Fourth International Conference on Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

http://www.claisse.info/Proceedings.htm

SCMT4
Las Vegas, USA, August 7-11, 2016

Effect of Paste Volume on Performance of Controlled Low

Strength Materials
Vahid Alizadeh1
1
1000 River road, T-MU1-01, Teaneck, NJ 07666, USA, Fairleigh Dickinson University,
Email: <alizadeh@fdu.edu>

ABSTRACT

Controlled low strength material (CLSM) is gaining increasing importance with the growing emphasis
on sustainability in construction industry. CLSM can be a valuable application for the safe and efficient
use of nonstandard materials such as industrial by-products, which are normally rejected for conventional
concrete due to the negative impact on hardened properties. In the present study, a laboratory experiment
was carried out to explore the effect of paste volume on flowability and strength development of CLSM.
The experimental results showed that the paste volume had a more significant effect on the slump flow
compared to the water-cementitious material ratio (w/cm); however, it had little effect on compressive
strength of CLSM mixtures. It is proposed that the paste volume percentage can be used to target a desired
flow in proportioning of CLSM without compromising the compressive strength of the mixtures.

INTRODUCTION
Over the last decades, Controlled low strength material (CLSM) has gained increasing attention in
infrastructure applications, which is due, mainly to its intrinsic benefits and widespread applications.
CLSM is a highly flowable, self-consolidating construction materials and specified by ACI 229R [2013]
with 28-day compressive strength of 8.3 MPa (1200 psi) or less. CLSM contains mostly of fine
aggregates, small quantities of cement with large quantities of supplementary cementitious materials, and
water.

In actual construction, CLSMs have demonstrated a number of distinct advantages over conventional
backfills; it cures rapidly and can flow easily around confined spaces. It is self-leveling, relatively
incompressible after curing, durable, and may be easily excavated if desired. CLSM has a number of uses
in the construction industry as an alternative to compacted fill including backfill for building excavations,
utility trench, and retaining walls; structural fill for footings, road bases and utility bedding; and void-
filling for underground structures [ACI 229R 2013; Alizadeh et al. 2014, Smith 1991]. Although CLSM
generally costs more per cubic meter than most soil or granular backfill materials, its many advantages
such as reduced labor, self-leveling capability and versatility often result in lower in-place costs [Ramme
1997]. The benefits of CLSM were also imparted efficiently in the rapid construction of bridge abutments.
Since it is a self-compacting material, CLSM reduces the volume of labor intensive compacting operation
needed for the placement of backfills, and therefore, construction of CLSM bridge abutments requires a
shorter time compared with conventional bridge abutments [Alizadeh et al. 2014, 2015].

In most applications, CLSM requires less strength than 2.1 MPa (300 psi) to allow for future excavation
[ACI 229R 2013]. According to ASTM D4832, CLSM materials have a higher strength than the
compacted soil and typical strengths for most applications fall between 350 to 700 kPa (50 to 100 psi).The
low mechanical requirements enable the use of nonstandard materials for the production of CLSM, which
are normally rejected for conventional concrete because of their negative impact on hardened properties.
Therefore, CLSM can be a valuable application for industrial by-products and wastes as the
supplementary cementitious materials and fine aggregate substitutes. With the growing emphasis on
sustainability, CLSM offers a viable means to utilize a wide range of industrial by products, which
otherwise pose a problem in their safe disposal. However, the nonstandard materials should be tested to
assess their effect on CLSM performance [Bouzalakos et al. 2013, Nataraja and Nalanda 2008].

