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A Review on Self Compacting Concrete

Article in International Journal of ChemTech Research · October 2018

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 International Journal of ChemTech Research
CODEN (USA): IJCRGG, ISSN: 0974-4290, ISSN(Online):2455-9555
Vol.10 No.11, pp 62-68, 2017

A Review on Self Compacting Concrete

Arulsivanantham. P1*, Gokulan R2

1
Built Environment Engineering, Muscat College, Bausher, PO Box 2910, Ruwi, PC
112, Sultanate of Oman, Oman.
2
Department of Civil Engineering, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology,
Coimbatore, India.

Abstract : This paper gives a review on Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) to be made using
various Mineral Admixtures and Fibers. In current scenario of construction industries due to
demand in the construction of large and complex structures, which often leads to difficult
concreting conditions. When large quantity of heavy reinforcement is to be placed in a
reinforced concrete (RC) member, it is difficult to ensure fully compacted without voids or
honeycombs. Compaction by manual or by mechanical vibraators is very difficult in this
situation. That leads to the invention of new type of concrete named as self-compacting
concrete (SCC). This type of concrete flows easily around the reinforcement and into all
corners of the formwork. Self- compacting concrete describes a concerete with the ability to
compact itself only by means of its own weight without the requirement of vibration. Self –
copacting concrete also known as Self-consolidating Concrete or Self Compacting High
Performance Concrete. It is very fluid and can pass around abstructions and fill all the nooks
and corners without the risk of either mortar or other ingredients of concrete separating out, at
the same time there are no entrapped air or rock pockets. This type of concrete mixture does not
require any compaction and is saves time, labour and energy. This review paper explains the
utilizationof fibers and various mineral admixtures in the properties of Self Compacting
Compacting Concrete.
Keywords : Self Compacting Concrete, Mix design, Mineral Admixtures, Fibers, Durability,
Workability.

Introduction:
History of SCC:

The introduction of the “modern” self-compacting concrete (SCC) is associated with the drive towards
better quality of concrete pursued in Japan in late 1980‟s, where the lack of uniform and complete compaction
had been identified as the primary factor responsible for poor performance of concrete structures. There were no
practical means by which full compaction of concrete on a site was ever to be fully guaranteed, instead, the
focus therefore turned onto the elimination of the need to compact, by vibration or any other means. This led to
the development of the first practicable SCC by researchers Okamura & Ouchi [1] at the University of Tokyo.
The SCC, as the name suggests, does not require to be vibrated to achieve full compaction. These include an
improved quality of concrete and reduction of on-site repairs, faster construction times, lower overall costs,
facilitation of introduction of automation into concrete construction. The composition of SCC mixes includes
substantial proportions of fine-grained inorganic materials; this offers possibilities for utilization of “dusts”,
which are currently waste products demanding with no practical applications and which are costly to dispose of.
Arulsivanantham. P et al /International Journal of ChemTech Research, 2017,10(11): 62-68. 63

Current Indian scenario in construction shows increased construction of large and complex structures,
which often leads to difficult concreting conditions. Vibrating concrete in congested locations may cause some
risk to labour in addition to noise stress. There are always doubts about the strength and durability placed in
such locations. So it is worthwhile to eliminate vibration in practice, if possible. In countries like Japan,
Sweden, Thailand, UK etc., the knowledge of SCC has moved from domain of research to application. But in
India, this knowledge is to be widespread.

Literature Review:

Dr. Mrs. S.A. Bhalchandra et.al

[8] studied the performance of steel fiber reinforced self compacting concrete as plain self compacting
concrete is studied in depth but the fiber reinforced self compacting concrete is not studied to that extent.
Prof. Aijaz Ahmad Zende et.al
[2] studied on Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) and compares it with Normal Concrete (NC). Almost
all countries in the world are facing an acute decline in the availability of skilled labor in the construction
industry, and hence the need of Special Concretes becomes very essential in this world where the use of
concrete is just next to the water. The word “Special Concrete” refers to the concrete which meets the special
performance and requirements which may not be possible by using conventional materials and normal methods
of concreting. Self Compacting Concrete is one of the type of a special concrete which flows and consolidates
under its own weight thereby eliminates the problems of placing concrete in difficult conditions and also
reduces the time in placing large sections and at the same time giving high strength and better durability
characteristics as compared to the Normal Concrete. This paper discusses the various aspects of SCC including
the materials and mix design, different test methods such as V-funnel test, L- Box test etc., and also its
performance characteristics and properties in the fresh and hardened state.
Paratibha Aggarwal et.al
[9] prepared an experimental procedure for the design of self-compacting concrete mixes. The test
results for acceptance characteristics of self-compacting concrete such as slump flow; J-ring, V-funnel and L-
Box are presented. Further, compressive strength at the ages of 7, 28, and 90 days was also determined and
results are included here.
Esraa Emam Ali et.al
[10] has studied the effect of using recycled glass waste, as a partial replacement of fine aggregate, on
the fresh and hardened properties of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC). A total of 18 concrete mixes were
produced with different cement contents (350, 400 and 450 kg/m3) at W/C ratio of 0.4. Recycled glass was
used to replace fine aggregate in proportions of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. The experimental results
showed that the slump flow increased with the increase of recycled glass content. On the other hand, the
compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength and static modulus of elasticity of recycled
glass (SCC) mixtures were decreased with the increase in the recycled glass content. The results showed that
recycled glass aggregate can successfully be used for producing self-compacting concrete.
Mounir m. Kamal et.al
[11] studied the optimum content of fibers (steel and polypropylene Fibers) used in scc. The effect of
different fibers on the fresh and hardened properties was studied. An experimental investigation on the
mechanical properties, including compressive strength, flexural Strength and impact strength of fiber reinforced
self-compacting concrete was performed. The results of the investigation showed that: the optimum dosage of
steel and polypropylene fiber was 0.75% and 1.0% of the cement content, respectively. The impact performance
was also improved due to the use of fibers. The control mix specimen failed suddenly in flexure and impact, the
counterpart specimens contain fibers failed in a ductile manner, and failure was accompanied by several cracks.

