"A New, Portable Rheometer for Fresh Self-Consolidating Concrete"

Abstract

This paper describes how the accurate determination of fresh concrete rheology is key in ensuring the production of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is successful. However, rheometers are used infrequently in the field and 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 because of 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.