ACI MATERIALS JOURNAL
Title no. 105-M66
Effect of Supplementary Cementitious Materials on
Rheological Properties, Bleeding, and Strength of
Structural Grout
by K. H. Khayat, A. Yahia, and M. Sayed
Cement grouts used for crack injection, anchorage sealing, and
post-tensioning applications are proportioned to exhibit high
flowability to facilitate casting and adequate cohesion to prevent
phase separation and bleeding. An experimental investigation was
carried out to evaluate the effect of different types of supplementary
cementitious materials (SCMs) on rheological properties, stability,
and compressive strength of structural grout. Substitutions of cement by
3% silica fume, 10 to 30% Class F fly ash, and 40% granulated blast-
furnace slag were considered. Various binary systems that resulted in
good performance were also combined to investigate the effect of
ternary cement blends on grout performance.
The use of SCMs in structural grouts is shown to increase water
demand in mixtures made with portland cement. When incorporated
in well-dispersed systems, the use of binary and ternary cements
led to higher fluidity, lower yield stress, higher plastic viscosity,
and greater resistance to forced bleeding compared with reference
mixtures made with portland cement. This paper discusses the
performance of various grout mixtures prepared with binary and
ternary binders and different concentrations of high-range water-
reducing admixture.
Keywords: admixtures; adsorption; bleeding; grout; rheology.
INTRODUCTION
In addition to enhancing mechanical properties and durability,
the partial substitution of cement by supplementary cementitious
materials (SCMs) can enhance rheological properties and
stability of the cement paste.1,2 Proper substitution of cement
with SCMs can lead to greater packing density of the fine
powder, hence reducing interparticle friction. Given the
spherical shape of fly ash (FA) particles, the partial replacement
of cement by FA can further enhance flow properties. The partial
substitution of cement by silica fume in cement grout can
improve the washout loss resistance of the grout, hence
enhancing in-place compressive strength and bond strength.3
Furthermore, the use of silica fum (SF) in cement grout used for
post-tension applications can enhance rheological properties,
eliminate bleeding, reduce temperature rise and risk of thermal
cracking, enhance long-term strength and impermeability, and
enhance the electrical resistivity of the grout.4-7 This can
therefore improve the service life of post-tensioned
concrete structures exposed to adverse conditions.
Highly flowable grout and concrete systems are often
proportioned with high-range water-reducers (HRWRs) and,
in some cases, with viscosity-modifying admixtures
(VMAs) to ensure high deformability and stability. The
incorporation of HRWRs can lower the yield stress of
mixtures, thus enhancing deformability.8 On the other hand,
the use of VMAs increases yield stress and plastic viscosity
as well as the pseudoplastic behavior of the material. Proper
ACI Materials Journal/November-December 2008
TECHNICAL PAPER
combinations of HRWRs and VMAs can be used to enhance
the resistance of specialty grouts to forced bleeding.8-10
The effectiveness of incorporating SCMs to enhance
rheological and mechanical properties is affected by the type
and content of the SCM. It can also be affected by the state
of dispersion of all solid particles in the matrix. The dispersion
of solid particles is, on the other hand, dependent on the degree
of adsorption of chemical admixtures onto the solid particles.
The adsorption of HRWR depends on the composition of the
aqueous solution, alkali content, type of sulfate, and presence
and dosage of chemical admixtures in use.11 The impact of the
degree of adsorption of HRWR on fluidity of cement-based
material has been thoroughly investigated.12-16 The fluidity of
cement paste made with a given content of polynaphtalene
sulfonate (PNS) based HRWR is reported to decrease with
the increase in the degree of adsorption of the HRWR; this
reflects a lower content of the polymer remaining in the solution
to disperse cement particles. In general, PNS-based HRWR can
more strongly be adsorbed onto the aluminates hydration
products (in particular, ettringite) than those of the hydration
products of the silicate phase.16-18 The degree of PNS adsorption
is typically higher in cements of low alkali content than in those
with high alkali content.11 Furthermore, the type of calcium
sulfate has an effect on HRWR adsorption in low-alkali cement;
however, this factor is less apparent in high-alkali cement.16 The
use of hemihydrates and proper content of alkali can
result in lowering the HRWR adsorption and, therefore,
enhancing initial fluidity.
Some thickening agents, or VMAs, are used in conjunction
with HRWRs to design a highly-deformable mixture with
low yield stress and relatively high plastic viscosity to
control bleeding and sedimentation. The interaction between
VMA and HRWR and its effect on flow characteristics,
rheology, and stability of highly-flowable cement-based
materials, such as those used for underwater anchorage
sealing and protection of post-tensioning ducts against
corrosion as well as self-consolidating concrete, have been
investigated.8,19-21 Limited information exists, however, on
the HRWR adsorption in cement-based systems containing
VMA. The effect of incorporating some combinations of
SCM in highly flowable systems needs to be further
investigated to identify the advantages and limitations of
using binary and ternary cementitious materials to design
structural grout containing VMA.
ACI Materials Journal, V. 105, No. 6, November-December 2008.
