• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.65-78
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• 2012

An experimental study was carried out to evaluate fresh properties of a moderately high-strength (high-flowing) self-compacting concrete (SCC) and to investigate shear behavior and performance of deep beams made with SCC. Fresh and hardened properties of normal concrete (NC) and SCC were evaluated. The workability and compacting ability were observed based on casting time and number of surface cavities, respectively. Four-point loading tests on four deep beams (two made with SCC and two with NC) were then conducted to investigate their shear behavior and performance. Shear behavior and performance of beams having two different web reinforcements in shear were systematically investigated in terms of crack pattern, failure mode, and load-deflection response. It was found from the tests that the SCC specimen having a normal shear reinforcement condition exhibited a slightly higher load carrying capacity than the corresponding NC specimen, while the SCC specimen having congested shear reinforcement condition showed a similar load carrying capacity to the corresponding NC specimen. In addition, a comparative study between the present experimental results and theoretical results in accordance with ACI 318 (Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318-89) and Commentary-ACI 318R-89, 1999), Hsu-Mau's explicit method (Hsu, Cem Concr Compos 20:419-435, 1998; Mau and Hsu, Struct J Am Concr Inst 86:516-523, 1989) and strut-and-tie model suggested by Uribe and Alcocer (2002) based on ACI 318 Appendix A (2008) was carried out to assess the applicability of the aforementioned methods to predict the shear strength of SCC specimens.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2018

Establishment of test methods to assess the fresh properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) are required to ensure the homogeneity in fresh and hardened states. This paper discusses the suitability of a simple test method for assessing the slump flow and stability of SCC by testing on self-compacting mortar (SCM) fraction. The proposed test method aims at investigating slump flow diameter test and sieve stability test of SCC by testing SCM fraction with a plunger penetration apparatus. A central composite modeling design was performed to evaluate the effects of water/cement ratio (W/C), superplasticizer dosage (SP) and powder marble content (MP) on slump flow diameter, stability and plunger penetration test of fresh SCC. The responses of the derived statistical models are slump flow (Sf), sieve stability (S) and plunger penetration (P). Relationships obtained in this study show acceptable correlations between plunger penetration test value and slump flow diameter test results and stability. It should note that the developed relationships are very useful to predict slump flow diameter and stability of studied SCC mixtures by carrying out a simple plunger penetration test on its mortar, which can save labour and time in laboratory experiments.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.241-266
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• 2011

The Self Compacting Concrete, SCC is the new generation type of concrete which is not needed to be compacted by vibrator and it will be compacted by its own weight. Since SCC is a new innovation and also the high strength self compacting concrete, HSSCC behavior is like a brittle material, therefore, understanding the strength effect on the serviceability performance of reinforced self compacting concretes is critical. For this aim, first the normal and high strength self compacting concrete, NSSCC and HSSCC was designed. Then, the serviceability performance of reinforced connections consisting of NSSCC and HSSCC were investigated. Twelve reinforced concrete connections (L = 3 m, b = 0.15 m, h = 0.3 m) were simulated, by this concretes, the maximum and minimum reinforcement ratios ${\rho}$ and ${\rho}^{\prime}$ (percentage of tensile and compressive steel reinforcement) are in accordance with the provision of the ACI-05 for conventional RC structures. This study was limited to the case of bending without axial load, utilizing simple connections loaded at mid span through a stub (b = 0.15 m, h = 0.3 m, L = 0.3 m) to simulate a beam-column connection. During the test, concrete and steel strains, deflections and crack widths were measured at different locations along each member. Based on the experimental readings and observations, the cracked moment of inertia ($I_{cr}$) of members was determined and the results were compared with some selective theoretical methods. Also, the flexural crack widths of the members were measured and the applicability for conventional vibrated concrete, as for ACI, BS and CSA code, was verified for SCCs members tested. A comparison between two Codes (ACI and CSA) for the theoretical values cracking moment is indicate that, irrespective of the concrete strength, for the specimens reported, the prediction values of two codes are almost equale. The experimental cracked moment of inertia $(I_{cr})_{\exp}$ is lower than its theoretical $(I_{cr})_{th}$ values, and therefore theoretically it is overestimated. Also, a general conclusion is that, by increasing the percentage of ${\rho}$, the value of $I_{cr}$ is increased.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.935-950
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to provide experimental data regarding the compressive, shear and torsional strength of self-compacting concrete (SCC) used in rectangular beams, and then comparing the results with the equations presented by the CSA A23.3-04 and ACI 318-11. In fact, the gathered information in this field is quite useful for calibrating the computer models of other researchers. The other goal of this study was to investigate the effects of silica fume and superplasticizer dosages on the mechanical properties of SCC. In this research, SCC is made based on 16 different type mixing layout. Also two normal concrete (NC) or vibrating concrete are constructed to compare the results of SCC and NC. This work concentrated on concrete mixes having water/binder ratios of 0.45 and 0.35, which contained constant total binder contents of $400kg/m^3$ and $500kg/m^3$, respectively. The percentages of silica fume that replaced cement were 0% and 10%. The superplasticizer dosages utilized in the mixtures were 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2% and 1.6% of the weight of cement. Beam dimensions used in this test were $30{\times}30{\times}120cm^3$. The results of this research indicated that shear and torsional strength of SCC beams to be used in computer models can be calculated utilizing the equations presented in CSA A23.3-04 and ACI 318-11.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.461-468
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• 2017

