V INTERNATIONAL ACI/CANMET

CONFERENCE
ON
HIGH PERFORMANCE CONCRETE
STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS

PARAMETERS FOR SELF-COMPACTING

CONCRETE MORTAR PHASE
Miguel Nepomuceno
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture
University of Beira Interior, Portugal.

Luiz Oliveira
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture
University of Beira Interior, Portugal.

Index
1- Abstract
2 Experimental program
3- Experimental results and discussion
4- Conclusions

1- Abstract
This paper reports an experimental study on the mortar phase for
self-compacting concrete.
A series of mortars were produced with similar flow properties,
measured by spread and v-funnel tests, adequate to produce selfcompacting concrete.
The water content and the modified carboxylic superplasticizer
dosage were determined experimentally for each mortar.

Different percentages of cement replacement materials were used in binary

blends, each one combining one of the two types of cement with one of the
three mineral additions selected: limestone powder, granite filler and fly ash.

1- Abstract
Each of the binary blends of powders was combined in five different
proportions in volume with the fine aggregate (Vp/Vs).

Mortars were tested for compressive strength at 28 days age and

this value was related to the water/cement ratio, the percentage of
replacement materials, and Vp/Vs parameter.
The analysis revealed the possibility of establishing adequate
mortar parameters to obtain simultaneously the self-compactability
and the required compressive strength of self-compacting concrete.

Index
1- Abstract
2 Experimental program
3- Experimental results and discussion
4- Conclusions

2- Experimental Program
Materials used / Powder Materials:

Normal portland cement with a specific gravity of 3.14

Calcareous portland cement with a specific gravity of 3.04
Limestone powder with a specific gravity of 2.72
Granite filler with a specific gravity of 2.65
Fly ash with specific gravity of 2.38.
Materials used / Admixtures:
Modified polycarboxylic based superplasticizer with a density of 1.05.

2- Experimental Program
Material that pass trougth sieve [%] .

Grading curve of fine aggregates

100

Grading curve
of combined fine
aggregates

90
80
70
60

Sand 01

50
40
30

Sand 05

20
10

38,1

25,4

19,1

12,7

9,52

4,76

2,38

1,19

0,59

0,297

0,149

Materials used / Fine aggregates:

0,074

Aperture of sieve mesh [mm]

The fine aggregate grading curve results from the combination of

two sands (40% of Sand 01 and 60% of Sand 05 in absolute
volume).

Sand 01 was produced from crushed granite with very fine particles
and a specific gravity of 2.59 and a fineness modulus of 1.49.
Sand 05 was river sand with a specific gravity of 2.61 and a
fineness modulus of 2.71.

2- Experimental Program
Mix proportions of the powder materials(*)
Table 1 Volume fractions in binary blends of powders
Materials
Mixtures
Binary
mixtures

Ref.

Binary
mixtures

Ref.

1
2
3
4
14
15
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

100C2
80C2+20FC
80C2+20FG
80C2+20CV
60C2+40FC
50C2+50FC
100C1
70C1+30FC
70C1+30FG
70C1+30CV
60C1+40FC
60C1+40FG
60C1+40CV
50C1+50FC
40C1+60FC

Cement

Addition

CEM I 42.5R
(C1)
C1 = 3140
kg/m3

CEM II/B
L32.5N (C2)
C1 = 3040
kg/m3

Fly ash
(CV)
CV = 2380
kg/m3

Limestone
powder (FC)
FC = 2720
kg/m3

Granite filler
(FG)
FG = 2650
kg/m3

------------fc1= 1.00
fc1= 0.70
fc1= 0.70
fc1= 0.70
fc1= 0.60
fc1= 0.60
fc1= 0.60
fc1= 0.50
fc1= 0.40

fc2= 1.00
fc2= 0.80
fc2= 0.80
fc2= 0.80
fc2= 0.60
fc2= 0.50
-------------------

------fcv= 0.20
----------fcv= 0.30
----fcv= 0.40
-----

--ffc= 0.20
----ffc= 0.40
ffc= 0.50
--ffc= 0.30
----ffc= 0.40
----ffc= 0.50
ffc= 0.60

----ffg= 0.20
----------ffg= 0.30
----ffg= 0.40
-------

(*) Proportions in terms of the absolute volume

2- Experimental Program
Studies in mortars / Parameters for mortar mix design:

Proportions of powder materials.

