RESEARCH

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Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Mater. Sci. Ed. www.jwutms.net June 2021
Influence of Rheological Active Additives on the
Properties of Self- compacting Concrete
Abbas Guvalov1
, Saida Abbasova2*
(1. Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, Azerbaijan; 2. Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, Azerbaijan)
Abstract: The effect of rheological-active additives on the properties of cement suspensions and self-
compacting concrete mixtures have been studied. In order to increase the rheological matrix and provide high
fluidity, stone powders were used during the crushing of local mountain rocks in self-compacting concrete.
Taking into account the high dispersion of rheological-active additives, highly effective plasticizers were used to
regulate the reotechnological properties of cement-based mixtures. The effect of sulfonaphthalen-formaldehyde
oligomer and polycarboxylate-based hyperplasticizer on rheological properties of cement systems as plasticized
additive on methodology proposed by V Kalashnikov was evaluated.The flow rate of cement suspension is
determined by means of mini-viscosimeter, spreading of cement-sand mortar by means of Hegermann cone, and
the slump of concrete mixture by means of Abraham’s cone. On the basis of obtained results, it was determined
that limestone powder was more efficient than other stone powders. Thus, when adding 40% limestone powder
to the mixture, the compressive strength of the samples taken from self-compacting concrete mixture increases
by 15%-30% compared to the control samples. The optimal quantities of rheological-active additives and
plasticizers have been identified and the possibility of obtaining high-strength self-compacting concrete based
on them has been confirmed.
Key words: polyfunctional; cement; stone powder; hyperplasticisers; rheology matrix; dispersion
aggregate
© Wuhan University of Technology and Springer-Verlag GmbH
Germany, Part of Springer Nature 2021
(Received: Apr. 15, 2020; Accepted: Mar. 2, 2021)
Abbas Guvalov: Prof.; Ph D;E-mail: abbas-guvalov@mail.ru;
*Corresponding author: Saida Abbasova: Assoc. Prof.; Ph D;
E-mail:saidaabbasovai@mail.ru
DOI https: //doi. org/10.1007/s11595-021-2420-z
1 Introduction
Until today a fundamental change did not occur
in the composition of the most common monolithic
composite of concrete. However, recently an extensive
research has been carried out on the development and
use of new concrete modifiers, which allow regulating
the rheology of concrete mixes and improving the
properties of concrete. Concrete compositions obtained
with the use of these modifiers in terms of quality
characteristics are much higher than traditional ones[1-4]
.
The new generation of polyfunctional concrete
can significantly increase the flow of concrete through a
significant increase in the amount of rheological matrix
consisting of cement, stone powder, pomegranate sand,
water, super or hyperplasticizer. It is known that the
amount of rheology matrix in the mixture should be
sufficient to ensure high fluidity of the bubble, as well
as the free movement of large and small filler in the
concrete mix. Therefore, in these concrete mixtures,
large fillers can be freely replaced without any
impediment or resistance. Therefore, ordinary concrete
is not sufficient for the rheology matrix fillers to
interrupt one another freely in the process of molding.
Therefore, either vibrators are used during molding
such concrete or additional water is required. Adding
water increases the porosity and reduces its durability.
To increase the rheological matrix, the quantity of
pomegranate dispersant components such as cement or
stone powder should be increased[4-6]
.
Increasing the amount of cement is not
economically efficient, because it increases the
consumption of cement and the cost of the concrete,
and its structure is broken due to the deformation of
concrete. Thus, it is advisable to give stone powder
as an optimal amount of pomegranate dispersing
component in cement to mix the properties of poly
functional concrete[7-11]
.
The most widely used pomegranate dispersion
in the production of polyfunctional concrete is grated
quartz sand that is added to an additional 280-400 m2
/ kg special surface[12]
. Pomegranate disperse quartz

2. 382 Vol.36 No.3 Abbas Guvalov et al: Influence of Rheological Active Additives on the Proper...
sand has high rheological activity and increases its
density while reducing its porosity when used in
concrete. Pomegranate quartz increases its strength by
up to 150 MPa when it joins the optimum amount of
concrete. With its high tech properties, pomegranate
disperse quartz also has significant deficiencies. These
deficiencies are energy expenditure on washing, drying
and grinding of sand in the mold. Therefore, the study
of mountain rocks that can replace quartz is very actual.
