Mix design of self consolidating

concretes
Exercise 8

Exercise 8: Learning outcomes

• Understanding the basics of SCC

• Being familiar with the requirements and

limits of designing a SCC concrete mix

• Implementing the SCC concrete mix design

tool “Excel work sheet”

• Being able to adjust the SCC mix ingredients

Comparison of mix proportioning between self
consolidating concrete and conventional concrete.
 The materials used in SCC are the same as in
conventional concrete except that an excess of
fine material and chemical admixtures are used.

Also a viscosity-modifying agent (VMA) may be

used .

The powdered materials used are for example:

• fly ash,
• silica fume,
• limestone powder and
• quartz powder.

According to Okamura and Ozawa (1995) self-

compactability can be achieved using the
following methods:
• Limited aggregate content
• Low water-powder ratio
• Use of superplasticizer
SCC can be manufactured in all strength classes
as ´normal´ concretes.

However because of the high compactability,

strengths of 40 MPa and over are more
common.
Test methods for self compatibility
Conventional workability tests, devised for normal
ranges of concrete mixtures are not suitable for
self-compacting concrete because they are not
sensitive enough to detect the tendency to
segregation.

Therefore test equipment has been made for

judging the following characteristics of SCCs:
• Self-compatibility
• Deformability
• Viscosity
• Filling ability

Many different methods have been developed

to characterise the properties of SCC.
In Finland the consistency of SCCs is described
usually with
• Slump flow (650…800 mm)
• T50 slump flow (2…10 s)
Also used for testing for example the passing
ability are
• L-box
• J-ring
Slump flow test

Slump flow test

 L-box

J-ring

The method for achieving self-compactability

involves:
• high deformability of paste or mortar
• resistance to segregation between coarse
aggregate and mortar when the concrete
flows through the confined zone of
reinforcing bars.
Rheology of SCCs
Rheology is the science of the deformation
and flow of materials.

It is used to understand the workability

characteristics of SCC.

The two most important properties of

SCC’s rheology are:
1) Yield stress
2) Plastic viscosity

1) Yield stress (myötöjännitys): the measure of the

amount of energy required to make SCC flow. To be
considered self compacting, concrete must flow easily
under its own weight, so its yield stress must be very
low.
2) Plastic viscosity: the measure of the resistance of
SCC to flow due to internal friction.
SCC must have a high viscosity in order to suspend
aggregate particles in a homogenous manner within
the concrete matrix without segregation, excessive
bleeding, excessive air migration, or paste
separation.

In summary, SCC must have low yield stress and

high viscosity!
 SCC mix design: Penttala design method
• non-air entrained SCC
• rapid and extra rapid cements were used
v CEM IIA 42,5 R,
v CEM IIA 52,5 R
• presented in Equations 1 and 2.

Coefficients: slide 27
 SCC mix design: Penttala design method
• non-air entrained SCC
• sulphate resistant cement
v CEM I 42,5 SR
• presented in Equations 3 and 4.

Coefficients: slide 27

SCC mix design: Penttala design method

• air entrained SCC
• all three cements types
• CEM IIA 42,5 R,
v CEM IIA 52,5 R
v CEM I 42,5 SR
• presented in Equations 5 and 6.

Coefficients: slide 27
 SCC mix design: Penttala design method

Mix design guide for SCC developed at

TKK/HUT
 Input the particle-size distribution # [mm]

Remember quantity of absorbed water in aggregates

and the water content of the concrete

• Select the target slump D and T50

• Select the SCC concrete ingredients:
– Binder: cement, Fly ash, limestone filler
– Normal filler
– Water
– Super Plasticizer
Variable Minimum Maximum
Slump flow [mm] 600 850
T50 time [s] 2 15
Amount of cement [kg/m3] 200 420
Amount of fly ash [kg/m3] 0 200
Amount of limestone filler [kg/m3] 0 200
Amount of superplasticizer [kg/m3] 2 10
Amount of water [kg/m3] 155 170
 XL - columns
XL - Rows

Laboratory exercises
• Fly ash is added to the SCC concrete
• Limestone filler is NOT used
• Consider the amount of water (absorbed and
free water) in aggregates
• Consider the compressive strength of SCC
concrete at 28 days
• Concrete batch is 30 dm³
Solver – Excel

Solver – Excel
• Start the iteration using solver
• Press “SOLVE”

• Select: “Keep solver solution”

• Press “OK”
 Mix Design Curve
In weight fraction

100
90
80
Mix design curve

Läpäisyprosentti
70
Target curve 60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0,001

0,002

0,004

0,008

0,016

0,031

0,063

0,125

0,250

0,500

1,000

2,000

4,000

8,000

16,000
Particle-size distribution # [mm]

Selected values vs Calculated values

 SCC - Mix adjustment
Slump [mm] T50 [s]
­ ¯
General rule
¯ ­
Water à increase ­ ­ slightly
non-air entrained SCC
Super plasticizer à increase ­ ­
CEM IIA 42,5 R Cement à increase ¯ ¯
CEM IIA 52,5 R
Lp125 à increase ¯ ­
Water à increase Little ¯ ¯
non-air entrained SCC Super plasticizer à increase ¯ slightly
CEM IIA 42,5 SR Fine aggregates volume V125 ­ ­
Fine aggregates weight F125 ­ ­
Water à increase ¯ ¯
Cement à increase ­ ­
Air entrained SCC
Fine aggregates volume V125 ­ ­
Air content à increase ­ slightly ­

¯: Decrease ­: increase

based on the 1st

iteration result and the
type of concrete and
cement, change:
- the amount of water
- amount super
plasticizer
- amount of cement
- air content

Use solver again for

the 2nd iteration
Concrete batch

30 dm³ for the laboratory exercise