Modelling of Mixtures Using Taguchi Method to Identify Properties of Self-Curing High Strength Concrete

Abstract

The conventional curing methods were found superficial and hence ineffective in case of high strength concrete. Super absorbent polymers are the new materials which could be effective for the internal curing of High Strength Concrete mixes (HSC). However, the self-curing of HSC produced using high reactive metakaolin has not yet been examined adequately. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanical properties of Metakaolin based high strength concrete in combination with Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP). In this study, the Taguchi experiment method is used to achieve the best possible combination of factors. The design of the experiment was prepared by determining control factors. The specimens like cubes, cylinders and beams were cast considering all combinations and cured under different curing conditions for a period of 28 days. Specimens were tested under the universal testing machine and the results obtained showed about 50-55% increase in compressive strength of the self-curing mix than the conventional non-self-curing mix. The obtained strength of the self-curing concrete nearly equals the strength of moist-cured concrete. Hence, the study suggests that the Taguchi technique is the most appropriate method of mix optimisation, and it certainly reduces the time and cost of experimentation. The multi-regression analysis also proposes equations which offer predicted values of all the mechanical properties. These values strongly correlate with the values found experimentally.