The effect of cementitious materials paste volume and use of zeolite on the properties of self-compacting concrete

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) has advantages such as flowability, filingability and having no need to vibration and better consolidation compared to conventional concrete. However, these benefits are achievable through increasing the volume of paste. Therefore, the volume of SCC paste is one of the most significant parameters in such type of concrete. In this research study, in order to investigate the fresh and hardened properties of SCC mixtures with various paste volume, three levels of cementitious materials (450 kg/m3, 495 kg/m3 and 540 kg/m3) were made keeping w/cm constant. In addition, at cementitious materials content of 450 kg/m3 and 495 kg/m3, natural zeolite was replaced 9% and 17% of cement by weight, respectively to study the influence of this material as a type of pozzolan. The experimental results indicate that increasing the SCC’s cementitious materials at a constant W/CM, does not have considerable effect on compressive strength of concrete, while increases the segregation. The results of V-funnel test show that increasing the cementitious materials content at a constant W/CM, has no prominent impact on viscosity of concrete, however partial replacement of cement by zeolite increases this parameter of SCC and has a positive effect on stability, compressive strength and resistivity.