Engineering properties and durability of high-strength self-compacting concrete with no-cement SFC binder

• An innovative high strength SCC produced with no-cement binder has been proposed.
• Compressive strength of concrete at 28 days was in range of 41.8–65.6 MPa.
• A high durability concrete with no-cement binder can be produced.
• Class F fly ash plays a crucial role in controlling quality and cost of concrete.

This study investigated the engineering properties and durability of the high-strength self-compacting concrete (SCC) manufactured by an innovative no-cement SFC binder, which was purely produced with a ternary mixture of three industrial by-products of ground granulated blast furnace slag, low calcium Class F fly ash and circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) fly ash. A fixed amount of 15 wt.% of combustion fly ash was adopted to trigger the hydration mechanism of various mixtures of no-cement SFC binder. Experimental results showed that the compressive strengths of the resulting SCCs at age of 28 days were in the range of 41.8–65.6 MPa, and an amount of 30 wt.% of Class F fly ash was found to be an optimal value to produce the SCC with excellent flowing and passing capability, preferable durability and mechanical properties.