Fresh Concrete

Properties of Fresh Concrete

● Workability
● That property of freshly mixed concrete, plaster, or mortar
which determines the ease and homogeneity with which it
can be mixed, applied, compacted, spread, or finished

● Consistence
● The ease with which concrete will flow

● Density
● The mass per unit volume of fresh concrete
 Workability

● The strength decreases with increase in

voids.
● The voids are either due to entrapped air
● Or due to evaporated water
● There is an immense need for an
optimum quantity of water to be used in
concrete.
 Factors affecting Workability

● Water content
● Aggregate type and
grading
● Aggregate/cement ratio
● Admixture
● Temperature
 Factors affecting Workability

● Finer particles require more water

● Rough aggregates require more water
● Porous aggregates require more water
● Air entraining admixtures require less
water
● High temperature increases water
requirement
 Cohesion and Segregation of concrete

● Cohesion is a term from

chemistry that means the
intermolecular attraction
between like-molecules
● In concrete technology, it
refers to the binding force
between concrete particles
● The opposite of cohesion is
segregation, which means
the separation of concrete
particles from one another.
 Cohesion and Segregation of concrete

● Segregation is of two
types
● Dry mix segregates due to
settlement of coarse
aggregates. This can be
eliminated by adding water.
● Over Wet mix segregates
by separation of grout
(cement + water) from
aggregates.
 When the concrete is placed, the aggregates tend to settle to
the bottom of the mass. Pressure from this action forces the
liquids to the surface.

Bleeding of Concrete

● Bleeding is also known as water gain

● In bleeding, water rises to the surface of
the concrete
● Bleeding takes place due to settlement
of concrete
● Bleeding is lower with finer cement
“Bleed channels" begin to form as the
excess liquid from the mass is forced
upward by the downward pressure of the
aggregates. Left untreated, these channels
become permanent voids, reducing overall
strength and density.

particles
● Bleeding is also lower for rich mixes
● Air entrainment also reduces bleeding
 Workability Tests

● Slump Test
● Compacting Factor Test
● Vebe Test
● Flow Table Test
● Ball Penetration Test
 Slump Test

Slump means to fall or to drop

Heavy gauge sheet steel 4” top dia 8”

Slump Cone 1 Pc
bottom dia, 12” height
Inspection Machined steel 0-15 cm slump
1 Pc
Scale measurement 1 cm increment
Steel sheet carrying handle 650 x 650 x
Base Plate 1 Pc
5 mm

Scoop Cast aluminium 1 Pc

Trowel Point type 1 Pc

Brush Steel wire 1 Pc

Tampning Machined steel, galvanized 16 mm dia

1 Pc
Rod 600 mm length
 Slump Test Procedure
Place the mixing pan on the floor and moisten it with
some water. Make sure it is damp but no free water is
left.
Firmly hold the slump cone in place using the 2 foot
holds.
Fill one-third of the cone with the concrete mixture.
Then tamp the layer 25 times using the steel rod in a
circular motion, making sure not to stir.
Add more concrete mixture to the two-thirds mark.
Repeat tamping for 25 times again. Tamp just barely
into the previous layer(1")
Fill up the whole cone up to the top with some excess
concrete coming out of top, then repeat tamping 25
times.
Remove excess concrete from the opening of the slump
cone by using tamping rod in a rolling motion until flat.
Slowly and carefully remove the cone by lifting it
vertically (5 seconds +/- 2 seconds).
Wait for the concrete mixture as it slowly slumps.
After the concrete stabilizes, measure the slump-height
by turning the slump cone upside down next to the
sample, placing the tamping rod on the slump cone and
Slump Test Procedure
 True Slump

In true slump, the slumping takes place evenly all around.

 Collapse Slump

A collapse slump will generally mean

that the mix is too wet or that it is a high
workability mix. A collapse slump
means a concrete too wet or flowing.
 Shear Slump

In a shear slump, one half of the cone slides

down an inclined plane. Shear slump is a
measure of lack of cohesion in concrete.
 Slump Test

Reporting of Results
The slump measured should be recorded in mm or inches of fall of the
specimen during the test. Any slump specimen, which collapses or shears
off laterally gives incorrect result and if this occurs, the test should be
repeated with another sample. If, in the repeat test also, the specimen
shears, the slump should be measured and the fact that the specimen
sheared, should be recorded.
 Slump Test
Description of Workability and Magnitude of Classification of workability (European
Slump Classification)
Description Slump Classification of Slump
of Slump workability (mm)
mm In.