Vp/Vs (ratio, in absolute volume, powder materials / fine aggregates).
Vw/Vp (ratio, in absolute volume, water content / powder materials).

Sp/p% (ratio, in percentage, mass of the superplasticizer / mass of the

powder materials).
The volume of voids and the contribution of powders from fine
aggregates were not considered.

2- Experimental Program
Studies in mortars / Evaluation of fresh properties of mortars:
Spread test (Figure 1a)

70 mm

59 mm

The result is expressed in terms of

relative flow area (Gm):
2

Dm
1
Gm

D0

100 mm

Dm - mean value of the two perpendicular diameters

D0 - initial diameter of the base of the cone

Spread test

Figure 1a Spread test

2- Experimental Program
Studies in mortars / Evaluation of fresh properties of mortars:
V-funnel test (Figure 1b)

10
t

t - time of flow in the v-funnel test, in seconds.

60

Rm

29

240 mm

The result is expressed in terms of the

relative flow velocity (Rm).

270 mm

30

V-funnel test

Figure 1b V-funnel test

2- Experimental Program
Studies in mortars / Mixing sequence:

Batches of 1.6 liters were produced

Superplasticizer
Powders +
fine aggregates
+ water

Discharge

Mix
(normal velocity)

Rest
(to clean blade)

Mix
(normal velocity)

Rest

Mix
(normal
velocity)

10

Time (minutes)

Figure 3 Mixing sequence used to produce mortars

11

2- Experimental Program
Studies in mortars / Achieve the required fresh properties:

Mortars were produced combining each mixture of powder materials

shown in Table 1, with different values of the Vp/Vs.
The Vp/Vs varied from 0.60 to 0.80.

On average, for each combination of powder materials and Vp/Vs,

three mortars were produced, varying the Vw/Vp and Sp/p% until
required fresh properties were obtained.
The experimental procedure is shown schematically on Figs 4 and 5.

2- Experimental Program
Studies in mortars / To achieve the required fresh properties:
Mortar fresh properties
2,00
Increase of Sp/p%

1,80
1,60
1,40
1,20

Rm

For Sp/p% constant,

the increase of Vw/Vp
produces a linear
translation of (Gm, Rm)
values.

Increase of Vw/Vp

1,00
0,80
Increase of Vw/Vp with constant value of Sp/p%

0,60

Fig. 4 Mortar fresh properties

when Vw/Vp increases with
Sp/p% constant

Sp/p% = constant
Vw/Vp = constant
Target assumed in this
research work

0,40
0,20
0,00
0,00

1,00

2,00

3,00

4,00

5,00
Gm

6,00

7,00

8,00

9,00

10,00

2- Experimental Program
Studies in mortars / To achieve the required fresh properties:
Mortar fresh properties
2,00
Increase of Sp/p%

1,80
1,60
1,40
1,20

Rm

Figure 5 shows the

variation of the (Gm,
Rm) values when the
Vw/Vp remains constant
and Sp/p% increases.

Increase of Vw/Vp

1,00
0,80
Increase of Sp/p% with constant value of Vw/Vp

0,60

Fig. 5 Mortar fresh properties

when Sp/p% increases with
Vw/Vp constant

Sp/p% = constant
Vw/Vp = constant
Target assumed in this
research work

0,40
0,20
0,00
0,00

1,00

2,00

3,00

4,00

5,00
Gm

6,00

7,00

8,00

9,00

10,00

2- Experimental Program
Studies in mortars / Achieve the required fresh properties:

Admissible range for Gm and Rm is shown in Fig. 6.

