Title:
Application of Low-Cement + High Dosage HRWR Admixture Concrete (Prepublished)
Author(s):
Syed Jafar Shah Bukhari, Lynda Bouchelil, Abdullah Al-Fahim, and Mehdi Khanzadeh Moradllo
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
aggregate optimization; durability; formation factor; high-range water reducer; life-cycle costs; packing density; service life; sustainability
DOI:
10.14359/51749249
Date:
10/8/2025
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 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, and 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.