SELF-CONSOLIDATING CONCRETE FOR SLIP FORM CONSTRUCTION: MIX DESIGN METHOD AND APPLICATION

Recent research has demonstrated that the concept of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) can be used to design a special concrete that not only can self-consolidate but also hold its shape right after casting. Such a special concrete is of a great potential for slip form (SF) construction, and it is therefore called SF SCC. In this paper, the relationships among the flow ability, self-consolidating ability, and shape-holding ability of various concrete mixtures are examined. The mix design procedure for SF SCC is developed, and the performance criteria for designing SF SCC are established. The proposed method has been applied for designing SF SCC mix proportions using materials from different field sites. The results from a tab simulation of a field slip form paving process and a field paving construction trial have approved that the proposed SF SCC mix design method is applicable and reliable.