Correlating Rheology of Self-Consolidating Concrete to Corresponding Concrete-Equivalent Mortar

The investigation reported in this paper seeks to develop a methodology to evaluate the rheological parameters and thixotropy of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) using those of concrete-equivalent mortar (CEM). The mixture proportioning of CEMs are derived from their corresponding concrete mixtures by eliminating the coarse aggregate fraction and replacing it by a certain mass of sand of the same surface area. SCC mixtures with water-cementitious material ratios (w/cm) of 0.35, 0.38, and 0.42 and coarse aggregate-total aggregate volume ratios (CA/A) of 0.44 to 0.53 were investigated. The mixtures with a w/cm (if 0.38 and 0.42 incorporated low and moderate dosages, respectively, of a viscosity-modifying admixture to enhance stability For each SCC, the dosage of high-range water-reducer (HRWR) was varied to cover a wide range of slump flow consistencies ranging between 570 and 730 mm (22.4 and 28.7 in.). All SCC mixtures were proportioned with 450 kg/m(3) (758.5 lb/yd(3)) of ternary silica fume-ground granulated blast-furnace slag cement.