Materials and Structures/Matdriaux et Constructions,Vol.

33, July2000, pp 398-402

Study on high performance roller compacted concrete

A. C. Bettencourt Ribeiro I and I. R. de Almeida 2
(1) National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, LNEC, Lisbon, Portugal
(2) Building ConstructionMaterials - UFF, Niter6i, Brazil

Paper received:September23, I999; Paperaccepted:December21, 1999

RtSUME

A B S T R A C T

Results are presented of a study about mixture

design, production and characterisation of a concrete
conjugating the typical features of roller compacted concrete with the mixture features of high performance
concrete. The compressive strength, the tensile strength
and the abrasion resistance of the material produced
were determined together with the modulus ofe!asticity.
It has been verified that the material had a very high
compressive strength, an abrasion resistance higher than
the very coarse aggregate, which formed its composition, a modulus of elasticity comparatively proportional
to the compressive strength and a tensile strength not
very developed. It has also been assumed that, due
mainly to the energy spent in the vibration of that concrete, the binding material used was three times more
effective than when used in normal concrete.

On pr&ente les r&ultats d' une dtude sur le mdlange, la

production et la caract&isation d'un bdton associant les
caract&istiques typiques d'un bdton compactd au rouleau
avec les caract&istiques de dosage d'un bdton a haute per,
formance. La r&istance a la compression, la re'sistance a la
traction et la re'sistance a l'abrasion du mat&iau produit
ant dtd ddtermindes simuItandment avec te module d'dlasticitd. On a v&ifid que le mat&iau avait une rdsistance a la
compression tr~s haute, une r&istance a l'abrasion plus
grande que celle de l'agr@at lui-m~me, entrant dans sa
composition, et, finalement, avait un module d'dlasticitd
relativement proportionnel a la re'sistance a la compression,
pour une re'sistance a la traction peu dlev&. O n a aussi
constatd qu'h cause de l'dnergie utilis& pour la vibration de
ce bdton, Ie mat&iau agglomdrant utilisd a dtd trois fois
plus efficace que s'il avait dtd utilisd dans un bdton courant.

1. INTRODUCTION

Considering that the first dams constructed with

R C C did not present a performance similar to the conventional concrete dams, due mainly to the scarce
knowledge available on this material, there was an initial
trend to consider that this type of concrete could n o t
have a behaviour similar to CC [1].
Nevertheless, more recent studies [2-4] have proved
that the R C C may present similar and even better performance than conventional concrete, due to the high
compaction energy used in its consolidation, provided
that the mixture is dully formulated and good quality
component materials are used. Thus, the study on the
behaviour of R C C made with unusual mixtures, may
extend the field of application of that material, as for
instance, in slabs on ground, top pavement layers, dam
elements subject to significant erosion, etc.
The usual features of a R C C are, to some extent,
opposed to those of high performance concrete (HPC),

Roller compacted concrete (RCC) is a material used

in the construction of dams and pavements. It is a dry
concrete, consolidated by a very powerful external vibration, using the vibrating cylinders usually employed in
the compaction of soils. This material differs from conventional concrete (CC) not only as regards the placement method but also as regards its consistency and mixture. In fact, the consistency should be designed to
allow the circulation of the heavy compacting cylinders
on the concrete surface. Its mixture design is usually
characterised by the addition of a low cement dosage.
The limitation in the cement dosage is due, in the case
of dams, to the need of preventing a high release of
hydration heat by the binder. In the case of pavements,
the R C C is seldom used as course layer and therefore, a
high mechanical performance is not required from it.

1359-5997/00 9 RILEM

3 98

Bettencourt Ribeiro, de Almeida

since the latter tends to present mixtures with a high

binder dosage. Furthermore, the HPC, in some applications, requires a fairly fluid consistency, almost self-levelling and self-compacting, so as to require a low or even
none vibration energy. Since its prevailing use occurs in
slenderer structural parts, as for instance the columns of
high rise buildings, the problem related with the dissipation of the hydration heat is not usually worrying [5].
Despite that relative antagonism in their features, it
has been decided that the possibility of making a high
performance roller compacted concrete should be investigated. Thus, in this work, an analysis is made to the
resistance and deformability ofa P,.CC made with a mixture similar to those used in HPC, i.e., with a high
cement dosage, about 10% of silica fume, a superplasticizer admixture and aggregates with a high mechanical
resistance.

