Accepted Manuscript

The properties of the self-compacting concrete with fly ash and ground granulated
blast furnace slag mineral admixtures

Hui Zhao, Wei Sun, Xiaoming Wu, Bo Gao

PII: S0959-6526(15)00163-8
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.050
Reference: JCLP 5219

To appear in: Journal of Cleaner Production

Received Date: 28 April 2014

Revised Date: 6 February 2015
Accepted Date: 18 February 2015

Please cite this article as: Zhao H, Sun W, Wu X, Gao B, The properties of the self-compacting concrete
with fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag mineral admixtures, Journal of Cleaner Production
(2015), doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.050.

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ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

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The properties of the self-compacting
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4 concrete with fly ash and ground
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7 granulated blast furnace slag mineral
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admixtures

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12 Hui Zhaoa, Wei Sun a, Xiaoming Wub, Bo Gaob
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（aSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University，

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17 Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210012, China）

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20 （bJiangsu Transportation Research Institute, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211112, China）
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23 Abstract: Nowadays, the industrial by-products, i.e. Fly ash(FA), Ground granulated blast furnace
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slag (GGBFS), as mineral admixture for the production of the self-compacting concrete (SCC) had
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28 been increasingly widespread. In this study, the SCC with FA, GGBFS of 20 %, 30 %, 40 % were
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31 prepared, the fresh, mechanical, durability properties and porosity of the SCC were evaluated. The
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34 presence of FA, GGBFS increased the initial slump flow and reduced the slump flow loss rate, wet
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density of the SCC and prolonged the setting times of cement paste, the use of FA, GGBFS in the
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39 SCC had not obvious affect on the flowability and stability of the SCC. Also, the replacement of
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42 cement with FA, GGBFS in the SCC lowered the mechanical properties and increased the water
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45 porosity at the early stage, the differences of the mechanical properties and water porosity of the
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control SCC, FA, GGBFS SCC were insignificant at the later curing period. Although the FA,
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50 GGBFS series SCC exhibited a higher carbonation depth than the control SCC, but, utilizing FA
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53 GGBF in the SCC were more effective on resistance the chloride migration and drying shrinkage.
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56 Corresponding author. zhaohui is to be contacted at Tel: +0086-18913806637
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59 E-mail address: njzhaohui@163.com (zhaohui)
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1 Keywords: Fly ash; Ground granulated blast furnace slag; Self-compacting concrete; Properties;
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4 1. Introduction
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6 In the late 1980, the self-compacting concrete (SCC) was first introduced to the construction
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9 industry in Japan (Ozawa et al., 1989). The SCC is a special kind of the high performance concrete
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12 with excellent the rheological properties and higher segregation resistance. The SCC can spread to
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a long distance under its own weight and can fill in the complicated formwork, congested
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17 reinforced structural, hard to reach areas without the need of internal or external vibrations.

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20 Besides, the SCC can maintain its stability enough to be handled without segregation or bleeding
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23 during casting. As a result, the use of SCC can not only reduce construction period and labor cost,
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but also provide a better working environment by eliminating the vibration and noise in the
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28 producing process of the SCC (Okamura and Ouchi.,2003; Brouwers and Radix., 2005). For these
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31 advantages of using SCC, the SCC has been widely applied in the tall buildings, bridges, tunnels
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34 and off-shore structures (Ouchi, 2001).
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In order to provide high fluidity to SCC and to avoid the segregation and the bleeding during
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39 transportation and placing, a large amount of the Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) (450-600 kg/
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42 m3) demand to use in the SCC, the total material costs of the SCC are the remarkably higher than
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45 the traditional vibrated concrete. In addition to uneconomical, the excessive use of the OPC in the
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SCC has some negative effect on the environmental aspects. The production of the OPC leads to
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50 the release of a significant amount of CO2, which the amounts account for about 7 % of the global
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53 CO2 emissions in 2007, with the world-wide increase in the demand for the OPC, the emissions of
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56 CO2 in the production of the OPC may represent nearly 10 % of total CO2 emissions in the near
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59 future (Habert et al., 2011). Moreover, the OPC manufacturing process also brings many millions
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1 of t of the kiln dust each year, these kiln dusts spreading in the atmosphere can induce respiratory
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disease and physical health problems of people (Huntzinger and Eatmon.,2009;Yang et al., 2014).
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6 One alternative to solve these problems is to use the industrial by-products as mineral admixture
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9 to replace the OPC in the SCC. Fly ash (FA), Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) are
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12 two types of mineral admixtures frequently using in the SCC. FA is a fine grained residue of coal
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combustion in coal-fired power plant, GGBFS is a ground glassy granular material formed when
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17 molten blast furnace slag is quickly cooled. It is reported that the annual worldwide production

