Effect of Admixtures on Strength of Concrete

Gunjan Bastola(065),Gyanendra Bikram Ghimire(066)

Haribansha Timalsina(067), Hemraj KC (068)
Pulchowk Campus,Lalitpur

Abstract
In the present scenario to fulfill the demands of sustainable construction,
concrete made with multi-blended cement system of OPC and different mineral
admixtures is the judicious choice for the construction industry. Instead of using
special cement for several purposes of construction works it is more rational to
use the same OPC using different admixtures as per the requirements. Among
several chemical and mineral admixtures added to enhance properties of the
concrete such as air entraining, enhancing workability, reducing segregation,
bleeding etc. , water content reducing, retarding, accelerating etc. we primarily
stick to strength of concrete due to admixtures in this article. Some admixtures
help in enhancing the strength of concrete by decreasing water to cement ratio
while others provide high initial strengths by fast setting or by inhibiting
corrosion. Some of those admixtures are briefly explained.
Key words: Strength, Concrete, admixtures, segregation, bleeding

Introduction
Concrete is a broadly used material at construction site for building any concrete
structure. Because concrete is an excellent material for resisting compressive
loading, it is used in dams, foundations, columns, arches and tunnel linings
where the principal loading is in compression. Concrete can bear flexural and
tensile stresses as well but the value is not significant and thus we take benefit
only of high compressive strength of concrete in design. Several factors such as
quality of raw materials (cement, water and aggregates), water/cement ratio,
coarse/fine aggregate ratio, aggregate/cement ratio, compaction of concrete,
relative humidity, methods of curing, percentage of air entrained etc. affect the
strength of concrete.
Based on our concern, following factors affecting strength of concrete are
explained in brief:

I. Water/Cement ratio :
Higher the value of water/cement ratio more is the workability but
it considerably decreases strength of concrete and vice versa. Thus,
using any admixture if we can reduce the water/cement ratio we
can increase strength of concrete.

II. Air Entrainment :

Air entrainment is done either to increase workability of concrete
or to provide space for expansion during alternate freezing and
thawing of water in extremely cold areas. However entrained air
reduces the compressive strength of concrete.

Fig: 1 Air entrained compressive strength of concrete

Source:https://theconstructor.org/concrete/effect-air-
entrainment-concrete-strength/8427/
II. Workability :
Slump value for easily workable concrete must be high which in turn increases
water content and decreases strength of concrete.

Fig 2: water and cement content relation with workability and strength of
concrete
Source: https://theconstructor.org/concrete/factors-affecting-strength-of-
concrete/6220/

Admixtures:
Admixtures are those ingredients in concrete other than Portland cement,
water, and aggregates that are added to the mixture immediately before or
during mixing. Concrete admixtures can improve concrete quality,
manageability, acceleration or retardation of setting time among other
properties that could be altered to get specific results.
Broadly, admixtures are classified as:
1. Chemical Admixtures:
• Accelerators
• Set-retarders
• Water reducers (Plasticizers)
• Super plasticizers
• Corrosion Inhibitors
 2. Mineral Admixtures: Pozzolans, blast furnace slag, powdered zinc or
aluminium etc.
3. Bonding Admixtures: polymer emulsions
4. Water-repellent admixtures: mineral and vegetative oils (e.g. Calcium
stearate)

Methodologies
We went through several secondary methodologies such as articles, journals,
research papers, web sites, text books, manuals etc. to collect several ideas
about several admixtures and obtained some findings based on their properties
in altering the properties of concrete.

Findings
Following admixtures contribute for the strength of concrete:
❖ Fly ash:

Fly ash is fine residue left after combustion of ground or powdered coal. They
are all generally finer than cement and consist mainly of glassy–spherical
particles as well as residues of hematite and magnetite, char and some
crystalline phases formed during cooling. The use of fly ash in concrete makes
the mix economical, and improves the workability, reduces segregation,
bleeding and reduced heat of hydration and also provides ecological benefits.

❖ Silica Fume

Silica fume, which is also known as micro silica is obtained as a by- product
during the production of silicon and ferrosilicon alloys. The particle size of silica
fume is 100 times smaller than cement particles i.e. its fine as cigarette smoke.
It is a highly effective pozzolanic material, which improves the properties of
concrete such as improved compressive strength, bond strength, abrasion
resistance, dense concrete that results in protection of reinforcement against
corrosion.
❖ Accelerators

Accelerators are added to increase rate of concrete strength and reduce the
setting time of concrete thus helping in cold weather concreting. Calcium
chloride is the most commonly used accelerator for concreting. The use of
calcium chloride in reinforced concrete can promote corrosion activity of steel
reinforcement. Thus they further enhance durability of reinforced concrete.

❖ Retarders

Retarders are added to increase the setting time by slowing down the hydration
of cement. They are preferred in places of high temperature concreting.
Retarders consist of organic & inorganic agents. Organic retarders include
unrefined calcium, sodium & ammonia salts lignosulphonic acids,
hydrocarboxylic acids & carbohydrates. Inorganic retardants include oxides of
lead, zinc, phosphate and magnesium salts. Most retarders also act as water
reducers thus resulting in greater compressive strength due to low water-
cement ratio.

❖ Water reducing admixtures

Water reducing admixtures are added to concrete to achieve certain workability

(slump) at low water cement ratio. Water reducers are mostly used in hot
weather concreting and to aid pumping. Water reducer plasticizers are
hygroscopic powder, which can entrain air into concrete.

❖ Super plasticizers

Super plasticizers are added to reduce the water requirement by 15 to 20%

without affecting the workability leading to a high strength and dense concrete.
Super plasticizers are liner polymers containing sulfonic acid groups attached to
the polymer at regular intervals. The commercial formulation can be sulfonated
melamine–formaldehyde condensates, sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde
condensates, and modified lignosulfonates, polycarboxylate derivatives. The
main purpose of super plasticizers is to produce a flowing concrete with very
high slump 175 to 200 mm which can be used effectively in densely reinforced
structures, the increased slump of concrete depends upon dosage, type & time
of super– plasticizers (it's better to add it before concrete is placed.), water
cement ratio, nature and amount of cement. As from the fig. 1 water content
varies inversely with the strength of concrete, drastic decrease in water content
without varying workability highly increases the strength of concrete.

Fig. 3 : Effect of super plasticizers on slump of concrete

Source:https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-
science/admixture

❖ Air entraining admixtures

Air entraining admixtures affect the strength of concrete up to large extent. Air
entraining admixtures have almost 15-25% effect on strength as compared to
normal concrete. By using air entraining admixtures strength of concrete
diminishes. With the use of 1% air entrained, strength of concrete decreases
almost 5%. To overcome this effect, some other admixtures are being used that
minimize those effects which have negative effect on strength. With the
increase of entrained air, durability of concrete increases up to some extent
after that recession starts in durability of concrete too.
Conclusion:
From above findings, it is crystal clear that several admixtures offer certain
beneficial effects in the concrete including strength. Proper admixtures can be
used as per the condition of field, availability and requirements.

References:
1. Functions of Concrete admixtures, www.theconstructor.org
2. HASAN RIZVI ,California state science fair 2008 project summary
3. JITENDRA KUMAR,A review study on the strength of concrete mix,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329841894
4. A.M. NEVILLE and J. J. BROOKS, Concrete Technology
5. Ashfaque Ahmed Jhatial et al. , www.CivileJournal.org
6. The strength of concrete, https://shop.iccsafe.org
7. Dr. MOHAN PRASHAD ARYAL, Course manual on concrete Technology
Concrete Admixtures, http://www.engineeringintro.com