Investigation of the rheological properties of cement paste with different superplasticisers based on colour function and RDS methods.

Determining the rheological properties of cement-based materials and selecting the types and amounts of superplasticisers (SPs) that are appropriate for actual projects are important and topical issues. In this study, the rheological properties of cement pastes with different types of SP were investigated using an AR2000ex rheometer. A colour function method (CFM), in combination with the experimental data, was used to calculate and determine the rheological properties. This paper presents a new selection method (rapid determination system (RDS)) for determining the most suitable SPs. The results show that shear stress, plastic viscosity, normal stress and other mechanical properties are influenced by different volumes and types of SPs. Based on the CFM and RDS, 0·38% HW (a polycarboxylate-type SP) was determined to be the most appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]