Study on Effect of Various Mineral Admixtures on Self Compacting Concrete

Self- Compacting Concrete (SCC) is a special type of concrete that can flow and compact under its own weight and can occupy all the spaces without any vibration, and at the same time cohesive enough to be handled without bleeding or segregation. The required compaction properties are achieved by adding super-plasticizers and mineral admixtures such as fly ash, rice husk ash, silica fume, etc. The utilization of these treated industrial by-products as cement replacement will not only help to achieve an economical SCC mix, but it is envisaged that it may improve the microstructure and consequently durability of concrete. This provides solution to disposal problems and other environmental pollution issues created by these otherwise waste products. Silica-fume, rice husk ash and fly ash is more effective to produce the high strength performance concrete. Mechanical behavior of SCC has been studied by performing tests on 78 hardened concrete specimens with different variables i.e. partial replacement of cement with FA, RHA and SF (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%), concrete aged (7 days & 28 days) and water to binder ratio 0.40. Fresh concrete properties have been measured by V-funnel flow time, and slump flow diameter tests. Mechanical properties have been determined in terms of compressive strength. Silica-fume enriches the workability of SCC. This paper presents the results of an experimental study aimed at producing SCC mixes of M30 grade by using the Modified Nan Su method, incorporating three mineral admixtures, viz., Fly Ash, Silica Fumes and Rice Husk Ash as supplementary cementing materials.