Research interests in CLSM have mostly been focused on the use of various industrial by-products as
major or supplementary constituents of the mixture [Sheen et al. 2014]. Fly ash, a by-product of the coal
combustion in electric power plants, is a commonly used supplementary cementitious material [Naik et
al. 2006]. Other by-products that are being used in CLSM are bottom ash, blast furnace slag, foundry
sand, cement kiln dust, recycled concrete aggregate, scrap tire rubber, wood ash, and flue gas
desulfurization materials [Achtemichuk et al. 2009, Katz and Kovler 2004, Nataraja and Nalanda 2008,
Seddique 2009, Taha et al. 2007]. In these studies, the impact of alternative constituents on the
performance of CLSM has been evaluated by adjusting their mass content in the mixture. Nevertheless,
since the contents of constituents in a mixture are interrelated, they cannot be adjusted independently
without affecting the mixture proportions. As a result, the reported CLSM performance is a combined
result of the constituent’s properties and the change of mixture proportion, and this weakens comparison
of results between different studies.

In this study, a laboratory experiment was carried out to explore the effect of paste volume in the mixture
as an independent parameter on CLSM performance in terms of flowability and compressive strength of
the mixtures. The effect of ratio of water to cementing materials (w/cm) and portland cement to cementing
materials (pc/cm) on CLSM performance was also evaluated. The objective is to suggest independent
variables which can best define the change in CLSM relevant responses, and enable unbiased
interpretation and comparison of the results among different studies. These independent variables can be
employed in proportioning of CLSM mixtures to minimize the number of trial batches usually required
to achieve the desired requirements for CLSM properties.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

The CLSM mixtures studied in this paper were composed of fine aggregate, a supplementary cementing
material (SCM), cement, and water. The mixtures were proportioned by adjusting relative ratios between
constituents including, the paste volume which corresponds to the volumetric ratio of paste (water, SCM,
and cement) to the total volume of the mixture, and mass ratios of water to cementing materials (w/cm)
and portland cement to cementing materials (pc/cm). Experimental studies in CLSM literature include
mixtures with paste volumes covering a range of 32% to 47% [ACI 229R 2013; Alizadeh et al. 2014, Du
et al. 2002, Folliard et al. 2008, Katz and Kovler 2004, Naik et al. 2006, Naganathan et al. 2012, Nataraja
and Nalanda 2008, Taha et al. 2007]. For this study, paste volumes of 35%, 40% and 45% was considered.
Table 1 shows the experimental cases performed to study the relationship between these relative ratios as
independent parameters and CLSM responses in terms of the ability to flow (slump flow), and unconfined
compressive strength. For each mixture in Table 1, mass contents of the ingredients were determined
from the required volumes, considering absolute volume of the whole mixture and according to the
specific of gravities of the materials. Water adjustments were made to compensate for the aggregate
moisture content.

After mixing the ingredients in a drum mixer, flowability of the fresh mixtures was determined by the
slump flow diameter according to ASTM D6103. ACI 229R specifies a flow of at least 200 mm (8 in.)
for CLSM. The specimens then were cast in 100 × 200 mm (4 × 8 in.) cylindrical molds and cured at
23°C for varying periods, 1-day, 7-day and 28-day, before the compressive strength testing. Because of
the self-leveling characteristics of CLSM, casting the cylinder molds did not require densification as is
normally needed for concrete samples. Three specimens from each mixture were tested for compressive
strength according to the ASTM D4832. Load-controlled unconfined compressive strength test was
employed using a relatively low-load capacity computerized testing machine at a constant rate such that
the cylinder would fail in not less than 2 min. Unbonded metal caps fitted with elastomeric material pads
were used to avoid damage to the specimen surface.

