Optimization techniques for mortars with self-compacting characteristics through Central Composite Design

Abstract

The demand for concrete production for civil construction promotes an investment by researchers and builders to find methodologies that improve their performance, the costs and less environmental degradation. Self-compacting concrete works it possible to offer a mixture with high flowability and compaction and good mechanical properties. For a better optimization of the mixtures, the statistical tool Design of Experiments (DoE) was used. Therefore, the objective of this research was to optimize an experimental dataset of high strength self-compacting mortars, through statistical analysis, using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for a Central Composite Design (CCD). The results showed a strong correlation between the D-Flow and T-funnel response factors, when compared with CS14h and CS28d models that showed moderate significance. The input variable w/c was the most significant model. Numerical optimization solutions showed good accuracy and high compliance for low cost and environmental impact, maintaining high performance in fresh and hardened properties.