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20 amounts of FA, GGBFS are 450 million t and 530 million t, every year, about 50 million t of FA
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23 and 60 million t of GGBFS are generated in China. FA, GGBFS mineral admixtures as partial
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replacement of the OPC using in the SCC are becoming increasingly common in civil engineering
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28 structures.
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31 Utilizing FA, GGBFS for the production of the SCC can not only reduce total material costs of
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34 the SCC, but also result in considerable benefits to the environment (Ondova et al., 2011). In
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addition, the use of FA, GGBFS in the SCC has a unique and distinctive effect on the properties of
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39 the SCC.
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42 A number of previous studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of FA, GGBFS on
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45 the properties of the SCC, it was found that the incorporation of FA, GGBFS improved the
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rheological properties, appreciably lessened the formwork lateral pressure of the SCC, greatly
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50 prolonged the setting times of cement pastes (Ponikiewski and Golaszewski.,2014;Kim et al.,2010;
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53 Erhan et al.,2009).The introduction of FA, GGBFS to the SCC lowered mechanical properties of
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56 the SCC at the early curing period, however, the reductions in the mechanical properties of the
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59 SCC could be overcome after the curing period of 28 days (Mucteba and Mansur.,2011; Beycioglu
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1 and Aruntas.,2014).Moreover, the FA, GGBFS-blended SCC had a lower resistance to carbonation
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than the pure OPC-blended SCC, this effect appeared to be more pronounced with increase in the
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6 replacement level of FA, GGBFS (Sulapha et al., 2003).Utilizing FA, GGBFS in the SCC also
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9 enhanced the drying shrinkage, chloride ion penetration and sulfate attack resistance of the SCC
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12 (Erhan et al., 2010; Mucteba et al., 2012; Siad et al., 2010).
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Up to now, although some research results about the effect of FA, GGBFS on the properties of
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17 the SCC have been established, however, the main attention of these researches is paid to the fresh

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20 properties and mechanical properties of the SCC. There are still problems existing on the certain
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23 specific properties of the SCC with FA, GGBFS. For instance, the few study focus on the effect of
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FA, GGBFS on the chloride ion penetration of the SCC, especially the use of FA, GGBFS at a low
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28 replacement level (less than 50 %). The information about the effect of FA, GGBFS on the water
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31 porosity of SCC are very limited. Therefore, the more studies need to carry out in these aspects.
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34 In this study, the total binder material contents of the SCC mixtures was kept at 460 kg/m3, FA,
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GGBFS mineral admixtures replaced the OPC in the SCC at the levels of 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, the
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39 water-to-binder material ratio is 0.35. The fresh properties of SCC, including the initial slump flow,
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42 the slump flow loss, the blocking ratio, the segregation ratio, the wet density, the setting times of
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45 cement pastes, were tested. The compressive strength, tensile splitting strength and static modulus
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of elasticity of the SCC were measured. Furthermore, the water porosity, carbonation depth,
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50 chloride ion diffusion coefficient and drying shrinkage of the SCC were evaluated.
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53 2. Methodology
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56 2.1. Materials
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59 2.1.1. Cement
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1 In this study, Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was obtained from China Cement Plant. The
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chemical compositions determined according to BS EN 197 (2000) and physical properties of the
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6 OPC are presented in Table 1.
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9 2.1.2. Mineral admixtures
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12 FA, GGBFS were used as mineral admixture in this study. The chemical compositions and
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physical properties of FA, GGBFS are given in Table 1.
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17 (The position of Table 1)

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20 2.1.3. Superplasticizer
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23 The polycarboxylate-based (PCA) polymer with a long comb-type side chain was used as SP.
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2.1.4. Aggregates
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28 The river sand (< 5 mm) and natural crushed stone with a continuous gradation (5-25 mm) were
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31 used as fine and coarse aggregates. The particle size distributions and physical properties of fine
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34 and coarse aggregates are given in Table 2.
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(The position of Table2)
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39 2.2. Mix proportions
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42 In this study, a total of seven SCC mixtures were used, including one control SCC mixture and
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45 six SCC mixtures with FA, GGBFS of 20 %, 30 %, 40 %. The SCC mixtures were prepared with a
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fixed binder material content of 460 kg/m3. The water-to-binder material (W/B) ratio is 0.35.The
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50 amounts of total aggregates were maintained at 1780 kg/m3.The weight ratio of fine aggregate to
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53 total aggregates is 0.39. The details of the mix proportions of the SCC are shown in Table 3.
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56 (The position of Table 3)
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59 2.3. Sample preparation and curing conditions
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1 First, OPC and FA or GGBFS were premixed with fine and coarse aggregate for 1 min. Then,
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the entire amount of mixing water with dissolved PCA SP was added and mixed for 5 min. Before
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6 casting, a variety of tests were used to determine the fresh properties of the SCC. Finally, the SCC
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9 samples were cast and cured at 23 °C for 24 h according to GOST 10180 (1990). After 1 day, the
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12 SCC samples were removed from the mold and transferred to a humidity room at a temperature of
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20 °C with a relative humidity of 90 ± 5% until the age of testing.
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17 2.4. Test methods

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20 2.4.1. Fresh properties
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23 2.4.1.1. Workability
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The workability of the SCC was indicated by the initial slump flow according to BS EN 12350
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28 Part 2 (2000a), the initial slump flow value of the fresh SCC was represented by the mean
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31 diameter of the SCC after lifting the standard slump cone.
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34 The slump flow preservation of the SCC was measured by the slump flow variations of the SCC
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with elapsed time. The slump flow value of the SCC was checked on 30, 60, 90, 120 min after the
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39 first test.
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42 2.4.1.2. L-box
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45 The L-box test was performed in accordance with FNARC standard. During the test, the fresh
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SCC was allowed to flow upon the release of a trap door from the vertical section to the horizontal
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50 section. The height of the SCC at the end of horizontal section was compared to the height of the
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53 SCC remaining in the vertical section.
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56 2.4.1.3. Segregation ratio
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59 The GTM screen stability test method (2002) was used to assess the segregation resistance of
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1 the fresh SCC. The method consisted of taking 10 L of the SCC and allowing the SCC to stand for
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15 min in the bucket. Then, the half of the SCC mixture was poured onto 5 mm sieve of 350 mm
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6 diameter. After 2 min, the mass of the mortar passed through the sieve was tested and expressed as
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9 a percentage of the weight of the original sample on the sieve.
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12 2.4.1.4. Wet density
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The wet density of the fresh SCC was determined using BS EN 12350 Part 6 (2000b) test
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17 method. First, the three molds of 100 mm cubes were prepared. Then, the fresh SCC mixture filled

