Development of Ultra High Strength Concrete Using Silica Fume and its Mechanical & Durability Properties - Experimental Investigation

Abstract

This experimental investigation is aimed to develop an ultra-high strength concrete with minimum of 100 MPa as compressive strength.In order to obtain this, twenty different concrete mixes have been tried, using cement, river sand, coarse aggregate, water, silica fume and super plasticizer. During the preparation of trial mixes of concrete, the water / binder ratio of 0.2, silica fume of 10% to the weight of cement, super plasticizer of 10 litres per cubic metre of concrete and coarse aggregate of 1000 kg/m3 were kept as constant. The amount of cement content (as 600-, 650-, 700-, 750- and 800 kg/m3) and the fine aggregate content (as 500-, 600-, 700- and 800 kg/m3) was varied. Totally 300 specimens were cast and tested in this investigation.The100 x 100 x 100 mm size of cubes, 150 x 300 mm size of cylinders, 100 x 100 x 500 mm size of prisms, 100 x 200 mm size of cylinders, 60 x 100 mm size of cylinders were used to test compressive, split tensile, flexural strength, chloride penetration and water penetration tests respectively at the age of 7-, 14- and 28 days. Based on the test results, a suitable mix proportion to produce an ultra-high strength concrete has been identified. Subsequently, from this investigation, the maximum cube compressive strength of 130 MPa, split tensile strength of 6.94 MPa, flexural strength of 21.39 MPa, chloride penetration 36 Coulombs which is lesser than 100 and sorptivity coefficient valueof 0.582 has been achieved.