Assessing Flow Response of Self-compacting Mortar by Taguchi Method and ANOVA Interaction

Self-compacting mortar (SCM) is a new generation product and has prospective use as an independent material as well as an integral constituent of self-compacting concrete (SCC). In this paper the flow response of self-compacting mortar is assessed by Taguchi method and ANOVA interaction. Effect of powder material and super-plasticizer on the relative flow index of fresh SCM is evaluated by mortar trial test designed by Taguchi method of optimization. An ANOVA interaction analysis is performed to comprehend the interaction of the factors and their effect on quality characteristic. The relative significance level of powder material and super-plasticizer in governing the flow characteristic is discussed. A modified approach is proposed by incorporation of the error balancing property of statistical central tendency and the assumption of non-variance of mean. Construing contribution of mean, sample size and relative error to Signal to Noise Ratio provides limits of deviations of the same.