M. Valcuende et.al
Arulsivanantham. P et al /International Journal of ChemTech Research, 2017,10(11): 62-68. 64

[12] studied the porosity in self-compacting concrete (scc) made without adding limestone filler,
comparing the results with other scc and with normally-vibrated concrete (nvc). Several types of concrete were
made, keeping the w/c ratio constant. The results show that the air content in scc depends on the flowability and
viscosity of the material, putting a forward an Expression to estimate the air content in accordance with these
two parameters. Scc shows a finer and more tortuous porous structure than nvc, leading to lower permeability to
water under pressure. Nevertheless, in the absence of pressure, when water penetrates by capillary action, the
results obtained from the different types of concrete were very similar, with differences below 3.5%. This is due
to the fact That the content of pores over 0.5 lm is practically the same in scc and nvc, but for smaller pore
sizes, which are therefore only accessed when water under pressure is applied, the differences in porosity
between the different samples is more pronounced. On the other hand, it was observed that the use of more fluid
mixtures permitted more impermeable concrete to be obtained. The use of viscosity-modifying admixture on
scc as a replacement for limestone filler does not affect the total volume of pores, but generates a slightly more
coarse porous microstructure, thereby leading to concretes in which water penetration depth under pressure is a
little higher (around 4 mm).
A.S.E. Belaidi et.al
[13] has studied the effect of substitution of cement with natural pozzolana and marble powder on the
rheological and mechanical properties of self-compacting mortar (scm) and self compacting concrete (scc).
Ordinary portland cement (opc) was partially replaced by different percentages of pozzolana and marble
powder (10–40%). The workability of fresh scc was measured using slump test, v-funnel flow Time test, j-ring,
l-box and sieve stability tests. Compressive strength was determined on prisms at the ages of 7, 28, 56 and 90
days. The results indicate an improvement in the workability of scc with the use of pozzolana and marble
powder. Compressive strength of binary and ternary SCC decreased with the increase in natural pozzolana and
marble dust content, but strength at 28 and 90 days indicate that even with 40% (natural pozzolana + marble
powder), suitable strength could be achieved.
Rahmat madandoust et.al
[14] studied the fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete (scc) containing Metakaolin
(MK). Totally, fifteen mixes including different mk contents (0–20% by weight of cement) With three
water/binder (w/b) ratios of 0.32, 0.38 and 0.45 were designed. The fresh properties were investigated by slump
flow, visual stability index, t50, v-funnel and l-box. The slump flow changes with Hauling time were also
considered. The hardened properties were tested for compressive strength, splitting Tensile strength, ultrasonic
pulse velocity (upv), initial and final absorption and electrical resistivity. The fresh concrete test results revealed
that by substituting optimum levels of MK in scc, satisfactory workability and rheological properties can be
achieved, even though no viscosity modifying agent was Needed. MK inclusion significantly enhanced the
compressive strength of scc within the first 14 days up to 27%. Moreover, the compressive strength of scc with
mk can be predicted in terms of upv by using multiple regression analysis. The tensile strength and electrical
resistivity of the scc containing mk were higher than those of the control scc by maximum of 11.1% and 26%,
respectively. A low absorption (below 3% at 30 min) can be achieved for MK mixes classified as „„good‟‟
concrete quality. In general, it seems that 10% MK can be considered as a suitable replacement regarding to the
economic efficiency, fresh and hardened properties of MK concrete.
Materials Used:
The Materials used in SCC are the same as in conventional concrete except that an excess of fine
material and chemical admixtures are used. Also, a viscosity-modifying agent (VMA) will be required because
slight variations in the amount of water or in the proportions of aggregate and sand will make the SCC unstable,
that is, water or slurry may separate from the remaining material. The powdered materials are fly ash, silica
fume, lime stone powder, glass filler and quartzite filler. The use of pozzolanic materials helps the SCC to flow
better.
The factors which dominates the selection of materials are-
i. Aggregates amount used.
ii. Type of superplastizer & VMA used.
iii. Percentage of powder content in concrete mix.
iv. Water/Cement ratio.
Arulsivanantham. P et al /International Journal of ChemTech Research, 2017,10(11): 62-68. 65

