Best Practices Guide for High-Volume Fly Ash Concretes: Assuring Properties and Performance

A best practices guide is developed from a synthesis of recent research on high-volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete mixtures. These best practices can be applied by the concrete construction industry to achieve desired properties and to ensure the (high) performance of HVFA concrete mixtures in practice. As such, the report considers all aspects of HVFA concrete production, from the characterization of the starting materials, through mixture proportioning and curing options to achieve desired properties, to the in-place early-age and long-term performance of the concrete in its fresh and hardened states. Both mechanical and transport properties are considered in detail. Perspective is established based on a brief review of current practices being employed nationally. Each topical section is concluded with a practice-based set of recommendations for the design and construction community. The report is intended to serve as a valuable resource to these communities, providing both a research summary and a guide to practical steps that can be taken to achieve the optimum performance of these sustainable concrete mixtures.