From ordinary rhelogy concrete to self compacting concrete: A transition between frictional and hydrodynamic interactions

This paper focuses on the physical phenomena involved in the transition between ordinary fluidity concrete strong transition in the theological behavior of concrete between a regime dominated by the friction between aggregate particles and a regime dominated by hydrodynamic interactions far less dissipative. It is also demonstrated that it is possible to define a transition criterion between these two regimes. Finally, the consequences of these changes in mix design on the mechanical strengths of the concretes are studied showing that a small decrease in granular skeleton volume fraction, which may generate a decrease in yield stress of almost two orders of magnitude, only reduces the mechanical strength of a few percents. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.