With the increasing demand in the production of concrete, there is a need for adopting a feasible, economical and sustainable technique to fulfill practical requirements. Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is one such technique which addresses the concrete industry in providing eco-friendly and cost effective concrete. The objective of the present study is to develop a mix design for SCC with Crushed Rock Fines (CRF) as fine aggregate based on the plastic viscosity of the mix and validate the same for its fresh and hardened properties. Effect of plastic viscosity on the fresh and hardened properties of SCC is also addressed in the present study. SCC mixes are made with binary and ternary blends of Fly Ash (FA) and Ground Granulated Blast Slag (GGBS) with varying percentages as a partial replacement to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). The proposed mix design is validated successfully with the experimental investigations. The results obtained, indicated that the fresh properties are best achieved for SCC mix with ternary blend followed by binary blend with GGBS, Fly Ash and mix with pure OPC. It is also observed that the replacement of sand with 100% CRF resulted in a workable and cohesive mix.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.631-643
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• 2018

The focus of this paper is given to the investigation of mechanical properties of steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete after being exposed to fire. The research programme covered tests of two sets of beams: specimens subjected to fire and specimens not subjected to fire. The fire test was conducted in an environment mirroring one of possible real fire situations where concrete surface for an extended period of time is directly exposed to flames. Micro-cracking of concrete surface after tests was digitally catalogued. Compressive strength was tested on cube specimens. Flexural strength and equivalent flexural strength were tested according to RILEM specifications. Damages of specimens caused by spalling were assessed on a volumetric basis. A comparison of results of both sets of specimens was performed. Significant differences of all tested properties between two sets of specimens were noted and analysed. It was proved that the limit of proportionality method should not be used for testing fire damaged beams. Flexural characteristics of steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete were significantly influenced by fire. The influence of fire on properties of steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete was discussed.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2019

This paper evaluates the workability and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) containing silica fume as the partial replacement of cement. SCC mixtures with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% silica fume were tested for fresh and hardened properties. Slump flow with $T_{500}$ time, L-box and V-funnel tests were performed for evaluating the workability properties of SCC mixtures. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of rupture were performed on hardened SCC mixtures. Experiments revealed that replacement of cement by silica fume equal to and more than 4% reduced the slump flow diameter and increased the $T_{500}$ and V-funnel time linearly. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of rupture increased with increasing the replacement level of cement by silica fume and were found to be maximum for SCC mixture with 10% silica fume. Further, residual hardened properties of SCC mixture yielding maximum strengths (i.e., SCC with 10% silica fume) were determined experimentally after heating the concrete samples up to 200, 400, 600 and $800^{\circ}C$. Reductions in hardened properties up to $200^{\circ}C$ were found to be very close to normal vibrated concrete (NVC). For 400 and $600^{\circ}C$ reductions in hardened properties of SCC were found to be more than NVC of the same strength. Explosive spalling occurred in concrete specimens before reaching $800^{\circ}C$.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.323-344
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• 2018