MS No. M-2007-395.R1 received Nov. 30, 2007, and reviewed under Institute publication
policies. Copyright © 2008, American Concrete Institute. All rights reserved, including the
making of copies unless permission is obtained from the copyright proprietors. Pertinent
discussion including authors’ closure, if any, will be published in the September-October
2009 ACI Materials Journal if the discussion is received by June 1, 2009.
585
 Table 1—Chemical and physical properties
K. H. Khayat, FACI, is a Professor of civil engineering at the Université de Sherbrooke,
Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. He is a member of ACI Committees 234, Silica Fume in
of binders
Concrete; 236, Material Science of Concrete; 237, Self-Consolidating Concrete; Cement FA Slag SF
238, Workability of Fresh Concrete; and 552, Cementations Materials and Grouting.
His research interests include self-consolidating concrete, rheology of cement-based SiO2 21.0 50.0 36.1 93.6
materials, underwater concrete, and concrete repair.
Al2O3 4.2 29.4 10.0 0.3
A. Yahia is a Senior Lecturer and Research Assistant in the Department of Civil Fe2O3 3.1 15.3 0.5 0.5
Engineering at the Université de Sherbrooke, where he received his PhD in civil
engineering in 1998. His research interests include self-consolidating concrete, rheology, CaO 62.0 1.7 33.9 0.3
numerical modeling, statistical design of experiments for optimization, and grouting. MgO 2.9 0.7 15.4 0.5
M. Sayed is a Researcher at the NRC Canadian Hydraulics Centre (CHC), National SO3 2.7 — — —
Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada. His research interests include granular flow Na2O eq. 0.74 0.4 0.7 1.4
problems, particularly dealing with floating ice applications; developing high-resolution
models for ice forecasting; modeling ice jam; and ice interaction with structures. Free CaO 1.2 — — —
C — — — 1.9
Loss on ignition 2.5 2.2 0 2.8
Specific gravity 3.16 2.53 2.88 2.22
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of
Bulk unit weight,
various SCM substitutions on the rheological properties and — — — 280 (473)
kg/m3 (lb/yd3)
stability of high-performance grout containing a VMA. This
study also aims at investigating the role of HRWR dosage on Blaine fineness, 375 360 445 20,250
m2/kg (lb2/ft) (1832.6) (1750.9) (2164.3) (98,488.6)
flow properties, bleeding, and compressive strength of
various cementitious systems. An attempt is made to correlate Surface area 17,500
— — —
BET, m2/kg (lb2/ft) (85,113.6)
the performance of various binary and ternary cementitious
systems to the packing density of the binder and the rate of Mean apparent diameter, 16 13 15 0.07
µm (10–3 in.) (0.63) (0.51) (0.59) (0.003)
HRWR adsorption onto the binder components.
Percent passing 45 µm
90 90 99 100
(0.002 in.)
RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE C3S, % 52 — — —
Proper substitution of cement by SCMs can ensure greater
packing density of solid particles, reduce water demand, and C2S, % 21 — — —
improve fluidity and mechanical properties of cement-based C3A, % 5.7 — — —
materials. However, the potential benefit of using various C4AF, % 9.5 — — —
combinations of SCMs in high-performance structural grout Vicat set time
proportioned with VMA is not well documented. Results
Initial, minutes 180 — — —
presented in this paper highlight the benefits and limitations
Final, minutes 365 — — —
of SCMs in structural grouts of different dispersion states
that can be used in a variety of civil engineering applications,
including underwater anchorage systems, post-tensioning Test methods
grouting, and injection grouting. All grouts were mixed in batches of 4 L (135.3 oz) using a
high-shear mixer rotating at approximately 2000 rpm. The
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM mixing water was cooled to 12 ± 2 °C (53.6 °F) to compensate
Experiments were first carried out on neat-cement grout for heat generation during mixing. Following the end of
with a water-cementitious material ratio (w/cm) of 0.40. mixing, all grouts had constant temperatures of 24 ± 1 °C
Binary combinations of cementitious materials were investigated (75.2 °F). The mixing sequence consisted of adding water,
for systems proportioned with 3% SF, 10 to 30% FA, and 40% HRWR, and set retarder along with the prehydrated VMA.
granulated blast-furnace slag (Slag) substitutions, by total Following some homogenization, the binder was introduced
mass of cementitious materials. Various successful binary gradually over 3 minutes while the mixer was turned on. The
systems were then combined to produce ternary binders, grout was mixed for 60 seconds, and after a rest period of
including 3% SF + 10% FA, 3% SF + 20% FA, 20% FA 30 seconds, the mixing resumed for an additional 60 seconds.
