FP6 & CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH in

enlarged European Union, Warsaw,

6-7.11.2003

“TESTING-SCC”
Measurement of properties of fresh
self-compacting concrete

COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Contract G6RD-CT-2001-00580

Prof Dr Peter JM BARTOS

Project Director
ACM Centre, University of Paisley, Scotland, UK
& E-CORE Network
 Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Project Report:
“New Civil Engineer” Sept. 1999

Í
ÍÍ Repaired
beams
Í

Í Beam to be
repaired. Note
poor compaction
ACM Centre University of Paisley
TESTING-SCC: Introduction

Self-compacting Concrete , a new

technology which eliminates the need
for compaction is now available. Its
introduction in Europe, which now
leads the world, was achieved through
strong FP4 and FP5 EC support.
ACM Centre University of Paisley
Early applications of SCC
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge,
(Japan) completed 1998,

remains the largest

single application of
SCC (500 000 m3)

but EXCESSIVE
TESTING ON SITE,
No standards !
ACM Centre University of Paisley
European Project : SCC
FP4 Brite (3M€ 1997-2000, 8 partners)

Principal aims:
Development of general-purpose SCCs for
building (30MPa) and civil engineering (60MPa)
z Mix design using local materials
z SCC with steel fibres (breakthrough!)
z Adequate workability for at least 90 min
Very successful: “DESCARTES PRIZE” EC
FINALIST Dec. 2002 (Environmental benefits!)
ACM Centre University of Paisley
European Project: SCC
(1997-2000) Conclusions

z COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION of
ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY SCC IS
POSSIBLE, WITH SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS
for the CONSTRUCTION PROCESS,
WORKERS and ENVIRONMENT
z The remaining main OBSTACLE TO WIDER
USE OF SCC is the ABSENCE OF STANDARD
METHODS for MEASUREMENT of the THREE
KEY PROPERTIES OF FRESH SCC:

ACM Centre University of Paisley

 FP5 ‘Growth’ European Project:
TESTING SCC (1.5M€ 2001-2004)

Work programme
z Review of existing tests for key properties of
fresh SCC (specification, verification, mix
development)
z Limited development of new and modification
of existing tests
z Site trials of ‘short-listed’ tests and pre-
normative evaluation of final selections
z Parallel CEN standard development
ACM Centre University of Paisley
TESTING-SCC (2001-2004)
Principal aims

z To facilitate specification and use of SCC by an

early introduction of EN standards
z To AVOID UN-COORDINATED DEVELOPMENT and
SELECTIVE ADOPTION of national standards, good
practice guides and recommendations
Practical advice on SCC use is extremely in demand and
there is a danger of making European and international
standardisation (harmonisation) very difficult in future

ACM Centre University of Paisley

 TESTING-SCC (2001-2004)
Consortium: 12 partners / 8 countries

ACM Centre, University of Paisley (Coordinator) UK

z Principal Contractors + Assistant Contractors:
Dansk Beton Technik (DK) + University Coll. London (UK)
Cement och Betong Inst. (SE) + Univ. of Stuttgart (DE)
Tech. University of Delft (NL) + Betongindustri (SE)
GTM Construction/Vinci (F) + Univ. of Ghent (B)
Icelandic Building Research Institute (IS)
John Doyle Construction Ltd (UK)
Swedish National Testing and Standards Institute (SE)
ACM Centre University of Paisley
TESTING-SCC (2001-2004)
Advisory Board

CEN (standards), Heidelberger (cement); SIKA

(admixtures), Foster Yeoman (aggregate), RMC
(Readymixed), Degussa (admixtures), Mott
MacDonald (Civ.engg. Consultant), LaFarge
(cement), Nordkalk (Limestone powder), OMYA
(limestone powder), UK Quality Ash Association
(pfa trade association), Bekaert NV (fibres),
EFNARC (European Federation of suppliers of
specialist construction chemicals), the Concrete
Society (dissemination)
ACM Centre University of Paisley
European Project:TESTING SCC
(2001-2004) Advisory Board

Additional active and closer collaboration with

EUROPEAN NATIONAL SCC development
and/or guidance issuing bodies (French,
Nordic, UK, German, Czech, Dutch,
Belgian, Spanish etc.)
OTHER INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL &
REGIONAL SCC development and / or
guidance issuing bodies (e.g. RILEM, US
ASTM & ACI, Japan, Australasia etc.)
ACM Centre University of Paisley
FRESH SCC: Key Properties

z FILLING ABILITY
z PASSING ABILITY
z RESISTANCE TO
SEGREGATION
ACM Centre University of Paisley
FRESH SCC: Additional Properties

z PUMPABILITY

z FINISHABILITY

z PLASTIC SETTLEMENT
z WASHOUT RESISTANCE
z Not included in TESTING-SCC project

ACM Centre University of Paisley

European Project:TESTING-SCC
MIX DESIGN for testing of tests !

z Control mix with properties agreed by all

partners as being typical ‘GOOD’ SCC
z Four mixes with VARIED FILLING ABILITY –
increased and decreased FLOW with other two
key characteristics unchanged
z Four mixes with decreased passing ability, but
similar ‘flow’
z Four mixes with decreased segregation
resistance
ACM Centre University of Paisley
European Project:TESTING-SCC
(2001-2004) Quality assurance

z Moisture / water content

z Mixer type and mixing process
z Dosage of admixture
z Temperature of the mix
z Delivery,storage,lab. conditions etc.

