FRESH PROPERTIES OF HIGH STRENGTH SELF – COMPACTING CONCRETE

Abstract

Self – compacting concrete (SCC) is a new and emerging technology in the construction industry . SCC is highly workable concrete that can flow through congested reinforced structural elements under its own weight without the need for vibration , and adequately fill voids without segregation or excessive bleeding .The objective of this work is to prepare self – compacting concrete which involves high deformability , ability to flow through spaces between steel reinforcing bars without segregation or blocking . This is achieved by carring out tests employed by professors Okamura and Kochi of university of technology , Japan .Three concrete mixes are produced with high strength , each mix contains specific dosage of the chemical admixture named Sika Viscocrete-1 (2% , 2.2% , 2.5%) by weight of cement , and many tests are made to study the fresh properties for these mixes , these tests are slump flow , flow time by using V – Funnel , L – box test and U – box test . Results show that dosage 2.5% of Sika Viscocrete-1 can be used with water – cement ratio (0.26) in order to produce high strength self – Compacting concrete .