Cement:
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) conforming to IS: 12269 to be used. The physical and chemical
property of cement is to be identified.
Fine Aggregate:
Locally available river sand is used as fine aggregate. The sand was dried before use to avoid the
problem of bulking.
Coarse Aggregate:
Locally available granite with a size ranges from 20 mm to 8 mm and down was used as coarse
aggregate.
Water:
Potable water is used for mixing and curing of concrete.
Mineral Admixtures:
Mineral admixtures are used to improve the fresh and hardened properties of concrete and at the same
time reduce the cost of concrete materials. In order to achieve the necessary viscosity to avoid segregation,
additional fine materials are used. Various fine materials such as fly ash, silica fume, lime stone powder, rice
husk ash, glass filler and quartzite filler etc. can be used .
Chemical Admixtures:
The various types of chemical admixtures are used in the production of SCC viz., superplasticizers and
Viscosity Modifying Agents (VMA).
Mix Design:
Designing an approximate mix proportion to suit the needs of standard and high strength SCC with
different types of aggregates is to be developed. The strength of SCC is provided by the aggregate binding the
paste in the hardened state, while the workability of SCC is provided by the binding paste at fresh state. Mix
design selection and adjustment can be made according to the procedure shown in Figure 1.
Flow-chart describing the procedure for design of SCC mix

Set required Performance

Select Materials (from site)

Design and adjust Mix Evaluate alternative

Composition Materials

Verify or adjust performance in

Laboratory
Not ok

Verify Performance in Concrete

Plant or Site

Figure 1: SCC Mix Design Procedure (EFNARC, 2005) [3].

Arulsivanantham. P et al /International Journal of ChemTech Research, 2017,10(11): 62-68. 66

Properties of Fresh Scc:

[4]
Fresh SCC must possess the key properties including filling ability, passing ability and resistance to
segregation at required levels. The filling ability is the ability of the SCC to flow into all spaces within the
formwork under its own weight. Without vibrating the concrete, SCC has to fill any space within the formwork
and it has to flow in horizontal and vertical directions without keeping air entrapped inside the concrete or at the
surface. Passing ability is the ability of the SCC to flow through tight openings such as spaces between steel
reinforcing bars, under its own weight. Passing ability is required to guarantee a homogenous distribution of the
components of SCC in the vicinity of obstacles. The resistance to segregation is the resistance of the
components of SCC to migration or separation and remains uniform throughout the process of transport and
placing. To satisfy these conditions, The European Federation of Specialist Construction Chemicals and
Concrete Systems. (EFNARC) has formulated certain test procedures.

Table 1. List of test methods for workability properties of SCC by EFNARC [3]

S.No Methods Property

1 Slump-flow by Abrams cone Filling ability
2 T50cmslumpflow Filling ability
3 J-ring Passing ability
4 V-funnel Filling ability
5 V-funnel at T 5 minutes Segregation resistance
6 L-box Passing ability
7 U-box Passing ability
8 Fill-box Passing ability
9 GTM screen stability test Segregation resistance
10 Orimet Filling ability

Workability criteria for the Fresh SCC:

These requirements are to be fulfilled at the time of placing. Likely changes in workability during
transport should be taken into account in production. Typical acceptance criteria for Self-compacting Concrete
with a maximum aggregate size up to 20 mm are shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Acceptance criteria for Self-compacting Concrete.

Typical range of values

S. Method Unit
Minimum Maximum
No
1 Slump flow by Abrams cone mm 650 800
2 T50cmslumpflow sec 2 5
3 J-ring mm 0 10
4 V-funnel mm 6 12
5 Time increase, V-funnel at T5minutes sec 0 +3
6 L-box h2/h1 0,8 1,0
7 U-box (h2-h1) (h2-h1) mm 0 30
8 Fill-box % 90 100
9 GTM Screen stability test % 0 15
10 Orimet sec 0 5

Hardened Concrete Properties of Scc:

The hardened properties of SCC such as Compressive strength, Split tensile strength, Flexural strength,
Durability etc. can be studied according the use of admixtures in the SCC.
Arulsivanantham. P et al /International Journal of ChemTech Research, 2017,10(11): 62-68. 67