+ 40% Slag, and 30% FA + 40% Slag. The threshold water content necessary to initiate flow of
the grout and the relative water demand, or the deformability
Materials and mixture proportioning index, were determined for the cement and SCMs. This
A CSA Type GU portland cement complying with Canadian approach consisted of determining the variation of the
Standards CSA-CAN A5 (similar to ASTM C150 Type I fluidity of a given grout with the increase in water-to-powder
cement) was used. A Class F FA, a densified SF, and Slag volume ratio (Wv/Pv) using a mini-slump cone test.22 As can
were used for the SCMs. The chemical and physical properties be seen in Fig. 1, the intercept of the curve with the ordinates
of these materials are given in Table 1. axis (Wv/Pv) represents the minimum water content needed
A naphthalene-based HRWR with a solid content of 42% to initiate flow (Iw). The slope of the curve represents the
and specific gravity of 1.21 was used. A high-molecular-weight sensitivity of the flow to variations in water content; this is
polysaccharide VMA (welan gum) was selected for this study. referred to as the relative water demand (RWD). A high
The VMA was diluted in 1% solution to ensure complete RWD reflects a lower sensitivity of the paste to undergo a
hydration of the polymer. Water present in the HRWR and certain deformability due to some variation in Wv/Pv. The
VMA was accounted for in the mixing water to maintain a threshold water content necessary to initiate flow depends on
constant w/cm. A carboxylic hydroxide-based set retarder was a number of factors, including the specific surface area,
systematically used in all mixtures at a moderate dosage to packing density, and surface-wetting characteristics of the
ensure good fluidity retention for 90 minutes. powder materials. The packing density of one matrix

586 ACI Materials Journal/November-December 2008


Fig. 1—Definition of minimum water content (Iw) and relative
water demand (RWD). (Note: 1 in. = 25.4 mm.)
controls the quantity of water required to fill the space
between solid particles, thus reducing interparticle friction
required to facilitate flow. The packing density and RWD
values were determined on grouts containing a sufficient
dosage of HRWR to ensure proper dispersion of the powder
material. On the other hand, grouts made with SF, FA, or Slag
incorporated 1% cement to provide the suitable alkali
environment that influences the efficiency of the HRWR.
The grout testing was completed between 5 and 15 minutes
following the initial contact of cement with water. The
temperature and unit weight of the grouts were first
determined, followed by the evaluation of fluidity,
rheology, and stability characteristics. Initial fluidity was
determined immediately after the end of mixing using the
mini-slump test.23,24 The mini-slump area is calculated as
the area of the total spread minus the initial area at the
bottom of the mini-slump cone. The ease of flow was also
evaluated using a modified Marsh cone having a 1.2 L (33.8 oz)
capacity and outlet diameter of 4.56 mm (0.179 in.). The flow
time refers to the time required to collect 700 mL (23.67 oz)
of grout.24 Because of the pseudo-plastic nature of the grout
containing VMA, the shear stress at the outlet level was kept
constant by maintaining a constant volume of 1.0 L (33.8 oz)
of grout in the funnel during the test.
A coaxial cylinder viscometer was used to evaluate the
rheological parameters. The shear stress τ was determined at
11 rotation speeds varying between 1 and 300 rpm, which
correspond to shear rates of 1.7 to 510 s–1. The apparent
viscosity was taken as the ratio between τ and shear rate γ.
The yield stress τ0 and plastic viscosity μp were derived by
regression analysis on the measured flow curves (shear
stress-shear rate data) assuming a polynomial response and
suppressing the second order value that is insignificant.8 The
remaining expression τ = τ0 + μpγ represents the behavior of
a Bingham fluid.
The stability of the grout was assessed using a procedure
that can simulate the wick action due to the presence of
strands in post-tensioning ducts, which can promote water
migration to the top of the duct. Such a filtration process
under pressure, or forced bleeding, was simulated using the
Gelman filter test.10,25 Therefore, the resistance of grout to
forced bleeding, or water loss, was evaluated using a filter
vessel where 200 mL (7.76 oz) grout samples were subjected
to sustained pressure of 0.55 MPa (79.8 psi) to evaluate the
degree of water retention. This represents a pressure differential
in a 60 m (196.8 ft) column of grout and water in a duct
containing prestressing tendons.10 Water capable of seeping
through the grout pack and fiberglass filter was collected
ACI Materials Journal/November-December 2008
Fig. 2—Iw and RWD parameters of various cementitious
materials.
over 10 minutes. This filter was capable of retaining 99.7%
of solid particles larger than 0.3 μm (1.2 in.). The volume of
bleed water is expressed in terms of the total mixture water
present in the grout sample. The 28-day compressive strength
was determined using 100 x 200 mm (3.93 x 7.87 in.) cylinders
cured in water at 23 °C (73.4 °F) until the age of testing.
TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Water demand of cement and SCMs
The values of the minimum water demand (Iw) as well as
the RWD, that is, deformation factor, of the four powder
materials investigated in this study are compared in Fig. 2.
Portland cement is shown to require greater water content
(higher Wv/Pv) and greater RWD value (that is, lower relative
deformability) than FA. On the other hand, the Slag has higher
water demand and RWD than the cement. As expected, the
SF had the highest water demand and RWD values. The FA
exhibited the lowest relative water demand and RWD values.
As shown in Table 1, the SF has a mean diameter (D50) of
0.07 μm (2.76 in.), which is approximately 200 times lower
than that of the cement, FA, and Slag. The cement and FA
have equal contents of fines passing 45 μm (0.002 in.), and
the cement has slightly higher specific surface area than the
FA. The Slag has higher content of particles under 45 μm
(0.002 in.) and higher specific surface area than the selected
cement and FA.
