Properties of mortar for self-compacting concrete

The effect on the fresh properties of the mortar phase of self-compacting concrete of four different types of superplasticizers and various combinations of powders, including Portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag (ggbs), pulverized fuel ash (pfa), microsilica (csf) and limestone powder (lsp) have been measured. The properties include spread, V-funnel flow time and yield stress and plastic viscosity. Initial tests examined the effect of the time of addition of the superplasticizer during the mixing process. In subsequent tests, measurements were continued for two hours after mixing to assess workability retention. Ternary blends of powder have potentially very useful properties. Good correlations between spread and yield stress and between V-funnel flow time and plastic viscosity have been obtained.