High Performance

Concrete
Ken Day
www.kenday.id.au

High Performance
Concrete
Concrete may be regarded as high
performance for several different
reasons:
high strength,
high workability
high durability
and perhaps also improved visual
appearance.

High Performance
Concrete
High strength concrete (HSC) might be regarded
as concrete with a strength in excess of 60MPa
and such concrete can be produced as relatively
normal concrete with a higher cement content
and a normal water-reducing admixture.
However ultra high performance concrete (UHPC)
will more usually contain cement replacement
materials and a high-range water-reducer
(HRWR) or superplasticiser(SP) (different names
for the same thing).

Ultra High Strength

Concrete
How High?
Strengths of 150-200MPa were reported
in several papers at a recent symposium
How is it done?
Using only fine sand as an aggregate, a
high content of cement and silica fume, a
high dosage of HRWR admixture plus
steel fibres

Ultra High Strength

Concrete
In what kind of structures?
Thin shell roofing (2cm thick) and bulb
double and single tees were reported
Both insitu and precast applications
Flexural and tensile strengths also high,
allowing omission of secondary reinft.
Concrete in tees was generally selfcompacting

Self-Compacting Concrete

Ken Day
www.kenday.id.au

The Important
Properties
Self-compactability
Avoidance of bleeding and segregation
Low shrinkage
Low permeability
Strength as needed

The Benefits
Less dependent on skill on site
Safer, quieter sites (no vibration)
Better appearance
Better durability
Strength as needed

Whats Different?
Segregation resistance from mortar
viscosity, not aggregate grading
Workability through admixtures, not
water content

Whats The Snag?

Higher cost especially if high strength
not needed
Plant control has to be better

Will it happen?
My guess is that 50% of concrete will be
self-compacting within 10 years
In USA a very large proportion of
precast concrete is already SCC

What is the secret?

Paste Viscosity! Attained by one of three
means:
High cement content
High content of Fly Ash, Silica Fume etc
Use of Viscosity Modifying Admixture
Plus low water content using HRWR

How to Check Suitability?

There are many new tests: V-funnel, Lbox, U-box, Fill-box, Orimet, GTM
Screen + Slump Flow and J-ring
While several of these may be used in mix
development, only the latter will find site
use

What is Slump Flow Test?

Measuring spread rather than height plus:
Speed of flow outwards
Ability to pass through J-ring
Observation of edge during flow
Interesting to note that it works better with
the cone upside down!

Why Does It Look Better?

Perfect compaction
No bleeding

Conclusion
We are going to expect concrete that is a little
more expensive per cubic metre to buy
BUT
It will require less skill and effort to place
It will look better with no appearance defects
It will be more durable
It will require more skill at the batching plant

I leave you with

a look at my
website:

www.kenday.id.au