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20 the mold, the surplus fresh SCC was removed from the top of the mold. Finally, the weight of the
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23 mold with its content was recorded. The wet density of the fresh SCC was calculated according to
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equation (1):
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M 
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32 Where: M is the wet density of the fresh SCC, in kg/m³; m2 is the weight of the mold completely
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35 filled with the SCC, in kg; m1 is the weight of the empty mold, in kg; V is the volume of the
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38 mold, in m3.
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41 2.4.1.5. Setting times of cement pastes
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49 2.4.2.1. Compressive strength
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52 The three SCC specimens of 100 mm cubes were prepared, the compressive strength test was
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54 carried out at the ages of 3, 7, 28, 90 days according to BS EN 12390 Part 3 (2000a).
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57 2.4.2.2. Tensile splitting strength
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60 The tensile splitting strength of the SCC was determined according to the method described in
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1 BS EN 12390 Part 6 (2000b) on the threeφ100 mm × 200 mm samples at the curing periods of 3,
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7, 28, 90 days.
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6 2.4.2.3. Static modulus of elasticity
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9 The static modulus of elasticity of the SCC were determined using ASTM C469-02 (2002) test
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12 method on the threeφ100 mm × 200 mm cylinder samples at the curing periods of 28, 90 days.
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All the SCC samples for the static modulus of elasticity test were subjected to identical initial
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17 loading. The initial cycles of loading and unloading were repeated at least twice. The test in the

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20 static modulus of elasticity was done by loading to a maximum stress equal to one-third of the
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2.4.3. Water porosity
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28 The water porosity test was carried out according to the vacuum saturation method (Khan et al.,
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31 2000), the three cylinder samples of φ50 mm × 100 mm were cured in a humidity room at a
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34 temperature of 20 °C with a relative humidity of 90 ± 5 %, the water porosity test was conducted
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at the curing periods of 3, 7, 28, 90 days. On the scheduled day, the samples were prepared by
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39 cutting cylinder samples into two halves and cutting 40 ± 2 mm thick slice, the cylinder samples
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42 of φ50 mm × 40 mm were dried at a temperature of 100 ± 5°C until constant weight. Then, the
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45 samples were placed in desiccators under vacuum pressure of 1 bar for 3 h. After that, de-aired
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water was introduced to submerge sample and maintaining the negative pressure for a further 3 h.
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53 overnight to ensure full saturation. The water porosity of the sample was calculated using Eq. (2).
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(Wsat  Wdry )
56 P  100 (2)
57 (Wsat  Wwat )
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60 Where: P is the water porosity (%); Wsat is the weight of the saturated sample in air, in kg ; Wdry
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1 is the oven-dried weight of the sample at 100 ± 5 °C, in kg; Wwat is the weight of the saturated
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sample in water, in kg.
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6 2.4.4. Durability properties
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9 2.4.4.1. Accelerated carbonation
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12 The three 100 mm × 100 mm × 300 mm prismatic samples of the SCC curing 26 days were
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dried 48 h at a temperature of 60 °C according to GBJ 82-85 standard (1985). After that, the SCC
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17 samples were placed in an accelerated carbonation chamber with a CO2 concentration = 20 ± 3 %,

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20 RH = 70 ± 5 %, T = 20 ± 3°C. The half face of the SCC samples was sealed by heating the
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23 paraffin, leaving the other face exposed to carbonation. The accelerated carbonation test was
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carried out at 3, 7, 14, 28 day exposure durations.
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28 2.4.4.2. Rapid chloride migration (RCM)
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31 The three φ100 mm × 200 mm cylinder samples of the SCC were used for rapid chloride
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34 migration (RCM) test according to NT BUILD 492 (1999). In front of test, the SCC samples were
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cured for 21 days, the samples were prepared by first cutting the cylinder sample into two halves
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39 and cutting 50 ± 2 mm thick slice. After that, the samples of 50 ± 2 mm thick slice were immersed
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42 in the water to cure 7 days. In the test day, the samples were measured by the voltage presented at
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45 30 V for 24 h or 48 h, the SCC sample of slice was split and 0.1 N AgNO3 was sprayed. The mean
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penetration depth of chloride ion was obtained. The formula (3) was used to calculate the chloride
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50 ion diffusion coefficient (DRCM0).
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53 Th( x d  a x d )
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55 t
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57 a  3.338  10 3 Th (3)
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60 Where: DRCM0 is the chloride diffusion coefficient of the SCC, in m2/s; T is the average value of
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1 the initial and final temperatures in the analyst solution, in K; h is the thickness of the specimen, in
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m; Xd is the average penetration depth of chloride ion, in m; T is the test duration, in s; a is the
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6 faraday constant.
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9 2.4.4.3. Drying shrinkage
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12 The modified ASTM C157 (1997) standard method was used for the drying shrinkage test of the
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SCC. First, the three 70 mm × 70 mm × 285 mm prism samples were cured in the laboratory for
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17 24 h and the initial lengths of specimens were recorded. Then, the samples were exposed to the

