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SELF COMPACTING CONCRETE WITH TESTS

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 SELF COMPACTING CONCRETE WITH TESTS
Prof. Dr. Nabeel Al-Bayati
Building and Construction Engineering Department, University of Technology,
Baghdad – IRAQ, 2017
For several years beginning in 1983, the problem of the durability
of concrete structures was a major topic of interest in Japan. The creation
of durable concrete structures requires adequate compaction by skilled
workers. However, the gradual reduction in the number of skilled workers
in Japan‟s construction industry has led to a similar reduction in the
quality of construction work. One solution for the achievement of durable
concrete structures independent of the quality of construction work is the
employment of self-compacting concrete, which can be compacted into
every corner of a formwork, purely by means of its own weight and
without the need for vibrating compaction (Fig. 1). The necessity of this
type of concrete was proposed by Okamura in 1986. Studies to develop
self-compacting concrete, including a fundamental study on the
workability of concrete, have been carried out by Ozawa and Maekawa at
the University of Tokyo. The prototype of self-compacting concrete was
first completed in 1988 using materials already on the market (Fig. 2).
The prototype performed satisfactorily with regard to drying and
hardening shrinkage, heat of hydration, denseness after hardening, and
other properties. This concrete was named “High Performance Concrete”
and was defined as follows at the three stages of concrete:

1
 (1) Fresh: self-compactable
(2) Early age: avoidance of initial defects
(3) After hardening: protection against external factors.
At almost the same time, “High Performance Concrete” was defined as a
concrete with high durability due to a low water-cement ratio by
Professor Aïtcin et al. Since then, the term high performance concrete has
been used around the world to refer to high durability concrete.
Therefore, the authors have changed the term for the proposed concrete to
“Self-Compacting High Performance Concrete.”

 Mechanism for achieving self-compactability

The method for achieving self-compactability involves not only
high deformability of paste or mortar, but also resistance to segregation
between coarse aggregate and mortar when the concrete flows through
the confined zone of reinforcing bars. Okamura and Ozawa have
employed the following methods to achieve self- compactability (Fig. 3)
(1995):
(1) Limited aggregate content
(2) Low water-powder ratio
(3) Use of super plasticizer

The frequency of collision and contact between aggregate particles can

increase as the relative distance between the particles decreases and then
internal stress can increase when concrete is deformed, particularly near
obstacles. Research has found that the energy required for flowing is
consumed by the increased internal stress, resulting in blockage of
aggregate particles. Limiting the coarse aggregate content, whose energy

2
consumption is particularly intense, to a level lower than normal is
effective in avoiding this kind of blockage.

Highly viscous paste is also required to avoid the blockage of coarse

aggregate when concrete flows through obstacles (Fig. 4). When concrete
is deformed, paste with a high viscosity also prevents localized increases
in internal stress due to the approach of coarse aggregate particles. High
deformability can be achieved only by the employment of a super-
plasticizer, keeping the water-powder ratio to a very low value.
The mix proportioning of self-compacting concrete is compared with
those of normal concrete and RCD (Roller Compacted concrete for
Dams) concrete. The aggregate content is smaller than conventional
concrete that requires vibrating compaction. The degree of packing of
coarse aggregate in SCC is approximately 50% to reduce the interaction
between coarse aggregate particles when the concrete deforms. In
addition, the ratios of fine aggregate volume to solid volume (S/Slim) in
the mortar are shown in the same figure. The degree of packing of fine
aggregate in SCC mortar is approximately 60% so that shear
deformability when the concrete deforms may be limited. On the other
hand, the viscosity of the paste in SCC is the highest among the various
types of concrete due to its lowest water-powder ratio. This characteristic
is effective in inhibiting segregation.

3
 Benefits & Advantages of Self Compacting Concrete
Self compacting concrete (SCC) can be classified as an advanced
construction material. The SCC as the name suggests, does not require to
be vibrated to achieve full compaction. This offers following benefits and
advantages over conventional concrete.
 Improved quality of concrete and reduction of onsite repairs.
 Faster construction times.
 Lower overall costs.
 Facilitation of introduction of automation into concrete construction.
 Improvement of health and safety is also achieved through elimination of
handling of vibrators.
 Substantial reduction of environmental noise loading on and around a
site.

 Possibilities for utilization of “dusts”, which are currently waste products

and which are costly to dispose of.
 Better surface finishes.
 Easier placing.
 Thinner concrete sections.
 Greater Freedom in Design.
 Improved durability, and reliability of concrete structures.
 Ease of placement results in cost savings through reduced equipment
and labor requirement.

4
 SCC makes the level of durability and reliability of the structure
independent from the existing on – site conditions relate to the quality
of labor, casting and compacting systems available.
 The high resistance to external segregation and the mixture self –
compacting ability allow the elimination of macro – defects, air
bubbles, and honey combs responsible for penalizing mechanical
performance and structure durability.