Conclusions:
Particularly in India, the use of Self-compacting concrete for routine construction is not much because
of the lack of awareness while in countries like Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Thailand, UK etc., apart from
Japan, SCC is used for the routine construction and with research data available, awareness can be spread in
order to utilize the various benefits of this material. It is not fully clear whether existing design codes for
structural concrete can be practical in case of self-compacting concrete. Use of viscosity modifying agents
along with high-range water reducing agent is very essential for flowability and segregation control. A better
understanding of the rheology of SCC has made it easier to know the functions of fines, super plasticizers, and
VMA in SCC, and the compatibility between these and gives the designers a clear understanding of the
mechanical properties including stress strain characteristics of SCC in its hardened state. No standard codes are
available for the mix design of self compacting concrete apart from few methods developed by the researchers
and many institutions, RMC; companies are using their own methods with one or other limitations. Thus some
generalized method can be developed taking into the consideration all the aspects.

Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) can save time, cost, enhance quality, durability and moreover it is a
green concept.

1. Due to its ability to guide itself into every nook and cranny in the form, SCC can produce nearly nil defects
concrete. Number of pouring points can be reduced, thus eliminating the cumbersome activity of pipe
laying over the pour.
2. About 40 to 50% of cement content can be replaced by materials like fibers; cost of the concrete is greatly
reduced. The number of skilled supervisors, engineers, vibrator operators and pipe fitters can drastically be
reduced. Formwork can be used for more number of times. Cost of repairing the structure is reduced as the
numbers of defects are reduced to a great extent.
3. Since the concrete is capable of self-consolidating and reaching the difficult areas in moulds, manual
variables in terms of placing and compacting concrete is nil. This factor ultimately yields defect less, better-
quality concrete structures.

References:
1. H. Okamura, “Self Compacting Concrete”, Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, Vol 1, No 1,
April 2003, pp 5-15.
2. Prof. Aijaz Ahmad Zende, Dr R. B. Khadirnaikar “An Overview of the Properties of Self Compacting
Concrete” IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, e-ISSN: 2278-1684, p-ISSN: 2320-
334X, 2014, PP 35-43.
3. “Specification and Guidelines for Self-Compacting Concrete”, EFNARC, Feb 2002.
4. S. Venkateswara Rao, M.V. Seshagiri Rao, 1 2 3P. Rathish Kumar “Effect of Size of Aggregate and
Fines on Standard and High Strength Self Compacting Concrete” Journal of Applied Sciences
Research, 6(5): 433-442, 2010.
5. N. Mishima, Y. Tanigawa, H. Mori, Y. Kurokawa, K. Terada, and T. Hattori, “Study on Influence of
Aggregate Particle on Rheological Property of Fresh Concrete,” Journal of the Society of Materials
Science, Japan, Vol. 48, No. 8, 1999, pp. 858 – 863.
6. Khayat K. H., “Workability, Testing and Performance of Self Consolidating Concrete”, ACI Materials
Journal, Vol. 96, No. 3, May-June 1999, pp.346-354.
7. Mattur C. Narasimhan, Gopinatha Nayak, Shridhar K.C., “Strength and Durability of High-Volume
Fly-ash Self-compacting Concrete”, ICI Journal, January-March 2009, pp. 7-16.
8. Dr. Mrs. S.A. Bhalchandra , Pawase Amit Bajirao “International Journal Of Computational Engineering
Research” ,Vol. 2 Issue. 4, July 2012.
9. Paratibha AGGARWAL, Rafat SIDDIQUE, Yogesh AGGARWAL, Surinder M GUPTA “Leonardo
Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies” ISSN 1583-1078 Issue 12, January-June 2008 p. 15-
24.
10. Esraa Emam Ali, Sherif H. Al-Tersawy “Recycled glass as a partial replacement for fine aggregate in
self compacting concrete” , Construction and Building Materials 35 (2012) 785–791.
 Arulsivanantham. P et al /International Journal of ChemTech Research, 2017,10(11): 62-68. 68

11. Mounir M. Kamal , Mohamed A. Safan , Zeinab A. Etman , Bsma M. Kasem, “Mechanical properties
of self-compactedfiber concrete mixes”, Housing and Building National Research Center Journal,
(2014) 10, 25–34.
12. M. Valcuende , C. Parra , E. Marco , A. Garrido , E. Martínez , J. Cánoves, “Construction and Building
Materials” 28 (2012) 122–128.
13. A.S.E. Belaidi , L. Azzouz , E. Kadri , S. Kenai , “Effect of natural pozzolana and marble powder on
the properties of self-compacting concrete”, Construction and Building Materials” 31 (2012) 251–257.
14. Rahmat Madandoust , S. Yasin Mousavi, “Fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete
containing metakaolin”, Construction and Building Materials 35 (2012) 752–760.

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