The relatively high Iw and RWD values of the SF are due
to its high surface area. On the other hand, the lower Iw and
RWD values of the FA compared with the cement is probably
due to the spherical shape and smooth surface texture of the FA.
This can lead to a higher ball-bearing effect and lower
internal friction, with a direct effect on water demand. The
higher Iw and lower RWD values observed with the Slag
compared with the cement are mainly due to its higher
surface area. In addition to the morphology and surface fineness
of various powder materials, the rate of adsorption of HRWR,
in this case with the presence of VMA, can result in a marked
effect on flow characteristics, as is discussed in the following.
The dosage of HRWR corresponding to the saturation
point was determined for grout mixtures made with 100%
cement containing welan gum. The saturation point
corresponds to the content of HRWR beyond which there
is no further gain in fluidity. The dosage of active HRWR
was varied between 0.8% and 1.6% by mass of cement. The
VMA dosage was set at 0.05% of cement mass (0.125% by
mass of water).
The saturation point of HRWR determined from the
Marsh cone and mini-slump tests corresponded to 1% and
1.2%, respectively (Fig. 3). This discrepancy is mainly due
to the shear-rate regime involved in each test. When using
587
Fig. 3—Effect of HRWR on mini-slump and flow time
measurements for grout with 100% cement.
Fig. 4—Effect of SCM substitutions on relative mini-slump
area and flow time for binary systems made with different
HRWR concentrations.
the mini-slump test, the grout is subjected to low shear-rate
regime compared with that when conducting the Marsh
flow test.24 This results in greater dispersion of solid particles
and reduction of the HRWR dosage to achieve a given state
of dispersion.
Effect of binary and ternary cements on properties
of cement paste
Moderate viscosity is generally required to ensure proper
suspension of coarse particles in a cement matrix to minimize
the risk of separation, whereas a low yield stress is required to
ensure greater deformability of the system. A low yield stress
can also indicate segregation, whereas a low viscosity can
accelerate the speed of segregation. Results presented herein
showed that the use of SCMs resulted in a substantial increase
in plastic viscosity for both HRWR dosages. On the other
hand, the yield stress was significantly reduced in systems
made with binary or ternary SCMs when the grout was well
dispersed (higher dosage of HRWR of 1.4%).
For a given application, the mixture’s rheological parameters
should be adjusted to achieve a given profile of apparent
viscosity that can take into account the various requirements,
including pumping pressure and distance, freefall of
concrete into formwork, and required stability level after
placement and consolidation during the dormant period.
The ability of SCMs to enhance the rheological behavior
of cement-based systems is affected by the w/cm, type and
substitution rate of the cement by various types of SCMs,
588
Fig. 5—Effect of SCM substitutions on relative mini-slump
area and flow time for ternary systems made with different
HRWR concentrations.
and chemical admixtures in use. The effect of SCM on grout
performance is evaluated using two different grout systems.
The first was made with a relatively lower HRWR dosage of
0.8%, by mass of total binder, corresponding to less-dispersed
mixture. The second system was prepared with 1.4% HRWR
corresponding to well-dispersed system. This value is
greater than the saturation point of the HRWR evaluated for
the reference grout. Flow properties, stability, and 28-day
compressive strength of the binary and ternary mixtures are
summarized in Tables 2 and 3, respectively.
Effect of binary and ternary cements on fluidity
Relative mini-slump area and flow time values of binary
and ternary grout mixtures compared with the reference
grouts made with 100% cement are shown in Fig. 4 and 5,
respectively. The relative mini-slump or flow time values are
calculated as the percentage of the difference between mini-
slump or flow time obtained with and without SCMs to that of
the reference grout. Thus, a positive value of the relative mini-
slump spread reflects an increase in fluidity of grouts made
with a SCM compared with that of the reference grout.
In general, the partial replacement of cement by FA, SF,
Slag decreased the mini-slump of mixtures made with 0.8%
HRWR. The greatest decrease was observed with mixtures
made with either 3% SF or 30% FA. For example, the use of
3% SF resulted in a 20% decrease in mini-slump compared
with similar grout made with 100% cement. The increase of
FA substitution from 20 to 30% resulted in a further decrease
in relative mini-slump, from 6 to 15% compared with the
reference grout.
The effect of SCM on grout performance is shown to
depend on the degree of dispersion of the binders. In the case
of mixtures made with 1.4% HRWR, well-dispersed
systems, the substitution of cement by up to 30% FA did not
lead to a significant change in mini-slump. The replacement
of cement by either 3% SF or 40% Slag, however, resulted in
7 and 9% increases in relative mini-slump area, respectively. The
combination of 3% SF with either 10 or 20% FA decreased the
mini-slump of mixtures made with the lower dosage of
HRWR, but increased the mini-slump for the mixture
containing 1.4% HRWR. The combination of 40% Slag with
either 20 or 30% FA slightly improved the mini-slump
spread, regardless of the dosage of HRWR in use. The
combination of 20% FA and 40% Slag seems to achieve the
ACI Materials Journal/November-December 2008
Table 2—Properties of binary grout mixtures made with 0.8% and 1.4% HRWR
Measured properties HRWR 100% C 10% FA 20% FA 30% FA 3% SF 40% Slag
0.8% 1952 (3297) 1941 (3279) 1932 (3264) 1890 (3193) 1923 (3248) 1904 (3216)
Unit weight, kg/m3 (lb/yd3)
1.4% 1958 (3307) 1903 (3215) 1900 (3210) 1882 (3179) 1937 (3272) 1891 (3194)
0.8% 130 (5.11) 135 (5.31) 125 (4.92) 120 (4.72) 115 (4.52) 130 (5.11)
Mini-slump spread, mm (in.)