The purpose of the present study is to determine
the effect of superplasticizer and mineral modifier on
the properties of self-compacting cement compositions.
2 Experimental
In the present research, dust particles from
grinding of rocks were used in the rare-active
dispersion filler lab. The following mountain rocks
are used as local raw materials for the purchase of fine
dispersed powders:
limestone of Garadagh deposit, marble of Dashke-
san deposit, and granite of Zurnabad bed of Khanlar
District.
In the research, Glenium SKY 500, Glenium 313
hyperplasticizers and Rheobuild 878 superplasticizer
derived from BASF were used as a plasticizer addition.
Hyperplasticizer Glenium SKY 500 is aqueous
solutions with different degrees of polymerization
based on Glenium 313 polycarboxylate esters.
Superplasticizer Rheobuild 878 naphthalene is an
anionic surface-active agent, consisting of a mixture of
oligomer and polymer compounds obtained as a result
of condensation of sulfonate with formaldehyde.
The CERM I -52, 5N portlandcement of the
Holcim cement plant, such as cement, was used.
Bahramtepe River sand (Mir = 2, 1) and Guba
stone (Mir = 3, 4), as well as 5-10 mm Guba massage
were found as large filler.
Rheological characteristics methodology proposed
by V Kalashnikov was evaluated[12]
. According to
this method, the modified Suttard viscosimeter was
used. Viscosimeter is a stainless steel cylinder with an
internal diameter of 25 mm and a height of 50 mm. The
change in water demand and fluidity is estimated for
the spread of water-mineral mixture in the gravitational
flow of the dough. In this case, the flow rate is
calculated by the following formula:
τ0 = hd2
r/ kD2
where, τ0 is the flow rate of the paste, Pa; h is the
viscometric height, m; d is the density of dough, kg /
m3
; k is the ratio taking into account the distribution of
tension in the pulse-plastic mass 2; D is the diameter of
dough, m.
The method includes the following steps: Under
180 mm×180 mm size glass, the circular scales are
placed on paper, and then the cylinder and the glass
are moistened. The material sample is taken to ensure
that the cylinder is full. The cylinder is removed and
the diameter of the dough is measured. The density of
the dough taken from each measurement is indicated.
According to the results of measurements, the plastic
effect is determined. Plasticizing effect is determined
by the water reducing index characterizing the
reduction of water consumption in the isoreological
system:
Wred = (Water/Solid)n/(Water/Solid)pl
where, (Water/Solid)n and (Water/Solid)pl is a water/
solid ratio of normal and plasticized paste. The spread
of cement mortar was determined with Hegermann
cone, and the spread of concrete mixture is determined
by the Abrams cone[13,14]
. 5 sm cube samples, based on
cement paste and cement-sand solution, 15 sm cube
samples based on concrete mixture were maintained
in normal conditions. The content of cement paste and
concrete mixture is ​​
shown in the corresponding tables.
3 Results and discussion
At the initial stage of the research, reotechnolog-
ical properties and sedimentation effects of mineral
suspensions (cement, limestone, marble and granite
powder) were studied (Table 1). Three different
plasticizers were used in the research. Water reduсing
effect of hyperplastifers is 1.56 in cement suspension,
1.54 in granite, 3.5-4 in marble and lime stone.
The use of 1% of the additives significantly
increases the diffusion diameter of the mixture in all
constituents and decreases the flow rate accordingly
(Table 2). The maximum flow rate characterizing the
diffusion of gravitational flow at the lime suspension
is taken during use of the Glenium SKY500 plasticizer
(6.08 Pa). Under the influence of the hyperplastifier,
mineral absorption at this point of flow is carried out
completely as a flux fluid and flows like water.
