A comparison of hardened properties of fly-ash-based self-compacting concrete and normally compacted concrete under different curing conditions

In this paper a comparative approach was adopted to study the mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete and normally compacted concrete. The test programme included study of compressive strength in different curing conditions, split tensile strength, modulus of rupture, stress–strain characteristics and Poisson ratio of both the concretes. Microstructure of self-compacting concrete was found to be different from that of normally compacted concrete. This explains the considerable difference observed in some properties of the concretes. New correlations were developed for the properties of self-compacting concrete. The correlations indicated a difference in the pattern of strength development and stress–strain behaviour of the concretes. The results are discussed with reference to the existing literature, guidelines and codes of practice.