Effect of fine aggregate characteristics on the thresholds of self-compacting paste rheological properties

This work studies the effect of fine aggregate characteristics on the thresholds of self-compacting paste rheological properties. Fine aggregate characteristics consist of gradation and content. The specific surface area (SSA) was used to quantitatively describe the gradation of fine aggregate. The most lenient criteria for qualified mortar were formulated from the view of yield stress and plastic viscosity. Mortar experiments were conducted by separately changing the SSA and sand ratio. For each combination, a series of mortar and corresponding paste experiments were performed by adjusting the water-cement ratio and the superplasticizer dosage to obtain paste rheological thresholds. Experimental verification tests on self-compacting concrete (SCC) was conducted. This method can be easily implemented with wide scope of sand gradation and content. Using this method, the aim of predicting the SCC workability from the rheological characteristics of paste was achieved.