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20 drying chamber with a temperature of 20-25 °C and a relative humidity of 50-55 % until further
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23 measurements at 1, 4, 7, 28, 56, 90, 112 days. Before each measurement was taken, the samples
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were removed from the drying chamber and the length of each sample was measured after 15 min.
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28 Finally, the SCC samples were delivered back to the drying chamber for the subsequent drying
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34 3. Results and discussion
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3.1. The effect of the replacement level of FA, GGBFS on the properties of the fresh SCC
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39 3.1.1. Initial slump flow and slump flow loss rate
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42 Fig.1 shows that, at a given W/B ratio of 0.35, the initial slump flow values of the SCC with FA,
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45 GGBFS of 20 %, 30 %, 40 % were 724 mm, 746 mm, 759 mm and 716 mm, 730 mm, 745 mm, an
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increase of 4.17 %, 7.34 %, 9.21 % and 3.02 %, 5.04 %, 7.19 %, in comparison to the control SCC.
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50 The presence of FA, GGBFS in the SCC improved initial slump flow of the SCC. It may due to
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53 this fact that, FA, GGBFS of the spherical shape used to replace the OPC increased the paste
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56 volume, which it reduced the friction at the fine aggregate-paste interface (Islam and Sudip et al.,
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59 2008). Moreover, at a given replacement level, the FA series SCC had a higher initial slump flow
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1 than the GGBFS series SCC.

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It can be seen from Fig.2 that, FA, GGBFS replaced the OPC of 0 %, 20 % in the SCC, the
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6 slump flow values of the control SCC, the FA, GGBFS-blended SCC changed from 695 mm, 724
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9 mm, 716 mm, at the initial time, to 416 mm, 549 mm, 510 mm, after 2 h. With the further increase
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12 in the replacement level, the 30 %, 40 % FA, GGBFS-blended SCC had a lower slump flow loss
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rate for 20.11 %, 16.47 % and 24.66 %, 21.07 %. It indicates that FA, GGBFS mineral admixtures
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17 were used to replace the OPC at a higher proportion, the slump flow loss rate of the SCC could be

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20 reduced to a lower value. Moreover, the slump loss rates of the SCC samples prepared by FA were
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(The position of Fig.1)
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28 (The position of Fig.2)
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31 3.1.2. L-box test, segregation ratio and wet density
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34 The blocking ratio and segregation ratio of the SCC were used to assess the flowability and
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stability of the fresh SCC. It can be seen from Table 4, although the increase in the replacement
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39 level of FA, GGBFS caused a higher blocking ratio of the SCC, however, the blocking ratio of all
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42 the SCC mixtures were between 0.92 and 0.98, which it met the minimum acceptance value of
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45 0.80 as per EFNARC standard. In addition, the segregation ratio of the SCC mixture was in the
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range of 9.2-9.8 %. The use of FA, GGBFS in the SCC had not negatively affect on the flowability
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50 and stability of the SCC.
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53 Table 4 also gives that the wet density of the SCC with FA, GGBFS of 20 %, 30 %, 40 % were
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56 2302.8 kg/m3, 2285.6 kg/m3, 2267.6 kg/m3 and 2345.4 kg/m3, 2336.7 kg/m3, 2317.9 kg/m3, a
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59 reduction of 2.65 %, 3.38 %, 4.14 % and 0.85 %, 1.22 %, 2.01 %, comparing with the control SCC.
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1 This behavior could be related to a lower specific gravity of FA, GGBFS (FA, GGBFS: 2.31g/cm3,
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2.91g/cm3) than the OPC (3.01g/cm3). In addition, the GGBFS series SCC showed a higher wet
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6 density than the FA series SCC.
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9 (The position of Table 4)
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12 3.1.3. Setting times of cement pastes
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As shown in Fig.3, when the OPC of 20 %, 30 % in the SCC were replaced by FA, GGBFS, the
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17 initial setting times of cement pastes were prolonged by 70 min, 145 min and 63 min, 130 min, in

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20 comparison to the initial setting time of the control cement paste, the final setting times of cement
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23 pastes increased from a time of 298 min, for the control cement paste, to 378 min, 437 min and
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366 min, 419 min. The replacement level of FA, GGBFS in the SCC was up to 30 %, the setting
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28 times of cement pastes with FA, GGBFS increased very slowly. It is because that the OPC
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31 replaced by FA, GGBFS decreased the amount of the OPC in the SCC, which it resulted in a
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34 reduction in the volume of the hydration products, the cement pastes with FA, GGBFS needed to
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take a longer time to set (Brooks et al., 2000). In addition, at the same replacement level, the effect
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39 of FA on the setting times of cement pastes was more significantly than GGBFS.
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42 (The position of Fig.3)
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45 3.2. The effect of the replacement level of FA, GGBFS on the mechanical properties of the SCC
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3.2.1. Compressive strength development
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50 Fig.4 gives that the compressive strength of the control SCC, FA, GGBFS series SCC were in
51
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53 the range of 46.2-26.8 MPa, 60.9-44.6 MPa, 68.3-56.3 MPa, 77.6-73.6 MPa and 46.2-28.4 MPa,
54
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56 60.9-45.4 MPa, 68.3-58.7 MPa, 77.6-75.8 MPa at the curing periods of 3, 7, 28, 90 days. The
57
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59 compressive strength of all the SCC mixtures showed an increase with the change of the curing
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1 period, the FA, GGBFS-blended SCC had a lower compressive strength than the control SCC.
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Moreover, the increase in the replacement level of FA, GGBFS resulted in a reduction in the
4
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6 compressive strength of the SCC. At the curing period of 3 days, the compressive strength of the
7
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9 SCC with FA, GGBFS of 20 %, 30 %, 40 % reduced by 14.07 %, 28.35 %, 41.99 % and 13.10 %,
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12 20.35 %, 38.53 %, in comparison to the control SCC. With the increase of the curing period, the
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reduction in the compressive strength of the SCC was overcome by prolonging the curing period.
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17 At the curing period of 90 days, a reduction of 1.55 %, 3.61 %, 5.15 % and 0.64 %, 1.55 %,

