Cement Specification

Emphasizes Performance
by Paul D. Tennis

ASTM C 1157, covering both blended

and portland cements, moves away
from requirements on chemical composition
ASTM C 1157, Standard Performance Specification for
Hydraulic Cement, is a relatively new specification in which
restrictions on composition of the material are minimized. For
the producer, ASTM C 1157 allows optimal use of raw
materials and the ability to produce innovative cements. For the specifier, it contains Many limits in C 1157 applicable to all cement types
optional requirements that are not available under other specifications. are similar to requirements in C 150 and C 595. All
Requirements in C 1157 are largely based on C 150 and C 595, the traditional, cement types in C 1157 are required to meet maximum
cement specifications that contain a combination of prescriptive and performance autoclave expansion (0.8%) and maximum mortar bar
limits. However, the newer specification contains unique features as well. expansion (0.020% at 14 days) limits that are identical
to those in C 150 and C 595. Likewise, initial setting
ASTM C 1157 was first approved in 1992 as a performance specification for blended
time (Vicat test, C 191) is between 45 and 420 minutes,
cements; however, in 1998 it was amended to include portland cements. Thus, for
which is identical to C 595 and only slightly extended
the first time, both portland and blended cements could be specified under one stan-
from C 150 (between 45 and 375 minutes). One
dard based on identical performance requirements. Cements are classified into six
optional requirement, that for early stiffening (C 451), is
types according to their intended use: GU for general construction, HE for high-early
identical to an optional requirement in C 150. Unlike
strength, MS for moderate sulfate resistance, HS for high sulfate resistance, MH for
C 150 and C 595, C 1157 does not include require-
moderate heat generation, and LH for low heat generation. An optional suffix, R,
ments for air-entraining cement. Air content (C 185)
may be added to the cement type (for example, GU-R) if laboratory testing (C 227)
and fineness (C 204) are reported for informational
indicates the cement is resistant to alkali-silica reactivity (ASR).
purposes, but have no specification limits.

Focus On Performance
Unique Strength Provisions
The new specification represents a shift away from prescriptive specifications that
The strength provisions of C 1157 are an example of
dictate composition restrictions. Instead, the emphasis is on the ability of the cement
one of the unique aspects of the specification. By
to perform. For example, in C 150, the tricalcium aluminate (C3A) content in Type II
default, strength requirements are the minimums
or V cement is prescriptively limited to control sulfate resistance. In ASTM C 1157,
shown in Table 1. However, there are several optional
assurance of sulfate resistance of Type MS or HS cement is determined by testing (C
requirements that can be invoked by the
1012) mortar bars made with the cement. The laboratory test, rather than a chemical
specifier, including an optional 28-day strength
analysis, is used as a predictor of performance.
requirement, alternative (higher) minimums at specific
ages, and strength ranges (within maximum and
Table 1. Default Minimum Strength Requirements of ASTM C 1157 minimum values) applied at a specific age. Thus, if a
(ASTM C 109), MPa (psi)
specifier has an application requiring cement within a
Cement Type
particular range of strengths, C 1157 provides an
GU HE MS HS MH LH opportunity for invoking specific optional requirements
1 day 10 (1450) to address that need. However, specifiers should be
3 days 10 (1450) 17 (2465) 10 (1450) 5 (725) 5 (725) aware that cements may not be available to meet
7 days 17 (2465) 17 (2465) 10 (1450) 10 (1450) 5 (725)
28 days 17 (2465) 17 (2465) continued to page 4

