Effect of packing factor and fine aggregate/total aggregate ratio on the development of self-compacting concrete

This paper presents the effect of packing factor and fine aggregate/total aggregate ratio on the performance of the self-compacting concrete (SCC). A higher PF value would imply a greater amount of the coarse and fine aggregates used, thus, decreasing the content of binders in SCC. In this paper M30 grade plain SCC mixes are developed with the different combinations of packing factors (PF) (varying from1.12 to 1.18) and fine to total aggregate ratios (s/a) (0.50 to 0.57) and found that the PF & s/a combinations of 1.12 & 0.53 and 1.14 & 0.57 are found to be optimum as these combinations gave maximum compressive strengths which can be attributed to high achievement of particle packing densities in SCC mixes. As PF increases powder content decreases and aggregate content increases requiring more paste to make the SCC mix workable. Less value PF will have high particle packing density yielding more strength due to improved microstructure of SCC mixes. At PF & s/a combinations of 1.12 & 0.53 and 1.14 & 0.57, the workability of SCC mixes is superior because of high paste volume and less aggregate content.