Correlation between cement content and flexural strength in high-performance concrete
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70597/13evgc98Keywords:
Mix design, Mechanical behavior, Binder ratio, Cement consumption, Mechanical efficiency indexAbstract
This study analyzes the correlation between cement content and flexural strength of high-performance concrete (HPC), based on a systematic review of the international literature. The search was conducted on Google Scholar using the terms ASTM C293 and HPC, yielding 205 studies; 35 articles met the inclusion criteria, totaling 289 mix designs analyzed. The data collected included the percentage of cement, the water/cement ratio, the presence of mineral additions, the use of superplasticizers, and the mechanical strengths at 28 days. Average flexural strengths were calculated in cement content intervals of 3%, in addition to the standard deviation and the linear correlation coefficient (r). The results indicated an approximately linear increase in flexural strength with increasing cement content, with average values ranging from 2.70 MPa to 7.20 MPa. The Pearson correlation coefficient obtained (r = 0.693) indicated a moderate association between the variables. For contents above 30%, the behavior became more variable, showing a greater influence of factors such as mineral additions and the water/binder ratio. Additionally, the Mechanical Efficiency Index (MEI) was proposed, which relates flexural strength to cement consumption, enabling evaluation of mix design efficiency. It was found that higher absolute strengths do not necessarily correspond to more efficient mixtures. The results reinforce the importance of optimizing mix designs, considering mechanical performance, and rationalizing cement consumption.
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