Rheological properties and mechanical strength of self-compacting mortars produced with marble powder and calcined clay

The use of calcined clays [CC], combined in ternary blended with the limestone filler and cement has received considerable attention in recent years. This paper discusses the results on the rheological and compressive strength of three types of calcined clays in combination with marble powder and cement, used as ternary binder in self-compacting mortars. A simplex-lattice mixture design approach was used, with five levels, to establish the different binder combinations. The responses of the system were evaluated in terms of rheological properties and compressive strength. The tests conducted on SCM ternary mixes are slump flow diameter, v-funnel flow time, yield value, viscosity and compressive strength at 28, 90 and 365 days. It was concluded that the replacement of cement with calcined clays and marble powder in ternary mixes reduced the flowability by decreasing slump flow and increasing v-funnel time. However, the combined effect of marble powder and calcined clays is more appropriate to produce flowable SCM mixes while maintaining an adequate viscosity. In terms of compressive strength. A progressively increasing trend was observed for 28 days compressive strength with the increase in marble powder and calcined clays in binary proportions.