Toward Mix Design for Rheology of Self-Compacting Concrete

S.G. Oh, T. Noguchi and F. Tomosawa

University of Tokyo, Japan

Abstract
Self-compacting concrete (SCC) can produce much higher fluidity with no occurrence
of segregation, thanks to its lower yield value and higher viscosity than conventional
concrete. However, the fresh property of SCC cannot be evaluated by conventional
consistency test such as slump test. It must be evaluated from the rheological point of
view, of which SCC is considered as a Bingham plastic fluid with two parameters, the
yield value and plastic viscosity. A new type of rheometer was developed to measure
these two parameters and experimental works were conducted on the imitative concrete
as well as the real one, in which the rheological properties of the matrix and the volume
fraction of aggregates were variously changed. The result of this research allow us to
develop an important parameter in establishing a new mix design method for the SCC.

1. Introduction
In recent years, a lot of study is done on how to improve the performance of concrete,
especially on topics regarding how to increase the strength, durability, and flowability of
concrete. At the same time, there are a number of reports published on how to evaluate
and predict those performances. High Strength concrete has become one of the hottest
topic since 1980s, and it is now possible to have structures that are built with concrete
over 100 MPa compressive strength, something we would not have even thought of
before. This kind of excitement has also triggered further development on the
construction techniques and materials used for such concrete. At the same time, there
were concern on the maintenance of concrete structure. How is it possible to minimize
the cost of maintenance, and to prolong the life of concrete. Thus, a lot of the research
shifts to the development on the durability of concrete.

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 1/12

The only thing that got left out until recently is research relating to the flowability of
concrete. And there are a number of activities at the moment on how to combine both
strength and durability into this third main property of concrete. However, high
workability concrete is still something quite unknown to many researchers. There is still
a lot of uncertainty concerning the appropriate mixing proportions and method.
Moreover, since normal slump method could not be used effectively, a new evaluation
method must be developed. With all these uncertainties, it is necessary to quantify the
most basic properties of the concrete with the use of the mechanism of the particles, and
fluid mechanics. We need to develop a method or a way of measure to quantify the
flowability of this so called self-compacting concrete (SCC).
For the purpose of having a right prediction on the flowability of concrete during fresh
state, we chose the theory of Rheology as a tool to help attain such a general
proportioning system. Applying the theory of Multi-Phase flow, we considered concrete
as a two-phase flow, which allows us to investigate on how rheology affects the
behavior of the aggregates. During the formulation, we have also adopted Kennedys
theory of Excess Paste, which gives a relationship on the interaction between the cement
paste and the aggregates. Since doing an analysis with fine aggregates would be rather
difficult to perform, we have decided to just use the coarse aggregates and see how an
increase in size and volume will change the viscosity and yield value of concrete.

2. Application of excess paste theory

2.1 Excess paste
In 1918, D.A. Abrams proposed a theory regarding reasonable mixing method for
concrete in his paper Design of Concrete Mixes. It is about the water and cement ratio
and the proportion of coarse aggregate. And about 20 or so years later, Kennedy
proposed the Excess Paste Theory [1], which is crucial to the understanding of the
mechanism of the workability of fresh concrete. His theory explained the fact that to
attain workability, it is necessary to have not only enough cement paste to cover the
surface area of the aggregates, so as to minimize the friction between them, but also
more of it to give better flowability.
In the figure below (Fig.1), the left side model shows that the aggregates closely
contacted to each other, with void in between them. But if we mix this model with
cement paste, this closely packed aggregates are then separated by this thin film of
cement paste around them, as the model on the right side show. Also we could notice
that the void is gone, filled up with cement paste.
As we can see, adding cement paste will change the interaction among aggregates. This
is sort of like a dispersion effect, i.e., aggregates are pushed away from each other.

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 2/12

Without a film of cement paste around them, the movement between aggregates would
generate much friction and make workability impossible.
2.2 The computation method for excess paste
Using the assumption of the two-phase flow theory, we considered that there is a
continuous (good) grading of aggregates. To attain high workability on concrete, it is
necessary to have a good spacing between the aggregates, as to minimize the friction
between them. Fig.2 (a) shows a concrete sample with a good spacing between the
aggregates that were covered by cement paste. We could then compact the aggregates,
and squeeze out the excess cement paste surrounding them. What left is a top layer with
just the paste itself, and below it a compact state of aggregates, with just enough cement
paste to fill in the void space, as shown in fig.2 (b). This cement paste in between the
voids is what I called the compact paste (Pc). And the cement paste that wraps around
the aggregates is the so called excess paste (Pe), which is calculated by subtracting Pe
from Vp , the total volume of paste, as shown by Eq.(1). We can also calculate the
thickness of the excess paste (tp) by just simply dividing the volume of the excess paste
(Pe) by the total surface area of the aggregates (sall), as shown in Eq. (2).
Pe = Vp P c