Concrete Technology Today / November 2001 3

 C O N C R E T E
continued from page 3
optional requirements and should check with their cement or concrete supplier
to determine whether particular options are available in their area.
For sulfate-resistant and controlled-heat-of-hydration cements, requirements are
based on performance tests with limits again similar to those in C 150 and C
595. For example, Type MH cements are required to generate (C 186) less than
290 kJ/kg at 7 days, matching optional requirements for low heat Type II in C
150 and the MH option in C 595. Type LH cements are required to generate less
than 250 kJ/kg at 7 days and less than 290 kJ/kg at 28 days, identical to the
requirement for equivalent types in C 150 (Type IV) and C 595 (LH option).
Requirements for Type MS cements, maximum expansion (C 1012) of 0.10% at
180 days, are similar to optional requirements in C 150 for Type II and for
Technology Q & A
Does magnesium chloride harm concrete?
Q. Our state recently began using magnesium chloride as a road deicer, and
we’ve noticed an increase in the scaling of concrete. Does magnesium chloride
cause more damage to concrete than conventional road salt (sodium chloride)?
A. A PCA literature search found three references comparing the effects of magne-
sium chloride with sodium chloride and other deicers on the scaling resistance of
concrete. Unfortunately, the cited studies provide conflicting results.
The abstract from a German field study (Leiser 1967) states that "concrete surfaces
were only slightly affected [by magnesium chloride lye], and that the solution is less
harmful than granulated salt."
However, two recent studies found magnesium chloride to be more aggressive than
sodium chloride. In the first study (Cody 1996), concrete containing dolomite coarse
aggregate was cored from five highway pavements. Small blocks were cut from the
cores and subjected to wet-dry and freeze-thaw cycles in 0.75M and 3.0M solutions
of NaCl, CaCl 2, and MgCl 2. Magnesium chloride was the most destructive deicer,
producing severe deterioration under almost all of the experimental conditions.
Calcium chloride was the next most destructive salt. Sodium chloride was relatively
benign.
In the second study (Lee 2000), the researchers again found magnesium chloride to
be significantly more aggressive than sodium chloride in wet-dry and freeze-thaw
conditions.
In both of these studies, the authors concluded that the major cause of deterioration
by magnesium-based deicers was the formation of non-cohesive magnesium silicate
hydrates (MSH), produced by the reaction of dissolved magnesium with calcium
silicate hydrates of the cement. Because MSH does not form strong bonds with
aggregate particles, these phases cause loss of cohesion in portland cement paste
and will promote crumbling.
4 Concrete Technology Today / November 2001
T E C H N O L O G Y T O D A Y
optional sulfate-resistant cement in C 595. Type HS
cements have more restrictive requirements based
on C 1012: 0.05% at 6 months, or 0.10% at 1 year.
In summary, many ASTM C 1157 performance
requirements are similar to those in the more
traditional C 150 and C 595 specifications. However,
options for specifying cements with particular
properties that cannot be specified elsewhere are
also included. This brief review cannot cover all
provisions of the standard; readers are encouraged to
carefully examine the specification for complete
details. ASTM C 1157 can be ordered from ASTM’s
Web site at www.astm.org, or by calling
610.832.9585.
A common finding of the above research is that all
deicers can aggravate scaling, emphasizing the need
for placing high-quality, air-entrained concrete in
deicer environments.
References
Cody, R.D., Cody, A.M., Spry, P.G., and Gan, G.,
"Experimental Deterioration of Highway Concrete by
Chloride Deicing Salts," Environmental & Engineering
Geoscience, Vol. II, No. 4, Winter 1996, pp. 575–588.
Lee, H., Cody, R.D., Cody, A.M., and Spry, P.G., “Effects
of Various Deicing Chemicals on Pavement Concrete
Deterioration,” Proceedings of the Mid-Continent
Transportation Symposium, Center for Transportation
Research and Education, Iowa State University, 2000.
Leiser, K., and Dombrowski, G., "Research Work on
Magnesium Chloride Solution Used in Winter Service on
Roads," Strasse, Vol. 7, No. 5, Berlin, Germany,
May 1967.

