Title:
Application of Low-Cement, High-Dosage High-Range Water-Reducing Admixture Concrete
Author(s):
S. J. S. Bukhari, L. Bouchelil, A. Al Fahim, and M. Khanzadeh Moradllo
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
123
Issue:
1
Appears on pages(s):
101-112
Keywords:
aggregate optimization; durability; formation factor; high-range water reducer (HRWR); life-cycle costs; packing density; service life; sustainability
DOI:
10.14359/51749249
Date:
1/1/2026
Abstract:
The production of ordinary portland cement (OPC) is a major contributor to carbon emissions. One immediate and viable solution is the use of optimized concrete mixtures that employ a decreased quantity of cement and increased dosage of high-range water-
reducing (HRWR) admixtures. This study investigates five different concrete mixtures with varying water-cement ratios (w/c) (0.37 to 0.42) and reduced cement contents. The mixtures with “low-
cement + high-dosage HRWR admixture” content had over 30% increase in mechanical strength and presented 40% lower water absorption, as well as 68 to 97% higher formation factor, indicating enhanced durability. The optimized concrete mixtures with reduced cement and lower w/c have a service life increase of up to 117% and a life-cycle cost reduction of 29%. The application of low-cement + high-dosage HRWR admixture mixtures can improve the sustainability of concrete mixtures by reducing cement and water contents and increasing the service life of concrete in severe environments.
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