Properties of

Fresh Concrete

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Fresh Concrete
A freshly mixed material that can be molded in
any shape

Characterized by:
- Workability
- Density
- Air content
- Segregation
- Bleeding
- Setting time
- Shrinkage 2
Workability

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Workability

The amount of useful internal work necessary to

produce full compaction

Internal work - the work or energy required to
overcome the internal friction between the
individual particles in concrete

The ability to be easily placed onto forms

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Workability

The ability to easily compact or consolidate

concrete

Strength of concrete is adversely and
significantly affected by the presence of voids
in the compacted mass

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Workability

Slump Test (ASTM C 143)

Measures workability of the mix

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Degree of Slump Use for which concrete is suitable
Workability (mm)
Very Low - Roads vibrated by power-operated machines. At the
more workable end of this group, concrete may be
compacted in certain cases with hand-operated
machines.
Low 25-75 Roads vibrated by hand-operated machines. At the more
workable end of this group, concrete may be manually
compacted in roads using aggregate of rounded or
irregular shape. Mass concrete foundation without
vibration or lightly reinforced sections with vibration.
Medium 50-100 At the less workable end of this group, manually
compacted flat slab using crushed aggregates. Normal
reinforced concrete manual compacted and heavily
reinforced sections with vibration.
High 100- For sections with congested reinforcement. Not normally
150 suitable for vibration. For pumping and tremie placing.
Very High - Flow table test is more suitable.

Workability, slump, and compacting factor of concretes with 8

19 or 38 mm maximum size of aggregate

Workability

Other Tests

Flow Test

Flow Table Test

Ball Penetration Test

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Flow test apparatus (DIAMETER)

Flow table test apparatus (DIAMETER)

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Kelly ball apparatus (PENETRATION)

Workability

Factors affecting workability:

Water content

Maximum size of aggregate

Aggregate grading, shape, and texture

Initial setting time

Temperature and Humidity (loss of
water) 13
Cohesion and Segregation

Segregation – separation of the

constituents of a heterogeneous
mixture so that their distribution is no
longer uniform
Two forms:

Separation of coarser particles

Separation of grout 14
Cohesion and Segregation

Causes:

Difference in aggregate sizes

Manner of transporting, handling, and

placing of concrete

Improper vibration

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Cohesion and Segregation

Segregation resistance

Ability of the concrete to remain uniform
for a period of time

Cohesion

Intermolecular attraction by which the
particles of a body are united throughout
the mass 16
Bleeding

a form of segregation which some of

the water in the mix tends to rise to the
surface of freshly placed concrete

ASTM C 232

Cause:

Due to the inability of solid constituents to
hold all of the mixing water when they settle
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Density

Test method in ASTM C 138

If the density is known, the volume of

concrete can be found from the mass
of the ingredients

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Air Content

Entrained air or entrapped air

Test methods:

Gravimetric (ASTM C 138)

Volumetric (ASTM C 173)

Pressure (ASTM C 231)

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Pressure-type air meter

Setting Time

Time required for the mortar to reach

the specified value of resistance to
penetration (ASTM C 403)

Initial setting time

Final setting time

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Can be measured by penetrometer test
Shrinkage (ASTM C 426)

Causes:

Loss of water by evaporation or by

hydration of cement

Carbonation

Types:

Plastic, autogeneous, drying 22

Shrinkage

Plastic shrinkage

Caused by loss of water by

evaporation and suction by dry cement

Autogeneous shrinkage

Loss of water used up in hydration

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