Controlled low

strength material
A cementitious backfill that flows like a liquid,
supports like a solid, and self-levels without
tamping or compacting

BY ANNE SMITH

f you had a choice, would you the same equipment used in pro- Applications

I backfill with a fluid material that

flows as easily as thick pancake
batter and is self-leveling? Or
would you use a dry, granular mate-
rial that must be placed in lifts and
ducing concrete and delivered to
the jobsite by ready mix truck.
CLSM can replace compacted soil
as structural fill or backfill in many

spread and compacted after each

lift? Most contractors do have a
choice between these two types of
backfil1, and many are opting to
use the material that flows.
This material has several generic
names including flowable fill, lean-
mix backfill, unshrinkable fill, flow-
able mortar, and controlled-density
fill (CDF). But the name given to it by
American Concrete Institute (ACI)
Committee 229 seems to be gaining
the most acceptancecontrolled
low-strength material (CLSM).
CLSM is not a concrete nor a soil-
cement but it has properties similar
to both. Its a fluid mixture made of
portland cement, water, and fine ag-
gregate or fly ash or both. Some-
times it also contains an admixture.
The consistency of CLSM is like that
of a slurry or lean grout, yet seve ra l
hours after placement the material
hardens enough to support traffic
loads without settling. Typical 28-
day compressive strengths range
from 50 to 200 psimore than the
strength of most compacted soil or
granular fills. Densities range from
115 to 145 pounds per cubic foot.
Where can contractors get CLSM?
Chances are its available from their
local ready mix suppliers. The mate-
rial contains many of the same
components found in concrete but
in different proportions. Therefore, Flowing down the chute of a ready mix truck, CLSM quickly fills this deep utility
it can be batched and mixed using trench. Because CLSM self-levels and self-compacts, labor is minimal. A worker
applications. Because CLSM flows ity repairs in the citys streets (Ref. 50 pounds portland cement, 200
and needs no compacting, its ideal 2). Having severe problems with set- pounds fly ash, 2,990 pounds fine
for use in tight or restricted-access tlement of soil backfill in utility a g g re g a t e, and 49 to 57 gallons of
areas where placing and compact- trenches, the department was look- water per cubic yard. CLSM was
ing soil or granular fill is difficult or ing for an alternative backfill mater- placed in trenches with depths
even impossible. Examples include: ial. It conducted several experi- ranging from 3 to 9 feet. Trench
Filling voids under existing ments using a CLSM mix containing widths also varied. In all cases,
p a ve m e n t s, buildings, or other CLSM achieved
structures densities of more
Backfilling narrow trenches than 120 pounds
Filling abandoned underground per cubic foot
s t ru c t u res such as culve rt s,
pipes, tunnels, storage tanks,
wells, and sewers This project,
Utility companies often specify completed in
CLSM instead of soil for backfilling 1987, used CLSM
around pipes or conduits. The ma- as backfill for the
cast-in-place
terial flows under and around pipes,
concrete
providing uniform support without foundation walls of
leaving voids. Self-leveling, CLSM a building addition.
also eliminates the chance of work- Because the
ers accidentally damaging pipes by addition was built
operating compaction equipment about 10 feet from
near them. If easy access to utility the existing
lines is essential for maintenance or building, the
repairs, CLSM compressive excavation
strengths can be specified at or be- between the
low 100 psi. At these strengths, the buildings was not
accessible by
material can be excavated easily
truck or loader.
with a backhoe or other digging Thats one reason
equipment. the project
CLSM also has applications for manager chose to
pavement construction and main- use CLSM instead
tenance. Used under roadways, it of soil backfill.
serves as a strong, stable subbase. Workers could
As a fill material for pavement sec- place CLSM easily
tion replacement, CLSM solidifies with a crane-
enough to support the patch as mounted bucket.
soon as 3 hours after placement, de- Safety was another
reason for using
pending on the mixed used, weath-
CLSM. Workers did
er conditions, and the depth of the not have to stand
trench. If its not possible to place in the more than
the patch right away, CLSM can 14-foot-deep
t e m p o ra rily support traffic when trench to compact
placed up to pavement grade. Be- the fill. Pouring a
fore placing the permanent pave- total of 700 cubic
ment section, remove CLSM to the yards of CLSM,
depth required to accommodate the workers backfilled
section. By using CLSM with high- the trench in just 2
e a r l y- s t rength concrete patches, days, After
backfilling, the
contractors can open a re s t o re d
ground floors of the
pavement to traffic in less than 8 addition and the
hours (Ref. 1). existing building
In l988, the Department of Public were connected
Services of Peoria, Illinois, in coop- over the backfilled
eration with the Illinois Co n c re t e trench by a 6-inch-
Council, studied the field perfor- thick concrete
mance of CLSM as a backfill for util- slab.
and shrinkage was minimal.