(1)

P
t p = ------es all

(2)

However, in order to get a more accurate value of tp(mm) we could include several other
terms in the calculation. First of all, we need to consider the ratio of volume of
aggregate to volume of concrete, and denoted that as Va, then we need to consider the
percentage of solid volume, as G. Putting them together as the Eq. (3) shown would give
a better result.

Aggregate

Excess paste
Compacted paste
Add paste

Void

Thickness of excess paste

(Compacted)
(Dispersion)
Fig. 1 Excess paste theory

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 3/12

Aggregate

Paste

Concrete

Pe

Vp

Pc
Compacting
Va

(a)

(b)

(c)

Fig. 2 Excess paste theory

V
10
t p = 1 -----a 100 --------------
S Va
G

(3)

where S is the specific surface area (mm2/mm3)

For this research, we have considered a good grading on the aggregates used. The ratio
of fine and coarse aggregates are in a ratio of 0.5. And assuming that they would turn
out to have the same percentage of volume. However, it is quite difficult in reality to
calculate or even to predict the total surface area of aggregates. Researchers like Powers
[2] and others have proposed different ways to attain such a value, but it is still quite
hard to say their method is a good and proper one.
We have proposed such a method based on the theory done by research in particle
engineering by Heywood [3]. Heywood has proposed to use a direct method to measure
aggregates in terms of length (L), width (B), and thickness (T). By doing so, he can
formulating them into the equations below that will finally allow him to obtain the
surface area S. Notice that in his equations, there are several additional values, the
projected diameter Dp, the sieve size Do, the shape volume coefficient k and the shape
area coefficient f. In case of sphere, k = , f = 6 , and f k = 6 . And gravels is
f k = 6.5 , crushed aggregates is f k = 7.5 .
B
m = --T

(4)

L
n = --B

(5)

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 4/12

T
Fig. 3 Shape of aggregate
B(T)

( )( )

2nm
Dp
-
------ = --------------2
Do
m + 1
2

12

(6)

v = kD p

(7)

s = fD p

(8)

However, what Heywood has proposed would only work for an individual grain, and
would not work for a continuous grading of aggregates. For this reason, we have
changed the equations around, so that it would allow one to calculate the total surface
area of aggregates.
First of all, we will calculate the total surface area (sall) of aggregates by the following:

s all =

s N
i

(9)

where si is the surface area, Ni is the numbers of a particle of size x.

This Ni value is a result from Eq. (10), and from this, we can sum up the product of each
individual si and Ni and then divided by Va to get the specific surface area S, which will
shown in the following equations:
Va
N i = ---------3ikD pi

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 5/12

(10)

V a 0.15
V a20
2

- + + fD 2p -----------s all = fD p 0.15 -------------3

3
20

kD p0.15
kD p 20
n

s all =

f Va
-- -------i
k D pi

(11)

(12)

Va =

ai

(13)

s all
S = -----Va

(14)

3. The experimental method

3.1 Factors and levels
Each of the different fractions of aggregate size and volume are shown in Table 1. We
are examining concrete models with aggregate size ranging from 5 mm uniformly to one
with a good continuous grading, and with volume ratio of aggregates ranging from 0.1
to 0.35. In the case of concrete, all the mixtures for self-compacting concrete were
prepared with normal protland cement. River sand was used as fine aggregate, whereas
crushed stone was used as coarse aggregate.
3.2 Materials used and mix proportions
Since result obtained from using real concrete may vary due to the fact that concrete
hydrates through time, it is actually better to use a model concrete. But the obtained
result will then verify later with using real concrete. For this model concrete, we have
selected polymers. When polymers mix with water, a viscous liquid will form, and with
careful proportioning, we are able to simulate the viscous state of high workability
concrete. Aggregates are then replaced by artificial light weight aggregates, as shown in
Table 2. Table 3 shows mix combinations of different aggregate size and volume ratio
for each experiment trial. The one highlighted with black color is the control, which has
a aggregate volume ratio of 0.3.
3.3 Experimental subject and method
The subject concern here is to measure the slump flow and rheology constant of both the
model paste and concrete. The experiment is done in the following order: after mixing
the model paste and concrete, slump flow is first check. The flow tests were conducted
on models and concrete. The model paste were spread from a flow cone specified in JIS
R 5201 (bottom diameter = 100.0 +/- 0.5 mm, top diameter = 70.0 +/- 0.5 mm, height =

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 6/12

Table

1: Materials and properites

Materials

Model

Concrete

1.
2.
3.