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20 2.32 % in the compressive strength could be found in the SCC samples prepared by FA, GGBFS
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23 of 20 %, 30 %, 40 %. It might due to this fact that, at the early curing period, FA, GGBFS had a
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low pozzolanic reaction activity, at the later curing period, the calcium hydroxide (CH) resulting
26
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28 from the primary cement hydration reacted with FA, GGBFS to produce a secondary hydration
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31 (Vanyo et al.,1996). Moreover, the SCC samples containing GGBFS had a higher compressive
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34 strength than the FA series SCC at the curing periods of 3, 7, 28, 90 days.
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(The position of Fig.4)
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39 3.2.2. Tensile splitting strength development
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42 Fig.5 presents that, in the control SCC, FA, GGBFS series SCC, the tensile splitting strength of
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45 the SCC were growing at the curing periods of 3, 7, 28, 90 days. The increase in the replacement
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level of FA, GGBFS resulted in a reduction in the tensile splitting strength of the SCC. The 3-days
49
50 tensile splitting strength of the 20 %, 30 %, 40 % FA, GGBFS-blended SCC were 2.26 MPa, 2.04
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53 MPa, 1.42 MPa and 2.28 MPa, 2.16 MPa, 1.54 MPa, a reduction of 12.40 %, 20.93 %, 44.96 %
54
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56 and 11.63 %, 16.28 %, 40.31 %, in comparison to the control SCC. The tendency of the tensile
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59 splitting strength of the SCC to reduce with the increase in the replacement level of FA, GGBFS
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1 could also be found at the curing periods of 7, 28 days. At the curing period of 90 days, the
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difference of the tensile splitting strength of the control SCC, FA, GGBFS SCC samples was
4
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6 insignificant. Also, the contribution of GGBFS to the splitting strength of the SCC was the higher
7
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9 than that of FA.
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12 (The position of Fig.5)
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3.2.3. Static modulus of elasticity development
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17 Fig.6 illustrates that the static modulus of elasticity of the FA, GGBFS-blended SCC were lower

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20 than the control SCC at the curing periods of 28, 90 days, the more FA, GGBFS incorporating into
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23 the SCC, the lower the static modulus of elasticity of the SCC. In addition, the effect of the
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replacement level of FA, GGBFS on the static modulus of elasticity was not very sensitive as the
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28 compressive strength. At the same cuing period and the replacement level, the GGBFS series SCC
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31 had a higher static modulus of elasticity than the FA series SCC.
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34 (The position of Fig.6)
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3.3. The effect of the replacement level of FA, GGBFS on the water porosity of the SCC
38
39 It can be observed from Fig.7 that the use of FA, GGBFS in the SCC exhibited the higher water
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42 porosity than the control SCC. Meanwhile, as expected, the water porosity of the SCC reduced
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45 with the increase of the curing periods. However, at the different curing periods, the water
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porosities of the SCC with FA, GGBFS presented a different reduction rate. At the curing period
49
50 of 7 days, the 20 %, 30 %, 40 % FA, GGBFS-blended SCC had the higher water porosities
51
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53 (14.17 %, 14.53 %, 14.72 % and 13.94 %, 14.37 %, 14.53 %) than the control SCC (13.54 %). At
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56 the curing period of 90 days, the similar water porosity to the control SCC could be found in the
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59 SCC prepared by FA, GGBFS. Comparing Fig.7 (a) and (b), it was found that the GGBFS series
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1 SCC seemed to be more effective in reducing water porosity than the FA series SCC.
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(The position of Fig.7)
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6 3.4. The effect of the replacement level of FA, GGBFS on the durability properties of the SCC
7
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9 3.4 1.Carbonation depth
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12 Fig.8 shows that the carbonation depths of all the SCC mixtures increased rapidly at the early
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stage of accelerated carbonation. As carbonation proceeded in the hardened SCC, the carbonation
15
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17 rate of the SCC reduced. Moreover, at the same test age, the presence of FA, GGBFS in the SCC

