Effect of cementing efficiency factor on the mechanical properties of concrete incorporating silica fume

ABSTRACT Silica fume is a recognized pozzolan which can contribute unique properties to Portland cement products. The use of silica fume in cement and concrete technology has unexpectedly increased over the most recent couple of years with the advent of high-performance concrete. All the previous researches in estimating the cementing efficiency factor of silica fume have been built on the strength prediction of concrete at different w/c ratio for different percentage replacement of silica fume. In the present work, the cementing efficiency factor for silica fume at different percentage replacement level has been assumed, and at the constant water to binder ratio, the compressive strength has been obtained. Further, the results of 28-day compressive strengths of silica fume concrete have been examined using a response surface model and a relationship has been projected. This model, which relates compressive strength with water to binder ratio, cementing efficiency factor and percentage silica fume, might find a useful application in the strength prediction of silica fume concretes.