Compressing fresh concrete technique and the effect of excess water content on physical–mechanical properties of compressed concrete

This paper offers an innovative practical technique for applications in which high workability concrete is needed. In this technique, concrete is produced by compressing the fresh concrete through a fabricated pressure apparatus without incorporating additives and no need for external vibration and workability control. Applying this technique, excess water is completely expelled out from the fresh concrete and porosity is remarkably decreased. In this study, several mixes having different excess water contents with the same cement and aggregates were prepared to attain different workability levels. To evaluate the effect of excess water content on properties of hardened concrete, the physical and mechanical properties of both compressed and uncompressed concrete were determined, including compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, strain at peak stress, stress–strain curve, failure mode, water absorption, density and ultrasonic pulse velocity. The results obtained from this study showed that the excess water content added to the fresh concrete does not influence the physical–mechanical properties of the compressed concrete while those of the uncompressed concrete are significantly degraded. Moreover, compressing the fresh concrete dramatically improves the properties of the compressed concrete, as compared to the corresponding uncompressed concrete.

► A usable technique for improving behavior of high workability concretes is proposed.
► Concrete is produced without additives, external vibration and workability control.
► Effect of excess water content on properties of concrete is investigated.
► Excess water content does not affect physical and mechanical properties of compressed concrete.
► Compressing fresh concrete dramatically improves the properties of hardened concrete.