Improving the Properties of Self-compacted Concrete with Using Combined Silica Fume and Metakaolin

Abstract

The viscosity is the main property of self- compacted concrete (SCC) and using of pozzolan material such as metakaolin (MK) and Silica fume (SF) can help to achieve that goal. The effect of simultaneous substitution of MK and SF instead of cement on the rheological and mechanical properties of self-compacted concrete was experimentally investigated in this paper. Seventeen mix designs were cast with a substitution weight percentage (5, 10, 15, 20 %) in water to adhesive material ratio equal 0.32. All mixes were examined by compressive, tensile strengths and water absorption tests with an appropriate fluidity, without having signs of segregation or instability. The test results were indicated that the SCC mixes containing MK and SF had higher compressive and tensile strengths in comparison with no-pozzolan concrete. The comparison of linear multiple regression techniques (LMRT) and nonlinear multiple regression technique outputs with experimental results showed an appropriate similarity.