Studies of self-compacting concrete containing GGBS

Alkuhly, Mohammed 2021. Studies of self-compacting concrete containing GGBS. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

A new procedure for designing self-compacting concrete (SCC) mixes with high levels of ground granulated blast furnace slag (ggbs) as a cement replacement material is proposed. The research to produce and validate this procedure comprises three main parts. In the first part, an existing micromechanical model for the plastic behaviour of fluids with inclusions is adapted to compute the plastic viscosity of SCC. The model is needed because rheometers are unable to reliably measure the plastic viscosity of liquids with multiple inclusions of different sizes. The effects of including high levels of ggbs in an SCC on the yield stress of plastic mixes are also investigated. The second part of the research considers the hardened properties of SCC. A combined hydration and strength development model is adapted and validated for SCC mixes with high levels of ggbs, and new formulae are developed for predicting the compressive strength at 28 days and at full hydration. This combined model allows the strength of a SCC to be predicted at any time after casting. The final part of the work brings together the research on plastic and hardened properties and presents a design procedure for proportioning SCC mixes with ggbs cement replacement levels from 0 to 80%. The work involved the production of a series of graphs and tables that allow the proportions of an SCC mix to be determined for a given target plastic viscosity. The strength prediction formulae are arranged so that multiple strength criteria (i.e. strengths at different times after casting) can be used to determine the required ggbs level and water-binder ratio. The mix design procedure is successfully validated using a series of experiments. The research highlights the potential of SCC blended with high proportions of ggbs to reduce the amount of cement used in the production of this type of concrete. Overall, the work provides a way to maximise the use of ggbs in SCC and thereby produce more sustainable and environmentally friendly concrete.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Engineering
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Self-compacting concrete, High level of ggbs, Compressive strength predicting Formula,Post compressive strength R, Mix design procedure, Concrete mix design
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	25 October 2021
Last Modified:	10 Dec 2022 02:57
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/145023

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