Some characteristics of high-strength structural concrete

Abstract

The 68-storey Scotia Plaza tower in Toronto is an outstanding example of the use of concrete technology to achieve high-performance high-strength concrete. Cementitious hydraulic slag, silica fume, and a superplasticizer were combined with CSA type-10 Portland cement and high-quality aggregates to produce very workable high-strength concrete. During the course of construction, data were published suggesting the possibility of the strength regression of some silica fume concretes after long exposure to low humidity, the determinations being made on standard test cylinders. Tests were, therefore, made at ages of 1 year and 2 years on specimens drilled from columns in the structure. This technical note gives details of the laboratory examination and testing of these specimens. Key words: high strength, slag, silica fume, permeability, rapid chloride permeability, petrographic examination, superplasticizers.