The material set quickly
and could support a per-
sons weight within 2 to 3
hours. Experiments placing
pavement patches on
CLSM within 3 to 4 hours
proved successful. In one
test, a pavement patch was
successfully placed on a
sewer trench immediately
after the trench was back-
filled. Convinced by these
experiments of CLSMs su-
perior performance, the de-
partment changed its back-
filling procedures to require
use of the material.
The most common use of
CLSM by the Iowa Depart-
ment of Tra n s p o rt a t i o n
(DOT) is to repair old
bridges by converting them
into culverts (Ref. 3). First,
enough culvert pipes are
placed under the bridge to
handle water flow require-
ments. Wrapping the pipes
in polypropylene sheeting
and placing dirt dams at
their ends prevents infiltra-
tion of CLSM as its placed.
Ready mix trucks then place
CLSM until the material is
only a few inches from the
bottom of the bridge deck.
A few days later, more
CLSM is pumped through
core holes in the deck until
the material comes out the
holes at the decks highest
point. Workers then remove
railings from the sides of the bridge
and widen the deck as if it were a
slab on grade. Using this method,
the Iowa DOT can convert about
four bridges for the price of building
a new one.
Mix design and performance
A typical CLSM mix contains ce-
ment, water, fly ash, and fine aggre-
gate. But ready mix producers can
combine these components in vary-
ing proportions to meet specific
p e rf o rmance requirements and to
take advantage of locally available
materials (see chart). Some mixes,
for example, use all fly ash or all fine
aggregate instead of both, depend-
ing on material cost and availabili-
ty. Here are the roles each compo-
nent plays in CLSM performance:
WaterThe large quantity of wa-
ter used in CLSM allows the materi-
al to flow readily, self-consolidate,
and self-level. Water contents vary
depending on flowability and
strength re q u i re m e n t s. In c re a s i n g
the water-to-solids ratio increases
CLSMs flowability but reduces its
compressive strength.
Portland cementAs in con-
crete, the portland cement in CLSM
forms a paste with water to bind the
aggregate and fly ash. Al-
though CLSM contains
much smaller amounts of
portland cement than does
concrete, sufficient hydra-
tion occurs to produce a
hardened mass that will
not settle. Use Type I or
Type II portland cement
conforming to ASTM C 150
or blended cements con-
forming to ASTM C 595.
Generally, a higher cement
content produces greater
compressive strength.
Fly ashThe primary
role of fly ash in CLSM is to
improve flowability. It also
increases strength slightly
and reduces bleeding,
shrinkage, and permeabili-
ty. Specify ASTM C 618
Class C or Class F fly ash. If
fly ash is not readily avail-
able, the ready mix supplier
can produce CLSM using
only cement, fine aggre-
gate, and water. In open-
trench backfilling, flowabil-
ity is not as critical as when
filling a cavity through a
small opening. Therefore,
trenches can be backfilled
effectively using CLSM that
doesnt contain fly ash. But
if fly ash is plentiful and
available at low cost, fly ash
can be used alone without
fine aggregate.
Fine aggregateAggre-
gate increases the density of
CLSM but reduces its flowa-
bility. CLSM is more economical to
produce with local aggregate. Aggre-
gate meeting ASTM specifications or
nonspecification aggregate can be
used as long as the material isnt ex-
pansive or reactive. Aggregates used
successfully include (Ref. 4):
Pea gravel with sand
34-inch minus aggregate with
sand
Native sandy soils with more
than 10% passing a #200 sieve
Quarry waste products (general-
ly 38-inch minus aggregate)
ASTM C 33 specification aggre-
gate within specific gradations
 Most chemical admixtures can be not cost-effective, so only add them of CLSM and reduce its density. But
used in CLSM including water re- to solve unique placement prob- air contents greater than 6% can in-
ducers, superplasticizers, and accel- lems. Air-entraining agents can be crease segregation of the mix.
