Low cement content SCC (Eco-SCC) – the alternative for ready-mix traditional concrete

Cracow University of Technology, 24 Warszawska St. PL-31-155 Cracow, Poland

^* Corresponding author: maurban@pk.edu.pl

Abstract

Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is often regarded for in-situ applications as a more expensive and less environmentally friendly version of traditional concrete for use in places where the latter is highly inconvenient for various reasons. To counteract this belief, a new type of SCC has been proposed, called Eco-SCC or green-SCC. In comparison to typical SCC this building material has lower powder content resulting in low cement content and a slightly lower paste volume. The disadvantage of this approach is high water content and low viscosity resulting in high vulnerability of fresh concrete to sedimentation. Additionally, comparing to EN-206 limits, mixes with too low cement content are often obtained. This is why a research program has been undertaken to check the possibility of obtaining fresh Eco-SCCs of higher viscosity, thereby fulfilling all EN-206 requirements. It was possible to obtain concretes of C25/30-C35/45, SF2, VF2, PL2, containing 265-300 kg/m³ of cement and 165-190 kg/m³ of water owing to the use of limestone powder and typical rounded aggregate of local origin with very low sand to a total aggregate ratio of s/a = 0.4. Based on Global Warming Potential (GWP) analysis, a modification of Eco-SCC definition is proposed: Eco-SCC is an SCC having cementitious materials volumetric content no greater than 100 dm³/m³ (or mass content no greater than 315 kg/m³).