Effect of high strength self-compacting concrete on the structural behavior of reinforced concrete.

Abstract

Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is an advanced concrete technology that has arisen in the 1980’s as a response to the urgent need for a solution to the defects associated with inadequate consolidation. The idea of SCC revolves around the production of stable and cohesive concrete mixes that have the ability to flow under the action of gravity and fill the formwork completely without the assistance of any mechanical compaction. Shedding light on the fact that SCC is still a new material under study, and since limited standards and specifications were published concerning the structural effect of the use of this type of material, the significance of the research stems from the need to investigate whether the excessive flowability of SCC would not lead to a reduction in the structural capacity of Reinforced concrete beams. To meet the predefined objectives, the research program was divided into three interdependent phases. Phase I studies the effect of SCC on the fresh and hardened mortar properties using numerous small scale mortar mixes. Phase II studies the effect of SCC on the fresh and hardened concrete properties through the preparation of concrete trial mixes. Phase III investigates the effect of high strength SCC on the structural behavior of reinforced concrete, by comparing twelve full scale reinforced concrete beams made using self-compacting concrete (SCC) and control vibrated concrete beams (VC) and designed to exhibit flexural, shear or bond splitting failure.