erators. Using admixtures usually is specified to enhance the flowability Like concrete, CLSM develops its
strength through cementitious and
15 REASONS TO USE CLSM pozzolanic reactions. CLSM is not as
durable as concrete, but thats usu-
Although CLSM costs more per cubic yard than most soil or granular ally not a drawback since the mater-
backfill materials, its many advantages result in lower in-place costs. For ial is used only to replace compact-
some applications, contractors cant afford not to use CLSM. Its advan- ed soil or granular fill. CLSM is not
tages, described below, facilitate the entire backfilling process, from or- designed to resist freezing and
der and delivery of materials to clean up.
thawing, abrasion, or aggressive
Readily availableUsing locally available materials, ready mix suppli-
ers can produce CLSM to meet most project specifications. chemicals. But CLSM usually is
Easy to deliverReady mix trucks can deliver specified quantities of buried in the ground or otherwise
CLSM to the jobsite whenever the material is needed. confined, so even if it deteriorates in
Easy to placeDepending on the type and location of void to be place it still performs effectively as
filled, CLSM can be placed by chute, conveyor, pump, or bucket. Be- granular fill.
cause CLSM is self-leveling, it needs little or no spreading or com- When specifying CLSM compres-
pacting. This speeds construction and reduces labor requirements. sive strengths, consider how the
VersatileCLSM mix designs can be adjusted to meet specific fill re- material is to be used. CLSM 28-day
quirements. Add more water to improve flowability. Add more cement c o m p re s s i ve strengths can range
or fly ash to increase strength. Admixtures can be added to adjust from 50 to 1200 psi. At 50 to 100 psi,
setting times and other performance characteristics. Adding foaming
the bearing capacity of CLSM is
agents to CLSM produces a lightweight, insulating fill.
Strong and durableLoad-carrying capacities of CLSM typically are equal to that of soil having a bear-
higher than those of compacted soil or granular fill. CLSM also is ing capacity of 3,500 pounds per
less permeable, thus more resistant to erosion. For use as a perma- square foot (Ref. 1). If CLSM needs
nent structural fill, CLSM can be designed to achieve 28-day com- to have greater bearing capacities,
pressive strengths as high as 1200 psi. such as when used as a permanent
Can be excavatedCLSM having compressive strengths of 50 to structural fill or to temporarily sup-
100 psi is easily excavated with conventional digging equipment yet port traffic loads, specify a high-
is strong enough for most backfilling needs. strength, high-cement-content mix.
Requires less inspectionDuring placement, soil backfill must be If using CLSM to bed utility lines re-
tested after each lift for sufficient compaction. CLSM self-compacts quiring future maintenance, keep
consistently and doesnt need this extensive field testing.
compressive strengths below 100 psi
Allows fast return to trafficBecause CLSM can be placed quickly
and can support traffic loads within several hours, it minimizes down- so the fill will be easy to excavate. At
time for pavement repairs. 100 psi or less, CLSM can be re-
Wont settleCLSM does not form voids during placement and moved with a backhoe or other dig-
wont settle or rut under loading. This advantage is especially signifi- ging equipment. At strengths ex-
cant if the backfill is to be covered by a pavement patch. Soil or gran- ceeding 150 psi, CLSM generally
ular fill, if not consolidated properly, may settle after a pavement requires removal by jackhammers
patch is placed and form cracks or dips int he road. or breakers (Ref. 5).
Reduces excavating costsCLSM allows narrower trenches be- Densities of in-place CLSM range
cause it eliminates having to widen trenches to accommodate com- from 115 to 145 pounds per cubic
paction equipment. foothigher than the densities of
Improves worker safetyWorkers can place CLSM in a trench with-
most compacted soils. Because
out entering the trench, reducing their exposure to possible cave-ins.