strengths are 400 to 800 psi (2.8 to
5.5 MPa).
The NACC tour began in late
1992 with a trial casting in Boston,
port of call for plant equipment
shipped from Europe and home of
Hodge Boiler Co., the firm that
assembled the plant onto three flat-
bed trailers. Public Service of
Indiana, Noblesville Station, was the
first utility location; a two-month
demonstration began there in March
1993. In May 1993, the plant trav-
eled to New England Power in
Somerset, Mass., and from there it
completed scheduled stops through-
out 1993 at United Illumination in
Bridgeport, Conn., Ohio Edison in
Akron, and Georgia Power in
Atlanta. As of this writing, the plant
is at the TVA in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The remaining utilities on the tour
are NYSEG and Niagara Mohawk,
both in the state of New York, and a
Sierra Pacific facility in the state of
Nevada.
For more information on ACC, or
to visit one of the remaining plant
locations on the tour, contact Bob
Sauber, managing director, North
American Cellular Concrete, 3
Regency Plaza, Suite 6, Providence,
RI 02903, Tel. 401/621-8108, Fax.
401/861-9527.
CLARIFICATION
In the article titled “Long-Term
Properties of High-Strength
Concretes” (Concrete Technology
Today, November 1993), we incor-
rectly identified the building asso-
ciated with the data in Table 2.
The compressive strength and
modulus of elasticity data in Table
2 is correct, but it relates to the 44-
story Pacific First Center project in
Seattle, not Two Union Square.
Obviously, this is a major error.
We apologize to Mr. Michael R.
Gardner, who is the quality con-
trol manager for Stoneway
Concrete of Renton, Washington,
the ready mix supplier for the
Pacific First Center project, and
the gentleman who brought this
error to our attention.
Concrete
in a Marine
Environment
Seawater contains significant
amounts of sulfates and chlorides.
Although sulfates in seawater are
capable of attacking concrete, the
presence of chlorides inhibits the
expansive reaction that is character-
istic of sulfate attack. Calcium sul-
foaluminate, the reaction product of
sulfate attack, is more soluble in a
chloride solution and can be more
readily leached out of concrete, thus
resulting in less destructive expan-
sion. This is a major factor explain-
ing observations from a number of
sources that the performance of con-
crete in seawater with portland
cement having tricalcium aluminate
(C3A) contents as high as 10%, and
sometimes higher, have shown satis-
factory durability, providing the per-
meability of the concrete is low and
the reinforcing steel has adequate
cover.
The maximum permissible water-
cement ratio for the submerged por-
tion of a structure is 0.45 by weight.
For portions in the splash zone and
above, the maximum permissible
water-cement ratio is 0.40 by weight.
Water-cement ratios as high as 0.50
by weight may be used provided the
C3A content of the cement does not
exceed 8%.
Cements meeting the requirements
of ASTM C150, Specification for
Portland Cement, and ASTM C595,
Specification for Blended Hydraulic
Cements, and meeting the C3A
requirement noted above, that is, not
more than 10%, are acceptable for
concrete in a marine environment.
In the case of C595 blended cements,
this limitation applies only to the
portland cement clinker used in the
blended cement.
In addition to the proper selection
of cement and water-cement ratio,
other requirements for securing eco-
nomical and durable concrete in a
marine environment include: (1)
adequate air entrainment, (2) low
slump, (3) adequate consolidation,
(4) uniformity of batching, mixing,
transporting, and placing, (5) a
smooth finish free from surface
R e t u r n To I n d e x
March 1994
voids and other defects, (6) adequate
concrete cover over reinforcement
[minimum 2 in. (50 mm), preferably
3 in. (75 mm)], and (7) sufficient cur-
ing to develop the required imper-
meability and other desired proper-
ties of the concrete.
For More Information
1. Verbeck, G. J., Field and Laboratory
Studies of the Sulfate Resistance of
Concrete, Research Department
Bulletin RX227, Portland Cement
Association, Skokie, Illinois, 1967.
2. Guide for the Design and
Construction of Fixed Offshore
Concrete Structures, ACI 357R-84,
ACI Committee 357 Report,
American Concrete Institute,
Detroit, 1984.
3. Mehta, P. K., “Durability of
Concrete Exposed to Marine
Environment—A Fresh Look,”
Concrete in Marine Environment,
Proceedings, Second International
Conference, SP-109, American
Concrete Institute, Detroit, 1988.
Performance
Standards are
Coming
The American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM) recently pub-
lished a new specification designat-
ed C1157-92, Standard Performance
Specification for Blended Hydraulic
Cement. The new standard, howev-
er, does not replace ASTM’s existing
standard C595, Specification for
Blended Hydraulic Cements, which
defines five types of blended cement
in terms of ingredient proportions
and chemical limitations.
Unique Development
Unlike C595, the new C1157 perfor-
mance standard does not dictate the
composition or constituents of
blended cement other than the
requirement that it should consist of
“two or more inorganic constituents
which contribute to the strength-
