DOI

10.5703/1288284315038

Abstract

The ultimate goals of this study included investigation of the optimal ranges for paste content, amount of cementations materials and aggregate gradation for concrete paving mixtures. In general, the optimum concrete mixtures developed in this study contained low paste content (below 23%), and were characterized by low scaling and sorptivity. In addition, it was also possible to achieve high cement replacement levels for these mixtures. Finally, for optimized fly ash mixtures, the selection of well graded aggregate gradation with high packing density increased the most desired paste content for those mixtures, thus indicating that combined aggregate gradation has strong influence on concrete performance. Lastly, concrete mixtures developed with optimum ranges of variables studied in this research contained low cement content.

The overall scope of the research was divided into three distinctive phases, each of which is described briefly below:

PHASE I: This phase consisted of statistical optimization of the proportions of concrete binder. The Central Composite Design methodology (CCD) was used to design the experiment for the optimization of binder in three types of concrete mixtures: a) cement + fly ash, b) cement + GGBFS, and c) cement + fly ash + GGBFS. The variables studied in each of these systems included: paste content (from 21 to 25 % by mixture volume) and total content of supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in the mixture. This was expressed as weight percent of total binder, and varied depending on the binder system used.

PHASE II: The main goal of this phase was to investigate the effect of different aggregate gradations on the fresh and hardened properties of optimized concrete mixtures developed in PHASE I, as well as to identify the most desired aggregate gradations for paving mixtures. Different aggregate gradations were prepared by blending of 2, 3 or 4 different sizes of aggregates based on concept of Shilstone’s Coarseness Factor Chart.

PHASE III: The concept of air-free paste–aggregate void saturation ratio (k”) introduced in PHASE II seemed to fairly accurate link the properties of concrete mixtures with their paste content. Thus, it was decided to further investigate this concept in connection with aggregate packing density (Φ). In addition, it was believed that defining optimum values of “k” will allow for revising the paste content ranges developed in PHASE I for different systems, and thus define more general optimum paste ranges for paving mixtures.

Report Number

FHWA/IN/JTRP-2012/34

Keywords

mixture optimization, paste content, fly ash, GGBFS, aggregate gradation, SPR-2864

SPR Number

2864

Performing Organization

Joint Transportation Research Program

Publisher Place

West Lafayette, Indiana

Date of this Version

2012

Additional Files
Technical Summary.pdf (676 kB)
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