Flow Behavior of Fresh Portland Cement Pastes

Abstract

Portland cement pastes prepared at various water/cement ratios were studied using the rate-controlled coaxial cylinder viscometer Rotovisko-Haake 20, system M5-oscillatory measuring device MV2P with serrated surfaces. The tests were performed under both continuous and oscillatory flow conditions. In this article, experimental shear stress and shear rate data were fitted very satisfactorily with a model proposed by the authors. Excellent results were achieved also by applying the Quemada equation. Oscillatory flow data gave further information on the workability of the pastes investigated. In addition, the influence of two different commercial superplasticizing agents (Concretan RX and Ergomix 1000, the first based on polycyclic copolymers with modified structures carrying hydroxylated side chains, the second on a modified polyacrylic resin) was studied with the aim of determining their optimum dosage. In the case of Ergomix 1000, agreement between the optimum dosage determined rheologically and that recommended by the producer was obtained.