Correlation between Bleeding and Rheological Characteristics of Self-Compacting Concrete

Bleeding occurs when a freshly mixed cement-based material starts to settle. Severe bleeding can have a significant impact on the durability of concrete. The present study examines the effects of four materials—superplasticizer, viscosity-modifying agent, silica fume, and limestone filler—on the bleeding behavior of self-compacting concrete and the effects of bleeding on the quality of concrete. In the study, slump flow, L-box, V-funnel, and sieve segregation of 29 self-compacting concrete mixtures were evaluated. The entrained air of the concrete mixtures was assessed using an aerometer. The yield stress and the plastic viscosity of the concrete mixtures were measured using a rheometer. The results show that the rheological properties of self-compacting concrete mixtures are closely related to their bleeding index.