Mortar fresh properties

Gm between 5.3 and 5.9

1,80

(Dm between 251 and 263 mm)

1,70
1,60

Value proposed
by Okamura
research group
[1,2,3 and 4]

1,50

Rm between 1.14 and 1.30 s-1

(t between 7.69 e 8.77 s)

1,40
Rm

Overlapping of
different
research works
in Japan [11]

1,30
1,20
1,10

Target assumed
in this research
work

1,00

Fig. 6 Admissible interval of variation

for fresh properties of mortars

0,90
0,80
3,00

4,00

5,00

6,00
Gm

7,00

8,00

2- Experimental Program
Studies in mortars / To achieve the required fresh properties:

Subsequent studies have revealed that properties defined for mortars

are adequate to produce concretes with values of:
Gc between 8 and 11.25
(flow diameter on concrete Dm between 600 and 700 mm)
Rc between 0.5 and 1.0 s-1,
(v-funnel time on concrete t between 10 and 20 s).

2- Experimental Program
Studies in mortars / Mortar compressive strength:
For the mortars that satisfied the required
fresh properties 4 cubic specimens of 50
mm side were produced and cured in
water at 202 C.

Samples were tested for compressive

strength at 28 days, perpendicular to the cast
direction and using a loading rate of 1.5 kN/s.

Index
1- Abstract
2 Experimental program
3- Experimental results and discussion
4- Conclusions

3- Experimental Results and Discussion

Analysis of mixture proportions / Mix design parameters:
Mortar parameters
0,85

A1 # 100C2
A2 # 80C2+20FC
A3 # 80C2+20FG

0,80
A 12

A4 # 80C2+20CV

A 11
A7

0,75

A5 # 100C1

A 13

A6 # 70C1+30FC

Vp/Vs

A 10
A 15

A5

0,70
A 14

A7 # 70C1+30FG
A8 # 70C1+30CV

A8
A9

A3
A2
A 11

0,65
A4

A9 # 60C1+40FC
A10 # 60C1+40FG
A11 # 60C1+40CV

A6

A12 # 50C1+50FC

0,60

A13 # 40C1+60FC
A14 # 60C2+40FC
0,55
0,66 0,68 0,70 0,72 0,74 0,76 0,78 0,80 0,82 0,84 0,86 0,88 0,90 0,92 0,94 0,96 0,98 1,00

A15 # 50C2+50FC

Vw/Vp

Fig. 11- Relationship between Vp/Vs and Vw/Vp for all the mortars produced

3- Experimental Results and Discussion

Analysis of mixture proportions / Mix design parameters:
Mortar parameters

A1 # 100C2

0,98
0,96
0,94

A2 # 80C2+20FC

A7
A 10

A3

A5

0,92

A1

0,90

A4 # 80C2+20CV

A4

A5 # 100C1

Vw/Vp

0,88
0,86

A6 # 70C1+30FC

0,84
0,82

A7 # 70C1+30FG
A8 # 70C1+30CV

A6

0,80
0,78
0,76
0,74

A3 # 80C2+20FG

A9 # 60C1+40FC

A 15
A 13

A9

A 11

A8
A2

A 12

A10 # 60C1+40FG
A11 # 60C1+40CV

A 14

0,72

A12 # 50C1+50FC

0,70
0,68

A13 # 40C1+60FC

0,66
0,60 0,80 1,00 1,20 1,40 1,60 1,80 2,00 2,20 2,40 2,60 2,80 3,00 3,20 3,40 3,60 3,80 4,00

A14 # 60C2+40FC
A15 # 50C2+50FC

Sp/p%

Fig. 12- Relationship between Vw/Vp and the Sp/p% for all the mortars produced

3- Experimental Results and Discussion

Analysis of mixture proportions / Mortar compressive strength:
Mortar parameters
A1 # 100C2
100,0