gaining properties of the cement,
with or without other constituents,
processing additions, and functional
additions.” The blended cement
5
Concrete Technology Today
may be produced by intergrinding
or other blending processes. C1157
does require that the ingredients of
the blended cement be reported and
that the ingredients, including pro-
cessing and functional additions,
independently meet any applicable
specifications.
“This really is a unique develop-
ment,” notes Steven Kosmatka, who
as PCA’s manager of research and
development tracks specifications
and standards in the cement indus-
try and serves on several ASTM
committees. “For the cement indus-
try, it’s our first foray into perfor-
mance specifications.”
Six Types
C1157 sets physical requirements for
the following six types of blended
cement, mirroring the attributes of
ASTM’s C150 cement types:
Type GU—Blended cement for gen-
eral construction use
when a specialized type
is not required
Type HE—High Early Strength
Type MS—Moderate Sulfate
Resistance
Type HS—High Sulfate Resistance
Type MH—Moderate Heat of
Hydration
Type LH—Low Heat of Hydration
In addition, any of the above types
may be designated with Option R—
Low Reactivity with Alkali-Reactive
Aggregates. If Option R is invoked,
the cement should be tested using
ASTM Test Method C227, which
uses crushed borosilicate (Pyrex)
glass as the reactive aggregate. The
expansion during this test should
not exceed 0.020% at 14 days or
0.060% at 56 days. Additionally,
pozzolans used in any blended
cement also should be tested using
C227 with a nonreactive sand to
determine whether they have any
potential for alkali-reactivity.
Optimizing Cements
As noted earlier, the new standard
does not replace ASTM’s existing
C595 standard; the new designations
for six types of blended cement are
simply an additional way to specify
blended cements. “It gives cement
6
companies far more leeway in for-
mulating their product,” concedes
Kosmatka. “For the first time, man-
ufacturers can truly optimize
cements, using ingredients available
to them without the limitations of
recipe specifications.”
Ultimately, performance-specified
blended cements could spawn a new
breed of products—special formula-
tions that address specific customer
needs such as resistance to alkali-
aggregate reaction and sulfate reac-
tion, to name two.
There are also environmental con-
siderations. Blending portland
cement with materials such as fly
ash, ground granulated blast-furnace
slag, kiln dust, or limestone means
less embodied energy and reduced
carbon dioxide emissions. And in
the case of kiln dust, slag, fly ash,
and other mineral byproducts, it’s a
way to recycle waste materials into
cement.
Acceptance?
But don’t expect an overnight shift
from recipe to performance specifi-
cations; publication of the standard
is only the beginning. It has yet to
be accepted by ASTM C94
Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete,
the ACI 318 Building Code, ACI 301
Specifications for Structural Concrete
for Buildings, and other important
standards and codes organizations, a
process that could take the rest of
this decade. Moreover, acceptance
may be only the first hurdle.
Historically, U.S. specifiers have
shied away from blended cements,
perhaps finding a tandem set of
cement types confusing. Adding a
third set—C1157—to the existing
C150 and C595 specifications may
further complicate cement choices.
In any case, if use of a blended
cement under ASTM C1157 is con-
templated, or an order is placed, a
request should be made for the man-
ufacturer’s certification, which is dis-
cussed in Section 14 of the standard.
This section requires the manufac-
turer to provide results of tests and
chemical analyses and a list of spe-
cific constituents and functional
additions, if any, contained in the
cement specified.
Copies of ASTM Designation
C1157-92 may be purchased from
R e t u r n To I n d e x
American Society for Testing and
Materials, 1916 Race Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19103, Phone: 215-
299-5400, Fax: 215-977-9679.
New Research
Results
Announced
The following new research and
development bulletins are now
available. To purchase any of these
bulletins in the United States, con-
tact Portland Cement Association,
Order Processing, P. O. Box 726,
Skokie, IL 60076-0726; telephone 1-
800/868-6733, or fax 708/966-9666
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week). In
Canada please direct requests to the
nearest regional office of the
Canadian Portland Cement
Association (Halifax, Montreal,
Toronto, and Vancouver).
Guide Specification for
Concrete Subject to Alkali-
Silica Reactions, IS415T
This 8-page document, authored by
the Portland Cement Association’s
Alkali-Silica Reactivity/Pavement
Durability Task Group, provides
specifiers and engineers guidance
with state-of-the-art approaches to
control alkali-silica reactivity (ASR).
The guide is compiled from the best
of U.S., Canadian, and European
approaches, including the Strategic
Highway Research Program.
Alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) has
been reported worldwide since 1940.
Fortunately most concrete is not
affected by this condition. Although