The effects of mineral supplements (limestone,
marble and granite powder) on the reactor properties of
cement suspensions, first of all, on the flow rate were
studied with both plastifers and plasticizers (Figs.1-

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3). It appears that the amount of mineral supplements
increases, the flow limit decreases, and the solution
is well dissipated. When using plasticizers сompared
to pure cement, the flow rate of mineral additives
decreases to 26%-37%. As the particles of the finely
disperse filler are positively charged as cement, the
electrostatic and steric effecting mechanisms result in
the adsorption of the plasticizer, with the flow of binary
mineral suspensions decreasing to the minimum. In
this case, binary mineral suspensions begin to flow like
newtonic fluids, not as fluid-structured liquid.
The influence of plasticizers on water/solid matter
ratio was studied in the research process depending on
the quantity of mineral supplements. The results show
Table 1 Impact of mineral suspensions on water / solids ratio
of plasticizers
No. Materials SP type
Water
/sol
ratio
Spread
D/sm
Water
reducing
index
1 2 3 4 5 6
1
Cement
- 0.5 9
Glenium SKY500 0.32 9 1.56
Glenium 313 0.34 9 1.47
Rheobuild 878 0.38 8.8 1.32
2
Marble
- 0.44 9
Glenium SKY500 0.11 9 4
Glenium 313 0.14 9 3.14
Rheobuild 878 0.19 9.2 2.31
3
Granite
- 0.4 9
Glenium SKY500 0.26 9 1.54
Glenium 313 0.26 9 1.54
Rheobuild 878 0.3 9.1 1.33
4
Limestone
- 0.42 9
Glenium SKY500 0.12 9 3.5
Glenium 313 0.14 9 3.0
Rheobuild 878 0.19 9.2 2.2
Fig.1 The effect of plasticizers on the flow rate of cement-marble
solution on the amount of marble
Fig.2 The effect of plasticizers on the flow rate of the cement-
granite solution on the granite content
Fig.3 The effect of plasticizers on the flow rate of cement-
limestone solution on the amount of limestone
Fig.4 Dependence of the effect of the cement-limestone solution
on the water-solids ratio of the plasticizers to the amount of
limestone
Table 2 Impact of plastifiers on the spread of mineral sus-
pensions
No. Materials SP type
Water
/sol
ratio
Spread,
D/sm
t/Pa
1 2 3 4 5 6
1
Cement
- 0.5 9 34.60
Glenium SKY500 0.5 17 9.70
Glenium 313 0.5 17 9.70
Rheobuild 878 0.5 13 16.90
2
Marble
- 0.4 9 33.00
Glenium SKY500 0.4 20 7.20
Glenium 313 0.4 19 7.93
Rheobuild 878 0.4 16.5 12.50
3
Granite
- 0.4 9 35.40
Glenium SKY500 0.4 17.5 9.90
Glenium 313 0.4 15 12.20
Rheobuild 878 0.4 14 14.00
4
Limestone
- 0.42 9 30.20
Glenium SKY500 0.42 21.7 6.08
Glenium 313 0.42 19.7 7.22
Rheobuild 878 0.42 18 10.70

4. 384 Vol.36 No.3 Abbas Guvalov et al: Influence of Rheological Active Additives on the Proper...
that the ratio of water/solids to cement decreases in
cement-limestone (Fig.4) and cement-marble (Fig.5),
in proportion to the increase in mineral supplements.
In cement-granite suspension (Fig.6), the results
are somewhat different. Thus, the ratio of water / solid
to a substance is reduced by 80%, and then begins to
increase. None of the selected plastids after this range
affects the spread of cement-granulose suspension.
This can be explained by the weak absorption
of the superplasticizer in the aqueous suspensions to
the surface of the granite particles, which is due to the
negative loading of the granite particles. It is enough
to add a small amount of cement (up to 5%-10% of the
mineral component) to mineral suspension to re-fill the
granite particles, to increase the plasticizer effect of
superplasticizers and hyperplasticizers.