A2 # 80C2+20FC

95,0

A3 # 80C2+20FG

90,0

A5

A4 # 80C2+20CV

85,0

A5 # 100C1

80,0
A6

fm,28

70,0

A7 # 70C1+30FG

A 11

65,0

A9

A7

60,0

A8 # 70C1+30CV

A4

A1

55,0
50,0

A6 # 70C1+30FC

A8

75,0

A9 # 60C1+40FC

A 10
A 12

A10 # 60C1+40FG

A2

A3

45,0

A11 # 60C1+40CV
A 13

40,0

A12 # 50C1+50FC

A 14

35,0
30,0

A13 # 40C1+60FC
A14 # 60C2+40FC

A 15

25,0
20,0
0,55

A15 # 50C2+50FC
0,60

0,65

0,70

0,75

0,80

0,85

Vp/Vs

Fig. 13- Relationship between the mortar compressive and the Vp/Vs

3- Experimental Results and Discussion

Mortar parameters

Analysis of mixture proportions

/ Mortar compressive strength:

100,0

y = -64.195Ln(x) + 9.9222
R2 = 0.9607

y = -62.392Ln(x) - 14.094
R2 = 0.9089

95,0
90,0

As expected, the mortar

compressive strength decreases
with the increase of W/C ratio.

85,0

CEM I 42,5 R

80,0
75,0
70,0

Mixtures with CEM II/B-L32.5N

(A1, A2, A3, A4, A14, A15)

Figure 14 indicates a general

relationship for each type of the
cement used.

fm,28

65,0
60,0
55,0

Mixtures with CEM I 42.5R (A5,

A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, A12,
A13)

50,0
45,0
40,0
35,0
30,0
25,0

Fig. 14- Compressive strength versus

W/C ratio, expressed in terms of mass.

20,0

CEM II/B
L32,5N

0,22 0,26 0,30 0,34 0,38 0,42 0,46 0,50 0,54 0,58 0,62 0,66

W/C

3- Experimental Results and Discussion

Analysis of mixture proportions / Mortar compressive strength:
Relationship between fAd. and W/C

0,65

0.70

CEM I 42.5R + LIMESTONE POWDER

Vp/Vs = 0,60

0,60
0,55

0.80

0,50

Fig. 15 Relationship between (fAd.),

W/C ratio and Vp/Vs for combination of
CEM I 42,5 R and Limestone powder

Vp/Vs = 0,65
0.60

0,45
0,40

Relationship between fAd. and W/C

Vp/Vs = 0,70

0,35
0,30

0.75

0.65

0,70

0,25

Vp/Vs = 0,75

0,20
0,15
0,10

Vp/Vs = 0,80

0,05
0,00
0,240

Unit percentage of cement replacement by the

addition (fAd.)

Unit percentage of cement replacement by the

addition (fAd.)

0,70

0,280

0,320

0,360

0,400

0,440

0,480

0,520

0,560

0,600

0,640

0,680

W/C

Fig. 16 Relationship between (fAd.),

W/C ratio and Vp/Vs for combination of
CEM I 42,5 R and Granite filler

0,65

CEM I 42.5R + GRANITE FILLER

Vp/Vs = 0,60

0,60
0,55

0.80

0.75

0.70

0,50

Vp/Vs = 0,65

0.65

0,45

0.60

0,40

Vp/Vs = 0,70

0,35
0,30
0,25

Vp/Vs = 0,75

0,20
0,15
0,10

Vp/Vs = 0,80

0,05
0,00
0,240

0,280

0,320

0,360

0,400

0,440

0,480

W/C

0,520

0,560

0,600

0,640

0,680

3- Experimental Results and Discussion

Analysis of mixture proportions / Mortar compressive strength:
Relationship between fAd. and W/C

