Effect of silica fume and ground pumice on compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of high strength concrete

This paper presents the results of experimental study on compressive strength and secant modulus of elasticity of high strength concrete (HSC) containing different levels of silica fume, ground pumice and silica fume together with ground pumice. Three concrete series with water-binder ratios of 0.25 and a constant total binder content of 450 kg/m(3) were designed. The compressive strength and secant modulus of elasticity of these concrete series were determined. The experimental results clearly reveal the use of silica fume and silica fume together with ground pumice with a very low water-binder ratio in the production of HSC. The highest compressive strength and secant modulus of elasticity are obtained in the concrete mixtures containing 15% silica fume and 15% silica fume together with 5% ground pumice. The relationship between the compressive strength and secant modulus of elasticity of HSC was also discussed. New two equations for modulus of elasticity of concrete containing different levels of silica fume, ground pumice and silica fume together with ground pumice have been proposed. The experimental results of dependent modulus of elasticity of concrete were compared with the results of various equations-proposed by some of national building codes and the authors, and also the results of new equations proposed in this study. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.