IJSTE - International Journal of Science Technology & Engineering | Volume 3 | Issue 01 | July 2016 ISSN (online): 2349-784X All rights reserved by www.ijste.org 450 Effect of Super Plasticizer on the Mechanical and Durable Properties of High Volume Cementitious Concrete Er. Prem Gandhi Dr. Harpal Singh P.G. Student Professor Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College Ludhiana Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College Ludhiana Er. Kanwardeep Singh Er. Varinder Singh P.G. Student P.G. Student Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College Ludhiana Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College Ludhiana Abstract Water reducing admixtures often called super plasticizers are used in the concrete to enhance the performance of the concrete. Design Mix of M40 grade having High volume cementitious concrete (HVCC) was prepared having cementitious content equal to that of self-compacting concrete. Mechanical, Durable properties and shear strength of concrete was calculated. Then Poly carboxylic ether (PCE) based super plasticizer (Glenium sky 8777) was added to HVCC to convert it into high volume self- compacting concrete (HVSCC). Again tests were done for mechanical, durable strength of HVSCC. Water cement ratio was kept constant for the entire study. The results showed that there is increase in the mechanical and durable properties of HVSCC when compared to HVCC. Keywords: Self Compacting Concrete, Cementitious Concrete, Mechanical Strength, Durability, Super Plasticizer ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I. INTRODUCTION Super plasticizers also referred as high range water-reducing agents, which belong to Type F and G categories of water reducers. Chemically, super plasticizers vary from other water reducers and can reduce water requirement by up to 35%. Polycarboxylates ether (PCE) composed by a methoxy - polyethylene glycol copolymer grafted with methacrylic acid copolymer. They're very strong water reducers (powerful at low dosage), with the ability to minimize water by way of 20%-35%, with much less retardation and excessive workability retention. Glenium SKY 8777 is the superplasticiser based on polycarboxylic ether polymers. The product has been primarily developed for applications in high performance ready-mix concrete. Glenium SKY 8777 is free of chloride & low alkali. It is compatible with all types of cements. Materials used and Mix Proportions An Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) 43 grade confirmed to Indian Standards (IS: 8112-1989) was used in the experimental program. Class F fly ash brought from ACC Power Plant, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, India confirmed to Indian Standards (IS:3812- 2003) was used as a mineral powder. The fly ash was used due to its additional strength contributing pozzolanic activity. The chemical properties of fly ash are presented in Table 1. Locally available coarse aggregates of size 10 and 12.5 mm of specific gravity 2.68 and fineness modulus of 7.6 was used in this study. Locally available river sand of specific gravity 2.4 and fineness modulus of 2.3 was used as fine aggregate. Polycarboxylate ether based superplasticizer complying with ASTM C 494 type F, with density 1.1 kg/l and pH 7.01 was used in the present investigation. Table - 1 Mix proportions used in the trials Cement (kg/m 3 ) Fly Ash (kg/m 3 ) Coarse Aggregate (kg/m 3 ) Fine Aggregate (kg/m 3 ) W/C SP (l/m 3 ) 420 180 836 771 0.32 0 420 180 836 771 0.32 6 II. PREPARATION OF MIXES For the mix proportion shown in Table 2, required quantities of materials were weighed. Fine and coarse aggregate combinations were mixed for 90 sec in mixer. Cement and filler combinations were added into the aggregate mixes and remixed for 60 sec all together in dry state. The water was mixed in a flask and poured slowly into the mixer while mixing. The total mixing time was