Analysis of Compressive Strength of Standard Poured Microsilica Added Reactive Powder Concrete

Reactive powder concretes (RPC) are new-generation concretes with superior properties that have been continuously developed since 1995. They are the most important concretes that are candidates to be the concrete of the future. In this study, reactive powder concretes were produced by using silica fume and micro silica instead of cement. 5x5x5 cm cube samples were used as samples, and these samples were produced in steel molds. Silica fume was used at 20%, 25%, and 30% rates. Microsilica was used instead of cement at 5%, 10%, and 15% rates. These produced samples were cured under autoclave conditions at 160⁰C 10 Atm for 4 hours, 175⁰C 15 Atm for 4 hours, 160⁰C 10 Atm for 8 hours, and 175⁰C 15 Atm for 8 hours. The cured samples were broken in an automatically controlled test press loaded at 90 kg/s, and the compressive strengths of these samples were measured. According to the compressive strength results, an increase in compressive strength was detected when the proportions of silica fume samples were increased from 20% to 25%. When the silica fume samples were increased from 25% to 30%, a minimal decrease in compressive strength occurred. When the compressive strengths of microsilica samples were increased from 5% to 10% and 15%, a decrease in compressive strength was observed. As a result, the compressive strengths of microsilica samples were generally found to be higher than those of silica fume samples.