Advantages of Self-Consolidating Concrete

The advantages of using concrete that flows into place virtually effortlessly are obvious to anyone who works with concrete. We've been getting that kind of concrete for years by adding water. Unfortunately, as we know, adding water decreases the concrete's strength and leads to segregation.

VIDEO: SCC – FLOWING

Self-Consolidating Concrete flows easily under its own weight. Note how there is no segregation, even on the leading edge of the concrete. The guy with the shovel was expecting to have to push the concrete into the footing but eventually he gave up. Thanks to Euclid Chemical for this video segment. — Length: 00:32

The ultimate dream is being able to set up the forms then have the ready mix truck driver come and fill them up with no other workers on the job site. That may never happen, but SCC that has been properly proportioned and placed provides many advantages:

  • Reduced labor since no vibration is needed for concrete in forms and little to no screeding is needed for flatwork.
  • No need to worry about how good the vibration is—a contractor who used SCC once told me that the vibrator guys were always quitting on him; with SCC he didn't need to worry about the skills of the operator.
  • Faster construction since the concrete places so quickly—a truckload can be discharged in as little as one minute!

Portland Cement Association
Self-Consolidating Concrete flows easily and rapidly from a ready mix truck.PCA

  • Easier to place SCC since it will flow so far. No need to move the truck to different placement locations.

Lafarge
Self-Consolidating Concrete can provide extremely detailed castings. Lafarge Agilia

  • Extremely good finished surface quality—SCC can take on nearly a mirror-like surface and can produce concrete with very fine detail. This is really advantageous with sculptures and is why precasters love it so much. It can even flow into negative draft areas.
  • Simpler to detail the reinforcing steel, since it can be fairly congested and still get completely filled with concrete.
  • Quieter job sites or precasting shops since there is no vibrator noise. If you've ever been in a precasting plant when the vibrators are turned on you know what I mean.
  • Increased safety, since vibrator operators aren't up on the forms or dragging hoses and cords around the site, and since there is less noise.

With all these advantages, why use anything else?

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