Evaluating the applicability of rheometry in steel fiber reinforced self-compacting concretes

The use of self-compacting concrete in civil construction industry presents various advantages, since the material shows adequate workability during fresh state. When fiber reinforcement is used, there are changes in its behavior that require attention. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of rheological tests and the correlation between its results and those obtained with regular tests used to control SCCs. In that sense, different mixtures of SCC with different steel fiber contents were produced in order to be analyzed in the experimental program described. Rotational rheology tests and slump flow and L-box tests were performed. The results showed that slump flow test did not present good correlations with rheological parameters. On the other hand, this test was able to point out the risk of segregation of the mixtures with higher fiber contents. A good correlation was obtained between the L-box test results and rheological parameters. The L-box was also able to show loss in the passing ability of SCC related to the rise of plastic viscosity and yield stress. These tests also presented a good correlation with the rheological parameters when lower fiber contents were used. Although the rheometry test was unable to evaluate these problems, this kind of test gave more objective and reliable data on variations in rheological parameters related to the increase of fiber content, and proved to be a more reliable test to this kind of application, especially when applied together with the conventional tests.