Recent Virginia Department of Transportation Applications with Self-Consolidating Concrete

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) exhibits very high workability; it easily fills the congested spaces between the reinforcement (both mild steel and prestressing steel) and formwork under the influence of its own mass without the use of any additional consolidation energy. A review of the use of SCC was conducted by the Virginia Department of Transportation in both cast-in-place and precast applications, such as repairs, pier cap placements, and beams with both normal weight and lightweight concretes. Both completed and ongoing studies indicate that SCC, whether in cast-in-place or precast applications, can be successfully used in bridge structures. The following practices should be followed. Care should be exercised with workability retention during the project to avoid consolidation issues; forms should be secured; concrete should be placed in forms in incremental heights to prevent bulging and failure; proper mix designs with fines should be ensured for flowability and stability; viscosity-modifying admixtures should be added for stability; and proper setting times for timely finishing operations should be established.