MATERIALS FOR SELF COMPACTING CONCRETE

Following are the materials for self compacting concrete:
Cement for self compacting concrete
All types of cement conforming to EN 197 are suitable. Selection of the
type of cement will depend on the overall requirements for the concrete,
such as strength, durability etc., C3A content higher than 10% may cause
problems of poor workability retention.
The typical content of cement is 350-450Kg/m3 more than 500Kg/m3
cement can be dangerous and increase the shrinkage. Less than 350
Kg/m3 may only be suitable with the inclusion of other fine filler, such as
fly ash, pozzolona, etc

Fig: Self Compacting Concrete

Aggregates for self compacting concrete:
1. Sand
All normal concreting sands are suitable for SCC. Either crushed
or rounded sands can be used. Siliceous or calcareous sands can be used.

5
 The amount of fines less than 0.125 mm is to be considered as powder
and is very important for the rheology of the SCC. A minimum amount
of fines (arising from the binders and the sand) must be achieved to avoid
segregation.

2. Coarse aggregate
All types of aggregates are suitable. The normal maximum size is
generally 16 – 20 mm. however particle size up to 40 mm more have
been used in SCC. Consistency of grading is of vital importance.
Regarding the characteristics of different types of aggregate, crushed
aggregates tend to improve the strength because of the interlocking of the
angular particles, whilst rounded aggregates improve the flow because of
lower internal friction. Gap graded aggregates are frequently better than
those continuously graded, which might experience greater internal
friction and give reduced flow.

Admixtures for Self compacting concrete:

The most important admixtures are the super plasticizers (high range
water reducers), used with a water reduction greater than 20%. The use of
a Viscosity Modifying Agent (VMA) gives more possibilities of
controlling segregation when the amount of powder is limited. This
admixture helps to provide very good homogeneity and reduces the
tendency to segregation.

Test methods on SCC (Self Compacting Concrete))

The methods presented here are devised specifically for SCC. Existing
rheological test procedure have not considered here, though the
relationship between the results of these tests & the rheological
characteristics of the concrete is likely to figure highly in future work,
including standardization work. In considering these tests there are
number of points which should be taken into account:

 There is no clear relation between test

results & performance on site.
 There is little precise data, therefore no
clear guidance on compliance limits.

6
A concrete mix can only be classified as SCC if the requirements for all
the following three workability properties are fulfilled.
1. Filling ability,

2. Passing ability, &

3. Segregation resistance.

Filling ability: It is the ability of SCC to flow into all spaces within the
formwork under its own weight. Tests, such as slump flow, V-funnel etc,
are used to determine the filling ability of fresh concrete.
Passing ability: It is the ability of SCC to flow through tight openings,
such as spaces between steel reinforcing bars, under its own weight.
Passing ability can be determined by using U-box, L-box, Fill-box, and J-
ring test methods.
Segregation resistance: The SCC must meet the filling ability and
passing ability with uniform composition throughout the process of
transport and placing.
Test methods to determine workability of SCC are:
1. Slump flow test
2. V Funnel Test
3. L Box Test
4. U Box Test
5. Fill Box Test

Slump flow test and T50cm test on Self Compacting

Concrete
The slump flow test is used assess the horizontal free flow of in the
absence of obstructions. It was first developed in Japan for use in
assessment of underwater concrete. The test method is based on the test
method for determining the slump .T diameter of the concrete circle is a
measure for the filling ability of the concrete.
Assessment of test:
This is a simple, rapid test procedure, though two people are needed if the
T50 time is to be measured. It can be used on site, though the size of the
base plate is somewhat unwieldy and level ground is essential. It is the

7
 most commonly used test, and gives a good assessment of filling ability.
It gives no indication of the ability of the concrete to pass between
reinforcement without booking, but may give some indication of
resistance to segregation. It can be argued that the completely free flow,
unrestrained by any foundries, is not representative of what happens in
concrete construction, but the test can be profitably be used to assess the
consistency of supply of supply of ready-mixed concrete to a site from
load to load.

Equipment:
The apparatus is show in figure;

 Mold in the shape of a truncated cone with the internal dimensions 200
mm diameter at the base, 100mm diameter at the top and a height of 300
mm.
 Base plate of a stiff none absorbing material, at least 700mm square,
marked with a circle marking the central location for the slump cone, and
a further concentric circle of 500mm diameter
 Trowel
 Scoop
 Ruler
 Stopwatch(optional)

Fig. 1: Accessories for Flow cone Flow table Slump test

8
 Fig. 2 Slump flow test and T50cm test
Procedure:
About 6 liter of concrete is needed to perform the test, sampled normally.
Moisten the base plate and inside of slump cone, place base plate on level
stable ground and the slump cone centrally on the base plate and hold
down firmly. Fill the cone with the scoop. Do not tamp, simply strike off
the concrete level with the top of the cone with the trowel. Remove any
surplus concrete from around the base of the cone. Raise the cone
vertically and allow the concrete to flow out freely. Simultaneously, start
the stopwatch and record the time taken for the concrete to reach the
00mm spread circle (This is the T50 time).floatable test, might be
appropriate. The T50 time is secondary indication of flow. A lower time
indicates greater flow ability. The Brite Eu Ram research suggested that a
time of 3-7 seconds is acceptable for civil engineering applications, and
2-5 seconds for housing applications. In case of severe segregation most
coarse aggregate will remain in the center of the pool of concrete and
mortar and cement paste at the concrete periphery. In case of minor
segregation a border of mortar without coarse aggregate can occur at the
edge of the pool of concrete. If none of these phenomena appear it is no
assurance that segregation will not occur since this is a time related aspect
that can occur after a longer period.

