DESIGN AND TEST PROPERTIES OF SUPER WATER REDUCERS IN PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE

Recently, new concrete admixtures (super water reducers) have been developed and marketed by private industry. These admixtures permit the mixing and placement of very low water-cement ratio concretes at conventional consistencies with conventional equipment and slightly modified procedures. It was the purpose of this study to determine the properties of this type of concrete evaluated under Louisiana conditions and to look into the use of these admixtures in air-entrained concrete for structural applications. These aims were part of a laboratory evaluation of a number of mix designs. Guidelines for the use of these admixtures were written. Findings included: This type of admixture is useful in obtaining highly fluid concrete while retaining high strength. However, it was very difficult to get any consistent control of the slump, with the air contents also being hard to control. There is presently no method of reliably predicting the plastic behavior of the concrete. Initial slump at the jobsite, concrete mix temperatures, absolute volume of water in the mix, compatibility of materials, type of cement, the chemical composition of cement, dosage rate, type and brand of admixture and the time of adding the admixture, were verified as the most important variables found. More research should be conducted in the use of these admixtures. Some small experimental projects should be tried to gain experience in the use of this type of material. Some tangible positive field results are needed. (FHWA)

• Record URL:
  http://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2008/Report%20135.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development

  1201 Capitol Access Road, P.O. Box 94245
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70804-9245

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Law, S M
  • Rasoulian, M
• Publication Date: 1980-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 108 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Admixtures; Air entrained concrete; Fluidics; Guidelines; Portland cement concrete; Slump test; Strength of materials; Water reducing agents
• Uncontrolled Terms: Slumps
• Old TRIS Terms: Fluidizing; Super water reducers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00331736
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/LA-81/135 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: 77-1C
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 15 1981 12:00AM