The effect of coarse aggregate inclusion on the performance of reactive powder concrete exposed to oil products

Abstract

Abstract Reactive powder concrete, RPC, is an ultra-high strength and high ductility cementitious composite with advanced mechanical and physical properties. RPC is composed of very fine powders (cement, sand, quartz powder and silica fume), steel fibers (optional) and superplasticizer. A basic principle, which was presented by the first developers of RPC, is to eliminate the coarse aggregate in mixture to enhance homogeneity. The main purpose of the present investigation is to modify RPC by including natural graded coarse aggregate in the mixture in different approaches. The investigation was devoted to monitor the strength development, total absorption and permeability of RPC after exposure to two types of oil products, kerosene and gas oil, up to 180 days. The current results showed that eliminating coarse aggregate as a principle could be gone-beyond. The better way for including coarse aggregate in RPC was to replace the fine sand and the most useful FA/A ratio is expected to be within the range of 0 - 25 % by weight. This range was found to create an optimum situation between strength and absorption for kerosene and gas oil exposures. It is not recommended to include the coarse aggregate in RPC mixtures as a replacement to the binder specially when dealing with oil products storage.