BENEFITS OF HIGH STRENGTH MICROSILICA CONCRETE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TALL BUILDINGS

B Sealey

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the benefits of using high strength microsilica concrete in the construction of tall buildings. Microsilica is an industrial co-product, arising as an ultra-fine powder. When added to a concrete mixture it can increase the strength of the concrete, by (a) pozzolanic reaction and (b) improved particle packing. Since the 1980s, microsilica has featured increasingly in the construction of tall buildings, as engineers have sought to optimise the design of tall buildings through the use of high strength concrete. By reviewing case studies of tall buildings constructed with high strength microsilica concrete, it is argued thathighstrength concretecan achieve significant economic advantages over conventional strength concrete. In many cases, it is evident that a ‘triple-blend’ approach to high strength concrete mix design, using Portland cement + microsilica + either fly ash or ground granulated blast furnace slag has enabled increased performance and improved sustainability.

Keywords: Microsilica, Silica Fume, High Performance Concrete, Tall Buildings, Durability, Sustainability

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2016.0532009