International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

www.ijater.com

CORRELATION BETWEEN VISCOSITY AND V-FUNNEL FLOW

TIME
M.BENAICHA1,2, O.JALBAUD1, A.ALAOUI HAFIDI2 and Y.BURTSCHELL1
1
Dpartement Gnie Civil, laboratoire IUSTI, Polytech Marseille France
2
Laboratoire de Mcanique et Gnie Civil, FST de Tanger Maroc

Abstract
During the manufacture of Self Compacting Concrete SCC we
strive to adjust its fluidity and viscosity to allow optimal implementation. The most adopted approach to quantify these rheological properties is to experimentally measure the shear stress relative to the rate of shear using a concrete rheometer.
Several researchers were interested in finding correlations between rheological characteristics (viscosity, flow threshold) and
the specific parameters obtained through the most commonly
used empirical tests [1]. The majority of authors agree on the
need to use at least two different empirical tests to establish relationships between specific greatness and rheological properties
of concrete. Other researchers have attempted to quantify the
plastic viscosity of fresh concrete depending on its composition,
in particular the work of Roshavelov [2].
Initially, we rule out the influence of the composition of concrete
on its viscosity, then we seek to understand, in this document, the
correlation between the viscosity and rheological parameters of
concrete, based on models proposed in the literature. From there,
we seek to present best possible model that describes the behavior of SCC. In order to do this, we propose a theoretical correlation between the plastic viscosity of fresh concrete and the flow
time in the V-Funnel, and then we compare this theoretical solution with experimental measurements reported in the literature.

Some empirical tests to measure the workability of concrete

may be contradictory. A good example is presented by Baron [3].
In an experimental campaign, this author carried out measurements of workability with both the Abrams cone and a L.C.L.
maniabilimetre. He found that a X concrete could slump more
than a Y concrete in an Abrams cone, but could flow slower in a
L.C.L. maniabilimetre. Therefore, the characterization of fresh
concretes workability by a single parameter via a technological
test (slump, flow time, slump flow...) is not satisfactory. We must
look for other characterization methods to measure the intrinsic
characteristics of fresh concrete. Therefore, the realization of
rheological measurements on concrete is difficult, and taking into
account a large number of parameters is necessary to obtain an
interpretation the most realistic concretes behavior.
Different models can be used to describe the rheological behavior of concrete, a review of which is proposed by Ferraris [4]. In
practice, a model is commonly used for the self compacting concrete (SCC): the Bingham model, represented in Figure 1.

Introduction
Self-compacting concrete is defined as follows, in the national
Annex NF EN 206 - 9: concrete that flows and becomes compact
by only through the gravity effect, capable of filling the formwork with its reinforcement, its sheaths, reservations, etc., while
maintaining its homogeneity.
The quantitative characterization of the rheological properties
is important for the following reasons: (1) the workability of
fresh concrete is one of the foundations of concrete design; (2)
the behavior of fresh concrete flow impacts the quality of hardened concretes properties; (3) the placement of concrete which
includes transportation, pumping, casting and vibration, is affected by fresh concretes plastic viscosity and the yield stress.
ISSN No: 2250-3536

Figure 1. Rheogram fluid Newtonian and Bingham.

Newtonian fluids, such as water and oil, show a linear relation.

ship between shear stress ( ) and shear rate ( ), such

.

that , as shown in Figure 1, where

is the viscosity

coefficient. The Bingham model applies to fresh concrete, which

can withstand voltages lower than the yield strength without
flow. But, at higher stresses, there is a linear relationship between the shear stress and the shear rate indicated in Figure 1,

Volume 3, Issue 1, Jan. 2013

103

International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

www.ijater.com
.

such that as

0 , where , 0 and are respectively

the shear stress, the yield stress and the plastic viscosity.
Figure 1 shows that the yield stress (the initial flow stress) is
the point of intersection on shear stress axis, and that the plastic
viscosity is the angle of inclination between the shear stress and
shear rate. Concrete begins to flow when the shear stress exceeds
the yield strength. Once this limit is exceeded, the plastic viscosity ensures a stable flow of concrete. It is therefore important to
measure both the yield strength and the plastic viscosity to fully
describe the fresh concretes behavior.
However, regardless of the approach, the properties of selfcompacting concretes differ significantly from those of traditional concrete. On the one hand, the slump is not measurable because it is total. We are thus talking about slump flow of the SCC
[5]. On the other hand, despite the fact that the realization of
rheological tests is difficult, and that the choice of a suitable
model is still discussed, various data indicate that the value of the
flow threshold of the SCC is much lower than that of other concretes [6, 7].

