FRESH CONCRETE

It is the concrete phase from time of mixing to end of time concrete surface finished in its
final location in the structure.
PROPERTIES OF FRESH CONCRETE
1.Fluidity or consistency: Capability of being handled and of flowing into formwork and
around any reinforcement, with assistance of compacting equipment.
2. Compact ability: Air entrapped during mixing and handling should be easily removed by
compaction equipment, such as vibrators.
3.Stability or cohesiveness: Fresh concrete should remain homogenous and uniform. No
segregation of cement paste from aggregates (especially coarse ones)
4.Workability: The amount of useful internal work necessary to produce full compaction
without occurrence of the known concrete problems. The useful internal work is the work or
energy required to overcome the internal friction between the individual particles in the
concrete.
Workability measurement methods
1. SLUMP TEST
Principle
The slump test result is a measure of the behaviour of a compacted inverted cone of
concrete under the action of gravity. It measures the consistency or the wetness of concrete.
Apparatus

Slump cone,

Scale for measurement,

Temping rod (steel)

Procedure of Slump test

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1. The mould for the slump test is a frustum of a cone, 300 mm (12 in) of height. The
base is 200 mm (8in) in diameter and it has a smaller opening at the top of 100 mm (4
in).
2. The base is placed on a smooth surface and the container is filled with concrete in
three layers, whose workability is to be tested .
3. Each layer is temped 25 times with a standard 16 mm (5/8 in) diameter steel rod,
rounded at the end.
4. When the mould is completely filled with concrete, the top surface is struck off
(levelled with mould top opening) by means of screening and rolling motion of the
temping rod.
5. The mould must be firmly held against its base during the entire operation so that it
could not move due to the pouring of concrete and this can be done by means of
handles or foot - rests brazed to the mould.
6. Immediately after filling is completed and the concrete is levelled, the cone is slowly
and carefully lifted vertically, an unsupported concrete will now slump.
7. The decrease in the height of the centre of the slumped concrete is called slump.
8. The slump is measured by placing the cone just besides the slump concrete and the
temping rod is placed over the cone so that it should also come over the area of
slumped concrete.
9. The decrease in height of concrete to that of mould is noted with scale.

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2. VEE-BE TEST
To determine the workability of fresh concrete by using a Vee-Bee consistometer as per
IS: 1199 1959. The apparatus used is Vee-Bee consistometer.

Procedure to determine workability of fresh concrete by Vee-Bee consistometer.

i) A conventional slump test is performed, placing the slump cone inside the cylindrical part
of the consistometer.
ii) The glass disc attached to the swivel arm is turned and placed on the top of the concrete in
the pot.
iii) The electrical vibrator is switched on and a stop-watch is started, simultaneously.
iv) Vibration is continued till the conical shape of the concrete disappears and the concrete
assumes a cylindrical shape.
v) When the concrete fully assumes a cylindrical shape, the stop-watch is switched off
immediately. The time is noted. The consistency of the concrete should be expressed in VBdegrees, which is equal to the time in seconds recorded above.

3. COMPACTING FACTOR TEST

Compacting factor of fresh concrete is done to determine the workability of fresh concrete
by compacting factor test as per IS: 1199 1959. The apparatus used is Compacting factor
apparatus.
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Procedure to determine workability of fresh concrete by compacting factor test.

i) The sample of concrete is placed in the upper hopper up to the brim.
ii) The trap-door is opened so that the concrete falls into the lower hopper.
iii) The trap-door of the lower hopper is opened and the concrete is allowed to fall into the
cylinder.
iv) The excess concrete remaining above the top level of the cylinder is then cut off with the
help of plane blades.
v) The concrete in the cylinder is weighed. This is known as weight of partially compacted
concrete.
vi) The cylinder is filled with a fresh sample of concrete and vibrated to obtain full
compaction. The concrete in the cylinder is weighed again. This weight is known as the
weight of fully compacted concrete.
Compacting factor = (Weight of partially compacted concrete)/(Weight of fully
compacted concrete)

5. Cohesion and Segregation: Segregation can be defined as separation of the constituents

of a heterogeneous mixture so that their distribution is no longer uniform. The differences in
the size particles of the concrete constituents are the primary cause of segregation, but its
extent can be controlled by the choice of suitable grading and by care handling.
There are two forms of segregation:

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1.The coarser particles tend to separate out since they travel further along a slope or settle
more than finer particles. It occurs when the mix is too dry.
2.It occurs in wet mixes through separation of cement paste from the mix.

Bleeding of Concrete: Bleeding, known also as water gain, is a form of segregation in

which some of the water in the mix tends to rise to the surface of freshly placed concrete.
This is caused by the inability of the solid constituents of the mix to hold all of the mixing
water when they settle downwards.

HARDENED CONCRETE
Hardened concrete must be strong enough to withstand the structural and service loads
which will be applied to it and must be durable enough to withstand the environmental
exposure for which it is designed. If concrete is made with high-quality materials and is
properly proportioned, mixed, handled, placed and finished, it will be the strongest and
durable building material. Below are the properties of hardened concrete
1.Strength:

Concrete

is

strong

in

compression

but

relatively

weak

in tensioned bending. Concrete compressive strength is measured in pounds per square inch
(psi). Compressive strength mostly depends upon amount and type of cement used in
concrete mix. It is also affected by the water-cement ratio, mixing method, placing and
curing.
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2. Creep: Deformation of concrete structure under sustained load is defined as concrete

creep. Long term pressure or stress on concrete can make it change shape. This deformation
usually occurs in the direction the force is applied.
3. Durability: Durability might be defined as the ability to maintain satisfactory performance
over and extended service life. The design service life of most buildings is often 30 years,
although buildings often last 50 to 100 years. Most concrete buildings are demolished due to
obsolescence rather than deterioration.
4. Shrinkage: Shrinkage is the volume decrease of concrete caused by drying and chemical
changes. In another word, the reduction of volume for the setting and hardening of concrete is
defined as shrinkage.
5. Modulus of Elasticity: The modulus of Elasticity of concrete depends on the Modulus of
Elasticity 0f the concrete ingredients and their mix proportions. As per IS 456-2000, Modulus
of Elasticity expression
E=5000 f

ck

where E= Modulus of Elasticity (N/mm2)

fck=compressive strength at 28th day
6.Water Tightness: Sometime, its called impermeability of concrete. Water tightness of
concrete is directly related to the durability of concrete. The lesser the permeability, the more
the durability of concrete.

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