Application of factorial models to predict the effect of anti-washout admixture, superplasticizer and cement on slump, flow time and washout resistance of underwater concrete

The anti-washout underwater concrete posses different properties from conventional underwater concrete. When an anti-washout admixture is mixed with concrete, the viscosity of the concrete is increased and its resistance to washout is enhanced. Superplasticizer ensures enough concrete fluidity to spread readily in place without vibration. A factorial design was carried out to mathematically model the influence of three key parameters on slump, flow time measured by Orimet and mass loss by washout of underwater concrete. The parameters considered in this investigation were the dosage of cement, the concentrations of anti-washout admixture and superplasticizer. All mixes were made with 0.43 water/cement ratio which correspond a typical underwater concrete. The proposed models are valid for concretes with cement dosage ranging between 420 kg/m3 to 520 kg/m3 and the concentrations of anti-washout admixture and superplasticizer varying between 0.02%–0.13% and 0.4%–1.8%, by mass of cement, respectively.