Table 1 - Mechanical behaviour of cement 1 52.5

Characteristics

Values

Compressive

2 days

30.7

strength

7 days

48.9

(aPa)

28 days

59.2

Flexural

2 days

5.2

strength

7 days

7.6

(MPa)

28 days

8.5

Specific weight(kg/m 3)

3 125

Soundness(mm)

Initial settingtime (h:min)

2:30

Table 2 - Chemical and physical analysis of cement

and condensed silica fume

2. MATERIALS AND MIXTURES

Tests

The composition of that concrete, designated as

HPR.CC, included a type I, class 52.5 Portland cement,
a densified silica fume, basalt coarse aggregates, siliceous
river sand, as well as a superplasticizer. Tables 1 to 4
show the characteristics of the component materials.
Table 5 shows the concrete mixture used. The grain
size curve of the solid particles of the concrete followed the
theoretical Faury curve [6, 7], parameters A and B being
18 and 1, respectively. This refers to concrete with crushed
coarse aggregate, rounded sand and dry workability. The
water dosage has been established in order to provide the
HPRCC with a consistency of 13 + 3 Vebe seconds. The
consistency has been measured in accordance with specification ASTM C i170-91 [81, method A, with a compaction surcharge of 22.7 kgs Fig. 1 shows the appearance
of the concrete immediately after leaving the concrete
mixer and Fig. 2 shows the moulding of a 150 m m test
cube, with a surcharge of 9.1 kgff.

Cement152.5

Condensedsilica fume

Losson ignition (%)

1.06

2.66

Insoluble residue(%)

1.30

SiO2 (%)

21.35

94.92

Fe203 (%)

3.66

0.39

AI203 (%)

5.67

0.30

CaO (%)

62.58

0.84

MgO (%)

1.33

0.20

Na20 (%)

0.16

0.29

K20 (%)

0,82

0.30

SO3 (%)

2.76

Ct" (%)

0.01

free lime, CaO (%)

0.50

Fineness:BET(m2/g)
Blaine (m2/g)

1.21
0.42

24.54

Averagegrain size (mm)

12.02

25.81"

particles agglomeration

3. TESTS
With the composition shown in Table 5, the concrete has been produced using the same equipment and
following the same manufacturing procedures as those
usually used in a technologic control laboratory.
Table 6 shows the tests performed. The test samples
for the execution of those tests have been prepared in
accordance with specification ASTM C 1176-92 [9].
Table 6 also indicates the test standard or specification,
the number and size of the specimens prepared, as well
as the test ages.

Table 3 - Physical characteristics of aggregates

Characteristics

C.A. 2

C.A. 1 C.A.O Sand

Specific weigh (kg/m 3)

2860

2840

2840

Absorption (%)

2.18

2.75

4.82

Maximum size (mm)

38.1

19.1

9.5

2.38

5.41

2.56

Abrasion - LosAngeles(%)

16

Compressivestrength
Saturated/dry state (MPa)

4. RESULTS

Finenessmodulus

Table 7 shows the results of the compressive strength

tests. Table 8 shows the results obtained from the other
determinations performed on the HPP,.CC.

399

2620

298/293
7.61

6.66

Modulus of elasticity(GPa)

85.4

Porosity(%)

7.9

Abrasion resistanceat 200m (mm)

O.18

Materials and Structures/Mat6riaux et Constructions, Vol. 33, July 2000

Table 4 - Characteristics of the admixture

(information provided by the manufacturer)
Type

modified polycarboxylic ether

Relative density

1.1

pH

6.6

Table 5 - Concrete mixture

Component

Dosage

Coarse aggregate 2

930.8 kg/m a

Coarse aggregate I

364.8 kg/m a

Coarse aggregate 0

427.8 kg/m a

Sand

208.5 kg/m 3

Cement

506.6 kg/m 3

Condensed silica fume

49.4 kg/m 3

Superlasticizer

11.12 I/m 3

Water

112.5 I/m 3

W/(C+CSF)

0.202

Fig. 1 - Aspect of the concrete immediately after leaving the concrete mixer.

Table 6 - Tests on HPRCC

Test

Specification

Test specimens (mm)

Compressive strength

pr EN-ISO4012/1
(1994) [10]

cubes 150
cylinders 150 X300

Tensile splitting strength

pr EN-ISO4108
(1994) [11]

cylinders 150 X 300

Abrasion resistance

LNECE 396
method A [12]

plates 6 X 6 X 2,5

Modulus of elasticity

LNEC E 397 [ 13]

cylinders 150 X 300

Table 7 - Simple compressive strength of the concrete (MPa)

Test specimens (mm)

Cylinders (150 x 300)

