Influence of the dosage of super plasticizer on properties of high performance concrete

Abstract

High-performance concrete (HPC) is defined as concrete that meets special combinations of performance and uniformity requirements. That cannot always be achieved routinely using conventional constituents and ordinary mixing, placing, and curing practices. The objective of this study is to provide some experimental data that can be useful in engineering practice for producing HPC using conventional constituents and ordinary mixing and curing practices using less expensive raw materials. In the given study, the influence of the polycarboxylates based super plasticizer (SP) (high-range water reducer) at different dosages to the properties of HPC was investigated. SP in concrete mixtures was added with ratios of 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.5% by weight of cement. The samples characteristics of produced concrete were compared with each other. Performance of the concrete mixes was determined for fresh and hardened concrete, which included cone test, compressive strength and porosity measurements. Obtained results indicated that increasing dosage of SP to 2.5% by weight of cement improved the performance of concrete and contributed more to the improvement of its transportability properties as well as mechanical properties, but at the same time has considerably reduced water/cement (W/C) ratio. Porosity tests of hardened concrete showed influence of SP dosage to the volume of pores accessible to water.