1.4% 135 (5.31) 135 (5.31) 135 (5.31) 135 (5.31) 140 (5.51) 140 (5.51)
0.8% 96.8 87.9 150.6 249.3 144.2 121.8
Flow time at 700 mL (23.7 fl. oz), seconds
1.4% 80.7 91.5 100.9 125.9 62.4 106.9
0.8% 11.2 (0.0016) 13.0 (0.0019) 15.4 (0.0022) 17.4 (0.0025) 15.8 (0.0023) 10.5 (0.0015)
Yield values, Pa (psi)
1.4% 9.3 (0.0013) 8.0 (0.0012) 7.1 (0.0010) 8.5 (0.0012) 9.4 (0.0014) 5.9 (0.0009)
0.8% 177 (0.0257) 176 (0.0255) 355 (0.0489) 415 (0.060) 218 (0.0316) 283 (0.041)
Plastic viscosity, mPa·s (m psi·s)
1.4% 182 (0.0264) 225 (0.0326) 270 (0.0391) 289 (0.0419) 161 (0.0234) 271 (0.0394)
Apparent viscosity at 5.1 s–1, mPa·s 0.8% 2300 (0.3336) 3750 (0.5439) 3150 (0.4569) 3600 (0.5221) 3500 (0.5076) 2000 (0.2901)
(m psi·s) 1.4% 1600 (0.2321) 1600 (0.2321) 1400 (0.2030) 1600 (0.2321) 1850 (0.2683) 1200 (0.1740)
Apparent viscosity at 510 s–1, mPa·s 0.8% 175 (0.0254) 177 (0.0257) 235 (0.0341) 275 (0.0400) 196 (0.0283) 237 (0.0344)
(m psi·s) 1.4% 168 (0.0244) 182 (0.0264) 205 (0.0297) 230 (0.0336) 160 (0.0232) 212 (0.0307)
0.8% 6.3 6.4 7.0 5.0 3.5 2.4
Forced bleeding, %
1.4% 6.0 2.0 2.0 1.0 5.7 4.7
0.8% 43.0 (6237) 45.0 (6527) 56.9 (8253) 43.0 (6237) 52.0 (7542) 29.5 (4279)
28-day compressive strength, MPa (psi)
1.4% 47.0 (6817) 45.5 (6599) 42.0 (6092) 36.0 (5221) 57.0 (8267) 30 (4351)

Table 3—Properties of ternary grout mixtures made with 0.8% and 1.4% HRWR
3% SF 3% SF 20% FA 30% FA
Measured properties HRWR 10% FA 20% FA 40% Slag 40% Slag
0.8% 1950 (3294) 1972 (3331) 1938 (3274) 1938 (3274)
Fresh unit weight, kg/m3 (lb/yd3)
1.4% 1888 (3189) 1887 (3188) 1880 (3176) 1830 (3091)
0.8% 115 (4.53) 120 (4.72) 140 (5.51) 130 (5.12)
Mini-slump spread, mm (in.)
1.4% 140 (5.51) 140 (5.51) 135 (5.31) 140 (5.51)
0.8% 129.6 156.5 119.0 117.1
Flow time at 700 mL (23.7 fl. oz.), seconds
1.4% 49.2 82.5 145.7 179.5
0.8% 18.4 (0.0026) 18.7 (0.0027) 14.6 (0.0021) 12.8 (0.0019)
Yield values, Pa (psi)
1.4% 7.9 (0.0011) 7.6 (0.0011) 4.6 (0.0007) 4.6 (0.0007)
0.8% 252 (0.0365) 247 (0.0348) 336 (0.0487) 306 (0.0443)
Plastic viscosity, mPa·s (m psi·s)
1.4% 166 (0.0241) 228 (0.0331) 302 (0.0438) 364 (0.0528)
0.8% 3900 (0.5656) 3900 (0.5656) 3300 (0.4786) 2600 (0.3771)
Apparent viscosity at 5.1 s–1, mPa·s (m psi·s)
1.4% 1500 (0.2176) 1400 (0.2031) 1000 (0.1450) 1100 (0.1595)
0.8% 195 (0.0283) 207 (0.0300) 246 (0.0357) 240 (0.0348)
Apparent viscosity at 510 s–1, mPa·s (m psi·s)
1.4% 158 (0.0229) 180 (0.0261) 235 (0.0341) 275 (0.0399)
0.8% 2.0 3.8 4.9 4.4
Forced bleeding, %
1.4% 4.3 3.4 2.0 1.0
0.8% 45.0 (6526) 57.0 (8267) 52.0 (7542) 29.5 (4279)
28-day compressive strength, MPa (psi)
1.4% 51.0 (7397) 50.0 (7251) 32.0 (4641) 28 (4061)

greatest enhancement in mini-slump, especially in the case
of the grout made with 0.8% HRWR.