Properties

Paste

Water + Polymer

Fine agg.

Artificial light-weight fine aggregate (S.G.1 = 1.7,F.M. =2.68 )

Coarse agg.

Artificial light-weight coarse aggregate

(S.G.= 1.32,Percentage of solid volume = 64.0 %,F.M. =6.47 )

Cement

Portland cement (S.G.= 3.16)

Fine agg.

River sand (S.G.= 2.66,Percentage of solid volume = 61.5 %,F.M. =2.45 )

Coarse agg.

Crushed stone (S.G.= 2.66,Percentage of solid volume = 58.3 %,F.M. =2.45 )

S.P.2

Poly-carboxylic acid

V.A.3

Cellulose type

S.G. = Specific gravity

S.P. = Superplasticizer
V.A.= Viscosity agent

Table

2: Factors and levels

Factor
Model
(Flow of paste (cm))

Rheological properties of paste

Concrete
(Water cement ratio)

Model
Volume of aggregate

(Fine : Coarse = 1 : 1)
Concrete

Level

Symbol

20
25
30
35

P1
P2
P3
P4

0.26
0.32
0.40

N26
N32
NV40

0.60
0.55
0.50
0.45
0.40

60
55
50
45
40

0.61
0.59
0.57
0.53

61C
59C
57C
53C

60.0 +/- 0.5 mm) without any dropping motion, and the diameters of the spread were
measured as the flow values. In the case of concrete, slump tests stipulated in ASTM C
143-78 (Test method for slump of portland cement concrete) were conducted to measure
the diameters of the horizontal spread. Then if the mix shows no sign of segregation, the
model will be poured into a container, which would allow our specially designed
cylindrical rheometer machine, as described earlier in Fig. 4 (Rheometer for concrete),
to test the flow and rheology properties. The speed of the rheometer will increase
gradually from 1 rpm to 4 rpm, and the shear stress and torque will also be measured.

4. Result and discussion

From the experiments, we are able to obtain 2 important rheology properties of these
model pastes, the plastic viscosity and the yield value. It is possible to draw a linear

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 7/12

Motor

1084.5 mm

Gear

Handle

Revolving Cylinder

 
 
     


regression line for each of the models, which is in consistence with the Binghams
plastic fluid, as shown in Fig. 5. We can see that the rheology constants increase in
proportion with increasing amount of polymer. Table 3 shows the mix proportion and
the resulted flow of the models. It is obvious to see that the higher the yield value, the
lesser the extent of the flow, and the higher the viscosity, the slower the speed of the
flow.

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 8/12

70

450

400

60
E

350

50

G
E

30
C

20

G
E

E P2

250

C P3

200

G P1

C P3

150

G
E
G
E

50

C
A

Thickness of excess paste ( m )

G
E

C
A

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

A P4

100

A
0

E P2

E
G

A P4

10

300

G P1

40

G
C
E
A

G
E

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Thickness of excess paste ( m)

Fig. 6 Thickness of excess paste and

plastic viscosity in model concrete

Fig. 7 Thickness of excess paste and

yield value in model concrete

x
Aggregate

Thickness of excess paste

of particle x

Fig. 8 Thickness of excess paste

If we mix the model paste with aggregates with a volume ratio ranging from 0.40 to
0.60, we could find a relationship between the resulted rheology constants and the
thickness of excess paste, as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. As we increase the ratio of
aggregates, the thickness of excess paste will at the same time decreases. This, as shown
in both figures, causes an increase in the value of the rheology constants. As noticed
from the figures, the increase in rheology constants shoots up dramatically at around the
250 m, which is when the ratio is about 0.5.
The results obtained above are too spread out to generalize quantitatively, since each
model shows a quite different rheology constant. However, we could generalize the data
into a result that would be consistent for all models by using relative rheology constants
and relative thickness of excess paste [4]. From this, we work on for using real concrete.
The method of obtaining such a relative value will be explained in the following.
Relative thickness is defined as diving the thickness of excess paste t p x , of which Px
signifies a particular model with particle size x, by the projected Diameter of aggregate
D px , as shown by Eq. (15). And we can rearrange the equation into Eq. (16) (Fig. 8).

