Effect of Limestone Powder on Compressive Strength of Concrete Containing Silica Fume and Optimization of Mix Design Using Response Surface Method

Silica fume has been largely used in concrete in recent decades due to its effect on improvement of strength and durability of concrete. On the other hand, attention has been recently paid to the use of limestone powder as a substitute for part of cement in concrete, basically because of its low price and its positive effect on the durability of concrete. The aim of the current study is the investigation of the interactive effect of silica fume and limestone powder on the compressive strength of concrete and the optimization of the mix design. To do so, 27 mix designs including 3 water-to-cementitious materials ratios (W/CM=0.25, 0.3 and 0.4) 3 silica fume-to-cementitious materials ratios (SF/CM=%0, %5 and %10) and 3 limestone powder-to-cement ratios (LP/C=%0, %15 and %30) were used and 28-day compressive strength of the cubic concrete specimens were determined. Then, the interactive effect of silica fume and limestone powder on compressive strength of concrete was investigated using isoresponse curves. Furthermore, the optimization of the mix design for concretes containing silica fume and limestone powder was carried out using “cost effective factor” (CEF) which is defined compressive strength divided by cost of concrete.