standard Specifications IS: 383-1970 [6]. Table 4 gives the
physical properties of the coarse and fine aggregates.

Table 4. Physical Properties of Coarse and Fine Aggregates

Physical tests Coarse aggregate Fine aggregate
Specific gravity 2.67 2.66
Fineness modulus 6.86 2.32
Bulk density (kg/m3) 1540 1780

Test Methods

Self- Compacting Concrete is characterized by filling ability, passing ability and

resistance to segregation. Many different methods have been developed to characterize the
properties of SCC. No single method has been found until date, which characterizes all the
relevant workability aspects, and hence, each mix has been tested by more than one test
method for the different workability parameters. Table 5 gives the recommended values for
different tests given by different researchers for mix to be characterized as SCC mix.

Table 5. Recommended Limits for Different Properties

Sr. No. Property Range
1. Slump Flow Diameter 500-700 mm [7]
2. T50cm 2-5 sec [7]
3. V-funnel 6-12 sec [8]
4. L-Box H2/H1 ≥ 0.8 [9]

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 Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies Issue 12, January-June 2008
ISSN 1583-1078 p. 15-24

The slump flow test is used to assess the horizontal free flow of SCC in the absence of
obstructions. On lifting the slump cone, filled with concrete, the concrete flows. The average
diameter of the concrete circle is a measure for the filling ability of the concrete. The time
T50cm is a secondary indication of flow. It measures the time taken in seconds from the instant
the cone is lifted to the instant when horizontal flow reaches diameter of 500mm.

Figure 1. Slump Flow Test

The flowability of the fresh concrete can be tested with the V-funnel test, whereby the
flow time is measured, figure 2.The funnel is filled with about 12 litres of concrete and the
time taken for it to flow through the apparatus is measured. Further, T 5min is also measured
with V-funnel, which indicates the tendency for segregation, wherein the funnel can be
refilled with concrete and left for 5 minutes to settle. If the concrete shows segregation, the
flow time will increase significantly. According to Khayat and Manai, a funnel test flow time
less than 6s is recommended for a concrete to qualify for an SCC [9].
The passing ability is determined using the L- box test [10] as shown in Fig 3. The
vertical section of the L-Box is filled with concrete, and then the gate lifted to let the concrete
flow into the horizontal section. The height of the concrete at the end of the horizontal section
is expressed as a proportion of that remaining in the vertical section (H2/H1). This is an
indication of passing ability. The specified requisite is the ratio between the heights of the
concrete at each end or blocking ratio to be ≥ 0.8.

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 Self-Compacting Concrete - Procedure for Mix Design
Paratibha AGGARWAL, Rafat SIDDIQUE, Yogesh AGGARWAL, Surinder M GUPTA

Figure 2. V-funnel test

Figure 3. L-Box test

Experimental Procedure

The procedure adopted in the study is as follows

1) Using Japanese method of mix design, initial mix design was carried out at coarse
aggregate content of 50 percent by volume of concrete and fine aggregate content of 40

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 Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies Issue 12, January-June 2008
ISSN 1583-1078 p. 15-24

percent by volume of mortar in concrete, the water/powder ratio was kept at 0.90. These
Trial mixes were designed with superplasticizer content of 0%, 0.76% and 3.80% for
mixes TR1, TR2, TR3 respectively.
2) To proceed towards achieving SCC, the coarse aggregate content was reduced to 45% by
volume of concrete and thereby kept constant. Fine aggregate content was kept constant at
40% by volume of mortar in concrete and superplasticizer content at 1.14 percent of
powder content i.e. cement and fly ash. The water-powder ratio was varied from 1.06 to
1.19 for trial mixes TR4 to TR6.
3) Coarse aggregate content was further reduced and fine aggregate content was increased,
until a slump flow of 500-700 mm is achieved by slump flow test. For each trial, tests are
carried out in order that the mix satisfies slump flow test, V-funnel test and L-box passing
ability test.

