A comparative study of self-consolidating concretes incorporating high-volume natural pozzolan or high-volume fly ash

• HVNP and HVFAF concretes can be used to produce environment-friendly SCC.
• HVNP and HVFAF concretes can effectively be used to produce low-cost SCC.
• HVNP and HVFAF concretes showed comparable strength to the reference concretes.
• HVNP and HVFAF concretes showed comparable durability to the reference concretes.
• In binary mixes, NP and FAF increase the flowability of concrete mixes.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Portland cement replacement on the strength and durability of self-consolidating concretes (SSC). The two replacement materials used are high-volume natural pozzolan (HVNP), a Saudi Arabian aluminum–silica rich basaltic glass and high-volume Class-F fly ash (HVFAF), from Jim Bridger Power Plant, Wyoming, US. As an extension of the study, limestone filler (LF) is also used to replace Portland cement, alongside HVNP or HVFAF, forming ternary blends. Along with compressive strength tests, non-steady state chloride migration and gas permeability tests were performed, as durability indicators, on SCC specimens. The results were compared to two reference concretes; 100% ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and 85% OPC – 15% LF by mass. The HVNP and HVFAF concrete mixes showed strength and durability results comparable to those of the reference concretes; identifying that both can effectively be used to produce low-cost and environmental friendly SCC.