abstract:
The objective of this paper is to quantify the improvements due to the use of self-compacting concrete (SCC) as a replacement to a conventional Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) in the production of a reinforced concrete structure of a typical residential building in Brazil. To achieve the proposed objectives, a SCC mix was developed in the laboratory and tests were performed in the fresh and hardened states. Two floors, consisting of columns, beams and slabs, were built with SCC and a third with PCC. Pouring time and its generated noise, appearance of pathological manifestations after pouring, amount of labor required for pouring, costs and the risk of work-related accidents were evaluated. The results indicate that the floors produced with the SCC obtained 60.5% less pouring time, a reduction of 50% and 62.8% in the quantity and costs of labor, respectively; 260.8% reduction in the accident risk factor and, finally, a reduction of 56.4% in the total cost.
Keywords:
self-compacting concrete; productivity; unit production ratio; costs