a) Slump flow at 500 mm

mmmm

Setting the Context

b) Final slump flow

The slump flow test is simple to perform and requires only a

small amount of material (6 l) (see figure 2-b). It can be used
both in the laboratory and on site. It can possibly be associated
with a measure of elapsed time to obtain a spread of 500 mm (see
figure 2-a), which provides an indication of the materials viscous nature.
This latter characteristic is generally studied using the Vfunnel test [8] (Figure 2-c). This device can measure the flow
velocity of a sample of 12 l of concrete passing through a narrow
opening. The shorter the time, the greater the concretes fluidity.
Once the rheological properties defined during the slump flow
test or the V-Funnel test, or once we will now focus on the relationship between the physical and empirical approaches.

c) V-Funnel
Figure 2. Rheological characterization of SCC

The majority of authors agree on the fact that viscosity is well

correlated with the measure of the flow time at the V-funnel [9,
10], as shown in Figure 3, and that the shear threshold is correlated to the slump flow [11].
Figure 3. Correlation between viscosity and measurement of flow
time at the V-Funnel [9].

ISSN No: 2250-3536

Volume 3, Issue 1, Jan. 2013

104

International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

www.ijater.com
For the results shown in this graph, the viscosity was measured
by the BML viscometer developed by WALLEVIK and GJRV
[9, 12], and seems to be effectively linked to the characteristic
measured through empirical testing (V-funnel).
In this paper, we propose an expression for estimating the
viscosity of a SCC from the measure of the flow time at the Vfunnel.

For a Bingham fluid, the total flow (described by the Buckingham-Reiner equation), using the Kaplan approach, 2000 [13], is
written:

Q
from which

Theoretical calculation of flow velocity in

the V-Funnel
The experimental device of the V-Funnel test is represented
below (fig. 4).

with R

PR 4 4 2 H 0
1

8H p 3 PR
8H p Q 8H 0 1

R4
3 R

z tan d .e
Area

perimeter 2z tan d e

Q S.v S1v1 v1 .2z tan d .e

and

Assuming that:

R
and that
then

Figure 4. Dimensions of V-Funnel

where S0 2d .e ;

S1 L.e with L 2(d x)

Q 2.a.v1
16 H p
: P

b4
8H 0
3 v1
3
a

b

a

Moreover, the conservation of mass for a fluid in flow is expressed by the conservation of mass flow: S1 .v1 S 0 v0 with:

x
and tan
z
from which S1 2( z. tan d ).e

v0

In this case, the energy balance is written (Bernoullis equation):

1
1
P1 gz1 12 P0 gz 0 02 P H (1)
2
2
During the opening of the trap door: P1 P0 ; z 0 0

S1
z tan d
v1
v1
S0
d

The equation (2) becomes:

2
16 H p b 4
8H 0 b
1 2 S1
3 v1
gz 1 1
0
S0

2
a
3 a

from which : (3)

The equation (1) becomes:

1
1
gz 12 02 P H
2
2

(2)

where
H : The singular head losses H

z tan d .e a
2z tan d e b

1
12 ; with the coef2

ficient of singular head losses.

1 z tan d 2
16 H p
1

2
d

8H 0 b

gz 0
3 a
2
1

b4
3 v1
a

If we replace a and b by its values, the equation (3) becomes:

P : the regular head losses due to viscous friction.

ISSN No: 2250-3536

Volume 3, Issue 1, Jan. 2013

105

International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

www.ijater.com
This equation can be written in the form: xv1 yv1 z 0

1 z tan d 2

2
d

16 H p 2z tan d e4

v1

z tan d .e3
8H 0 2z tan d e

gz 0

3 z tan d .e

2
1

1 z tan d
x 1

2
d

with:

16 H p 2z tan d e4

z tan d .e3

8H 0 2z tan d e

gz
3 z tan d .e

The solution of this equation is (4), therefore:

16 H p 2 z tan d e4

z tan d .e3

16 H p

2 z tan d e4

z tan d .e3

2
1

z tan d

4. 1

2
d

8 H 0 2 z tan d e

gz

3 z tan d .e

2
z tan d

The solving of this differential equation requires the use of a calculation software: in our case we used the MATLAB program, choosing the appropriate Runge-Kutta method of order 4. Figure 5 shows a practical example of calculating flow time in the V-Funnel using
the MATLAB program.