Allows all-weather constructionCLSM will displace any standing CLSM is heaviest when wet, during
water left in a trench from rain or melting snow, reducing the need for placement it exerts a high fluid pres-
dewatering pumps. To place CLSM in cold weather, heat the material sure on forms, embankments, or
using the same method for heating ready mixed concrete. walls used to contain the fill. If the
Reduces equipment needsUnlike soil or granular backfill, CLSM job requires a lightweight fill or a fill
can be placed without loaders, rollers, or tampers. with insulating pro p e rt i e s, specify
Requires no storageBecause ready mix trucks deliver CLSM to the air entrainment, foaming agents, or
jobsite in the quantities needed, storing fill material onsite is unnec- lightweight aggregate. Foaming
essary. Also, there is no leftover fill to haul away. agents introduce air voids into the
Makes use of a waste by-productFly ash is a by-product produced mix, lowering its density. The air
by power plants that burn coal to generate electricity. CLSM contain-
voids also improve the mixs insulat-
ing fly ash benefits the environment by making use of this industrial
waste material. ing qualities. Using a foamed mix re-
duces the lateral pressures pro-
duced by freshly placed CLSM for
such applications as backfilling re-
taining walls or foundations. Be-
cause air voids have no strength, the
c o m p re s s i ve strength of a foamed
mix is generally less.
Mixing and placing procedures
Usually CLSM is batched and
mixed at a central mixing plant in
accordance with ASTM C 94 proce-
dures for concrete, then delivered to
the jobsite by ready mix truck. For
small jobs, howe ve r, a mobile mixer
can be used. It delivers dry CLSM
materials to the jobsite for onsite
mixing with water right before
placement.
To place CLSM, use a chute, con-
ve yo r, bucket, or pump depending
on the type of void to be filled and
its accessibility. Because CLSM
flows and self-levels, its possible to
discharge the material from one
spot to fill restricted-access areas.
When filling large, open trenches,
moving the discharge point helps
spread the material. To contain
CLSM when filling open-ended
structures such as tunnels, block the
ends of the structure with sandbags
or dirt dams.
For most applications, CLSM can
be placed continuously. Sometimes,
though, its necessary to place the
material in lifts. In its fluid state,
CLSM usually weighs 125 to 135
pounds per cubic foot. When back-
filling retaining walls, placing CLSM
in lifts prevents lateral pre s s u re s
from exceeding the loading capaci-
ties of the wall. Allow each lift to
harden before placing the next lift.
For pipe bedding, placing CLSM in
lifts prevents floating the pipe.
Sometimes sandbags or other
weights are used to ballast the pipe
until CLSM sets.
Standing water in a trench does
not have to be pumped out before
filling the trench with CLSM. CLSM
will displace the water and force it
out. Any loose debris or rubble in
the trench can remain too. CLSM
will encapsulate it.
CLSM needs no compacting and
little or no spreading or finishing.
When using it as fill for pavement
section replacement, smooth the fill
surface with a square shovel if the
surface is below pavement grade. If
placing the fill up to pavement
grade for use as a temporary driving
s u rf a c e, finish it with a wood float
(Ref. 5). Because of its high water
content, CLSM will bleed. This
bleedwater is usually not a problem
and can be allowed to run off or
evaporate.
When placing CLSM in open
trenches in cold weather, heat it us-
ing the same methods for heating
ready mixed concrete to prevent the
material from freezing before it
h a rd e n s. The top layer may freeze
but it can be scraped off later.
Costs
Costing about two-thirds to
three-quarters the price of standard
ready mixed concrete, CLSM is
more expensive per cubic yard than
most soil or granular fills. Still, the
advantages of using CLSM more
than compensate for its higher cost
(see box).
The total cost of CLSM varies de-
pending on:
Materials used
How its mixed and transported
Placing methods
Most ready mix suppliers have
developed mix proportions for
CLSM that make economical use of
local materials. This demonstrates
an important advantage of CLSM:
its mix design flexibility. The mater-
ial can be made from a variety of ag-
g re g a t e s, including nonspecifica-
tion aggregate. Also, the proportions
of aggregate and fly ash in the mix
can vary. In areas where fly ash is in-
expensive, the ready mix supplier
may use large amounts of fly ash in
the mix.
Chemical admixtures can im-
prove the properties of CLSM, but
their use is not cost-effective unless
they are necessary to meet specific
fill performance requirements.
On small projects, its usually
more economical to use ready
mixed CLSM or CLSM delivered dry
in a mobile mixer and mixed onsite
with water. For projects re q u i ri n g
large amounts of CLSM, onsite mix-
ing and material storage may be
more cost-effective. Onsite mixing
can reduce delivery costs and elimi-
nate delays.