No slump 0 0 S1 10-40
Very low 0-25 0-1

Low 25-50 1-2

S2 50-90
Medium 50-100 2-4
S3 100-150
High 100-175 4-7

Very high 175 to 7 to collapse S4 ≥ 160

collapse
 Compacting Factor Test
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)
 Slump and Compacting Factor Test

Workability Slump Compacting Use of Concrete

factor
mm in

Very Low 0-25 0-1 0.78 Roads vibrated by power operated

machines
Low 25-50 1-2 0.85 Mass concrete foundations,
Lightly reinforced sections
Medium 50-100 2-4 0.92 Flat slabs,
Normal Reinforced Concrete
High 100-175 4-7 0.95 Congested Reinforcement
 Vebe Test

● Vebe test is used for very dry

mixes.
● The funnel is lowered and the
cone is filled with concrete in
three layers.
● After filling, the cone is removed.
● The disc shaped rider is rested on
top of concrete and vibrations are
switched on.
● The time measured from the
commencement of vibration until
the surface of concrete first
contacts the sides of the cylinder
is noted (Vebe time), which is a
measure of the workability.
 Vebe Test

Consistency Vebe Time

(Seconds)
Extremely dry 32-18

Very Stiff 18-10

(Stiff: Not moving
easily)
Stiff 10-5

Stiff Plastic 5-3

Plastic 3-0
(Plastic: Capable of
being shaped)
 Flow Table Test

Equipment

●Flow table with a grip and a hinge, 70 cm x

70 cm.
●Upside down funnel which is open at the top
and at the bottom - 20cm high, 13 cm top
diameter, 20cm base diameter.
●Water bucket and broom for wetting the flow
table.
 Flow Table Test

●Procedure
●The flowtable is wetted.
●The cone is placed on the flowtable
and filled with fresh concrete.
●The funnel is lifted up, allowing the
concrete to flow.
●The flowtable is then lifted up
several centimeters and then dropped,
causing the concrete flow a little bit
further.
●The table is lifted and dropped a
total of fifteen times.
●After this the diameter of the spread
concrete is measured.
Flow Table Test
 Flow Table Test

●Test Results:
●The average of the original base
diameter of the cone and the last
diameter in millimeter is taken as a
measure of the workability.
●A value of 400 indicates a medium
workability and 500 a high
workability.
 Ball Penetration Test

Test Apparatus and Procedure:

1. A metal weight (14 Kg) having

a hemispherically shaped bottom
is placed on the smooth level
surface of the concrete
2. The weight is allowed to
penetrate into concrete under its
own weight
3. The depth to which it sinks is
measured.
4. Typically the value of slump is
1.10 to 2.00 times the Ball
penetration value.
 Comparison of tests

1. More than 60 workability tests are in hand all over the world.
2. All the methods devised so far offer some advantages and disadvantages over one
another.
3. Of all the tests, Slump test method has endured for nearly 100 years due to its
simplicity and accuracy of measurements.
 Bleeding of concrete

• Bleeding
Bleeding in fresh concrete refers to the process where free water in
the mix is pushed upward to the surface due to the settlement of
heavier solid particles such as cement and water.
● Uniform
● Channel
 Ways to Reduce Bleeding
• Reduce water content. Use lower slump mix
• Use finer cements
• Increase amount of fines in the sand
• Use supplementary cementatious materials
• Use air entraining admixtures
 Effect of Bleeding on Concrete
• Due to bleeding concrete loses its homogeneity.
• Bleeding is responsible for causing permeability in concrete.
• In the process of bleeding (i.e. while water is in the process of coming towards top)
sometimes gets accumulated below the aggregate. This accumulation of water creates a
water voids and reduces bond between the aggregate and cement past. So the strength of
concrete reduces (Note: This aspect is more pronounced in case of flaky aggregates)
• Similarly, water that accumulates below the reinforcing bars, particularly below the
cranked bars, reduces the bond between the reinforcement and concrete.
• If a slip form paver is used for construction of concrete pavement, the bleeding water
causes very serious problems. If too much of bleeding water accumulates on the surface
of pavement slab, the bleeding water flows at over the unsupported side which causes
collapsing of sides.
• In pavement construction bleeding water delays surface finishing and application of
curing compound.
Bleeding
 Segregation of Concrete
• Segregation of concrete is separation of ingredients of concrete from
each other. In good concrete all concrete aggregates are evenly coated
with sand and cement paste and forms a homogeneous mass.
• Causes of Segregation
• Use of high water-cement ratio in concrete. This general happens in
case of concrete mixed at site by unskilled workers.
• 2) Excessive vibration of concrete with mechanical needle vibrators
makes heavier particles settle at bottom and lighter cement sand paste
comes on top.
• 3) When concreting is done from height in case of underground
foundations and rafts, which causes concrete to segregate.
Seggregation
 Honeycombing
• Honeycombs are hollow spaces and cavities left in concrete mass on
surface or inside the concrete mass where concrete could not reach.
These look like honey bees nest.
• Factors Affecting Honeycombing of Concrete
• Improper workability of concrete – Using stiff concrete which is
hard to place
• Additional water cement ratio than the allowable limit on site for
workability – As we discussed earlier, the excess amount of water
cement ratio will result in separation of aggregates from the mortar.
• The improper vibration of concrete – Applying excess vibration will
lead mortar to leak through the frameworks and leaves the aggregates
to settle down.
 Cont…
• Placement of concrete from height – When we pour concrete from a
certain height the aggregates and mortar get separated and settle down
partly which causes honeycombs in concrete.
• Typical Spots – Places like beam to beam or beam to column joints (as
shown in picture) should be taken care while placing concrete.
Because lapping of one or more layers of reinforcements makes the
concrete hard to penetrate through them.
• Presence of Coarse Aggregates – Using the improper bigger size of
aggregates in concrete makes the smaller particles hard to penetrate
through them and leaves the concrete voids.
Honeycombing