Mechanical Properties Evaluation of Roller Compacted Concrete Pavement Using Response Surface Methodology in Terms of an Experimental Program

Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) is a kind of dry consistency concrete with zero slump, with two various main applications for dams and pavements. Owing to the benefits such as cost efficiency, low hydration heat, durability, and high speed of execution, RCC is particularly preferred in the construction of airstrips, military sites, and nuclear plants projects. The effects of cement content, the water to cement (W/C) ratio, and the sand to aggregate (S/A) ratio were investigated on Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavement (RCCP) mechanical properties in this paper. Results were obtained through experimental tests and response surface methodology (RSM) analysis. Two cement content, three W/C ratios, and three S/A ratios were implemented, and their effects on Vebe time, modulus of elasticity, and compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths were evaluated. It was found that the most efficient way to decrease the Vebe time was to increase the W/C ratio. The cement content and W/C ratio had an inverse relationship with the Vebe time, while the S/A ratio influences the Vebe time directly. The cement content had the greatest impact on compressive strength and compressive strength increased when the W/C ratio increased due to greater compact-ability. Results indicated that the modulus of elasticity was a function of coarse aggregate content. The flexural strength was governed by cement content and the first cracking strength of paste. However, in the splitting test, it was the S/A ratio had the maximum effect.