V funnel test and V funnel test at T 5 minutes on SCC

The equipment consists of a v shaped funnel as, show in Fig. An
alternative type of V-funnel, the O funnel, with circular. The test was
developed in Japan and used by Ozawa et al. The equipment consists of
V-shaped funnel section is also used in Japan. The described V-funnel
9
 test is used to determine the filling ability (flow ability) of the concrete
with a maximum aggregate size of 20mm. The funnel is filled with about
12 liter of concrete and the time taken for it to flow through the apparatus
measured. After this the funnel can be refilled concrete and left for 5
minutes to settle. If the concrete shows segregation then the flow time
will increases significantly.
Assessment of test:
Though the test is designed to measure flow ability, the result is affected
by concrete properties other than flow. The inverted cone shape will
cause any liability of the concrete to block to be reflected in the result-if,
for example there is too much coarse aggregate. High flow time can also
be associated with low deformability due to a high paste viscosity, and
with high inter-particle friction. While the apparatus is simple, the effect
of the angle of the funnel and the wall effect on the flow of concrete is
not clear.

Equipment:
 V-funnel
 Bucket (±12 liter)
 Trowel
 Scoop
 Stopwatch

Fig 1: V Funnel test Apparatus

Procedure flow time:
About 12 liter of concrete is needed to perform the test, sampled
normally. Set the V-funnel on firm ground. Moisten the inside surface of
11
the funnel. Keep the trap door to allow any surplus water to drain. Close
the trap door and place a bucket underneath. Fill the apparatus completely
with the concrete without compacting or tamping; simply strike off the
concrete level with the top with the trowel.

Open within 10 sec after filling the trap door and allow the concrete to
flow out under gravity. Start the stop watch when the trap door is opened,
and record the time for the complete discharge (the flow time). This is
taken to be when light is seen from above through the funnel. The whole
test has to be performed within 5 minutes.

Procedure flow time at T5 minutes:

Do not clean or moisten the inside surface of the funnel gain. Close the
trap door and refill the V-funnel immediately after measuring the flow
time. Place a bucket underneath. Fill the apparatus completely with
concrete without compacting or tapping, simply strike off the concrete
level with the top with the trowel. Open the trap door 5 minutes after the
second fill of the funnel and allow the concrete to flow out under gravity.
Simultaneously start the stop watch when the trap door is opened and
record the time discharge to complete flow (the flow time at T5 minutes).
This is to be taken when light is seen from above through the funnel.

Interpretation of result:
This test measures the ease of flow of concrete, shorter flow time
indicates greater flow ability. For SCC a flow time of 10 seconds is
considered appropriate. The inverted cone shape restricts the flow, and
prolonged flow times may give some indication of the susceptibility of
the mix to blocking. After 5 minutes of settling, segregation of concrete
will show a less continuous flow with an increase in flow time.

L Box Test on Self Compacting Concrete

This test is based on a Japanese design for under water concrete, has been
described by Peterson. The test assesses the flow of the concrete and also
the extent to which it is subjected to blocking by reinforcement. The
apparatus is shown in the figure. The apparatus consist of rectangular
section box in the shape of an „L‟, with a vertical and horizontal section,
separated by a movable gate, in front of which vertical length of
11
 reinforcement bar are fitted. The vertical section is filled with concrete,
and then the gate lifted to let the concrete flow into the horizontal section.
When the flow has stopped, the height of the concrete at the end of the
horizontal section is expressed as a proportion of that remaining in the
vertical section. It indicates the slope of the concrete when at rest. This is
an indication passing ability, or the degree to which the passage of
concrete through the bars is restricted. The horizontal section of the box
can be marked at 200mm and 400mm from the gate and the times taken
to reach these points measured. These are known as the T20 and T40
times and are an indication for the filling ability. The section of bar con
be of different diameters and are spaced at different intervals, in
accordance with normal reinforcement considerations, 3x the maximum
aggregate size might be appropriate. The bar can principally be set at any
spacing to impose a more or less severe test of the passing ability of the
concrete.

Assessment of test:
This is a widely used test, suitable for laboratory and perhaps site use. It
asses filling and passing ability of SCC, and serious lack of stability
(segregation) can be detected visually. Segregation may also be detected
by subsequently sawing and inspecting sections of the concrete in the
horizontal section. Unfortunately there is no arrangement t on materials
or dimensions or reinforcing bar arrangement, so it is difficult to compare
test results. There is no evidence of what effect the wall of the apparatus
and the consequent „wall effect‟ might have on the concrete flow, but this
arrangement does, to some extent, replicate what happens to concrete on
site when it is confined within formwork. Two operators are required if
times are measured, and a degree of operator error is inevitable.