Age (days)
3

28

90

99.9

111.3

132.7

142.8

156.8

171.2

Cubes (150)

are about 4 times and half higher than those obtained in

normal concrete at 28 and 90 days. At 3 days, the compressive strength of the HPRCC, in values estimated for
cubes, is already higher than 100 MPa. At 90 days, the
resistance in test cubes is higher than 170 MPa, which is
a fairly high value considering the cement and silica
fume dosages used.
By comparing the effectiveness of a kilogram of binder for
the compressive strength at 28
Testing ages
Numberof
(days)
days of the HPP, C C with a
specimens
normal concrete C20/25, made
4
28, 90
with 300 kg/m 3 of binder and
8
3, 7, 28, 90
with a resistance of 33 MPa,
2
28
the values obtained were 0.303
MPa/kg in the first case, and
4
28
0.11 in the second case, i.e., an
effectiveness about three times
2
28
higher in high performance
concrete.
The compressive strength values measured in that
concrete are significantly higher than the reference values of high performance concrete made in Portugal. In
fact, the compressive strength at 28 days of a HPC, for
binder dosages of about 500 kg/m 3, ranges, in general,
from 100 to 110 MPa [5]. The high strength obtained in

Table 8 - Other characteristics of the concrete

Characteristics

Testing age

Value

Tensile splitting strength

28 days

8.0 MPa

Abrasion

28 days

< 0.1 mm

Modulus of elasticity

28 days

48.6 GPa

5. ANALYSES OF RESULTS
Fig. 1 shows the evolution of the compressive
strength with the age of the H P R C C and of a C20/25
normal concrete. The results obtained in the HPR.CC

Fig. 2 - Moulding of a 150 mm test cube using a vibrating table

and a surcharge of 9.1 kgf (ASTM C 1176-92).

400

Bettencourt Ribeiro, de Almeida

ofEurocode 2 [14] (for the estimation of the modulus of

elasticity of the concrete), E = 9 . 5 x 3 ~ , where: E -

Compressive strength of HPRCC

200
160

................................................................................................

] .......................................................

1 ...................

'::':"m~ ...........

.-.:::r.::--'.':..-'. ...............................

140 !4 ~;:..:r::T:'~.....................................

=4)

,oo 1 ............................................... 10
o

so I

60

...............................................

L ......

.......

====================================================================================
............ ........

20

cylinders
""i
,,o,,,,alconcrete.F!

4 .....................................................................................

40

modulus of elasticity, in GPa, fcc - compressive strength

(cylinders, in MPa).
The value, 48.5 GPa, is almost equal to the result
obtained in the test performed at 28 days, which has
been 48.6 GPa.

....... i

i
,

6. F I N A L C O N S I D E R A T I O N S

:.: ...................................................................................

4
0

20

40

60
Age (days)

80

100

Fig. 3 - Simple compressive strength of HPRCC, on 150 m m test

cubes a n d o n 150 x 300 m m test cylinders, as well as o f a n o r m a l
c o n c r e t e C 2 0 / 2 5 , o n test cubes.

the HPRCC, even as refers to the HPC, was considered

to be due to the following factors:
9 the use of a highly resistant basalt rock, which
increases significantly the energy necessary for the failure
of aggregate particles;
9 the use of a highly powerful superplasticizer, which
makes possible to decrease significantly the dosage of
mixing water;
9 the high compaction energy used in the production of
RCC, which makes possible to consolidate a comparatively dry concrete;
9 the dry consistency of RCC, which makes possible to
reduce considerably the dosage of sand used in the mixture.
All these factors contribute to obtain a concrete mass
formed mainly by a highly resistant paste matrix
(W/C+CSF = 0.20) and by rock particles also highly
resistant. Besides, the reduced sand dosage leads to the
existence of a lower number of paste-aggregate interfaces
and, therefore, the failure surfaces cross less areas of
those zones potentially weaker, increasing thus the
energy required to produce the failure of the test sample.
The abrasion resistance of HPRCC was also very
high. The wear occurred was so small that it has not
been possible to measure it with the test methodology
used. It is interesting to observe that the high resistance
of the paste produced an abrasion resistance of the concrete even higher than the abrasion resistance of the very
aggregate.
The tensile splitting strength was comparatively limited, in view of the values obtained in the compressive
strength. In fact, the tensile splitting strength at 28 days
was only 5.1% of the compressive strength measured on
test cubes. That type ofresuh was expected, considering
that the relation between the splitting tensile strength
and the compressive strength decreases usually with the
increasing resistance of concrete.
The modulus of elasticity of the HPRCC presented a
value that can be considered as normal for the compressive strength shown. For verification purposes, it has
been calculated the value resulting from the expression
401

