A study of the strength development of concrete made with blends of rapid-hardening Portland cement (RHPC) and pulverised-fuel ash (PFA) is described and compared with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and OPC/PFA concretes. It is shown that RHPC/PFA blends can be used as alternatives to OPC in concrete construction, without incurring any loss of early strength, particularly with the limited moist curing that is normally applied on site, and with distinct economic advantages. While the study was in the main concerned with RHPC/PFA blends with up to 25 % PFA, test results from a parallel study presently in progress indicate that the use of blends with PFA content up to 45 % show similar benefits.
Professor R.K. Dhir, E.A. Byars and S.A.A. Amir-Latifi