The costs of placing CLSM are
low. Some jobs may require placing
CLSM in lifts or some manual
spreading. Even so, CLSM is faster
and less labor intensive to place
than soil fill. Its use eliminates the
time and manpower needed for
compaction. And less inspection is
needed during placement.
Testing
Many procedures for testing
CLSM follow the same ASTM stan-
dards used to test concrete. But the
unique properties of CLSM some-
times call for modifying these pro-
cedures. For example, using a stan-
dard slump cone test to verify CLSM
flowability is not very accurate. One
method for measuring flow uses a
3x6-inch cylinder, open at both
ends. Place the cylinder on a flat,
hard surface then fill it with CLSM.
When the cylinder is lifted, a mater-
ial spread of at least 8 inches indi-
cates acceptable flow (Ref. 1 ).
To test the strength of CLSM, fol-
low procedures given in ASTM D
4832-88, Standard Test Method for
Preparation and Testing of Soil-ce-
ment Slurry Test Cylinders. Use
6xl2-inch plastic cylinder molds or
peel-off, wax-coated cardboard
molds. Fill them to ove rf l ow i n g ,
then tap their sides lightly. Because
CLSM is lower in strength than con-
c re t e, capping the cylinders with
sulfur compounds can break the
material. Instead, use neoprene
caps. Also, be careful when stripping
these fragile cylinders.
ASTM C 403 penetration resis-
tance tests can assess the setting
and early strength development of
CLSM. Use these tests to decide if
the fill is ready to be covered with a
patch or strong enough to support
equipment, traffic, or construction
loads.
Standards being developed
Although many city public works
d e p a rt m e n t s, utility companies,
and state departments of trans-
portation have been backfilling with
CLSM since the 1970s, no universal
standards have been developed for
its use. ACI Committee 229, formed
in 1985, is working on a state-of-the-
art report covering the applications,
p ro p o rtioning, handling, place-
ment, and performance of CLSM.
Its also preparing a bibliography on
CLSM research which should be
available later this year.
The National Ready Mixed Con-
crete Association (NRMCA) and
many state ready mixed concrete
associations have published recom-
mended mix designs and placement
procedures for CLSM. Contractors,
engineers, and ready mix producers
interested in more information can
contact these associations.
References
1. Joseph A. Amon, Controlled Low-
strength Material, The Construction
Specifier, December 1990, Construc-
tion Specifications Institute, 601 Madi-
son St., Alexandria, VA 22314.
2. Bill Dunham, Controlled Low-
strength Material: Sample Specifica-
tions and Project Evaluation, Novem-
ber 1988, City of Peoria Department of
Public Services, City Hall Bldg., 419
Fulton St., Peoria, IL 61602.
3. Ronald L. Larsen, Use of Con-
trolled Low-strength Materials in
Iowa, Concrete International, July
1988, American Concrete Institute,
Box 19150, Detroit, MI 48219.
4. Roger Tansley and Ronald Bernard,
Specification for Lean Mix Backfill,
October 1981, prepared under U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment contract by Scientific Ser-
vice Inc., 517 E. Bayshore, Redwood
City, CA 94063.
5. Flowable Fill, May 1989, South
Carolina Department of Highways and
Public Transportation.
6. Fly Ash Design Manual and Site
Applications (Volume 2: Slurried Place-
ment), October 1986, prepared by
GAI Consultants Inc. for the Electric
Power Research Institute, 3412
Hillview Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.
7. What, Why & How? Flowable Fill
Materials, Concrete in Practice, No.
17, 1989, National Ready Mixed Con-
crete Association, 900 Spring St., Sil-
ver Spring, MD 20910.
8. Utility Cuts and Full-depth Repairs
in Concrete Streets, IS235.01P, Port-
land Cement Association, 5420 Old
Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL 60077.
9. Unshrinkable Fill for Utility Trench-
es in Streets, CP004.01P, 1989, Ca-
nadian Portland Cement Association,
116 Albert St., Ste. 609, Ottawa,
Canada, K1P 5G3.
10. Technical Tip: Controlled Density
Fill, February 1989, Ohio Ready
Mixed Concrete Association, 1900 E.
Dublin Granville Rd., Columbus, OH
43229.
Publication # C910389
Copyright 1991, The Aberdeen
Group. All rights reserved