In this work, studies have been done in laboratory,

about proportioning, production and determination of
some properties of a roller compacted high performance
concrete. The results have proved that very high compressive strengths can be obtained with a H P R C C .
Compressive strength values higher than 150 MPa at
90 days can be easily obtained, when a very resistant
coarse aggregate is used, mainly because it is possible to
reduce significantly the dosage of sand and water in that
type of concrete, and also because a high compaction
energy is used.
The abrasion resistance measured in that HPRCC
has also been considered high, which means that it can
be used in various situations, as for instance, on floors
and pavements subject to high wear. The modulus of
elasticity and the splitting tensile strength presented values compatible with those of the compressive strength.
The possibility of obtaining HPC with the manufacturing and placement procedures used in the R C C
works, makes it possible, undoubtedly, to extend the
range of practical applications of that material that has
been mainly used on elements where the high compressive strength and abrasion resistance of the concrete are
not aspects considered as relevant.
Since the binder dosage in HPRCC is comparatively
high, for massive structures, further studies are required
about properties that control cracking tendency, namely:
autogenous shrinkage, early creep/relaxation and heat of
hydration.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to thank to CAPES/MEC and

CNPq/SCT (Brazil) for their financial support, as well as
to LNEC (Portugal) for the technical assistance provided
during the execution of this research work.
REFERENCES
[1] Moler, W. A. and Moore, J. F., 'Design of seepage control systems for RCC Dams', in 'Roller Compacted Concrete II',
Proceedings of an International Conference, San Diego,
California, Feb. 29 - March 2, 1988 (American Society of Civil
Engineers, New York, 1988) 61-75.
[2] Andriolo, F. R., 'Contributions to the knowledge and development of Roller Compacted Concrete' (Barber-Greene, Brazil,
1989) (Only available in Portuguese).

Materials and Structures/Mat6riaux et Constructions, Vol. 33, July2000

[3] Ribeiro, A. B., 'Characterisation and mixture proportioning of
Roller Compacted Concrete', Report 57/97 - NAB, Portuguese
National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, 1997 (Only available
in Portuguese).
[4] Oliveira, P. J., Salles, F. M. and Andriolo, F. R., 'Studies of various types of RCC mix designs - laboratory test results', in
'Roller Compacted Concrete Dams', Proceedings of an
International Symposium, Santander, Spain, 2-4 Oct. 1995
(Spanish Institute of Cement and its Applications, Madrid, 1995)
87-101.
[5] Almeida, I. R., 'High Performance Concrete. Characteristics and
Composition', Doctoral thesis, Instituto Superior T&nico da
Universidade Tdcnica de Lisboa, Portugal, 1990 (Portuguese
National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, Lisbon, 1990) (Only
available in Portuguese).
[6] Faury, J., 'Le B&on', third edition, (Dunod, Paris, 1958).
[7] Dreux, J., 'Connaissance du B&on' (Soci&d de Diffusion des
Techniques du Batiment et des Travaux Publics, Paris, 1964).
[8] American Society for Testing and Materials, 'ASTM C 1170-91,
Standard test method for determining consistency and density of
Roller-Compacted Concrete using a vibrating table' Annual
Book of ASTM Standards, vol. 4.02, (ASTM, United States of
America, 1997) 610-614.
[9] American Society for Testing and Materials, 'ASTM C 1170-92,

Standard practice for making Roller-Compacted Concrete in

cylinder moulds using a vibrating table' Annual Book of ASTM
Standards, vol. 4.02, (ASTM, United States of America, 1997)
615-618.
[10] European Committee for Standardization CEN/TC 104, 'pr
EN-ISO 4012/1 - 1994, Testing concrete - Determination of
compressive strength of test specimens', Draft: Dec. 1993
(European Committee for Standardization, Brussels, 1994).
[11] European Committee for Standardization CEN/TC 104, 'pr
EN-ISO 4108 - 1994, Testing concrete - Determination oftensile splitting strength of test specimens', Draft: July 1994
(European Committee for Standardization, Brussels, 1994).
[12] National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, 'LNEC E 396-1993 Concrete. Determination of abrasion resistance' (Portuguese
National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, Lisbon, 1993) (Only
available in Portuguese).
[13] National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, 'LNEC E 397-1993,
Concrete. Determination of elastic modulus in compression'
(Portuguese National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, Lisbon,
1993) (Only available in Portuguese).
[14] European Committee for Standardization, 'European Prestandard
ENV 1992-1-1, Eurocode 2, Design of Concrete Structures. Part 1
- General Rules and rules for buildings', Dec. 1991, (European
Committee for Standardization, Brussels, 1991).

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