Optimization of roller-compacted concrete for local application

HI Al-Abdul Wahhab, IM Asi - Transportation Research Record, 1994 - trid.trb.org
Transportation Research Record, 1994trid.trb.org
Recently constructed asphalt pavements in Saudi Arabia are experiencing a high level of
wheel track rutting, which is mainly attributed to the high ambient pavement temperature, the
high volume of loaded trucks, and the viscoelastic behavior of the asphalt pavement. One
proposed solution is to use reinforced concrete rigid pavement. Because of corrosion of the
reinforcement bars, a common problem in Saudi Arabia, it is better to use roller-compacted
concrete (RCC) pavements. A comprehensive and rational design of RCC mixes, such as …
Recently constructed asphalt pavements in Saudi Arabia are experiencing a high level of wheel track rutting, which is mainly attributed to the high ambient pavement temperature, the high volume of loaded trucks, and the viscoelastic behavior of the asphalt pavement. One proposed solution is to use reinforced concrete rigid pavement. Because of corrosion of the reinforcement bars, a common problem in Saudi Arabia, it is better to use roller-compacted concrete (RCC) pavements. A comprehensive and rational design of RCC mixes, such as conventional concrete, is extremely complex, because it is influenced by numerous factors that depend on the sources of materials and their properties; methods of preparation, placement, compaction, and curing; and, most important, prevailing environmental conditions. Incorporation of all these factors into RCC mix design not only requires the arduous selection of appropriate proportions of the ingredients, but also inaccuracies occur in the required properties of RCC that are usually rectified by trial-and-error procedures. Effects of variation of the water to cement ratio, coarse-to-fine aggregate ratio, and total aggregate to cement ratio, on rollability, density, and strength of RCC are investigated for three compactive efforts. The main objective is to find optimum mix design proportions for locally available materials by varying the mentioned variables and to develop a model to predict the flexural strength of local mixes.
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