A concrete rheometer: features and industrial applications

Author(s): F. Fabbris, W. De Carvalho, D. Lootens
Paper category: Conference
Book title: Rheology and processing of Construction Materials – 7th RILEM International Conference on Self-Compacting Concrete and 1st RILEM International Conference on Rheology and Processing of Construction Materials
Editor(s): Nicolas Roussel and Hela Bessaies-Bey
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-137-7
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-138-4
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Pages: 99-106
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: 
Concrete flow properties are usually measured with the slump test, V-funnel or L-box, which give robust but limited information on the rheological properties of the complex suspension. In order to complete the analysis obtained with the classical techniques, a new speed controlled rheometer, especially conceived for concrete and cement based products, has been developed by upgrading an existing commercial device. By a ‘Couette like’ approach, concretes ranging from S4 consistency up to SCC have been quantitatively characterized with a measurement range spread over 4 logarithmic decades. Extended rheological characterizations of concrete are made in the quasi-steady and transient regimes, where the thixotropic behavior can be observed. A series of applications are presented to demonstrate the possibility to quantify the impact of the admixture type on the flow of concretes and cement based system. Such an approach solves practical industrial problems, which could not be fixed with the classical technological tests.

Online publication: 2013
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00