Table 1. Investigated CLSM Mixtures and the Results

Mix VP% w/cm pc/cm flow Density Compressive Strength (kPa)
(mm) (kg/m3) 3 days 7 days 28 days
1 40% 0.6 0.15 231 1971 315 1223 2206
2 40% 0.8 0.15 314 1897 337 471 1127
3 40% 1.0 0.15 341 1827 155 307 672
4 40% 1.2 0.15 372 1805 112 174 513
5 45% 0.6 0.15 403 1907 537 1042 2005
6 45% 0.8 0.15 506 1937 291 525 945
7 45% 1 0.15 556 1930 178 352 632
8 35% 0.6 0.15 198 2008 388 707 1397
9 35% 0.8 0.15 257 1984 233 352 677
10 35% 1 0.15 274 1929 − − 443
11 40% 0.6 0.1 240 1940 − − 615
12 40% 0.8 0.1 329 1893 − − 302
13 40% 1 0.1 353 1910 − − 215
14 40% 1.2 0.1 381 1921 − − 169
15 40% 0.6 0 238 1892 − − 219
16 40% 0.8 0 332 1859 − − 172
17 40% 1 0 351 1911 − − 138
18 40% 1.2 0 375 1891 − − 127
19 40% 0.6 0.2 213 2001 − − 3781
20 40% 0.8 0.2 304 2035 − − 2310
21 40% 1 0.2 330 1759 − − 1552
22 40% 1.2 0.2 362 1651 − − 1317
Materials. Ordinary Portland cement, fly ash as a SCM, natural sand as a fine aggregate, and tap water
were used for the production of the CLSM mixtures. Physical properties of the constituents are shown in
Table 2.

Portland cement conforming to ASTM C150 type I was manufactured by Lafarge Cement and had the
following compound composition: C3S – 55%, C2S – 17.6%, C3A – 8.0%, C4AF – 8.2% and contained
3.4% of limestone filler. Class F fly ash for this research was processed by Separation Technologies under
the ProAsh brand. Chemical properties of the fly ash is shown in Table 3 and compared with the
requirements of ASTM C618 specification. The particle size distribution of the sand which was used as
the fine aggregate complies with the ASTM C33 that classifies the fine aggregates for the use in concrete.

Table 2. Physical Properties of Solid Materials

Specific gravity Dry bulk density Voids % Absorption Moisture
Dry SSD (kg/m3) capacity % content %
Cement 3.15 − − − − −
Fly Ash 2.65 − − − − −
Sand 2.557 2.591 1726 32.5 1.32 1.1
Note: SSD is saturated surface-dry condition.

Table 3. Chemical Composition of the Fly Ash

SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO Na2O K2O SO3
Fly ash 55.3% 21.4% 10.2% 3.4% 0.98% 0.96% 2.11% 0.92%
ASTM C618 sum: 70% min 3% max

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 22 CLSM mixtures with different levels of paste volume, w/cm ratio, and pc/cm ratio were
produced. Table 2 shows slump flow, compressive strength, and density of different CLSM mixtures
proportioned in this research study.

Flowabilty. According to Figure 1, paste volume has more significant effect on the CLSM flowability
than w/cm. This is due the fact that aggregate is the major constituent of a CLSM mixture, and with
increase in paste volume, the volume of aggregate in the mixture decreases, and therefore less amount
of water is needed to separate the solid particles and provide mobility among them and increase the
fluidity of the mixture. For paste volumes larger than 40%, all mixtures show a more profound increase
in flowability (Figure 1a).
For a fixed paste volume, increase in w/cm provides more slump flow; however, all curves in Figure 1b
reach a plateau, showing that the effect becomes insignificant at higher w/cm values. Furthermore, the
effect of w/cm increases as the paste content increases.
600 w/cm:1 600 pv:35%
w/cm:0.8 pv:40%
500 w/cm:0.6 pv:45%
500
Slump flow (mm)
Slump flow (mm)

400 400

300 300
200 200
Paste Volume % w/cm
100 100
34 36 38 40 42 44 46 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.1
(a) (b)

Figure1. Slump Flow as a Function of (a) Paste Volume, and (b) w/cm Ratio
As shown in Figure 2, for the range in which the ratio of pc/cm is studied, it has insignificant effect on
the flowability of the CLSM mixtures. Higher contents of portland cement in total cementing materials,
reduced the flow slump to some extent.

