Title: A New, Portable Rheometer for Fresh Self-Consolidating Concrete

Author(s): E.P. Koehler, D.W. Fowler, C.F. Ferraris,and S. Amziane

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 233

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 97-116

Keywords: field testing; mixture proportioning; rheology; self-consolidating concrete (SCC); slump flow; stability; workability

DOI: 10.14359/15837

Date: 3/9/2006

Abstract:
The accurate determination of fresh concrete rheology is key to ensuring the successful production of self-consolidating concrete (SCC). Rheometers, however, are used infrequently in the field. Empirical test methods are most commonly used to determine SCC workability despite measuring quantities that are related to rheological parameters only in an indirect way, if at all. Instead of using multiple empirical test methods to measure the workability of SCC, it is desirable to use a rheometer in both the laboratory and field to determine the flow properties of SCC quickly. Existing rheometers are generally unsuitable for routine field use due to their large size, high cost, or both. This paper describes the use of the International Center for Aggregates Research (ICAR) rheometer, a low-cost, fully portable device that can measure concrete mixtures ranging in workability from approximately 50 mm in slump to SCC. Laboratory test results of SCC mixtures and field testing experience are presented to demonstrate the validity and practicality of the ICAR rheometer.