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20 enhanced the carbonation depth of the SCC. This is because that CH content and porosity of the
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23 SCC are two key factors controlling carbonation depth of the SCC, the use of FA, GGBFS in the
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SCC lowered the CH content and increased the porosity of the hardened SCC (Cengiz., 2004; Pala
26
27
28 et al.,2003). In addition, when the carbonation depths of the FA series SCC were compared with
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31 those of the GGBFS series SCC, it was found that the SCC samples with GGBFS had the lower
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34 carbonation depth than the SCC with FA at the same replacement level.
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(The position of Fig.8)
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39 3.4.2 Chloride ion diffusion coefficient
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42 As shown in Fig.9, the chloride ion diffusion coefficient of the SCC with FA, GGBFS of 20 %,
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45 30 %, 40 % after curing for 28 days were 3.61×10-12 m2/s, 2.57×10-12 m2/s, 4.75×10-12 m2/s and
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3.08×10-12 m2/s, 2.20×10-12 m2/s, 1.42×10-12 m2/s. The incorporation of FA, GGBFS into the SCC
49
50 resulted in a lower chloride ion diffusion coefficient than the control SCC. Moreover, with the
51
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53 change in the replacement level of FA, GGBFS from 0 % to 30 %, the chloride ion diffusion
54
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56 coefficient of the SCC was drastically decreasing. The replacement level of FA, GGBFS increased
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59 up to 40 %, the chloride ion diffusion coefficient of the FA-blended SCC began to increase, while
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1 the SCC with 40 % GGBFS had a lowest chloride ion diffusion coefficient in all the GGBFS
2
3
series SCC. It indicates that the presence of FA, GGBFS can more efficient in preventing chloride
4
5
6 ion from migrating into the SCC (Tetsuya et al., 2008; Roman et al., 2010). Moreover, at a given
7
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9 replacement level, the SCC samples with GGBFS had a lower chloride ion diffusion coefficient
10

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12 than those with FA.
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(The position of Fig.9)
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17 3.4.3. Drying shrinkage

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20 The drying shrinkage values of the SCC sample measured as a function of time up to 112 days
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23 are shown in Fig.10. During the first 4 days of the drying shrinkage, the difference of the drying
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shrinkage of all the SCC samples was insignificant, a clear distinction in the drying shrinkage
26
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28 could be observed between the SCC mixtures after the drying shrinkage period of 10 days. At the
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31 drying period of 56 days, the 20 %, 30 %, 40 % FA, GGBFS-blended SCC had the drying
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34 shrinkage for 0.0424 %, 0.0403 %, 0.0377 % and 0.0441 %, 0.0416 %, 0.0394 %, the drying
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shrinkage values of the all SCC mixture samples were within the limit of 0.075 %, as required by
38
39 Australian Standard AS 3600 (2004). Moreover, the SCC samples prepared by FA, GGBFS
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42 exhibited a lower drying shrinkage than the control SCC, the higher replacement level of FA,
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45 GGBFS, the lower drying shrinkage value of the SCC. This could be attributed to this fact that, the
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48
use of FA, GGBFS in the SCC lowered the cement hydration rate and increased the porosity of the
49
50 SCC (Chen et al., 2012). In addition, utilizing FA into the SCC could more mitigate the drying
51
52
53 shrinkage than GGBFS incorporating into the SCC.
54
55
56 (The position of Fig.10)
57
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59 4. Conclusions
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1 Nowadays, the industrial by-products, i.e. FA, GGBFS, used as mineral admixtures to partial
2
3
replace cement for the production of the self-compacting concrete (SCC) is becoming increasingly
4
5
6 widespread. It not only reduces CO2 emissions from the cement plant and offers a environmental
7
8
9 friendly disposal way for the industrial by-products, but also effectively lowers the total material
10

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12 costs of the SCC. In this study, FA, GGBFS were used to replace the OPC of 20 %, 30 %, 40 % in
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the SCC. The fresh, mechanical, durability properties and porosity of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at
15
16
17 various replacement levels were investigated. The test results are as follows:

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18
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20  The presence of FA, GGBFS increased the initial slump flow and reduced the slump flow loss
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23 rate, wet density of the SCC and prolonged the setting times of cement paste. The increase in the
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replacement level of FA, GGBFS caused a higher blocking ratio and segregation ratio of the SCC,
26
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28 which they remained in target range value for each test. Utilizing FA, GGBFS in the SCC had not
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31 obvious negatively affect on the flowability and stability of the fresh SCC.
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34  Replacement of cement with FA, GGBFS showed the worse results with respect to mechanical
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properties and water porosity of the SCC at the early curing period. At the curing period of 7 days,
38
39 in the FA, GGBFS series SCC, the compressive strength and the tensile splitting strength of the
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40
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42 SCC had a reduction of 9.43 %-26.7 7%, 5.63 %-14.21 % and 7.22 %-25.45 %, 4.02 %-13.40 %,
43
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44
45 the water porosities of the SCC had an increase of 4.65 %-7.31 %, 2.95 %-6.13 %, comparing with
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48
the control SCC. At the later curing period (90 days), the differences of the mechanical properties
49
50 and water porosity of the control SCC, FA, GGBFS SCC samples were insignificant.
51
52
53  According to the accelerated carbonation test results, the higher amounts of FA, GGBFS used
54
55
56 in the SCC resulted in a higher carbonation depth. Moreover, the incorporation of FA, GGBFS
57
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59 into the SCC are more effective on resistance the chloride migration and drying shrinkage. The
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1 chloride ion diffusion coefficient of the SCC mixtures with FA, GGBFS were lower than the
2
3
control SCC. At the drying period of 56 days, the drying shrinkage values of the all SCC mixture
4
5
6 samples were within the limit of 0.075 %, as required by Australian Standard AS 3600.
7
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9  Although the FA-blended SCC exhibited a better initial slump flow, slump flow preservation,
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12 drying shrinkage resistance and longer setting times of cement pastes than the GGBFS-blended
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SCC. However, the utilization of FA in the SCC resulted in a lower wet density, mechanical
15
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17 properties and a higher water porosity, carbonation depth and chloride ion diffusion coefficient

