Roller compacted concrete for highway applications
Abstract
A series of laboratory studies were carried out to investigate the behavior and characteristics of Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) for highway applications. The engineering properties investigated included flexural strength, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, static and dynamic modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, bonding strength, frost protection and fatigue strength. In most cases the properties of RCC were compared to those of Conventional Concrete (CC). Data obtained from the experiments were analyzed statistically to determine the effects of the factors considered. RCC mixes with and without fly ash (class C and class F) were considered at different phases of the studies. It was believed that these mixes would provide good ranges of consistency, strength and surface texture, for a wide variety of highway applications. Specimens for the different tests were consolidated on a vibratory table with surcharges. Test results indicate that for the range of mixes studied, RCC can provide higher flexural and compressive strength than conventional concrete, with a significant savings in cement consumption. The behavior of RCC under stress was found to be similar to that of conventional concrete. It was also found that the elastic properties of RCC resemble closely those of high strength conventional concrete. The possibility of creating an air void system in Roller Compacted Concrete is also described. This void system extends the durability of RCC when subjected to cycles of freezing and thawing. The method involves the use of relatively high dosages of air entrainment admixture with zero slump concretes, for which the air system is first created in the mortar component of the concrete. Microscopic observations of polished sections of concrete detected the void system. Fatigue studies on RCC and CC, both with the same cement content, and under the same testing conditions showed no statistical evidence of differences in behavior. The S-N diagram for both concretes were not statistically different. For concretes with identical cement content tested with the same actual stress, the higher strength roller compacted concrete gave much longer fatigue life.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Scholer, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Civil engineering
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