STRESS-STRAIN PROPERTIES

Modulus of Elasticity, E
 The slope of the stress – strain diagram when a
material is tested in uniaxial compression

l0 σ
lf

ε
F
 Modulus of Elasticity, E
 Aggregate and cement paste behave linear elastic up
to failure
 Concrete stress-strain response is nonlinear and falls
in between aggregate and cement paste
 This nonlinearity is explained by:
45 Aggregate
microcracking in concrete

Stress (MPa)
30

Cement
15 Paste

0
0 1000 2000 3000
Strain * 10-6
Cracking in concrete?
 Cracking is inevitable !

 Early age concrete

Plastic shrinkage (shrinkage strain associated
with early moisture loss)
Thermal shrinkage (shrinkage strain associated
with cooling)
 Later age concrete
Drying shrinkage (shrinkage strain associated
with moisture loss in the hardened material)
Loading related strains (elastic or viscoelastic)
Cracking is inevitable !
 Even if there is no loading, we may have
microcracks within concrete
 Interfacial transition zone (ITZ)

Bulk
Cement
Paste

Aggregate
ITZ

Cement Paste
Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ)

 ITZ represents a small region next to the particles

of coarse aggregate (as a thin shell, typically 10
to 50 μm thick)
 ITZ is generally weaker than either of the two
main components of concrete, namely, the
aggregate and the bulk hydrated cement paste.
 It has a far greater influence on the mechanical
behavior of concrete
Stress-Strain Behaviour of Concrete

 NONLINEAR!
 Can be divided into 4
zones!
Stress-Strain Behaviour of Concrete

σ < 0.30 σult

ITZ remains stable and
σ-ε is almost linear
Stress-Strain Behaviour of Concrete

0.30 σult < σ < 0.50 σult

ITZ microcracks start to
deviate from linearity.
But still stable microcracks
Stress-Strain Behaviour of Concrete

0.50 σult < σ < 0.75 σult

Cracks within the matrix are
unstable (Increased
nonlinearity)
Stress-Strain Behaviour of Concrete

σ > 0.75 σult

Rapid propogation of cracks
leading to failure
 How to determine Econc

 Static modulus
Initial tangent method
Secant method
Tangent method
 Dynamic modulus
Resonant frequency
Ultrasonic pulse velocity
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
Secant Modulus
 ASTM C 469
 Uniaxial loading
 Load and displacement
recorded
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
Secant Modulus
 Load
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
Secant Modulus
 Displacement
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
Secant Modulus
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
Secant Modulus
SHRINKAGE
Standard Concrete Shrinkage

Concrete
shrinkage
Mortar Bar
prism
shrinkage
ASTM
ASTM
C157
C596
Standard Concrete Shrinkage
Restrained Shrinkage Test
 ASTM C 1581
Restrained Shrinkage Test
Plastic Shrinkage
ASTM C 1579
 Autogeneous Shrinkage
 Not yet standardized
Autogeneous Shrinkage
 SUMMARY
Properties of fresh and hardened concrete
are affected by many factors
Properties of Ingredient

Mixture Proportions

Manufacturing Process

Structural Desing
Properties of Concrete

and Detailing
 Concrete Ingredients
 The quality of concrete is affected mostly
by the concrete ingredients.
 Therefore, the quality and characteristics of
concrete ingredients should be well known.
 We will now learn about those ingredients:
1. Portland Cement
2. Supplementary Cementitious Materials
3. Aggregates
4. Chemical Admixtures