In Situ Performance of Self-Compacting Concrete in T-Beams

Abstract

A laboratory study was undertaken to evaluate the in situ performance of self-compacting concrete (SCC) compared to a conventional compacted concrete (CCC) of similar strength in reinforced concrete T-beams. As an additional feature, the desired SCC properties were obtained partly by the introduction of fly ash to enable a SCC, of strength similar to the conventional concrete, to be attained at little or no additional cost. The performance of SCC in the T-beam was assessed in terms of homogeneity and uniformity, uniformity of surface hardness, in situ compressive strength, and likely durability. Further, the structural responses of the T-beams in terms of initiation and propagation of structural cracks, cracking pattern, mode of failure, and load versus deflection behavior were investigated under single point loading. The study suggests that SCC performs at least as well as CCC in terms of homogeneity, uniformity of construction, and structural responses, and is likely to have improved durability.