Equipment:
 L box of a stiff non absorbing material
 Trowel
 Scoop
 Stopwatch

12
 Fig.:L Box test Apparatus
Procedure of L Box Test:
About 14 liter of concrete needed to perform the test, sampled normally.
Set the apparatus level on firm ground, ensure that the sliding gate can
open freely and then close it. Moisten the inside surface of the apparatus,
remove any surplus water, fill the vertical section of the apparatus with
the concrete sample. Leave it stand for 1 minute. Lift the sliding gate and
allow the concrete to flow out into the horizontal section. Simultaneously,
start the stopwatch and record the time for the concrete to reach the
concrete 200 and 400 marks. When the concrete stops flowing, the
distances „H1‟ and „H2‟ are measured. Calculate H2/H1, the blocking
ratio. The whole has tom performed within 5 minutes.

Interpretation of the result:

If the concrete flows as freely as water, at rest it will be horizontal, so
H2/H1=1. Therefore the nearest this test value, the „blocking ratio‟, is
unity, the better the flow of concrete. The EU research team suggested a
minimum acceptable value of 0.8. T20 and T40 time can give some

13
 indication of ease of flow, but no suitable values have been generally
agreed. Obvious blocking of coarse aggregate behind the reinforcement
bars can be detected visually.

U box test method on SCC

The test was developed by the Technology Research Centre of the Taisei
Corporation in Japan. Some time the apparatus is called a “box shaped”
test. The test is used to measure the filing ability of self compacting
concrete. The apparatus consists of a vessel that is divided by a middle
wall into two compartments; an opening with a sliding gate is fitted
between the two sections. Reinforcing bar with nominal diameter of 134
mm are installed at the gate with centre to centre spacing of 50 mm. this
create a clear spacing of 35 mm between bars. The left hand section is
filled with about 20 liter of concrete then the gate is lifted and the
concrete flows upwards into the other section. The height of the concrete
in both sections is measured.

Assessment of test:
This is a simple test to conduct, but the equipment may be difficult to
construct. It provides a good direct assessment of filling ability-this is
literally what the concrete has to do- modified by an unmeasured
requirement for passing ability. The 35 mm gap between the sections of
reinforcement may be considered too close. The question remains open of
what filling height less than 30cm is still acceptable.

Equipment:
 U box of a stiff non absorbing material
 Scoop
 Trowel
 Stopwatch

14
 Fig: U box test Apparatus
Procedure for U Box Test on Self Compacting Concrete:
About 20 liter of concrete is needed to perform the test, sampled
normally. Set the apparatus level on firm ground, ensure that the sliding
gate can open freely and then close it. Moisten the inside surface of the
apparatus, remove any surplus water, fill the vertical section of the
apparatus with the concrete sample. Leave it stand for 1 minute. Lift the
sliding gate and allow the concrete to flow out into the other
compartment. After the concrete has come to rest, measure the height of
the concrete in the compartment that has been filled, in two places and
calculate the mean (H1). Measure also the height in the other equipment
(H2). Calculate H1-H2, the filling height. The whole test has to be
performed within 5 minutes.

Interpretation of the result:

If the concrete flows as freely as water, at rest it will be horizontal, so
H1-H2=0. Therefore the nearest this test value, the „filling height‟, is to
zero, the better the flow and passing ability of the concrete.

Fill box test method for SCC

This test is also known as „Kajima test‟. The test is used to measure the
filling ability of self compacting concrete with a maximum aggregate size
of 20 mm. the apparatus consists of a container (transparent) with a flat
and smooth surface. In the container are 35 obstacles are made of PVC
with a diameter of 20mm and a distance center to center of 50mm, see
figure. At the top side is a put filling pipe (diameter 100mm height

15
 500mm) with a funnel (height 100mm). The container is filled with
concrete through this filling pipe and difference in height between two
sides of the container is a measure for the filling ability.

Assessment of test:
This is a test that is difficult to perform on site due to the complex
structure of the apparatus and large weight of the concrete. It gives a good
impression of the self-compacting characteristics of the concrete. Even a
concrete mix with a high filling ability will perform poorly if the passing
ability and segregation resistance are poor.

Equipment
 Fill box of a stiff non absorbing material
 Scoop 1.5 to 2 liter
 Ruler
 Stopwatch

Fig.: Detail of fill box empty & filled with concrete

Procedure for Fill box test method:

About 45 liter of concrete is needed to perform the test, sampled
normally. Set the apparatus level on firm ground, ensure that the sliding
gate can open freely and then close it. Moisten the inside surface of the
apparatus, remove any surplus water, fill the apparatus with the concrete
sample. Fill the container by adding each 5 seconds one scoop with 1.5 to
2 liters of fresh concrete into the funnel until the concrete has just

16
covered the first top obstacle. Measure after the concrete has come to rest,
the height at the side at which the container has filled on two places and
calculate the average (H1). Do this also on opposite side (H2). Calculate
the average filling percentage: average filling percentage F=
{(H1+H2)/2*H1}*100%. The whole has to be performed within 8
minutes.

