An experimental research on the fluidity and mechanical properties of high-strength lightweight self-compacting concrete

This paper evaluates the high-strength lightweight self-compacting concrete (HLSCC) manufactured by Nan-Su, of which the main factor PF of its design mixing method has been modified and improved. The study analyzes HLSCC performance at its fresh condition as well as its mechanical properties at the hardened condition. The evaluation of HLSCC fluidity has been conducted per the standard of second class rating of JSCE, by three categories of flowability, segregation resistance ability and filling ability of fresh concrete. For the mechanical properties of HLSCC, the study has been conducted as follows: compressive strength with elapsed age, splitting tensile strength, elastic moduli and density, all at its cured after 28 days. As a result, HLSCC at its fresh condition has been rated as less than LC 75% and LF 50% for the mix ratio of lightweight aggregate, thus satisfying the second class standard of JSCE. The compressive strength of HLSCC at 28 days has come out to more than 40 MPa in all mix except the case with LC 100%, while the structural efficiency in relation to its density tended to increase proportionally as the mixing ratio of LF increases. The relationship between the splitting tensile and compressive strength has been calculated as f(s)=0.076f(ck)+0.5582. The range of elastic moduli has come out as 24-33 GPa, comparably lower than the control concrete. Compressive strength and structural efficiency of HLSCC at 28 days from the multiple regression analysis resulted as f(c)=-0.07619LC(A)+0.08648LF(B)+46.714 and f(se)=-0.00436LC(A)+0.0627LF(B)+20.257, respectively. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.