| Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) was first developed in Japan in the late 1980's, and it has been extensively used there as well as Europe and North America. SCC is a specially proportioned concrete mixture that has the ability to flow due to its own self weight, is resistant to segregation, and can be placed without any internal or external vibration. Implementing SCC provides numerous performance benefits, and it is an economical alternative to conventional concrete with respect to labor costs because fewer workers are required to place and finish the concrete. In the U.S., SCC has been used in many precast concrete structures including basement and foundation walls, box culverts, bridge girders, and drilled shafts. The 2003 edition of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) Standard Specifications for Highway Construction does not address SCC. The primary goal of the research program is to develop fresh concrete guidelines for SCC to include in AHTD's Standard Specifications. |