The effectiveness of the cement-limestone and
cement-marble binary systems are closely related
to each other. It is explained by the fact that both of
these marble and lime stone are composed of CaCO3
and effects are similar when used with cement and
plasticizer. Therefore, it is better to give priority to
the selection of pomegranate dispersions in cement-
mineral powder systems rather than marble. Ther are
limited resources in Azerbaijan, but a large number of
deposits and cheaply financed limestone. Thus, the use
of limestone beds for the acquisition of rheological-
active stone powder is more promising.
An important criterion for the selection of powd-
ers is the compatibility of cement with chemical and
mineral supplements. Additionally, additives must
satisfy the following requirements:
a) It should be sufficiently dense to prevent the
movement of water and hyperplasticizer in particle
pores.
b) High-density dispersion and special surface
should be between 300-500 m2
/ kg.
c) Have a rheological activity.
d) The particles of the finely disperse filler must be
positively charged. Because super and hyperplasticizers
are anionic, and their loaded functional groups should
be adsorbed to the surface of the particles and increase
the flow rate.
Investigation of the self-compacting mixtures
(cement mortar, cement-sand and concrete) was carried
out with the use of stone powder based on heavy-
duty limestone stone. In the preparation of these
mixtures, because of the use of only narcotic powder,
pomegranate dispersions were considerably lower
than the cost of the concrete. Since the self-propelled
concrete mix has a high flow rate, its preparation is
based on mechanical noise, i e, without vibration. On
the other hand, mixtures have enough self-esteem,
and there is no violation of their equivalence and the
process of segregation of large fillers. In addition to the
dispersed mineral additive, Garadagh limestone powder
(carbonate powder), as a hyperplasticizer Glenium
SKY 500 was used in the present research to fulfill
these two requirements (Table 3).
When applying lime stone powder, the effectiv-
eness of the cement mix increases. Its particles are
distributed between cement particles and form a three-
dimensional spatial carcass with larger particles. This
spherical carcass consists of chains and aggregates
created by numerous coagulant connections. As a
consequence, as the result of increasing the viscosity,
plastic strength, corrosion and thixotropy of the
mixture, the segregation process is eliminated and the
Table 3 Effects of lime powder on the properties of the cement
mortar
No.
Composition of cement mix/(kg / m3
)
Slump/
sm
Compressive
strength/MPa
Cement
Carbonate
powder
Glenium
SKY500
Water 7 d 28 d
1 440 44 6.78 140 14 53.5 71.23
2 440 88 8.45 140 14 55.41 73.56
3 440 132 9.15 142 14 60.56 81.30
4 440 176 9.86 142 14 58.67 79.02
Fig.6 Dependence of the effect of the cement-granite solution on
the solid substance ratio of the plasticizers to the amount of
granite
Fig.5 Dependence of cement-marble mortar on the solids content
of the plasticizers depending on the amount of marble

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Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Mater. Sci. Ed. www.jwutms.net June 2021
system becomes self-destructive. Studies have shown
that when the stone does not add to the powder, the
cement mortar has a sharp contraction when it raises
the spread of the thread up to 14 cm, which can not
be mixed with the mixture. The thickness of cement
crusher obtained with application of lime powder is at
71.23-81.30 MPa. When the amount of lime powder
is increased from 10% to 40%, the cement density,
based on the same fluidized cement solution, increases
by 10 MPa. Microscopic analysis was performed in
an electron microscope after curing under normal
conditions for 28 days of samples added to 30%
limestone powder (Fig.7).
As can be seen, the structure of the cement stone
without an additive is not homogeneous (Fig.7(a)). Its
structure was grouped as a group of portlandite crystals
and was described as a weak crystallization layer with a
high content of calcium hydrocrystals. When limestone
powder is added due to fine particles, a homogeneous
structure of the cement stone is formed (Fig.7(b)).
Thin crystals of portlandite are observed only in closed
pores, and the crystallization of which occurs after the
formation of the basic structure of cement.