400

350

Slump flow (mm)

300

250

200
w/cm:1
w/cm:0.8
150 w/cm:0.6
w/cm:1.2
100
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
pc/cm

Figure 2. Effect of pc/cm Ratio on Slump Flow

Compressive strength. The 28-day compressive strength of the produced mixtures in Table 2 ranged
from a very low strength of 172 kPa (25 psi) for mixtures without portland cement to a relatively higher
strength of 3780 kPa (548 psi) for mixtures with high portland cement content (20% of total cementing
materials). For mixtures with portland cement content of 15% or less, the 28-day compressive strength
was below the range for excavatability. Figure 3 demonstrates the development of compressive strength
with curing age for mixtures with fixed pc/cm ratio of 0.15, and corresponding paste volume and w/cm
ratio. The average ratio of 3-day to 28-day and 7-day to 28-day compressive strength of the mixtures is
25% and 50%, respectively.

2500 3 days
Compressive Strength (kPa)

7 days
2000
28 days
1500

1000

500

Figure 3. Strength Development of CLSM Mixtures

Comparing the results in Figures 4, 5, and 6 demonstrates that the pc/cm ratio has the largest effect on
compressive strength of the mixtures and paste volume has the smallest. As shown in Figure 4, the effect
of paste volume on compressive strength is not significant. Increase in paste volume to 40%, somewhat
increased the strength, thereafter compressive strength decreased. It shows that there is an optimum value
for the paste volume which provides the highest strength for the mixtures; the optimum paste volume in
this study is about 40%. As expected, the compressive strength increased with decreasing w/cm ratio,
Figure 5. Likewise, the compressive strength is positively correlated to the pc/cm ratio, Figure 6. The
observed effects of w/cm and pc/cm ratios on CLSM compressive strength suggest that w/cm needs to be
minimized to reduce the required amount of portland cement to achieve a required strength.

2500
Compressive Strength (kPa)

2000
w/cm:1
1500 w/cm:0.8
w/cm:0.6
1000

500

0
34 37 40 43 46
Paste Volume %

Figure 4. Effect of Paste Volume on Compressive strength

4000 pc/cm:0 4000 w/cm:0.6

Compressive Strength (kPa)
Compressive Strength (kPa)

w/cm:0.8
3500 pc/cm:0.1 3500 w/cm:1
pc/cm:0.15 3000 w/cm:1.2
3000
pc/cm:0.2
2500 2500 (b)
2000 (a) 2000
1500 1500
1000 1000
500 500
0 0
0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 0 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.2
w/cm pc/cm

Figure 5. Compressive Strength as a Function of (a) w/cm Ratio, and (b) pc/cm Ratio

CONCLUSION

A laboratory experiment was carried out to explore the effect of some independent variables on CLSM
properties in terms of the flowability and the compressive strength. These variables are relative ratios
between the constituent materials of CLSM, including the paste volume to the total volume of the mixture,
and mass ratios of water to cementing materials (w/cm) and portland cement to cementing materials
(pc/cm). The following general results were obtained from this study:

 The paste volume was found to have the strongest effect on flowability, but the w/cm ratio had a
comparatively low effect. For all mixtures with paste volume larger than 40%, the flow slump
increase was substantial. The effect of pc/cm ratio on flowability was insignificant.
 The pc/cm ratio had the largest effect on compressive strength of CLSM and paste volume had
the smallest. It was found that a paste volume of about 40% is an optimum value which provides
a relatively higher strength.
 It is recommended to decrease the w/cm in order to achieve a desired strength rather than
increasing cement content. The adverse effect of this on flowability can be corrected by adjusting
the paste volume to target a desired flow without compromising the compressive strength of the
mixtures.

It is concluded that these factors (paste content, w/cm, and pc/cm) can provide adequate control over the
relevant properties of CLSM. Hence, they can be employed for the mixture design of CLSM mixtures to
minimize the number of trial batches and to enable the unbiased interpretation of the results and
comparing findings to other studies.

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