Experimental investigation on self compacting concrete

Abstract

The work carried through the larger period of time is based on the concrete with normal workability and special concretes whose major concerns are performance and durability. Still the current research work on selfcompacting concrete otherwise known as self-consolidating concrete (SCC) has a central focus on rheological parameters along with strength parameters. But a little concern is given to the life cycle and durability behavior. Even though there were a number of procedures identified for making and preparing SCC, the process is well defined through either a trial and error procedure or EFNARC guidelines. But it is to be noted that there was no proper standards followed and no proper prediction being identified. Similar to the normal concrete the property from flow to durability is altered through admixtures and pozzolanic replacement. These are materials like flyash, silicaflume and metakaoline etc. But at some point of time these materials became not feasible due to its individual property. The fly ash which is the much used material in SCC has good effect on flow mechanism, but has limitations in durability properties. Hence there is a need of finding a material which is good in flow and durability; which is the main possible problem statement for this study. Also it should be considered in terms of the material cost and availability. Now during the past few recent years there was a development in cement which is being developed; and that is magnesium rich minerals. The importance of magnesium is the durability enhancement, fast setting rapid hardening and early age strength. This study thus used important magnesium rich mineral called a steatite. This steatite chemically and geologically called hydrated metamorphic magnesium silicate which is softest known rock. The softness of this rock is used as an additional support in this study, thus by grinding it to fine powder. This powder were taken to fineness of less than desirable microns were it can be called as ultrafine, which is then called ultrafine natural steatite powder (UFNSP). The steatite which is the hydrated magnesium silicate is softest mineral which can be grinded to finer particle size newline