The study herein reports the impact of Steel Fiber (SF) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnaces slag (GGBFS) content on the fresh and hardened properties of fly ash (FA) based Self-Compacting Geopolymer Concrete (SCGC). Two series of self-compacting geopolymer concrete (SCGC) were formulated with a constant binder content of $450kg/m^3$ and at an alkaline-to-binder (a/b) ratio of 0.50. Fly ash (FA) was substituted with GGBFS with the replacement levels being 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% by weight in each SCGC series. Steel fiber (SF) wasn't employed in the assembly of the initial concrete series whereas, within the second concrete series, an SF combination was achieved by a constant additional level of 1% by volume. Fresh properties of mixtures were through an experiment investigated in terms of slump flow diameter, T50 slump flow time, V-funnel flow time, and L-box height ratio. Moreover, the mechanical performance of the SCGCs was evaluated in terms of compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and fracture toughness. Furthermore, a statistical analysis was applied in order to judge the importance of the experimental parameters, like GGBFS and SF contents. The experimental results indicated that the incorporation of SF had no vital impact on the fresh characteristics of the SCGC mixtures whereas GGBFS aggravated them. However, the incorporation of GGBFS was considerably improved the mechanical properties of SCGCs. Moreover, the incorporation of SF with the total different quantity of GGBFS replacement has considerably increased the mechanical properties of SCGCs, by close to (65%) for the splitting strength and (200%) for compressive strength.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.285-301
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• 2013

This paper concentrates on the results of experimental work on tensile strength of self-compacting concrete (SCC) caused by flexure, which is called rupture modulus. The work focused on concrete mixes having water/binder ratios of 0.35 and 0.45, which contained constant total binder contents of 500 $kg/m^3$ and 400 $kg/m^3$, respectively. The concrete mixes had four different dosages of a superplasticizer based on polycarboxylic with and without silica fume. The percentage of silica fume that replaced cement in this research was 10%. Based upon the experimental results, the existing equations for anticipating the rupture modulus of SCC according to its compressive strength were not exact enough. Therefore, it is decided to use artificial neural networks (ANN) for anticipating the rupture modulus of SCC from its compressive strength and workability. The conclusion was that the multi layer perceptron (MLP) networks could predict the tensile strength in all conditions, but radial basis (RB) networks were not exact enough in some circumstances. On the other hand, RB networks were more users friendly and they converged to the final networks quicker.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.629-638
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• 2016

Optimization of the concrete mixture design is a process of search for a mixture for which the sum of the cost of the ingredients is the lowest, yet satisfying the required performance of concrete. In this study, a statistical model was carried out to model a cost effective optimal mix proportioning of high strength self-compacting concrete (HSSCC) using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The effect of five key mixture parameters such as water-binder ratio, cement content, fine aggregate percentage, fly ash content and superplasticizer content on the properties and performance of HSSCC like compressive strength, passing ability, segregation resistance and manufacturing cost were investigated. To demonstrate the responses of model in quadratic manner Central Composite Design (CCD) was chosen. The statistical model showed the adjusted correlation coefficient R2adj values were 92.55%, 93.49%, 92.33%, and 100% for each performance which establish the adequacy of the model. The optimum combination was determined to be $439.4kg/m^3$ cement content, 35.5% W/B ratio, 50.0% fine aggregate, $49.85kg/m^3$ fly ash, and $7.76kg/m^3$ superplasticizer within the interest region using desirability function. Finally, it is concluded that multiobjective optimization method based on desirability function of the proposed response model offers an efficient approach regarding the HSSCC mixture optimization.