Figure 5. Calculation example: flow time in V-Funnel.

The main objective of this method is to determine the plastic

viscosity of concrete from the measures such as the V-Funnel
time, the threshold shear and the density (eq. 4). To check the
validity of this method, we compared the results obtained by

ISSN No: 2250-3536

Chiara F. Ferraris and Lynn E. Brower [14] with the V-Funnel

time calculated by our Matlab program.
The table1 presents the rheological characteristics found by
[14] and the time calculated by our approach.

Volume 3, Issue 1, Jan. 2013

106

International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

www.ijater.com
Table 1: Comparison between the V-Funnel time measured in [14] and calculated through our approach

Notation [14]

density (Kg/m3)

V-Funnel time
shear threshold
Plastic
V-Funnel time
measured (s)
(Pa)
viscosity
calculated (s)
[14]
(Pa.s)
D3M1 Conc
2337
6,4
416
46
7,38
D3M2 Conc
2396
2,4
35
17
2,65
D3M3 Conc
2350
8,4
303
36
7,67
D3M4 Conc
2416
3,2
290
23
3,56
D3M5 Conc
2389
5,2
55
42
6,54
D3M6 Conc
2363
7,8
235
39
8,25
The viscosity and the shear threshold are measured by the BML viscometer [14].

The first results show that the values of V-funnel time calculated by our approach (Equation 4), and those measured by
Chiara F. Ferraris and Lynn E. Brower are very close, as
shown in Figure 6.

Figure 7. Correlation between viscosity and measurement of flow

time at the V-Funnel: Comparison between the work of WALLEVIK [9] and our approach.

Figure 6. Plastic viscosity by Chiara F. Ferraris and Lynn E.

Brower and our approach.

According to the research presented by Wallevik and Gjorv

[9, 12], the graph shows that for a viscosity value less than or
equal to the value of 50 Pa.s, the V-Funnel time is less than 10
s. Our first experimental results (M.BENAICHA) are close to
those obtained by these approaches (see Figure 7).
Mixtures used in our approach have volumes of paste and
granular skeletons identical to those used in the work presented by Wallevik and Gjorv.
To characterize the concrete's viscosity, these authors used
a viscometer, while our method gives a direct idee on viscosity using an analytical calculation which is based on concrete's
flow time in the V-Funnel.

On the other hand, concerning the relationship between the

flow threshold and slump flow, the authors are less unanimous, however Emborg [15] or Utsi et al, [16] found a weak
correlation between the flow threshold extrapolated by the
Bingham model and the measurement of slump flow, The
results of Ferraris and Larrard [17], obtained on SCC, show a
good correlation between flow threshold extrapolated by the
Herschel-Bulkley model and the slump flow.

Conclusion
The rheological properties of fresh concrete, the plastic viscosity and the shear threshold, are essential for the concrete
industry, as they affect the placement and workability. Moreover, these rheological properties affect the productivity and
quality of concrete, including mechanical properties and durability.
Establishing a model for predicting the plastic viscosity of
the concrete depending on its composition will be extremely
valuable for the concrete industry. Yet, the models previously
proposed are not convincing.

ISSN No: 2250-3536

Volume 3, Issue 1, Jan. 2013

107

International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

www.ijater.com

We have proposed a correlation between plastic viscosity of

the self compacting concrete and the flow time in V-Funnel.
The approach proposed (eq. 4) has been verified by experimental results. We now have a mathematical tool to characterize the flow of concrete from its rheological properties (time to
V-Funnel).

Acknowledgments

[7]

Sedran, Rhologie et Rhomtrie des btons : application aux btons autonivelants, 1999, thse de lEcole
nationale des Ponts et Chausses, 220 pages.

