Strength Properties of No-fines Concrete with Supplementary Cementitious Materials

Abstract

No-fines concrete is a form of lightweight concrete. This concrete has zero-slump, uncluttered graded material consisting of Ordinary Portland Cement. This concrete only consists of coarse aggregate, water, and sometimes admixtures such as Silica Fume, GGBS, and Fly Ash. Because this type of concrete contains little sand or no sand, that why it is sometimes known as ”no-fines” concrete. This type of concrete has a high void content ratio which is approximately about 30% of the total mass of its volume, this type of concrete is becoming prevalent now a day due to its probable decrease in the surface runoff to the drainage systems of surface or rainwater. No-fines concrete has large open pores within its body hence less heat transfer. This type of concrete has effective application in little loading intensity such as walkways, parking pavements, footpaths, and highways sub-base. This concrete is deliberated as an Eco-friendly Defender Agency (EPA) for as long as contamination control and underground recharging source. Hence, the no-fines concrete mix was prepared without sand, and cement was replaced with a dosage of Silica Fume 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5%, respectively. It has been found that the no-fines concrete’s strength increased as soon as the dosage was increased. It was observed that concrete gained the maximum strength at 7.5% dosage of Silica Fume; after that dosage, strength decreased slowly and gradually. Hence while the silica fume is being used, its replacement should not be more than 7.5%.