Rheology of Concrete: Critical Review, recent Advancements, and future prospectives

In this paper, a critical review on the rheological properties of fresh concrete, its recent advancements, and future prospects are discussed. Among the rheological properties, shear yield stress (τ0) and plastic viscosity (µ) are extensively discussed as these two parameters are very much effective and efficient to control the overall workability of concrete. Thixotropy, flow resistance, torque viscosity, and structural build-up are other important rheological parameters which are also discussed. Various fresh state activities, i.e. mixing, placing, pumping, shooting, compaction, finishing, pressure formwork, multi-layer casting, and stability of concrete are characterized by the use of above said rheological parameters. In this article, all the above rheological properties of fresh concrete made with different types of cement, aggregates, mineral admixtures, chemical admixtures, and fibers have been analyzed critically from the available data of open literature. Moreover, the mechanisms behind the different rheological behavior of different constituents used in fresh concrete have been explored. Further, the application and importance of rheology to special concrete such as self-compacting concrete (SCC) and 3D printing concrete (3DPC) have also been discussed. This document is a collation and analysis of more than 250 research articles on different facts of the rheological properties of concrete, on one hand, this may be a step ahead for the development of advanced design concepts on the rheology of concrete and, on the other hand, a useful foundation document for further investigation.