A Review on Sustainable Concrete with the Partially Substitutions of Silica Fume as a Cementitious Material

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) uses a lot of natural resources, much like regular concrete, which results in unsustainable construction. Even though silica fume (SF) and other secondary cementitious materials are the subjects of a lot of studies, to determine the past, present, and future direction of research, information must first be reviewed. This paper compiles data on SSC with SF substations. Slump flow, slump T50, L-box, and V-funnel tests were used to investigate fresh SCC properties, such as filling and passing capabilities. Mechanical properties were examined using compressive, tensile, and flexure strength, while the durability characteristics of SCC were examined through water absorption, porosity, sorptivity, and chloride resistance. The internal structure of SCC, with and without SF, is reviewed through scan electronic microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that SF lacked the filling and passing ability of SCC, but is still within the limit defined by the technical specification for SCC. However, the study suggests a larger dosage of plasticizer for a higher dose of SF. Improvements in SCC’s strength and durability were also seen; however, greater doses had a negative impact on these attributes due to an absence of flowability. Researchers recommended the ideal SF dosage ranges from 10 to 15% by volume of cement. The assessment also reveals research gaps that need to be addressed.