Controlling the quality of fresh concrete—a new approach

Traditionally, the slump test has been used to measure concrete consistency. However, many researchers contend that the slump alone is not a sufficient measure of consistency and that other quantifiable rheological properties such as shear yield stress and plastic viscosity are more representative and should be considered. A SLump Rate Machine (SLRM) was adapted and calibrated, to consistently measure the plastic properties for a number of concrete mixes, namely slump rate and slump flow. Furthermore, a theoretical model was developed to correlate the slump flow and slump rate with the shear yield stress and plastic viscosity of fresh concrete, respectively. Employing the SLRM and the theoretical model has resulted in an efficient new approach to adequately predict the rheological behaviour of fresh concrete as well as to provide reasonably accurate values for shear yield stress and plastic viscosity.