The Effects of Nano-Silica on The Mechanical Properties (Compressive Strength and Permeability) of Roller Compacted Concrete Dams

Until very recently, there have been many studies on concrete, but in Iran there has not been a lot of research in roller compacted concrete (RCC), particularly the effect of nano-silica on RCC. To address this gap, the use of nano-silica in RCC is investigated in this research. The aim of this study is to address the effects of nano-silica on RCC, its properties and the mechanical characteristics and permeability. For this purpose, three different amounts (2, 4, and 6%) of nano-silica in concrete with water cement ratio of 0.35 by using the ASTM standards were prepared. In total, more than 90 cubic and cylindrical samples were casted. Then, the compressive strength and permeability tests were conducted on both 28 and 90 days samples. The results have shown that different ratios of nano-silica in RCC have significant effects on the mechanical properties and durability of concrete samples.