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20 than the SCC with GGBFS.
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23 Acknowledgements
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This project was supported by western traffic science and technology projects (Chinese, No.
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28 2006ZB01-2).Jiangsu Bote New Materials Co, Ltd provided PCA SP. The authors would like to
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31 thank Wei Sun Professor of Southeast University in China. His sponsorship and support made
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34 this study possible.
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References
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39 AS 3600.,2004. Concrete structures-incorporating AMD 1: May 2002 and AMD 2.Australian
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42 Standard Institution, Sydney, AS
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56 Beycioglu, A., Aruntas, Y.H., 2014. Workability and mechanical properties of self-compacting
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List of Figures:

Fig.1-Slump flow evolution curves of the SCC incorporating FA, GGBFS at different

replacement levels with elapsed time

Fig.2-The slump flow loss rates of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different replacement levels

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Fig.3-The setting times of cement pastes with FA, GGBFS at different replacement levels

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Fig.4-The compressive strength development of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different

replacement levels

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Fig.5-The tensile splitting strength development of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different

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replacement levels
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Fig.6-The 28-days, 90-days static modulus of elasticity of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at

different replacement levels

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Fig.7-The water porosity development of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different replacement
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levels
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Fig.8-The carbonation depths of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different replacement levels

Fig.9-The chloride ion diffusion coefficient of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different
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replacement levels
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Fig.10-The drying shrinkage curves of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different replacement levels
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Control
FA20 Control
800
FA30 800 GGBFS20
750 FA40 GGBFS30
750 GGBFS40
700
700
650 650
Slump flow (mm)

Slump flow (mm)

600 600
550 550
500 500
450 450
400 400

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350 350
300 300
0 30 60 90 120 0 30 60 90 120
Elapsed time (min) Elapsed time (min)

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(a) FA series (b) GGBFS series

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Fig.1.Slump flow evolution curves of the SCC incorporating FA, GGBFS at different

replacement levels with elapsed time

50

U FA series
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GGBFS series

40
Slump flow loss rate (%)

30
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20

10
D

0
Control 20 30 40
Replacement level of FA, GGBFS (%)
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Fig.2.The slump flow loss rates of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different replacement levels
EP

Control Control
480 20% 480 20 %
30% 30 %
440 40% 440
40 %
400 400
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360 360
Initial setting time (min)

Final setting time (min)

320 320
280 280
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240 240
200 200
160 160
120 120
80 80
40 40
0 0
FA GGBFS FA GGBFS
Type of mineral admixtures Type of mineral admixtures

(a) Initial setting time (b) Final setting time

Fig.3.The setting times of cement pastes with FA, GGBFS at different replacement levels

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Control Control
80 FA20 80 GGBFS20
FA30 GGBFS30
70 FA40 70 GGBFS30

60 60

Compressive strength ( MPa)

Compressive strength (MPa)
50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0
3 7 28 90 3 7 28 90

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Curing time (days) Curing time (days)

(a) FA series (b) GGBFS series

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Fig.4.The compressive strength development of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different

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replacement levels

Control
Control 8 GGBFS20

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8 FA20 GGBFS30
FA30 7 GGBFS40
7 FA40
Tensile splitting strength (MPa)
Tensile splitting strength (MPa)

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6
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5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1
M

0 0
3 7 28 90 3 7 28 90
Curing time (days) Curing time (days)
D

(a) FA series (b) GGBFS series

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Fig.5.The tensile splitting strength development of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different

replacement levels
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28 days 28 days
35 90 days 35 90 days
34 34
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32
Static modulus of elasticity (GPa)

32
Static modulus of elasticity (GPa)

31 31
30 30
29 29
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28 28
27 27
26 26
25 25
24 24
23 23
22 22
21 21
20 20
Control 20 30 40 Control 20 30 40

Replacement level of FA (%) Replacement level of GGBFS (%)

(a) FA series (b) GGBFS series

Fig.6.The 28-days, 90-days static modulus of elasticity of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at

different replacement levels

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Control
Control 18 GGBFS20
18 FA20 GGBFS30
FA30 16 GGBFS40
16 FA40
14
14
12

Water porosity (%)

12
Water porosity (%)

10
10
8
8
6
6

4
4

2 2

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0 0
3 7 28 90 3 7 28 90
Curing time (days) Curing time (days)

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(a) FA series (b) GGBFS series

Fig.7.The water porosity development of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different replacement

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levels

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Control
Control
8 FA20
8 GGBFS20
FA30
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7 GGBFS30
FA40 7 GGBFS40
6
6
Carbonation depth (mm)

Carbonation depth(mm)

5 5
4 4
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3 3

2 2

1 1

0 0
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7 14 21 28 7 14 21 28
Carbonation time ( day) Carbonation time( day)
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(a) FA series (b) GGBFS series

Fig.8.The carbonation depths of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different replacement levels
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( m2/s）
( m2/s）

6 6
-12
-12

5 5
The chloride ion diffusion coefficient × 10
The chloride ion diffusion coefficient × 10

4 4
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3 3

2 2

1 1

0 0
Control 20 30 40 Control 20 30 40
Replacement level of FA( %) Replacement level of GGBFS( %)

(a) FA series (b) GGBFS series

Fig.9.The chloride ion diffusion coefficient of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different

replacement levels

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Control
Control 600
600 FA20 GGBFS20
FA30 GGBFS30
FA40 500 GGBFS40
500

Drying shrinkage (× 10 )
-6
Drying shrinkage (× 10 )
-6

400 400

300 300

200 200

100 100

PT
0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Drying time (days) Drying time ( days)

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(a) FA series (b) GGBFS series

