In this study, effects of mineral admixtures on the water permeability and
compressive strength of concretes containing silica fume (SF) and fly ash (FA), super
pozz (SP) were experimentally investigated. Permeability of concrete was
determined through DIN 1048 (Part 5). The research variables included cement type,
ordinary Portland cement (OPC) or high slag cement (HSC), and mineral admixtures
content were used as a partial cement replacement. They were incorporated into
concrete at the levels of 5%, 10%, and15% for silica fume and 10%, 20%, 30% for fly
ash, or super pozz by weight of cement. Water- cement ratio of 0.40 was used and
tests were carried out at 28 days. From the tests, the lowest measured water
permeability was for the 10% super pozz and 10% silica fume or 20% fly ash mixes.
Although the highest compressive strengths of concretes determined was 10% silica
fume mix for ordinary Portland cement and were reduced as the increase in the
replacement ratios for other mineral admixtures than ordinary Portland cement
concrete. The main objective of this research was to study the water permeability and
compressive strength of concrete containing silica fume, fly ash, and super pozz and
high slag cement to achieve the best concrete mixture have lowest permeability.
The results were compared to the control concrete ordinary Portland cement
concrete without admixtures. The optimum cement replacement by FA, SP and SF in
this experiment is 10%SP.
The knowledge on the strength and permeability of concrete containing silica fume
and fly ash, super pozz and high slag cement could be beneficial on the utilization of
these waste materials in concrete work, especially on the topic of durability.