Abstract- Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials due to its strength, durability, versatility, and ease of availability. It is a composite material made of cement, fine aggregates, coarse aggregates, and water, along with the addition of admixtures to enhance its properties. In modern construction, there is an increasing demand for materials with higher strength and durability to meet the requirements of high-rise buildings, bridges, and heavy load structures. This has led to the development of High Strength Concrete (HSC). The present study focuses on the development of High Strength Concrete using proper mix design techniques and the incorporation of mineral and chemical admixtures. The main objective of this research is to achieve a compressive strength greater than 50 MPa by optimizing the proportions of materials. The trial and error method is adopted for mix design, and two trial mixes are prepared to study the effect of water-binder ratio and superplasticizer on the performance of concrete. Trial Mix 1 is prepared without the use of superplasticizer and with a higher water-binder ratio, while Trial Mix 2 is prepared with the inclusion of superplasticizer (Auramix-400) and a lower water-binder ratio. Fly ash and marble dust are used as mineral admixtures to improve strength, durability, and density of concrete. Cube specimens of standard size are cast and tested for compressive strength at 3, 7, and 28 days. The experimental results indicate that compressive strength increases with curing age for both mixes. Trial Mix 2 shows superior performance and achieves a compressive strength of 50.47 MPa at 28 days, satisfying the requirements of M50 grade concrete. The use of superplasticizer significantly improves workability and allows reduction in water content, resulting in higher strength. Fly ash contributes to long-term strength gain, while marble dust acts as a filler material, reducing voids and increasing density. The study concludes that High Strength Concrete can be successfully developed using locally available materials by optimizing mix design and using suitable admixtures. The developed concrete mix is economical, durable, and suitable for modern construction applications.
Naik et al. (Mon,) studied this question.