SC
Fig.10.The drying shrinkage curves of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different replacement

levels

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Table

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List of Tables:

Table 1-Chemical compositions and physical properties of OPC and FA, GGBFS

Table 2-The particle size distributions and physical properties of fine and coarse aggregates

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Table 3-Mix proportions of the SCC

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Table 4-Fresh properties of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different replacement levels

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Table 1.Chemical compositions and physical properties of OPC and FA, GGBFS

Chemical Composition (%) Cement (OPC) Fly ash (FA) Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS)

CaO 56.07 <3 37.73

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SiO2 25.69 56.79 34.62

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Al2O3 6.73 28.21 11.82

Fe2O3 3.16 5.31 2.73

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MgO 1.75 5.21 9.43

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Na2Oeq 0.26 0.45 0.35
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K2O 0.83 1.34 0.50

SO3 1.78 0.68 1.42

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Loss on ignition 2.97 3.90 1.20

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Physical properties
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Specific gravity (g/cm3) 3.01 2.31 2.91

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Blaine fineness (cm2/g) 3520 3960 4500

﹡Abbreviations: Na2Oeq = Na2O +0.658K2O

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Table 2.The particle size distributions and physical properties of fine and coarse aggregates

Sieve size (mm) Cumulative pass amount (% )

Fine aggregate Coarse aggregate

25 - 100

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20 - 75.76

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15 - 42.3

10 - 5.26

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5 100 0.6

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4.75 95.4 -
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2.36 82.8 -

1.18 72.2 -
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0.6 52.2 -
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03 31 -
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0.15 3.2 -
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Fineness modulus 2.46 -

Physical properties
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Density-OD (kg/m3) eq 2580 1635

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Density-SSD (kg/m3) eq 2620 1680

Water absorption (%) 0.80 1.2

﹡Abbreviations: OD-Density at absolutely dry condition, SSD-Density at saturated surface dry

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Table 3.Mix proportions of the SCC

Mix Binder materials (kg/m3) Fine aggregate Coarse aggregate The dosage of PCA SP Water

OPC FA GGBFS (kg/m3) (kg/m3) (%) (kg/m3)

PT
Control 460 0 0 693.81 1085.2 0.24 161

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FA series

FA20 368 92 0 693.81 1085.2 0.24 161

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FA30 322 138 0 693.81 1085.2 0.24 161

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FA40 276 184 0 693.81 1085.2 0.24 161
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GGBFS series

GGBFS20 368 0 92 693.81 1085.2 0.24 161

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GGBFS30 322 0 138 693.81 1085.2 0.24 161

D

GGBFS40 276 0 184 693.81 1085.2 0.24 161

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Table 4.Fresh properties of the SCC with FA, GGBFS at different replacement levels

Mix L-box test Segregation ratio (%) Wet density (kg/m3)

Ratio (%) Time (s)

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Control 0.92 18.6 9.2 2365.5

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FA20 0.95 18.3 9.4 2302.8

FA30 0.96 18.0 9.7 2285.6

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FA40 0.98 17.8 9.8 2267.6

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GGBFS20 0.93 18.4 9.3 2345.4
AN
GGBFS30 0.95 18.2 9.5 2336.7

GGBFS40 0.96 18.0 9.7 2317.9

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Graphical Abstract (for review)

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

The properties of the self-compacting stage, the differences of the mechanical

concrete with fly ash and ground
properties and water porosity of the control
granulated blast furnace slag as mineral

admixtures SCC, FA, GGBFS SCC were insignificant at

Nowadays, the industrial by-products, i.e. Fly the later curing period. Although the FA,

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ash(FA), Ground granulated blast furnace slag GGBFS series SCC exhibited a higher

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(GGBFS), as mineral admixture for the carbonation depth than the control SCC, but,

production of the self-compacting concrete utilizing FA GGBF in the SCC were more

SC
(SCC) had been increasingly widespread. In effective on resistance the chloride migration

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this study, the SCC with FA, GGBFS of 20 %, and drying shrinkage.
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Control
30 %, 40 % were prepared, the fresh, 800
FA20
FA30
750 FA40

700
650
Slump flow (mm)

mechanical, durability properties and porosity 600

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550
500
450
400

of the SCC were evaluated. The presence of 350

300
0 30 60 90 120
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Elapsed time (min)

FA, GGBFS increased the initial slump flow

(a) FA series
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and reduced the slump flow loss rate, wet Control

800 GGBFS20
GGBFS30
750 GGBFS40
700
density of the SCC and prolonged the setting
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650
Slump flow (mm)

600
550
500
times of cement paste, the use of FA, GGBFS 450
400
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350
300
in the SCC had not obvious affect on the 0 30 60 90 120
Elapsed time (min)
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flowability and stability of the SCC. Also, the (b) GGBFS series

replacement of cement with FA, GGBFS in Fig. Slump flow evolution curves of the SCC

the SCC lowered the mechanical properties incorporating FA, GGBFS at different

and increased the water porosity at the early replacement levels with elapsed time

by Hui Zhao, Wei Sun, Xiaoming Wu, Bo Gao

Highlights (for review)

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Research Highlights
 The use of FA, GGBFS increased workability and setting times,

reduced wet density

 The FA, GGBFS series SCC had a lower mechanical properties and

PT
higher water porosity of SCC

 Utilizing FA, GGBFS reduced chloride ion diffusion coefficient and

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drying shrinkage of SCC

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 FA, GGBFS-blended SCC had a higher carbonation depth

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