Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC)

-Research Center in the World-

Prof. Hajime OKAMURA
Prof. Hiroshi SHIMA
Asso. Prof. Masahiro OUCHI

Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is the concrete that can be compacted into
every corner of the formwork by means of its self-weight only. SCC was
developed by Professor Okamura in 1986 for the first time in the world and has
been spread to all over the world as the original of J apan.

Kochi University of Technology (KUT) is now the center of the research on SCC
in the world. The first international conference on SCC was held at KUT in
1998 and as much as 150 researchers and engineers from 15 countries
participated. The international network for research on SCC was established.
Since then, many researchers and engineers for SCC have visited KUT.
Okamura and Ouchi have been invited to many international conferences all
over the world to lecture on SCC in addition to the international symposiums
organized by themselves:

1998: Taiwan; 1999: Iceland & Sweden; 2000: Switzerland, UK & Hong
Kong; 2001: UAE, Taiwan & Russia; 2002: Switzerland; 2003: Korea, Iceland,
Mexico, Germany & Sweden; 2004: Taiwan, Netherland & Mexico.

Since the development of SCC, the purpose of the research work have been
mainly to make SCC standard concrete rather than special one. The followings
are the current research topics on SCC at KUT.

1) Evaluation method for chemical admixture for SCC
Chemical admixture such as superplasticizer is indispensable for SCC.
Unified evaluation method for the effect of the chemical admixture is necessary
in terms of its effect on the self-compactability of fresh concrete. That method
can be effective for the developed new type high performance admixture as well
as the mix-proportioning method of SCC.

2) Testing method for self-compactability
More simple and efficient testing method for self-compactability of fresh
concrete is desirable, especially to detect the segregation between mortar and
coarse aggregate in SCC. That may be useful for quality inspection &
assurance of SCC.

3) Prevention of cracking by using expansive agent
Expansive agent is effective in preventing cracking of concrete. Now
we are trying to apply the agent into SCC together with the studies on the
shrinkage and creep.

4) Development of new type of structure using SCC
New types of structure making full of the performance of SCC are being
developed by combining with steel.

Many attractive research topics on SCC are waiting for you.


Lattice wall using SCC Akashi-kaikyo bridge using SCC


Contact: Masahiro OUCHI
ouchi.masahiro@kochi-tech.ac.jp
http://www.infra.kochi-tech.ac.jp/m-ouchi/