Interpretation of the result:

If the concrete flows as freely as water, at rest it will be horizontal, so
average filling percentage = 100%. Therefore the nearest this test value,
the filling height‟, is to be 100%, the better self-compacting
characteristics of the concrete.

Test for Self - Compactibility

There are three purposes for self-compactability tests relating to practical
purposes.
Test (1): To check whether or not the concrete is self-compactable for the
structure.
Test (2): To adjust the mix proportion when self-compactability is not
sufficient.
Test (3): To characterize materials.

As Test (1), the so-called U-flow test or Box test is recommended (Figs.
8, 9 and 10). The U-flow test was developed by the Taisei Group
(Hayakawa 1993). In this test, the degree of compactability can be
indicated by the height that the concrete reaches after flowing through an
obstacle. Concrete with a filling height of over 300 mm can be judged as
self-compacting. The Box-test is more suitable for detecting concrete

17
 with higher possibility of segregation between coarse aggregate and
mortar.

If the concrete is judged to be having insufficient self-compactability

through test (1), the cause has to be detected quantitatively so that the mix
proportion can be adjusted. Slump-flow and funnel tests (Fig. 11) have
been proposed for testing deformability and viscosity, respectively.

Flow and funnel tests for mortar or paste have been proposed to
characterize materials used in self-compacting concrete, e.g. powder
material, sand, and super-plasticizer. Testing methods for the mortar
properties were al so proposed and the indices for deformability and
viscosity were also defined as in (Figs. 12 and 13).

 Factors of self-compactability in terms of testing results.

The factors making up self-compactability were described in terms of the
test results for fresh concrete and mortar below.

18
(1) Influence of coarse aggregate depending on spacing size.

It is not always possible to predict the degree of compaction into a

structure by using the test result on the degree of compaction of the
concrete into another structure, since the maximum size of coarse
aggregate is close to the minimum spacing between the reinforcing bars
of the structure. For example, the relationship between coarse aggregate
content in concrete and the filling height of the Box-type test, which the
standard index for self-compactability of fresh concrete, is shown in Figs.
14 and 15. The relationship between the filling height through obstacle
R1 and that through R2 varied depending on the coarse aggregate content.
That test result shows that the influence of coarse aggregate on the
flowability of fresh concrete largely depends on the size of the spacing of
the obstacle. It can be said that the self-compactability of fresh concrete
has to be discussed in terms of solid particles as well as in terms of liquid.

2) Role of mortar as fluid in flowability of fresh concrete

Sufficient deformability of the mortar phase in concrete is required
so that concrete can be compacted into structures by its self-weight
without need for vibrating compaction. In addition, moderate viscosity as
well as deformability of the mortar phase is required so that the relative
displacement between coarse aggregate particles in front of obstacles
when concrete is to flow around such obstacles can be reduced and then
19
segregation between coarse aggregate and mortar can be inhibited. The
necessity for viscosity was confirmed by Hashimoto‟s visualization test.
The indices for mortar deformability and viscosity were proposed by
using mortar flow and funnel test results. The relationship between
mortar deformability and viscosity and the self-compactability of fresh
concrete is shown assuming a fixed coarse aggregate content (Fig. 15).
The existence of an optimum combination of deformability and viscosity
of mortar for achieving self-compactability of fresh concrete was
demonstrated.

(3) Role of mortar as solid particles

In addition to its role as a liquid mentioned above, mortar also plays a

role as solid particles. This property is so-called “pressure
transferability”, which can be apparent when the coarse aggregate
particles approach each other and mortar in between coarse aggregate
particles is subjected to normal stress (Fig. 16). The degree of the
decrease in the shear deformability of the mortar largely depends on the
physical characteristics of the solid particles in the mortar (Fig. 17)
(Nagamoto 1997).
For example, the difference in the relationships between the funnel
speeds of mortar and concrete due to differences in the fine aggregate
content in mortar are shown in Fig. 18. It was found that the relationship
between the flowability of mortar and concrete cannot always be unique
due to differences in the characteristics of the solid particles in the

21
 mortar, even if the characteristics of the coarse aggregate and its content
in concrete are constant.

(4) Influence of coarse aggregate -Content, shape and grading-

The influence of coarse aggregate on the self-compactability of
fresh concrete, especially flowability through obstacles, can be equal
despite the shape of the coarse aggregate particles‟ shape as long as the
ratio of coarse aggregate content to its solid volume in concrete is the
same (Fig. 22). However, the influence of the grading of coarse aggregate
has also to be considered if the spacing of the obstacles is very close to
the maximum size coarse aggregate. For example, the relationship
between the size of the concrete funnel‟s outlet and the flow speed
through it depends on the fineness modulus of coarse aggregate FM even
if the property of the mortar phase is the same (Figs. 23 and 24). It was
found out that the flow speed of concrete through a funnel with an outlet
width of 55 mm was largely influenced by the grading of the coarse
aggregate.

