Casting Simulation of Large-Volume Fluid Cementitious Materials: Effect of Material Properties and Casting Parameters

The increasing pressure of traffic congestion on socio-economic development has made the construction of cross-water transportation ever more crucial. The immersed tunnel method is among the most extensively employed. However, a critical challenge of the immersed tunnel technique is to ensure the compactness and stability of concrete during the casting process. Conventional laboratory methods face challenges in achieving large-volume concrete casting, resulting in the notable waste of human and material resources. Hence, this study employs a simulation approach to investigate the casting parameters and the fresh properties of concrete, exploring their impacts on concrete stability and compactness. The results indicate that when the surface tension of concrete exceeds 0.03 N/m, and the yield stress and plastic viscosity are 50 Pa and 50 Pa·s, respectively, the concrete exhibits excellent casting compactness. A design incorporating three large and six small outlets, paired with a casting speed of 3 cm/s, achieves superior compactness. Additionally, when the yield stress of concrete exceeds 3 Pa, there is no segregation of aggregates. In cases where segregation occurs, the thixotropic property of the cement paste contributes to a significant reduction in the velocity of aggregate segregation.