Coupled effect of time and temperature on variations of yield value of highly flowable mortar

In order to enhance the performance of self-consolidating concrete, it is important to have a better understanding of the rheological behavior of the material. The initial rheological parameters and their variations with time are closely affected by material temperature, type and dosage of high range water-reducing admixture (HRWRA), and elapsed time. This paper presents the results of an investigation aimed at evaluating the coupled influence of time and temperature on the variations of yield value with time of mortars made with two types of HRWRA: polynaphtalene sulfonate and polycarboxylate polymer. Four mortars extracted from self-consolidating concrete mixtures proportioned with various binder types and with water-to-binder ratios of 0.42 and 0.53 were prepared at 10 to 30 degrees C. Test results show that the yield value varies linearly with the coupled effect of time and temperature during the dormant period for mixtures made with polynaplualene sulfonate-based HRWRA. However, such changes are found to depend on the mixture temperature for mixtures made with polycarboxylate-based HRWRA, which can influence the dispersion efficiency of the polycarboxylate polymer. The threshold temperature of mixtures made with PCP-HRWRA is shown to vary with mixture composition. Below a given threshold temperature, the mortar exhibits a considerable degree of retention or even reduction in yield value over 30% of the dormant period. A sharp increase in yield value is observed beyond 30% of the dormant period. Above this threshold temperature, the yield value is shown to increase linearly with time. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.