0,65

CEM I 42.5R + FLY ASH

Vp/Vs = 0,60

0,60
0,55

0.80

0.75

0,50

0.70

Fig. 17 Relationship between (fAd.),

W/C ratio and Vp/Vs for combination of
CEM I 42,5 R and Fly ash

Vp/Vs = 0,65

0.65

0,45

0.60

0,40

Relationship between fAd. and W/C

Vp/Vs = 0,70

0,35

0,60

0,30
0,25

Vp/Vs = 0,75

0,20
0,15

Vp/Vs = 0,80

0,10
0,05
0,00
0,240

0,280

0,320

0,360

0,400

0,440

0,480

0,520

0,560

0,600

0,640

0,680

W/C

Fig. 18 Relationship between (fAd.),

W/C ratio and Vp/Vs for combination of
CEM II/B L32,5N and Limestone powder

Unit percentage of cement replacement by the

addition (fAd.)

Unit percentage of cement replacement by the

addition (fAd.)

0,70

0,55

0.70

CEM II/BL 32.5N + LIMESTONE POWDER

Vp/Vs = 0,60

0,50
0,45

Vp/Vs = 0,65

0.80

0,40
0,35

Vp/Vs = 0,70

0,30

0.60
0,25
0,20

0.75

Vp/Vs = 0,75

0,15

0.65

0,10

Vp/Vs = 0,80

0,05
0,00
0,240

0,280

0,320

0,360

0,400
W/C

0,440

0,480

0,520

0,560

3- Experimental Results and Discussion

Analysis of mixture proportions / Mortar compressive strength:
Relationship between fAd. and W/C

0,55

CEM II/BL 32.5N + GRANITE FILLER

Vp/Vs = 0,60

0,50
0,45

Vp/Vs = 0,65

0,40
0,35

0.80

0,30

0.75

Relationship between fAd. and W/C

0.70

Vp/Vs = 0,70

0.60

0,20

Vp/Vs = 0,75

0,15
0,10

Vp/Vs = 0,80

0,05
0,00
0,240

0,60

0.65

0,25

0,280

0,320

0,360

0,400

0,440

0,480

0,520

0,560

W/C

Fig. 20 Relationship between (fAd.),

W/C ratio and Vp/Vs for combination of
CEM II/B L32,5N and Fly ash

Unit percentage of cement replacement by the

addition (fAd.)

Unit percentage of cement replacement by the

addition (fAd.)

0,60

Fig. 19 Relationship between (fAd.),

W/C ratio and Vp/Vs for combination of
CEM II/B L32,5N and Granite filler

0,55

Vp/Vs = 0,60

CEM II/BL 32.5N + FLY ASH

0,50
0,45

Vp/Vs = 0,65

0,40
0,35

0.80

0,30

0.75

0.70

Vp/Vs = 0,70

0.65

0,25

0.60

0,20

Vp/Vs = 0,75

0,15
0,10

Vp/Vs = 0,80

0,05
0,00
0,240

0,280

0,320

0,360

0,400
W/C

0,440

0,480

0,520

0,560

Index
1- Abstract
2 Experimental program
3- Experimental results and discussion
4- Conclusions

4- Conclusions
The following conclusions can be drawn based on the results of this experimental
investigation for the mortar mixtures and procedures used:

The comparative analysis of mortars doesnt reveal a general relationship between the
analyzed parameters Vp/Vs, Vw/Vp and Sp/p%. However, it can be useful to preview trial
mixtures behavior in laboratory to obtain the required fresh properties.

Good agreement was observed, for each powder association mortar, between the mortar
compressive strength and the Vp/Vs parameter. The mortar compressive strength
increases as Vp/Vs ratio increases.

As expected the compressive strength decreases with the increase of W/C ratio for
mortars with the same type of cement.

For binary mixtures incorporating a certain type of cement and addition, it is possible to
find a good correlation between the W/C ratio and the percentage of cement replacement
by the addition when the Vp/Vs is constant.

It can be concluded that, after having selected the type of powder materials to be used and
the required mortar compressive strength, it is possible to estimate the adequate W/C ratio.
Moreover, from W/C ratio and Vp/Vs, it is possible to estimate the required percentage of
the cement replacement by the addition.