Microstructural behaviour and flowing ability of self‐compacting concrete using micro‐ and nano‐silica

Concrete appears to be the strongest backbone for the building industry as construction material. The chief constituent of concrete is the cement which has a major negative environmental issue causing huge carbon dioxide contribution during the cement production. The cement can be partly replaced by various wastes and by‐products like fly ash, ground granulated blast‐furnace slag, micro‐silica etc. This study is about the utilisation of micro‐ and nano‐silica in self‐compacting concrete (SCC). The replacement level of cement by silica purely depends on its silica content and its structural composition. This is identified solely by the material characterisation techniques in terms of the physical and chemical composition of that particular substitute material. The flowability property as suggested by the European Federation of National Associations Representing for Concrete guidelines was tested on slump flow, J‐ring, V‐funnel, Orimet and L‐Box. The strength parameters are studied for SCC with micro‐silica of 5, 10, 15% and nano‐silica of 1, 2 and 3%. The important study on the microstructural aspect of scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis was conducted on concrete at 28 days. Hence, using the by‐products like micro‐silica, the environment can be saved to some extent against the disposal.