Abstract

Study on Silica Fume Replaced Concrete with Super Plasticizer

Author(s): R. M. Madhanasree, A. Joe Paulson and R. Angeline Prabhavathy

This paper presents an experimental study on the properties of silica fume replaced concrete and its nature as fresh and hardened concrete. The strength parameters of concrete made with partial replacement of cement by silica fume using super plasticizer is investigated. Properties of hardened concrete like ultimate compressive strength and split tensile strength have been determined for different mix combinations of materials and these values are compared with the corresponding values of conventional concrete. The present investigation has been aimed at to bring use of silica fume as a pozzolana as it has increased worldwide attention over the recent years. When properly used it in certain percent, it can enhance various properties of concrete both in the fresh as well as in hardened states like cohesiveness, strength, permeability and durability. The silica-fume concrete included 0%, 12.5%, 13% and 13.5% silica as equal replacement of ordinary Portland cement of 53 Grade on the strength of M30, M35 & M40 grades. The ca/fa ratio adopted was 2.17.Extensive experimental investigation was carried out for various percentages of silica fume. The concrete specimens from each mix were moist cured in water and the compressive and tensile strengths were determined at 7 and 28 days. From the test results, it was found that 13% silica fume replacement with super plasticizer is optimum.