Simulation of self-compacting concrete (SCC) passing ability using the L-box model for sustainable buildings

Abstract

The self-compacting concrete (SCC), which is the major innovation of the concrete technology of the 21st century, has been sustained due to its impact on the sustainable construction of infrastructures. Various additives have been coupled into the production of SCC to improve its passing ability, flow, shear stress, dynamic resistance and segregation resistance. The flow of the SCC is experimentally measured through various models, which include Slump-cone, V-funnel, L-box, U-box, J-ring, etc., by which the flowability, passing ratio (passing ability), etc., are determined. In this research paper, the L-box model has been used to simulate the flow output condition, which is the passing ratio (h2/h1) of the SCC, to optimize its passing ability for sustainable concreting. The passing ability of the SCC through the L-box was estimated by recording the heights at the upstream (h1) and downstream (h2) of the horizontal leg of the test box at the end of the flow through embedded steel bars. Stress and pressure boundary conditions for the flow state condition were deployed to solve the passing ratio simulation problem for the L-box model. The results show that the optimized passing ratio (flow output), h2/h1, falls within the appropriate European Guidelines for Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) materials.