| Summary: | Among all nanomaterials which have emerged as possible solutions to improve the mechanical properties of concrete, Nano-Clay (NC) has a definitive standing considering it is a natural mineral and most of its components are subject to natural changes. This paper presents the optimum percentage of NC in both direct-additive and sonicated modes to improve the mechanical properties of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC). NC was taken as 1%, 2%, 3%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% of OPC in two forms, sonicated NC and direct-additive NC. The results identified that 5% sonicated NC replacement provides the highest compressive and flexural strength, while 7.5% sonicated NC provides the highest tensile strength in both sonicated and direct-additive SCC mixtures. Besides, using the ultrasonic machine may not cause any significant changes in the dispersion of NC particles at high percentages (e.g., 10%) and consequently on the mechanical properties of the SCC. Therefore, the mechanical properties of sonicated NC samples are more elevated than those of direct-additive NC samples.
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