Functional Method of Designing Self-Compacting Concrete

The article presents a new functional method of designing self-compacting concrete (SCC). The assumptions of the functional method of designing self-compacting concrete were based on the double coating assumption (i.e., it was assumed that the grains of coarse aggregate were coated with a layer of cement mortar, whereas the grains of sand with cement paste). The proposed method is composed of four stages, each of which is responsible for the selection of a different component of the concrete mix. The proposed designing procedure takes into consideration such a selection of the mineral skeleton in terms of the volumetric saturation of the mineral skeleton, which prevents the blocking of aggregate grains, and the designed liquid phase demonstrated high structural viscosity and low yield stress. The performed experimental studies, the simulation of the elaborated mathematical model fully allowed for the verification of the theoretical assumptions that are the basis for the development of the method of designing self-compacting concrete.