The Effects of Acidic and Basic Pumice on Physico-Mechanical and Durability Properties of Self-Compacting Concretes

Abstract

In this study, properties of self-compacting concretes (SCCs) containing acidic and basic pumice (AP-BP) was investigated. SCCs incorporating AP-BP (SCCAs-SCCBs) were produced with constant slump flow diameter of 720±20 mm and 690±20 mm by adjusting superplasticizer (SP), respectively. Control mixture was designed with totally crushed stone aggregate. SCCAs and SCCBs could be produced up to 100% coarse AP with 20% increments and 60% coarse BP with 10% increments, respectively, to ensure the desired limit values for SCC. Firstly, fresh properties of SCCs were determined. Then, the mechanical and durability properties of SCCs were measured at 28 and 56 days. Test results indicated that workability properties of SCCAs are markedly higher than that of SCCBs. Additionally, mechanical and durability performances of SCCs decreased with increasing of AP and BP. The compressive strengths of SCCs containing 60% AP and BP decreased approximately 28-29% and 22-24%, compared to the control mixture, respectively. Similarly, modulus of elasticity of same mixtures decreased around 35-39% and 17-19%, respectively. However, all results indicated that SCCs produced with AP and BP provided the available limits in the design of SCC. Additionally, SCCBs exhibited higher performance than SCCAs in terms of hardened properties. Moreover, high correlation coefficients (R²>0.89) between the durability and mechanical properties were found for SCCs.