For the less-dispersed mixtures made with 0.8% HRWR,
the binary cement grouts exhibited substantial increase in the
Marsh cone flow time, reflecting higher viscosity, in
exception of the grout made with 10% FA. For well-dispersed
mixtures made with 1.4% HRWR, all the binary systems
exhibited greater fluidity than the reference grout, except in
the case of the mixture containing 3% SF.
In the case of the ternary mixtures, the combination of 3%
SF with either 10 or 20% FA exhibited an increase in relative
flow time of 34 and 62% compared with control mixtures
made with 0.8% HRWR. On the other hand, the combination of
3% SF with 20% FA did not result in any significant change in
flow time over that with the reference mixture in the well-
dispersed systems made with 1.4% HRWR. On the other
hand, the combination of 40% Slag with either 20 or 30% FA
increased the flow time by 22%.
Effect of binary and ternary systems
on rheological parameters
The effect of SCMs on plastic viscosity and yield stress for
binary and ternary grout mixtures is presented in Fig. 6 and 7,
respectively. In general, the partial replacement of cement
by FA, SF, or Slag is shown to increase the plastic viscosity,
regardless of the dosage of HRWR. The highest increase was
observed in the less-dispersed mixtures incorporating 0.8%
HRWR that contained 20 or 30% cement substitution with
FA. The substitution of cement by 3% SF reduced the plastic
viscosity of grout made with the higher dosage of HRWR.
The combination of 3% SF with either 10 or 20% FA
increased the plastic viscosity of mixtures containing the

ACI Materials Journal/November-December 2008 589

Fig. 6—Effect of SCM substitution on relative plastic viscosity
and yield stress of binary systems made with different
HRWR concentrations.
Fig. 7—Effect of SCM substitution on relative plastic viscosity
and yield stress of ternary systems made with different
HRWR concentrations.
lower dosage of HRWR (0.8%), but decreased the viscosity
of mixtures made with the higher dosage of HRWR (1.4%).
On the other hand, the combination of 3% SF with 20% FA
increased the plastic viscosity, regardless of the dosage of
HRWR. Furthermore, the combination of 40% Slag with
either 20% or 30% FA resulted in a considerable increase in
viscosity (100%) in the grout containing 1.4% HRWR.
The partial substitution of cement by FA and SF is shown
to increase the yield stress of mixtures containing 0.8%
HRWR. On the other hand, for mixtures containing 1.4%
HRWR, the replacement of cement by the various SCMs led
to a decrease in yield stress, except for the grout made with
3% SF. Similarly, the use of ternary blends increased the
yield stress in grouts made with 0.8% HRWR and decreased
it in those containing 1.4% HRWR. The greatest reduction in
yield stress is obtained when 40% Slag is combined with
either 20 or 30% FA.
Cement grouts containing VMA are known to be highly
pseudoplastic where the system undergoes a decrease in
apparent viscosity with the increase in shear rate. The
increase in pseudoplastic response can reduce the risk of
settlement and segregation after casting when the material is
at near-rest. A pseudoplastic index reflecting the degree of
structural breakdown with the increase in shear rate from 5.1
to 510 s–1 is defined as: [(μ5.1 – μ510)/510 – 5.1], where μ5.1 and
μ510 represent the apparent viscosity values at 5.1 and 510 s–1,
590
Fig. 8—Effect of SCM substitution of pseudoplastic index of
binary and ternary systems made with different HRWR con-
centrations.
respectively. An increase in the pseudoplastic index reflects
a high degree of pseudoplasticity, which can be useful to
increase the static stability of cement-based systems without
hindering the ease of handling and casting operations of the
grout, where the material is subjected to higher shear rates.
Figure 8 shows the effect of different types of SCM
substitutions on the relative pseudoplastic index of binary
and ternary mixtures. The relative pseudoplastic index is
expressed as the percentage of the difference between the
pseudoplastic index for mixtures with and without SCMs to that
of the reference grout incorporating the same HRWR dosage.
Compared with grout made with 0.8% HRWR, low
pseudoplastic behavior was observed in the case of the
well-dispersed grout mixtures made with 1.4% HRWR.
Partial substitution of cement by FA and SF leads to higher
pseudoplasticity compared with the reference grout, especially
for mixtures containing 0.8% HRWR. The replacement of
cement by Slag leads to 17% and 31% lower pseudoplasticity
in mixtures containing 0.8% and 1.4% HRWR, respectively.
Such a reduction can be due to the glassy and smooth surface
of Slag. A ternary blend of cement and FA with either SF or
Slag resulted in higher pseudoplastic response in grouts
made with 0.8% HRWR.
