Purpose
This study aims to present the results of an experimental evaluation of low (M30), mid (M40) and high (M50) grade self-compacting concrete (SCC) with three nominal maximum aggregate sizes (NMAS), namely, 20 mm, 16 mm and 12.5 mm, with Bailey gradation (BG) in comparison with Indian standard gradation (ISG).
Design/methodology/approach
This study was conducted in a laboratory by testing the characteristics of fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete.
Findings
Rheological and mechanical properties of SCC were evaluated in detail and according to the results, a concrete sample containing lower NMAS with BG demonstrated improvement in modulus of elasticity and compressive strength, while improving the rheological properties as well. Meanwhile, SCC demonstrated poor performance in split tensile and flexural strengths with lower NMAS gradations and a direct correlation was evident as the increase in NMAS caused an increase in the strength and vice-versa.
Originality/value
Upon comparison of BG with ISG, it was revealed that BG mixes succeeded to demonstrate superior performance. From the material optimization, rheological and mechanical performance study, it is recommended that BG with NMAS 16 mm can be used for conventional SCC.
The present study concentrates on the performance evaluation of calcined and uncalcined cashew nut-shell ash (UCCNA and CCNA) with treated total recycled concrete aggregate (TRCA) in self-compacting concrete. The achievement of sustainable self-compacting concrete (SCC) is possible by the implication of four stages, which includes TRCA treatment process, gradation selection process through Bailey aggregate grading technique, by considering TRCA replacement percentage with an increment of 25% and up to 100% and by considering UCCNA or CCNA replacement with an increment of 5% and up to 20%. Hardened and fresh properties of SCC have been performed and analyzed based on the compliance requirements of SCC. In addition finding results through microstructure assessment was in line with the findings of the hardened and fresh properties of SCC. In addition, quality and dynamic instability assessments of SCC were analyzed through ultrasonic pulse velocity and drying shrinkage aspects. Besides CO2, the emission rate and the efficiency rate of SCC, composites were analyzed in detail. Overall findings revealed that CCNA-based SCC mixes performed effectively than UCCNA-based SCC; specifically, incorporation of 75% of TRCA with 15% CCNA was found to be optimal. But with regard to shrinkage performance UCCNA found to be better by imputing less shrinkage compared to CCNA-based SCC mixes. Further with regard to efficiency rate of SCC composites revealed the gain of maximum efficiency of about 0.156 MPa/kg CO2/m3 and 0.160 MPa/kg CO2/m3 for 15% and 20% CCNA-based SCC mixes.
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