The results presented in this paper form part of an investigation into the
optimisation of a ternary blended cementitious system based on ordinary Por
tland cement (OPC)/pulverised fuel ash (PFA)/silica fume (SF) for the devel
opment of high-performance concrete. Cement pastes covering a wide range of
PFA/SF blending proportions were investigated. Compressive strength and po
rosity at the ages of 7, 28, and 90 days for cement paste specimens contain
ing 0%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% and 45% PFA along with 0%, 5%, 10% and
15% SF as partial cement replacement at a water-binder ratio of 0.30 were
investigated. A statistical approach was used which permitted the calculati
on of the isoresponse curves for the parameters under study over the experi
mental domain and the optimisation of their effect. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien
ce Ltd. All rights reserved.