Table 6. Mix Proportions

Sr.No. Mix Cement Fly ash F.A C.A Water S.P. W/p ratio
(Kg/m3) (Kg/m3) (Kg/m3) (Kg/m3) (Kg/m3) (%)
1 TR1 499 141 743 759 198 - 0.90
2 TR2 499 141 743 759 198 0.76 0.90
3 TR3 499 141 743 759 198 3.80 0.90
4 TR4 520 146 775 684 243 1.14 1.06
5 TR5 520 146 775 684 252 1.14 1.09
6 TR6 520 146 775 684 273 1.14 1.19
7 TR7 520 146 775 684 249 1.14 1.08
8 TR8 520 146 775 684 270 1.14 1.17
9 TR9 520 146 775 684 252 1.14 1.09
10 SCC1 485 135 977 561 257 1.14 1.21
11 SCC2 485 135 977 561 256 1.14 1.20
12 SCC3 485 135 977 561 254 1.14 1.19
13 SCC4 485 135 977 561 253 1.14 1.18
14 SCC5 485 135 977 561 252 1.14 1.18

By reducing contents of coarse aggregate from 45% to 37% and increasing fine
aggregate contents from 40% to 47.5%, required results in all the tests i.e., slump flow, V-
funnel and L-Box were obtained.
Mixes TR1 to TR9 were considered as trial mixes, as these mixes do not fulfil all the
requirements of the SCC mix. SCC1 to SCC5 are the SCC mixes that satisfy all the properties
of SCC mixes and determination of optimum water-powder ratio was carried out for these
mixes. Mix proportions for various mixes are given in Table 6.

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 Self-Compacting Concrete - Procedure for Mix Design
Paratibha AGGARWAL, Rafat SIDDIQUE, Yogesh AGGARWAL, Surinder M GUPTA

Table 7. Workability and compressive strength results

Sr.No Mix Slump T50cm a V-funnel V-funnel L-box 7- 28- 90-
flow (mm) (sec) Tf b (sec) T5min c Blocking days days days
(sec) ratio(H2/H1)d (MPa) (MPa) (MPa)
1 TR1 - - - - - - - -
2 TR2 - - - - - - - -
3 TR3 - - - - - - - -
4 TR4 - - - - - 10.03 22.24 -
5 TR5 590 15.0 46 - - 12.64 22.67 -
6 TR6 - - - - - 12.60 22.00 29.65
7 TR7 - 11.0 - - - 20.06 37.93 71.56
8 TR8 400 - - - - 21.36 34.45 69.76
9 TR9 670 5.0 39 70.0 0.10 18.31 22.67 68.48
10 SCC1 696.7 3.0 12 15.0 0.30 17.00 25.36 50.14
11 SCC2 676.7 3.5 11 12.5 0.90 17.00 26.90 52.32
12 SCC3 713.33 2.0 10 11.0 0.95 16.13 27.57 55.39
13 SCC4 660 4.5 8.0 9.0 0.90 16.15 31.54 66.27
14 SCC5 670 5.0 8.0 9.0 0.67 12.21 29.21 49.27
a
T50cm : time taken for concrete to reach the 500 mm spread circle
b
Tf : V-funnel flow time after keeping the concrete in funnel for 10 sec
c
T5min : V-funnel flow time after keeping the concrete in funnel for 5 min
d
H1,H2: Heights of the concrete at both ends of horizontal section of L-box after allowing the concrete to flow .

Results and Discussion

Table 7 presents the results of workability tests, conducted to achieve self-compacting

concrete. The trials were started at 50 percent volume of total concrete as content of coarse
aggregates and 40 percent by volume of mortar in concrete as contents of fine aggregates and
variation in w/p ratio and super plasticizer was carried out to achieve SCC mixes. In case of
further trials, the coarse aggregate content and fine aggregate content were varied with further
variation in water/cement ratio. Similarly, different trials were carried out until mix
characterizing all the properties of SCC was obtained. Mixes TR1 to TR9 were initial trials to
obtain an SCC mix. TR1, TR2, TR3 were trial mixes with cement content of 499 kg/m3 and
fly ash content as 111 kg/m3 .The coarse aggregate and fine aggregate contents were kept as
759 kg/m3 and 743 kg/m3, which amounted to 50 % of total concrete and 40% by volume of
mortar in concrete, respectively and w/p ratio of 0.90. The super plasticizer content was taken
as 0, 0.76 and 3.80 respectively. None of the SCC characteristics was found in the mixes.
Thus, the contents of cement, fly ash, coarse aggregates and fine aggregate was varied to 520
kg/m3, 146.0 kg/m3, 684 kg/m3 and 775 kg/m3 respectively, for mixes TR4, TR5, TR6, TR7,
TR8 and TR9. In addition, the super plasticizer content was kept constant at 1.14% of powder
content. The quantity of water was changed for all mixes from 243 to 273 kg /m3 from TR4 to