[8]

P.J.M. Bartos, M. Sonebi, and A.K. Tamimi,

.Workability and rheology of fresh concrete: Compendium of tests, State-of-the-Art Report of RILEM Technical Committee 145-WSM, RILEM Publications,
France, 2001.
WALLEVIK O.H. and GJ0RV, O.E. , " Modification of
the two-point workability apparatus",
Magazine of
Concrete Research, No. 152, September, 1990, pp. 135142.
Jin, Properties of mortar for self-compacting concrete,
PhD thesis de lUniversit de Londres, 2002, 398 pages.
Ferraris, de Larrard, Testing and modeling of fresh
concrete technology, NIST, 1998, fvrier, NISTIR
6094, 61 pages.
WALLEVIK O.H. and GJ0RV O.E., "Development of
a coaxial cylinders viscometer for fresh concrete", Proceedings of the international conference on "Properties
of Fresh Concrete", RILEM, London, October, 1990,
pp. 213-224.
Kaplan, D. (2000) Pompage des btons, Thse de doctorat de lcole Nationale des Ponts et Chausses, 225
p.
Chiara F. Ferraris, Lynn E. Brower: Comparison of
concrete rheometers: International tests at MB (Cleveland OH, USA) in May, 2003, NISTIR 7154.
Emborg, Rheology tests for self-compacting concreteHow useful are they for the design of concrete mix for
full-scale production, Proceedings of the 1st international RILEM Symposium, 1999, Stockholm, pp95105.
Utsi, Emborg, Carlsward, Relation between workability
and rheological parameters, Proceedings of the third international RILEM conference on SCC, aot 2003,
Reykjavik, Islande, pp 154-164.
Ferraris, C., De Larrard, F. (1998), Testing and modelling of fresh concrete rheology , National Institute of
Standards and Technology, NISTR 6094, Gaithersburg,
MD, February, 61 p.

[9]

It gives us an immense pleasure to present this paper on

topic CORRELATION BETWEEN VISCOSITY AND VFUNNEL FLOW TIME. We would like to express our deep
and sincere gratitude to IJATER Journal for the support to
develop this document.

[10]
[11]

References
[12]
[1]
[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

AFGC. Recommandations pour l'emploi des btons

autoplaants. AFGC, Janvier 2008.
ROSHAVELOV T.T. Concrete mixture proportioning
with optimal dry packing. In Proceeding of the First
International RILEM Symposium of Self-Compacting
Concrete. RILEM, 19.
Baron J., 1982, La ncessit dune dmarche pragmatique: ide de maniabilit et sa mise en pratique , (dans
Le bton hydraulique, connaissance et pratique ),
Presse de lEcole Nationale des Ponts et Chausses, Paris.
Ferraris, Measurement of the Rheological Properties of
High Performance Concrete: State of the Art Report,
Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 1999, vol 104, n5, pp461-478.
Roussel N., Coussot P., Ecoulements daffaissement
et dtalement : modlisation, analyse et limites pratiques , Revue Europenne de Gnie Civil, vol. 10, n
1, 2006, pp. 25-44.
Wallevik, Rheology-A scientific appraoch to develop
self-compacting concrete, Proceedings of the third international RILEM conference on SCC, aot 2003,
Reykjavik, Islande, pp 23-31.

Biographies
Mouhcine Benaicha, PhD student and monitor at Polytech
'Marseille. Holder of a Master's degree in Civil Engineering at
the Faculty of Science and Technology of Tangier. Mouhcine
Benaicha may be reached at m.benaicha@hotmail.com.
Olivier Jalbaud, technical Director of Polytech Marseille
Civil Engineering Laboratory. Olivier Jalbaud may be available at
olivier.jalbaud@polytech.univ-mrs.fr.
ISSN No: 2250-3536

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

Adil Alaoui Hafidi, academic Professor and Researcher in the

Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and
Technical of Tangier (FST). Holder of a PhD in mechanics
and a PhD in materials science. Director of materials and civil
engineering laboratory in Tangier. Adil Alaoui Hafidi may be
available at pr_alaoui@yahoo.fr.
Yves Burtschell, academic Professor and Researcher. Holder
of a PhD in mechanical fluids. Director of Polytech Marseille
Civil Engineering Department. Yves Burtschell may be available at yves.burtschell@polytech.univ-mrs.fr.

Volume 3, Issue 1, Jan. 2013

108