Experimental study on SCC using Nano-Silica

ABSTRACT

The most common material used for construction purpose is concrete and total production of cement is consumed in concrete for construction purpose. When we use cement in large quantities its production emits more and more carbon dioxide and hence results in greenhouse effect which leads to ozone layer depletion. So, consumption of cement in concrete in this research is reduced by replacing cement by Nano-silica. Self-compacting concrete flows and settles under its own weight and any kind of vibration for compaction is not required. Hence, reduces noise and onsite manpower(labor) to operate vibrator. Nano-silica is very fine material its size is in nano range and is pozzolanic in nature. In this research self-compacting concrete has been tested with and without Nano-silica as partial replacements of cement by 3%, 4%, and 5% by the weight of cement. Fresh properties by L-Box, slump test, V-funnel, of concrete has been tested and Compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, and water absorption has been checked after 7 days, 14 days and 28 days. It was found that Nano-silica enhances all the above mentioned properties as Nano-silica is very fine material and is pozzolanic in nature. The results further revealed that optimum dosage is 4%.

FULL TEXT