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 Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies Issue 12, January-June 2008
ISSN 1583-1078 p. 15-24

TR9. Some of the workability characteristics were obtained in TR9, but not all values were
within recommended limits. The consistency and workability of SCC1 to SCC5 satisfied
slump flow property but SCC3 was the only mix to have T50 cm as 2 sec, thus satisfying both
slump flow and time property. In addition, all the mixes SCC1 to SCC5 have the V-funnel
time Tf between 6-12 sec and V-funnel time T 5min within the range of Tf +3. The L-Box
blocking ratio H2/H1 could not be satisfied for SCC1 and SCC5.

Conclusions

1. At the water/powder ratio of 1.180 to 1.215, slump flow test, V-funnel test and L-box test
results were found to be satisfactory, i.e. passing ability, filling ability and segregation
resistance are well within the limits.
2. SCC could be developed without using VMA as was done in this study.
3. The SCC1 to SCC5 mixes can be easily used as medium strength SCC mixes, which are
useful for most of the constructions; the proportions for SCC3 mix satisfying all the
properties of Self-Compacting Concrete can be easily used for the development of
medium strength self-compacting and for further study.
4. By using the OPC 43 grade, normal strength of 25 MPa to 33 MPa at 28-days was
obtained, keeping the cement content around 350 kg/m3 to 414 kg/m3.
As SCC technology is now being adopted in many countries throughout the world, in
absence of suitable standardized test methods it is necessary to examine the existing test
methods and identify or, when necessary to develop test methods suitable for acceptance
as International Standards. Such test methods have to be capable of a rapid and reliable
assessment of key properties of fresh SCC on a construction site. At the same time, testing
equipment should be reliable, easily portable and inexpensive. A single operator should
carry out the test procedure and the test results have to be interpreted with a minimum of
training. In addition, the results have to be defined and specify different SCC mixes. One
primary application of these test methods would be in verification of compliance on sites
and in concrete production plants, if self-compacting concrete is to be manufactured in
large quantities.

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 Self-Compacting Concrete - Procedure for Mix Design
Paratibha AGGARWAL, Rafat SIDDIQUE, Yogesh AGGARWAL, Surinder M GUPTA

References

1. Nagamoto N., Ozawa K., Mixture properties of Self-Compacting, High-Performance

Concrete, Proceedings, Third CANMET/ACI International Conferences on Design and
Materials and Recent Advances in Concrete Technology, SP-172, V. M. Malhotra,
American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Mich. 1997, p. 623-637.
2. Khayat K.H., Ghezal A., Utility of Statistical models in Proportioning Self-Compacting
Concrete, Proceedings, RILEM International symposium on Self-Compacting Concrete,
Stockholm, 1999, p. 345-359.
3. Okamura H., Ozawa K., Mix Design for Self-Compacting Concrete, Concrete Library of
Japanese Society of Civil Engineers, June 25, 1995, p. 107-120.
4. IS: 8112-1989, Specifications for 43 grade Portland cement, Bureau of Indian Standards,
New Delhi, India.
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Delhi, India.
6. IS: 383-1970, Specifications for Coarse and Fine aggregates from Natural sources for
Concrete, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.
7. Nagataki S., Fujiwara H., Self-Compacting property of Highly-Flowable concrete, Second
Conference on advances in Concrete Technology, ACI SP-154,V.M. Malhotra, American
Concrete Institute, June 1995, p. 301-304.
8. EFNARC (European Federation of national trade associations representing producers and
applicators of specialist building products), Specification and Guidelines for self-
compacting concrete, February 2002, Hampshire, U.K.
9. Khayat K.H., Manai K., Lesbetons autonivlants : proprietes, charcterisation et
applications , colloque sur les betons autonivlants, Universite de Sherbroke, Canada,
November 1996, p. 8.
10. Petersson O., Billberg P., Van B.K., A model for Self-Compacting Concrete, Proceedings
of Production Methods and Workability of Concrete,1996, E & FN Span, London, p. 483-
492.

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