The combination of 3% SF with either 10 or 20% FA
resulted in a considerable increase (74%) in the pseudoplastic
index of mixtures with 0.8% HRWR compared with the control
mixture. On the other hand, grouts made with 40% Slag
combined with either 20 or 30% FA exhibited a higher
pseudoplastic index in the case of less-dispersed systems
(0.8% HRWR) than the control 100% cement mixture. The
high pseudoplastic behavior observed with grouts containing
0.8% HRWR may be due to the relatively high cohesion and
interparticle friction of the less-dispersed system. In the case of
ternary systems, the greatest pseudoplastic index was observed
ACI Materials Journal/November-December 2008
Table 4—Relative percentage of adsorbed HRWR
for binary and ternary systems
Binary systems (HRWR = 0.8%)
10% FA 20% FA 30% FA 3% SF 40% Slag
Increase in adsorbed
HRWR amount
+55 –28 +62 +49 +18
compared with reference
grout with 100% C, %
Ternary systems (HRWR = 0.8%)
3% SF 3% SF 20% FA 30% FA
100% C 10% FA 20% FA 40% Slag 40% Slag
Increase in adsorbed
HRWR amount
0 +55 +75 +82 +2
compared with reference
grout with 100% C, %
with the mixtures made with 0.8% HRWR containing 3% SF
combined with either 10 or 20% FA.
Correlations between performance of SCM and
HRWR demand
The evaluation of HRWR adsorption of various SCM
combinations can provide useful information in explaining
the effect of SCMs on rheological properties of the structural
grouts evaluated in this study. The adsorption of HRWR was
evaluated by measuring the concentration of HRWR in the
solution extracted from fresh grout. The extraction was
carried out using a centrifuge system at 4000 rpm; the grout
temperature was maintained at 24 °C (75.2 °F). The filtrates
were taken at approximately 5 minutes after the contact of
the water with cement. The filtrated solution was first diluted
with deionized water. The HRWR concentration is detected
by measuring the maximum absorbance value at the peak
absorbance wave length between 276 and 294 nm, using a
diode array UV-visible spectrometer.
For a given content of PNS-based HRWR, the fluidity of
cement paste decreases with the increase in the degree of
adsorption of the HRWR.16 The concentrations of HRWR
molecules adsorbed onto cement particles in the reference
grouts made with 0.40 w/cm (100% cement) and 0.8% and
1.4% HRWR were 3.42 and 4.02 mg/g of cement, respectively.
On the other hand, these concentrations in grouts containing
0.05% VMA, by mass of cement (0.125% by mass of water)
and 0.8% and 1.4% of HRWR were 3.20 and 3.91 mg/g of
cement, respectively. The use of VMA at 0.05% of cement is
shown to slightly decrease the degree of adsorption of the
HRWR. The presence of VMA polymers can reduce the
amount of free water in the systems, therefore reducing the
content of the HRWR that can be diluted in such water.
The relative values of adsorbed HRWR after 5 minutes of
grouts made with binary and ternary systems containing
0.8% HRWR and 0.05% VMA are summarized in Table 4.
The relative percentage value is expressed as the percentage
of difference between adsorbed HRWR concentration in the
grouts made with and without SCM to that of the reference
grout (100% cement) containing the same HRWR dosage. The
adsorbed HRWR of binary and ternary systems was determined
on the less-dispersed mixtures made with 0.8% HRWR.
In the case of binary systems containing 0.8% HRWR, the
partial replacement of cement by either 10 or 30% FA
resulted in an increase in HRWR adsorption by 55% and
62%, respectively, relative to the mixture with 100% cement
and the same dosage of HRWR. The use of 20% FA,
however, is shown to reduce the relative HRWR adsorption by
28%. For mixtures made with 3% SF or 40% Slag, the relative
ACI Materials Journal/November-December 2008
rates of HRWR adsorption were 49% and 18%, respectively.
In the case of ternary systems, the combination of 3% SF
with 10 or 20% FA as well as the combination of 20% FA
and 40% Slag resulted in a substantial increase in the relative
HRWR adsorption. This may be due to the relatively low
release speed of alkali into the solution that can affect the
rate of adsorption of HRWR onto cement particles.13,14
The combination of 30% FA with 40% Slag did not result in any
significant change in the adsorption level of the HRWR.
In general, the partial replacement of cement by SCM in
grouts made with 0.8% HRWR resulted in greater HRWR
adsorption, except in the case of the 20% FA mixture. These
substitutions led to an increase in plastic viscosity and yield
stress for the binary and ternary systems made with 0.8%
HRWR compared with the 100% cement grout. The
improved flow behavior observed with 20% FA suggests the
existence of an optimum content of FA in terms of reducing
the amount of adsorbed HRWR. This may be due to the
optimum soluble alkali content that can limit the HRWR
adsorption, leading to an increase in residual HRWR
concentration in the solution. The high relative HRWR
adsorption in the grout made with 3% SF is probably due to the
high surface area of the SF and its affinity to fix some of the
HRWR. The relatively low adsorption of HRWR in the grout
made with 40% Slag is possibly due to the morphology of
glassy slag particles with low adsorption potential. Further-
more, this is due to the relatively high replacement dosage
of cement by slag that reduces the aluminates phase in the
binder, consequently lowering the degree of HRWR adsorption.
