Effects of nano and micro size of clay particles on the compressive and tensile strength properties of self-consolidating concrete

Abstract

Many past studies concerned about using of nanoclay (nC) particles as an active pozzolan to concrete and their influence on the physical and mechanical properties. In this study, the effects of various nanoclay particle sizes and dosages on the compressive and flexural tensile strengths of SCCs were investigated. Progressive nC percentages of 2%, 5% and 8% were replaced with cements and the produced SCCs were evaluated and compared with similar replacement levels of the metakaolin MK which have comparable chemical compositions. The produced SCCs were tested for compressive, flexural tensile and splitting tensile strengths in 28 and 90 days. Results indicated that nC replacement harmed all the studied mechanical properties at 28 days age. After 90 days, however, both compressive and tensile strengths of nC concretes show superior strengths than control concrete and also exceeded MK concretes made of equivalent replacement levels. This behavior demonstrates the pozzolanic activity of the nC particles at later ages and proved to be significantly more effective than early ages.