ACM Centre University of Paisley

 Basic constituent materials
z Fines / powders
– Ordinary Portland Cement (CEMII Skovde)
– Limestone Powder (LSP, Betocarb OMYA)
z Aggregate
– Crushed Granite (Glensanda 8/16 & 4/8 mm;
Foster Yeoman, Scotland) )
– Fine aggregate (Marine sand RN class A,
Denmark)
z SCC Admixture
– Glenium 51 (MTB, UK)
ACM Centre University of Paisley
1st selection of
SCC TEST METHODS
z SLUMP-FLOW, normal & inverted
z L-BOX (-es)
z ORIMET & V-funnel(s)
z JRing (alone and in a combination)
z Settlement column & other segregation tests
z NO STANDARD TESTS EXIST
z TESTING-SCC project: 2nd-stage selection is
now completed
ACM Centre University of Paisley
FRESH SCC TEST METHODS
z SITE TESTS for ACCEPTANCE, COMPLIANCE,
VERIFICATION (RAPID, RELIABLE, MINIMUM
LABOUR; TEST EQUIPMENT SIMPLE, ROBUST,
PORTABLE, INEXPENSIVE
z LABORATORY TESTS for DEVELOPMENT of MIX
DESIGNS (properties tailored to applications),
SPECIFICATIONS and FURTHER RESEARCH

OVERALL: MEANINGFUL RESULTS, ACCEPTABLE

REPEATABILITY, REPRODUCIBILITY and PRECISION

ACM Centre University of Paisley

 TESTING-SCC
FILLING ABILITY

z Slump Flow, Orimet, V-funnel, were examined

z SlumpFlow: moisture of base plate,
inclination,speed of lifting of the cone : strong
operator-sensitive, poor suitability as a
property acceptance test on site, time t-60
correlates better than t-50.
z Orimet was found good at detecting changes.
Sizes of aperture examined. Provides more
information and is more flexible than V-funnels
ACM Centre University of Paisley
 TESTING-SCC

for
FILLING ABILITY

SLUMP-FLOW
test

ACM Centre University of Paisley

 TESTING-SCC
PASSING ABILITY

L-box and JRing were investigated.

z JRing materials and different types of readings.
L-box: wall-effects and bar spacing/positions.
z It is difficult to assess blocking separately from
filling ability. Combination with Orimet possible.
z Bar spacing in JRing: standard setting(s) or
tailored to applications?

ACM Centre University of Paisley

Orimet+JRing combination test:
Mix with poor passing ability / blockage

Blockage

ACM Centre University of Paisley

 TESTING-SCC

Inverted and normal Slump Flow with JRing

ACM Centre University of Paisley
 TESTING SCC

for PASSING
ABILITY
100

200

600 Rebars
Gap 35 mm
200

L-BOX test H1

150
0-200
0-400 H2

ACM Centre University of Paisley 800

 TESTING-SCC
SEGREGATION

Settlement Column, wet sieve and penetration

tests were investigated.
z Difficulties in reproducing results on identical
test-concretes in different laboratories.
However a common TREND in performance of
test methods has been observed. Laboratory
tests for development of mix-design rather than
site-tests for compliance.

ACM Centre University of Paisley

 TESTING-SCC

for
RESISTANCE
to
SEGREGATION

SETTLEMENT COLUMN
test
ACM Centre University of Paisley
 TESTING-SCC
RESISTANCE
to
SEGREGATION

WET SIEVING
test

ACM Centre University of Paisley

 TESTING-SCC

RESISTANCE
to
SEGREGATION

PENETRATION
test

ACM Centre University of Paisley

 TESTING-SCC (2001-2004)
RHEOLOGY

z Yield value and viscosity were studied

z Possibility of inferring rheological
characteristics from either V-Funnel/Orimet and
SlumpFlow was confirmed.
z Filling ability and passing ability may be
considered together
z Formwork pressure variations explained
z More research needed to include segregation
ACM Centre University of Paisley
 TESTING SCC: FINAL STAGES

z CONSTRUCTION SITE TRIALS to evaluate

practical on-site applicability of the short-
listed tests – eliminate impractical ones
z FINAL PRE-NORMATIVE inter-laboratory
assessment (round-robin) of proposed
tests (Limited number of additional non-
partners are welcome to join, provided
they cover their costs)
ACM Centre University of Paisley
SCC: Overall advantages
z Reduced time of
construction
z Improved quality
of concrete
z Improved working
environment
z Overall cost
reduction
ACM Centre University of Paisley
NOT AGAIN –
- MAKING GOOD 570 metres …

ACM Centre University of Paisley

 FP6 & CONSTRUCTION
RESEARCH in enlarged European
Union, Warsaw, 6-7.11.2003

“Testing-SCC”
EUROPEAN PROJECT

PJM BARTOS : Project Director

JC GIBBS: Project Coordinator
O PETERSSON: Dissemination Manager
further information visit
www.acmcentre.com/testing-scc