Effect of binary and ternary systems on stability
Forced bleeding is affected by the amount of free water
that is not retained physically or chemically in the grout, as
well as the water permeability of the fresh matrix in the
vicinity of the drainage surface.18,20 A well-dispersed matrix
with high packing density can exhibit relatively high imperme-
ability, leading to low water loss. The relative forced bleeding
of binary and ternary SCM mixtures compared with those
obtained for 100% cement are given in Fig. 9.
A substantial decrease in bleeding was observed in
most systems made with SCMs, especially in the case of
well-dispersed grouts made with 1.4% HRWR. The greatest
improvement was obtained with mixtures made with 30%
FA and 1.4% HRWR. Partial replacement of cement by 10
or 20% FA did not improve the resistance to forced bleeding
in grout containing 0.8% HRWR. The partial replacement of
cement by 10 to 30% FA, however, resulted in a substantial
decrease in forced bleeding (–87%) in the well-dispersed
mixtures made with 1.4% HRWR.
In the case of ternary systems, the combination of FA with
either 3% SF or 40% Slag resulted in a substantial reduction
in forced bleeding, regardless of the dosage of HRWR. For
example, the combination of 30% FA with 40% Slag
reduced the forced bleeding of the grout containing 1.4%
HRWR by 83% compared with the control mixture.
Effect of binary and ternary systems on
compressive strength
The relative 28-day compressive strength values of grout
made with binary and ternary SCM combinations are shown
in Table 4. The substitution of cement by 20% FA resulted
in a considerable increase in strength of mixtures containing
0.8% HRWR (+32%). In the case of mixtures made with
1.4% HRWR, lower compressive strength was obtained
591

Fig. 9—Effect of SCM substitution on relative forced bleeding
in binary and ternary grouts made with different HRWR
concentrations.
when increasing the FA substitution. Grout with 3% SF had
approximately 20% higher compressive strength, regardless
of the dosage of HRWR. On the other hand, the replacement of
cement by 40% Slag resulted in lower compressive strength at
28 days, regardless of the HRWR dosage. The combination of
3% SF with either 10 or 20% FA yielded higher strength than
the reference grout, regardless of the dosage of HRWR. The
greatest enhancement in the 28-day compressive strength was
obtained in grout made with 0.8% HRWR containing 20% FA
and not with 3% SF and 20% FA.
CONCLUSIONS
The effect of different types of SCMs on fluidity, rheology,
stability, and compressive strength of highly flowable, yet
stable, high-performance grouts was evaluated. Based on the
test results, the following observations can be drawn:
1. Compared with other powder materials, Slag and SF
exhibited greater water demand (higher Vw/Pv) and higher
RWD than portland cement and FA. On the other hand, FA
exhibited the lowest RWD;
2. The effect of using a SCM to enhance fluidity and
stability depends on the type and content of SCM and the state
of dispersion of the binder. When incorporated in a well-
dispersed system, the use of binary and ternary binders exhibited
lower yield stress and higher plastic viscosity and resistance to
forced bleeding than grout made without any SCM;
3. The partial substitutions of cement by 20 or 30% FA or
40% Slag can increase the plastic viscosity (from 48 to
135%) compared with reference grout made without any
SCM, regardless of the dosage of HRWR. In the case of
ternary systems, the combination of 20% FA with 40% Slag
resulted in the highest increase in viscosity (90%) among the
tested mixtures made with 0.8% HRWR. Such an increase is
probably due to the relative increase in the degree of adsorption
of HRWR (+82%) compared with the reference mixture;
592
Table 5—Relative compressive strength values of
binary and ternary grouts made with different
HRWR concentrations
Binary systems
10% FA 20% FA 30% FA 3% SF 40% Slag
HRWR = 0.8%
Increase in 28-day
compressive strength +5 +32 0 +21 –31
compared with reference HRWR = 1.4%
grout with 100% C, %
–3 –10 –23 +20 –37
Tenary systems
3% SF 3% SF 20% FA 30% FA
100% C 10% FA 20% FA 40% SLAG 40% SLAG
HRWR = 0.8%
Increase in 28-day
compressive strength – +5 +32 –32 –31
compared with reference HRWR = 1.4%
grout with 100% C, %
– +9 +6 +21 –40
4. Substitution of cement by 10, 20, or 30% FA or 3% SF
can increase the degree of pseudoplasticity in grouts
containing 0.8% HRWR. In the case of ternary systems, all
tested SCM combinations led to an increase in pseudoplasticity
in mixtures made with 0.8% HRWR. The greatest pseudo-
plastic index was observed in the ternary grout containing
3% SF and 20% FA;
5. All of the tested binary and ternary mixtures led to
substantial enhancement in the resistance to forced bleeding,
especially in the case of the well-dispersed grouts containing
1.4% HRWR and made with ternary binders; and
6. The partial substitution of cement by 3% SF and 20% FA
in binary and ternary systems enhanced the 28-day compressive
strength, especially in the grout made with 0.8% HRWR.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The financial support of the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) 2000,
through the project on Granular Multiphase Flow is gratefully acknowledged.
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