Effect of various supplementary cementitious materials on rheological properties of self-consolidating concrete

In design of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) for a given application, the mixture's rheological parameters should be adjusted to achieve a given profile of yield stress and plastic viscosity. Supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) can be useful for this adjustment in addition to their other advantages. In this study, the rheological properties of 57 SCC mixtures with various SCM were investigated for a constant slump flow value. For this aim, various amounts of silica fume (SF), metakaolin (MK), Class F fly ash (FAF), Class C fly ash (FAC) and granulated blast-furnace slag (BFS) were utilized in binary, ternary, and quaternary cementitious blends in three water/binder ratios. Results showed that SF and BFS decreased plastic viscosity and V-funnel time values in comparison with mixtures containing only Portland cement (PC). However the opposite tendency was observed when MK, FAC and FAF were incorporated with PC. Substitution of PC with SF, MK and FAC increased high range water reducer (HRWR) demand in the SCC mixtures having constant slump flow. Use of SCM in SCC mixtures increased yield stress values. Good correlations were established between plastic viscosity and V-funnel flow time values for all w/b ratios.