State of the art on Self-Compacting Concrete

 Current status of Self-Compacting Concrete

Self-compacting concrete has been used as a “special concrete”
only in large general construction companies in Japan. In order for self-
compacting concrete to be used as a standard concrete rather than a
special one, new systems for its design, manufacturing and construction
of self-compacting concrete need to be established. Various committee
activities on self-compacting concrete have been carried out as a result.
Among them, a system by which the ready-mixed concrete industry can
produce self-compacting concrete as a normal concrete would seem the
most effective since, in Japan, as much as 70% of all concrete is produced
by the ready-mixed concrete industry. Assuming a general supply from
ready-mixed concrete plants, investigations to establish the following
items have been carried out mainly at the University of Tokyo since the
development of the prototype.
(1) Self-compactability testing method

21
 (2) Mix-design method
(3) Acceptance testing method at job site
(4) New type of powder or admixture suitable for self-compacting
concrete
Of those items, (1) has already been mentioned in this paper. (2), (3) and
(4) are described below.

 Mix-design method

(1) Rational mix-design method

Self-compactability can be largely affected by the characteristics of
materials and the mix proportion. A rational mix-design method for self-
compacting concrete using a variety of materials is necessary. Okamura
and Ozawa (1995) have proposed a simple mix proportioning system
assuming general supply from ready-mixed concrete plants. The coarse
and fine aggregate contents are fixed so that self-compactability can be
achieved easily by adjusting the water-powder ratio and super-plasticizer
dosage only.
(1) The coarse aggregate content in concrete is fixed at 50% of the solid
volume.
(2) The fine aggregate content is fixed at 40% of the mortar volume.
(3) The water-powder ratio in volume is assumed as 0.9 to 1.0, depending
on the properties of the powder.
(4) The super-plasticizer dosage and the final water-powder ratio are
determined so as to ensure self-compactability. In the mix proportioning
of conventional concrete, the water-cement ratio is fixed at first from the
viewpoint of obtaining the required strength. With self-compacting
concrete, however, the water-powder ratio has to be decided taking into
account self-compactability because self-compactability is very sensitive
to this ratio. In most cases, the required strength does not govern the
water-cement ratio because the water-powder ratio is small enough for
obtaining the required strength for ordinary structures unless most of the
powder materials in use is not reactive.
The mortar or paste in self-compacting concrete requires high viscosity as
well as high deformability. This can be achieved by the employment of a

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 super-plasticizer, which results in a low water-powder ratio for high
deformability.

(2) Adjustment of water-powder ratio and super-plasticizer dosage

The characteristics of powder and super-plasticizer largely affect
the mortar property and so the proper water powder ratio and super-
plasticizer dosage cannot be fixed without trial mixing at this stage.
Therefore, once the mix proportion is decided, self-compactability has to
be tested by U-flow, slump-flow and funnel tests. Methods for judging
whether the water-powder ratio or super-plasticizer dosage are larger or
smaller than the proper value by using the test results, and methods for
estimating the proper values are necessary. The relationships between the
properties of the mortar in self-compacting concrete and the mix
proportion have been investigated and then formulated. These formulae
can be used to establish a rational method for adjusting the water-powder
ratio and superplasticizer dosage to achieve appropriate deformability and
viscosity.

4. Properties of Hardened SCC

 Structural Properties
The basic ingredients used in SCC mixes are practically the same as those
used in the conventional HPC vibrated concrete, except they are mixed in
different proportions and the addition of special admixtures to meet the
project specifications for SCC. The hardened properties are expected to
be similar to those obtainable with HPC concrete. Laboratory and field
tests have demonstrated that the SCC hardened properties are indeed
similar to those of HPC. Table 3 shows some of the structural properties
of SCC.

Table 3 Structural Properties of SCC2

Items SCC

Water-binder ratio (%) 25 to 40

Air content (%) 4.5-6.0

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 Compressive strength (age: 28 days) (MPa) 40 to 80
 Compressiv
e Strength Compressive strength (age: 91 days) (MPa) 55 to 100
SCC
Splitting tensile strength (age:28 days) (MPa) 2.4 to 4.8
compressive
strengths are Elastic modulus (GPa) 30 to 36
comparable
to those of Shrinkage strain (x 10-6) 600 to 800
conventional
vibrated concrete made with similar mix proportions and water/cement
ratio. There is no difficulty in producing SCC with compressive strengths
up to 60MPa.

 Tensile Strength
Tensile strengths are based on the indirect splitting test on cylinders. For
SCC, the tensile strengths and the ratios of tensile and compressive
strengths are in the same order of magnitude as the conventional vibrated
concrete.

 Bond Strength
Pull-out tests have been performed to determine the strength of the bond
between concrete and reinforcement of different diameters. In general,
the SCC bond strengths expressed in terms of the compressive strengths
are higher than those of conventional concrete.

 Modulus of Elasticity
SCC and conventional concrete bear a similar relationship between
modulus of elasticity and compressive strength expressed in the form
E/(fc)0.5, where E = modulus of elasticity, fc = compressive strength.
This is similar to the one recommended by ACI for conventional normal
weight concrete.

