Determination of the Optimum Amount of Superplasticizer Additive for Self-Compacting Concrete

Abstract

Self-compacting concrete modifies its workability with small variations in the amount of superplasticizer additive. For this reason, large number of tests are required to monitor its workability. In order to determine the appropriate amount of additive for a single mix, the evolution of the power consumption of the concrete mixer during the addition of small amounts of additive to the concrete was analyzed. These results were compared both with typical workability characterization for self-compacting concrete and with the saturation point results, determined by the Marsh cone method. After this comparison, a good correlation was obtained between the results from the traditional tests and the proposed “concrete mixer method”.

Keywords

• superplasticizer additive
• self-compacting concrete
• workability
• power consumption
• concrete mixer method