Effect of powder materials on the rheology and formwork pressure of self-consolidating concrete

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is a recently developed, innovative construction material. With use of SCC no additional compacting is necessary due to its high filling ability; as a result, the labor cost of compacting is economical. However, SCC may require stronger formwork that can resist the higher lateral pressure induced as compared to that for ordinary concrete. This study shows the effects of limestone filler or fly ash replacement on the formwork pressure and workability retention of a SCC mixture. Portland cement has been replaced with each of the powders in order to enhance its flowability and stability. It is observed that the powder replacement also increases the formwork pressure and decreases the workability retention. The effect of powder replacement on the formwork pressure is evaluated with a proposed two-function model, and discussed in comparison with the rheology of paste.