A dynamic segregation test method for heavyweight concrete: Density variation method

Several segregation evaluation methods have been developed for concrete; however, none of them have been specially focused on heavyweight concrete, which has more of a tendency toward segregation because of differences in density of paste matrix to heavy aggregate. Thus, for heavyweight concrete, the segregation may be determined by measuring the difference density in a vertical direction. In this study, a simple reliable method, i.e., the density variation method, that considers the variation in vertical layers of the concrete is modeled to assess dynamic segregation of heavyweight concrete. In addition, 35 heavyweight concrete mixtures with high consistency were designed with various mixing parameters, and the results were compared with the model findings. The suggested test method was also compared with a conventional method (column segregation test by wet-sieving), and an equivalent segregation limit was determined. A strong linear relation (R2: 0.86) was found between the density variation method and column segregation test, and a segregation coefficient limit for segregation of heavyweight concrete is recommended as 1.7 %.