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 9/12

tp
= -------xDpx

(15)

t px = D px

(16)

Then the volume of the excess paste around a particular aggregate x (Eq. (17)), p ex , can
be calculated by multiplying t px with sx, which signifies the surface area of aggregate x.
And Eqs. (18) and (19) shows the equations for total volume of excess paste around n
numbers of aggregate x, P e x . This number n can be estimated quite accurately by using
the weight method, but the elaboration of the method is out of the scope of this paper.
p ex = t px s x

(17)

P ex = n x p ex

(18)

P ex = n x D px s x

(19)

This total volume of excess paste can be extended to a continuous array of aggregates,
just by simply summing up the P ex for each aggregate of size i, as shown by Eqs. (20)
and (21).
n

Pe =

(20)

ex

Pe =

n s D
i i

pi

(21)

By rearranging the above equation, we get the equation for the relative thickness of
excess paste, as shown by Eq. (22).
Pe
= -----------------------n
n i s i D pi

(22)

The only thing left now is the method for computing the relative rheological constants,
which are calculated by dividing that of the concrete with that of the paste. Fig. 9 and
Fig. 10 show the result obtained from using this relative relationship, and we can see
that all models fall into one generalized regression curve. From these two curves, we
established two generalized equations, which are in the same shape with that of

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 10/12

16

70

= 0.0705 -1.69+1

14

12

yr = 0.0525 -2.22+1

60

(R2 = 0.97)

E
G
C

(R2 = 0.92)
50

10
8

E
A

C
G

P1

P2

P3

P4

A
G

30
A
20

E
C

E
C
G

40

E
G
C
A

E
G

P1

P2

P3

P4

E
C
G

10

A
C
G
E

A
C
G

G
E

0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

Relative thickness of excess paste

Relative thickness of excess paste

Fig. 9 Relative thickness of excess paste Fig. 10 Relative thickness of excess paste
and relative viscosity in model concrete
and relative yield value in model concrete

125

35
30

?
H
B

20

100

25

15

>

10

N26-59C

N32-61C

N32-59C

N32-57C

>

N32-53C

P
?

75
B
M

50

>

NV40-61C

N26-59C

N32-61C

N32-59C

N32-57C

>

N32-53C

NV40-61C

25
5
0

0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

Relative thickness of excess paste

Fig. 11 Relative thickness of excess paste

and relative viscosity in concrete

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

Relative thickness of excess paste

Fig. 12 Relative thickness of excess paste

and relative yield value in concrete

Einsteins equation of two-phase flow, that will allow us to estimate accurately any other
models, as shown by Eqs. (23) and (24).
r = 0.0705

1.69

+1

(23)

2.22

+1

(24)

yr = 0.0525

After applying this relative method to the real concrete model, similar results obtained
and we could generalized the result by the above 2 equations, as shown by Fig. 11 and
Fig. 12.

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 11/12

5. Conclusion
The results of this research are summarized as follow;
1. For a continuous grading of aggregates, the relative thickness of excess paste can be
calculated by the following equation.
Vp
= -----------------------n
ni si Dpi

2. A consistent equation for estimating accurately the relative yield value and relative
plastic viscosity of SCC is established, which is shown as follow;
r = 0.0705

1.69

+1

2.22

+1

yr = 0.0525

From the concepts above, we can establish a new design method for the SCC, however,
which will be explained in another paper.

6. Acknowledgement
The authors thank Barry Cheong from UC Berkeley for his participation in this research
and his support into writing this paper.

7. References
1. Kennedy, C.T., The Design of Concrete Mixes, Proceedings of the American
Concrete Institute, Vol.36, 373-400, 1940
2. Powers, T.C., The Properties of Fresh Concrete, John Wiley & Sons, New York,
1968
3. Beddow, J.K., Particulate of fresh concrete, Chemical Publ. Co., New York, 1980
4. Oh, S.G., Kanematsu, M., Noguchi, T. and Tomosawa, F., Evaluation of rheological
properties of concrete by thickness of excess mortar, Summaries of Technical Papers of
Annual Meeting of Architectural Institute of Japan, 1998, A-1 Materials and
Construction, 985-988

OH, Toward Mix Design for Rheology, 12/12