Mix Design Requirements Of Self Compacting Concrete (SCC)

24
Self Compacting Concrete has to be designed and tested before it is
produced and used for construction. During SCC evaluation, the local
materials and equipment's have to be tested to find out the right concrete
mix proportions and mixing times suitable for the element to be cast.
Various kinds of fillers can result in different strength, shrinkage and
creep but shrinkage and creep will usually not be higher than for
traditional vibrated concrete.
A flow-chart describing the procedure for design of SCC mix is shown in
Figure below,

Figure: SCC mix design procedure

General Requirements in the Mix Design of SCC

1. A high volume of paste:
The friction between the aggregate limits the
spreading and the filling ability of SCC. This is
the why SCC contains a high volume of paste
(cement + additions + efficient water + air),
typically 330 to 400 l/m³, the role of which is to
maintain aggregate separation.

25
2. A high volume of the particles (<80µm):
In order to ensure sufficient workability while limiting the risk of
segregation or bleeding, SCC contains a large amount of fine particles
(around 500 kg/m³).Nevertheless, in order to avoid excessive heat
generation, the Portland cement is generally partially replaced by mineral
admixtures like fly ash (cement should not be used as a filler). The nature
and the amount of filler added are chosen in order to comply with the
strength & durability requirements.
3. A high dosage of super plasticizer:
Super plasticizers are introduced in SCC to obtain the fluidity.
Nevertheless a high dosage near the saturation amount can increases the
proneness of the concrete to segregate.

4. The possible use of viscosity agent (water retainer):

These products are generally cellulose derivatives, polysaccharides or
colloidal suspensions. These products have the same role as the fine
particles, minimizing bleeding and coarse aggregate segregation by
thickening the paste and retaining the water in the skeleton. The
introduction of such products in SCC seems to be justified in the case of
SCC with the high water to binder ratio (for e.g. residential building). On
the other hand, they may be less useful for high performance SCC
(strength higher than 50 MPa) with low water to binder ratio. For
intermediate SCC, the introduction of viscosity agent has to be studied for
each case. Viscosity agents are assumed to make SCC less sensitive to
water variations in water content of aggregates occurring in concrete
plants. Because of he small quantities of viscosity agents required,
however it may be difficult to achieve the accuracy of dosage.

5. A low volume of coarse aggregate:

It is possible to use natural rounded, semi crushed or crushed aggregate to
produce SCC. Nevertheless, as the coarse aggregate plays an important
role on the passing ability of SCC in congested areas, the volume has to
be limited. On the other hand the use of coarse aggregate allows
optimizing the packing density of the skeleton of the concrete &
reduction of the paste volume needed for the target workability.
Generally speaking, the maximum aggregate size (Dmax) is between
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10mm &20mm. the passing ability decreases when Dmax increases,
which leads to decrease of the coarse aggregate content. The choice of a
higher Dmax is thus possible but is only justified with low reinforcement
content.

Admixtures added to SCC can have a retarding effect on the strength

and the temperature development in the fresh concrete, & this will
have to be borne in mind in the construction process. Suppliers of
admixture can produce various admixtures suitable for different weather
conditions & temperatures.

Acceptance test at job site

Since the degree of compaction in a structure mainly depends on the self-

compactability of concrete, and poor self-compactability cannot be
compensated by the construction work, self-compactability must be
checked for the whole amount of concrete just before casting at the job
site. However, conventional testing methods for self-compactability
require sampling and this can be extremely laborious if the self-
compactability acceptance test is to be carried out for the whole amount
of concrete. A suitable acceptance test method for self-compactability has
been developed by Ouchi et al (1999).
(1) The testing apparatus is installed between the agitator truck and the
pump at the job site. The whole amount of concrete is poured into the
apparatus.

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 (2) If the concrete flows through the apparatus, the concrete is considered
as self-compactable for the structure. If the concrete is stopped by the
apparatus, the concrete is considered as having insufficient self-
compactability and the mix proportion has to be adjusted.

 Superplasticizer suitable for Self-Compacting Concrete

There is more room for improvement for admixtures such as super-
plasticizer suitable for self-compacting concrete. In order to achieve this
purpose, characterization of materials is indispensable. The requirements
for super-plasticizer in self-compacting concrete are summarized below.
(1) High dispersing effect for low water/powder (cement) ratio: less than
approx. 100% by volume
(2) Maintenance of the dispersing effect for at least two hours after
mixing
(3) Less sensitivity to temperature changes.
There have been many examples of the development of new type of
super-plasticizer for self-compacting concrete. Characterization of the
dispersing effect of super-plasticizer independent of the effect of water
flow is indispensable.

 Segregation-inhibiting agent
It has been found that it is possible to manufacture self-compacting
concrete with constant quality, especially self-compactability. However,
any variation in material characteristics can affect self-compactability.
The most influential variant is the water content of fine aggregate, which
results in variations in the water content of the concrete itself. To solve
this problem, some general construction companies employ a
segregation-inhibiting agent. This type of agent is effective in making
self-compactability less sensitive to the variation of the water content in
the concrete. Various agents are available for this purpose in Japan
(Hibino 1998).

