Article by Russell Tripp and Cliff Ohlwiler Published in Issue 3 of Concrete Plant International
One of the many advances in the reinforced concrete precast box and manhole production industry is self-consolidating concrete (SCC). SCC is a highly flowable, non-segregating concrete that can flow into place, fill the formwork, and encapsulate the reinforcement without any mechanical consolidation. It is a highly engineered fluid with unique rheological properties. Rheology is the science dealing with the flow of materials, including studies of deformation of hardened concrete, the handling and placing of freshly mixed concrete, and the behavior of slurries and pastes. (Cement and Concrete Terminology, ACI Publication SP-19). The concrete mix is finding its way into many buried precast infrastructure applications. Those who recognize opportunities for SCC-based products have learned a new way of mixing concrete to increase market share in a very competitive storm sewer, sanitary sewer and stormwater management market space.
(Article published in CPI. Pg 116)