The properties of the cement-sand solution
obtained after adding a small filler made of sand
and stones were investigated without changing the
proportion of water-solids content (Table 4). The
mechanism of carbonate powder impact on the
cement-sand solution is similar to the cement solution.
According to Hegermann, when the cement-sand
solution is dissolved in 22 cm, it pays off the demands
on mixed dissolved mixtures. Carbonate powder is
close to cement activity because it has a rheological
activity. Therefore, cement water demand only
increases to 10%-15%. When the amount of carbonate
powder increases from 10% to 40%, the water
requirement of 1 m3
of the self-compacting mixture is
only 12 lbs, and the strength of the compacted concrete
is increased from 60.12 to 68.07 MPa.
In experiments by increasing the volume of
rheology matrix consisting of cement, stone powder
and water to extract the self-extracting mixture is
achieved. From economic point of view, the increase
amount of cement is not effective, because the
amount of stone powder increases up to 40%, as the
pomegranate disperses.
Only 5-10 fractions of large fillers have been
added to the fine-grained concrete to obtain a self-
compacting concrete mix without touching the
rheological matrix. The properties of the obtained
self-compacting concrete mixture and its concrete
properties are given in Table 5.
Table 4 Effects of carbonate powder on properties of self- compacting cement-sand solution
No.
Composition of cement-sand solution/(kg/m3
)
Slump/sm
Compressive strength/MPa
Cement Sand Stone production Lime stone powder Additive Water 7 d 28 d
1 440 528 485 44 6.78 130 22 45.24 60.12
2 440 508 462 88 8.45 132 20.5 48.72 64.92
3 440 488 444 132 9.15 140 21.5 51.47 68.07
4 440 468 426 176 9.86 142 22 50.85 67.66
Table 5 Impact of carbonate dust on the properties of self-compacting concrete
No.
Composition of concrete/(kg/m3
) Slump
/sm
Compressive strength/Pa
Cement Sand Stone production Crused stone 5-10 fr. Additive Lime stone powder Water 7 d 28 d
1 440 538 495 841 5.28 - 130 60 30.59 40.51
2 440 528 485 821 6.78 44 130 60 35.59 46.51
3 440 508 462 794 8.45 88 132 58 37.27 48.62
4 440 488 444 755 9.15 132 140 61 39.38 52.72
5 440 468 426 724 9.86 176 142 62 38.69 51.43
Fig.7 Microstructure of cement stone

6. 386 Vol.36 No.3 Abbas Guvalov et al: Influence of Rheological Active Additives on the Proper...
It is difficult to get normal self-compacting
concrete because it does not contain carbonate powder
as it seems. Therefore, the strength of such concrete
in compressing within 28 days is less than 40.51 MPa.
When the amount of carbonate powder was increased
by 10%-40%, the severity of squeezing was greater
than 15-30%. When carbonate powder was 40%, the
strength of concrete was 10% higher than the 10%
carbonate powder used content.
4 Conclusions
a) The rheological activity of the used stone
powders was close to the rheological activity of cement.
The rheological activity of the used stone powders was
close to the rheological activity of cement and the flow
rate of the cement suspension at the use of the Glenium
SKY500 plasticizer is 9.7 and 6.08 Pa in the lime
suspension.
b) When 10%-40% limestone powder as
rheological active additive was used, the strength of
cement stone was 71.23-81.30 MPa.
c) When the amount of lime powder rose from
10% to 40%, the compressive strength of fine-grained
concrete, based on the self-compacting mixture,
increased from 60.12 to 68.07 MPa. As the result of an
electron microscope analysis, the lime stone powder
was added, and the increase in strength was associated
with the formation of a dense, homogeneous structure
of cement stone at the expense of finely dispersed
particles.
d) Polyfunctional concrete with a compressive
strength of 52.72 MPa was obtained on compression
based on the self-compacting concrete mixture of 61
cm by adding coarse aggregates of fraction 5-10 to the
fine-grained concrete without touching the rheological
matrix.
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