Theoretical and experimental study of roller-compacted concrete strength

Abstract

Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) is presented as an evolutionary technology for a large diversity of applications: dams, roads, parking areas. The present work considers a road application and uses some materials of local quarries. The development of compressive and tensile strengths of RCC with the specification of a low cement content is discussed. The current study treats the characterisation of different granular constituents based on local materials quarries, the formulation of various granular mixtures, by the compressive packing model ‘René-LCPC’, and the simulation by theoretical models developed by Feret, de Larrard and Tondat for the evaluation of compressive and tensile strengths. Compression and Brazilian tensile (by splitting) tests were performed on the cylindrical specimens type ‘16/32 cm’, prepared according to the National French Project Method ‘BaCaRa’. A comparison was therefore made between the experimental and the theoretical model results, showing a good agreement between both.