Applications of Self-Compacting Concrete in Japan

 Current condition on application of selfcompacting concrete

in Japan
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 

 After the development of the prototype of self-compacting concrete

at the University of Tokyo, intensive research was begun in many
places, especially in the research institutes of large construction
companies. As a result, self-compacting concrete has been used in
many practical structures. The first application of self-compacting
concrete was in a building in June 1990. Self-compacting concrete
was then used in the towers of a prestressed concrete cable-stayed
bridge in 1991 (Fig. 29). Lightweight self-compacting concrete
was used in the main girder of a cable-stayed bridge in 1992. Since
then, the use of self-compacting concrete in actual structures has
gradually increased. Currently, the main reasons for the
employment of self-compacting concrete can be summarized as
follows.
 (1) To shorten construction period.
 (2) To assure compaction in the structure: especially in confined
zones where vibrating compaction is difficult.
 (3) To eliminate noise due to vibration: effective especially at
concrete products plants.
 The volume of self-compacting concrete in Japan is shown in Fig.
30. The production of self-compacting concrete as a percentage of
Japanese ready-mixed concrete, which accounts for 70% of total
concrete production in Japan, is only 0.1%. The current status of
self-compacting concrete is “special concrete” rather than
“standard concrete.”
29
  Other applications of self-compacting concrete are summarized
below.
 Bridge (anchorage, arch, beam, girder, tower, pier, joint between
beam & girder)
 Box culvert
 Building
 Concrete filled steel column
 Tunnel (lining, immersed tunnel, fill of survey tunnel)
 Dam (concrete around structure)
 Concrete products (block, culvert, wall, water tank, slab, and
segment)
 Diaphragm wall
 Tank (side wall, joint between side wall and slab)
 Pipe roof

 Large scale construction

Self-compacting concrete is currently being employed in various
practical structures in order to shorten the construction period of large-
scale constructions.

The anchorages of Akashi-Kaikyo (Akashi Straits) Bridge opened in

April 1998, a suspension bridge with the longest span in the world (1,991
meters), is a typical example (Fig. 31) (Kashima 1999). Self-compacting
concrete was used in the construction of the two anchorages of the bridge.
A new construction system that makes full use of the performance of self-
compacting concrete was introduced for this purpose. The concrete was
31
 mixed at the batcher plant next to the site, and was then pumped out of
the plant. It was transported 200 meters through pipes to the casting site,
where the pipes were arranged in rows 3 to 5 meters apart. The concrete
was cast from gate
valves located at 5-meter intervals along the pipes. These valves were
automatically controlled so that the surface level of the cast concrete
could be maintained. The maximum size of the coarse aggregate in the
self-compacting concrete used at this site was 40 mm. The concrete fell
as much as 3 meters, but segregation did not occur, despite the large size
of coarse aggregate. In the final analysis, the use of selfcompacting
concrete shortened the anchorage construction period by 20%, from 2.5 to
2 years.
Self-compacting concrete was used for the wall of a large LNG tank
belonging to the Osaka Gas Company. The adoption of self-compacting
concrete in this particular project had the following merits.
(1) The number of lots decreased from 14 to 10 as the height of one lot of
concrete was increased.
(2) The number of concrete workers was reduced from 150 to 50.
(3) The construction period of the structure decreased from 22 months
to18 months.
In addition, a rational acceptance test for self-compactability at the job
site was newly introduced. The concrete casting was completed in June
1998.
 Concrete products
Self-compacting concrete is often employed in concrete products to
eliminate vibration noise (Fig. 32). This improves the working
environment at plants and makes the location of concrete products plants
in urban areas possible. In addition, the use of self-compacting concrete
extends the lifetime of mould for concrete products (Uno 1999). The
production of concrete products using self-compacting concrete has been
gradually increasing.
Necessity for new structural design and construction
systems.
Using self-compacting concrete saves the cost of vibrating compaction
and ensures the compaction of the concrete in the structure. However,

31
 total construction cost cannot always be reduced, except in large-scale
constructions. This is because conventional construction systems are
essentially designed based on the assumption that vibrating compaction
of concrete is necessary. Self-compacting concrete can greatly improve
construction systems previously based on conventional concrete that
required vibrating compaction. This sort of compaction, which can easily
cause segregation, has been an obstacle to the rationalization of
construction work. Once this obstacle is eliminated, concrete construction
can be rationalized and a new construction system, including formwork,
reinforcement, support and structural design, can be developed. One
example of this is
the so-called sandwich structure, where concrete is filled into a steel
shell. Such a structure has already been completed in Kobe, and could not
have been achieved without the development of self-compacting concrete
(Shishido et al. 1999).

Summary
Since a rational mix-design method and an appropriate acceptance
testing method at the job site have both largely been established for self-
compacting concrete, the main obstacles for the wide use of self-
compacting concrete can be considered to have been solved. The next
task is to promote the rapid diffusion of the techniques for the production
of self-compacting concrete and its use in construction. Rational training
and qualification systems for engineers should also be established. In
addition, new structural design and construction systems making full use
of self-compacting concrete should be introduced.
When self-compacting concrete becomes so widely used that it is seen as
the “standard concrete” rather than a “special concrete,” we will have
succeeded in creating durable and reliable concrete structures that require
very little maintenance work.

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