Performance of Fibre Reinforced Self Compacting Concrete with Optimized Foundry Sand and GGBS

Abstract

Self-compacting Concrete (SCC) is an innovative concrete that flows under its own weight. It does not require any external vibration for compaction. Due to the many advantages of this concrete, it is suitable for situations where congested reinforcement is used. In this study self-compacting concrete was developed using optimum percentage of GGBS(Ground-Granulated Blast- furnace Slag) at 25% by weight of cement as partial replacement of cement, and the Polypropylene fibres are also added to increase the strength of the concrete. It was added at an optimum content of 1.00 kg per cubic concrete. Foundry sand and pond ash were used as a partial replacement for fine aggregate (river sand) at 10%, 20%, and 30% by weight. The chemicals used for the self-compacting concrete was VMA and Superplasticizer(Kenai et al.,2012). The Fresh concrete fulfilled the EFNARC Specification. The optimum usage of Pond ash was arrived at 30% replacement. Pond ash above 30% has not satisfied the EFNARC Specification and decreased the hardened concrete properties of SCC. The compressive, tensile and flexural strength of Fibre reinforced self compacting concrete have been evaluated.. The maximum compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength were achieved on replacement of pond ash at 30% and Foundry Sand at 20% at 7 days as well as 28 days which was more than the conventional self compacting concrete and conventional self compacting concrete with polypropylene fibres. The fibre reinforced self compacting concrete specimens with 30% Pond ash and 20% foundry sand as replacement for river sand and 25% of GGBS as a replacement of cement and 1.00 kg/m3 fibres were subjected to durability tests of sulphate attack, water absorption and acid attack .The fibre reinforced self compacting concrete specimens with pond ash 30% and foundry sand 20% as replacement for river sand had the maximum compressive strength after additional 28 days of acid attack and the least percentage loss in weight (1.80%)