ROBERTO B. ALVAREZ JR.

BSCE-3A CE 324 (PRINCIPLE OF REINFORCED/PRE-STRESSED)

ASSIGNMENT NO.1

Describe technically and show samples of the following materials used in Concrete Structures.

1. Cement
 Cement is one of the most important, most versatile and commonly used construction
materials. It is a binding agent that sets and hardens to adhere to building units such as
stones, bricks, tiles, etc. It is a cover material which makes a bond between aggregates
and reinforcing materials. Once hardened, cement delivers sufficient strength to erect
large industrial structures.

 There are many different types of Cement. Listed below are some of the most
commonly used cement in building construction:
a) Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) - also known simply as Portland cement or
Type 1 cement, is widely used in construction work. It is widely used for all
purposes including: Concrete - When OPC is mixed with aggregates and water, it
makes concrete, which is widely used in the construction of buildings; Mortar
- For joining masonry; Plaster - To give a perfect finish to the walls. OPC is used
for general construction purposes and most masonry work.
b) Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) - has a high resistance to different chemical
assaults on concrete. It is widely used in construction such as: Marine
structures, Sewage works, Bridges, Piers, Dams, and Mass concrete works.
c) Rapid Hardening Cement - commonly used in rapid constructions like the
construction pavement, prefabricated concrete construction and road work.
 d) Extra Rapid Hardening Cement – widely used in cold weather concreting, to set
the cement fast. It is about 25% faster than that of rapid hardening cement by
one or two days.
e) Low Heat Cement - used in mass concrete construction like gravity dams. It is
important to know that it is less reactive and the initial setting time is greater
than OPC. 
f) Sulfate Resisting Cement - used for constructions in contact with soil or
groundwater having more than 0.2% or 0.3% g/l sulfate salts respectively. It can
also be used in concrete surfaces subjected to alternate wetting and drying like
bridge piers. 
g) Quick Setting Cement - used for constructions that need a quick setting, like
underwater structures and in cold and rainy weather conditions.
h) Blast Furnace Slag Cement - used for structures meant for water retaining such
as retaining wall, rivers, ports, tunnels for improvement in impermeability; in
mass concreting works such as dams, foundations which require low heat of
hydration; and in the places susceptible to chloride and sulphate attacks such as
sub-structure, bored piles, pre-case piles and marine structures.
i) High Alumina Cement - uses are in constructions that are subject to high
temperatures like a workshop, refractory, and foundries.
j) White Cement - more expensive than OPC and is used for architectural
purposes such as precast curtain walls, and interior and exterior decorative
work such as facing slabs, floorings, ornamental concrete products and garden
paths.
k) Water Repellant Cement - used for the construction of structures that either
retain water or will be in constant contact with water in some other way, such
as tanks, reservoirs, retaining walls, swimming pools, dams, bridges, and piers.
l) Hydraulic Cement - suitable for construction of structures in close contact with
or submerged in water. Can be used for the construction of highly durable
structures and very useful for sealing concrete leaks and repair work.
m) Expansive Cement - used to help overcome shrinkage loss, and is often an
essential part of sealing joints when used as expansion joint cement. Other
applications for this type of cement include grouting anchor bolts and
prestressed concrete ducts.
n) Air Entraining Cement - used in areas where the temperature is very low and
where de-icing chemicals are applied.

2. Fine Aggregates
 are small size filler materials in construction that are used in mortar, plaster, concrete,
filling of road pavement layers, etc. Fine aggregate (Sand) Fills voids between
aggregates. It forms the bulk and makes mortar or concrete economical. It provides
resistance against shrinking and cracking. It is naturally available.
 F
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aggregates are usually sand, crushed rocks, and crushed bricks that are used in concrete
or pavement construction. Listed below are some classification of sand:
(a) Coral Sand
(b) Glass Sand
(c) Immature Sand
(d) Gypsum Sand
(e) Ooid Sand
(f) Silica Sand 
(g) Pit Sand
(h) River Sand
(i) Sea Sand
(j) Green Sand
(k) Desert Sand
(l) Lithic Sand
(m) Mixed Carbonate-silicate Sand
(n) Biogenic Sand
(o) Garnet Sand
(p) Olivine Sand
(q) Volcanic Sand
(r) Heavy Mineral Sand
(s) Sands with Hematitic Pigment
(t) Continental Sand
(u) Quartz Sand
 Sand - Offers requisite surface area for the film of binding material to adhere and
spread, Increases the volume of mortar & consequently makes mortar more
economical, Well-graded sand adds to the density of mortars and concrete, Prevents
excessive shrinkage of mortar, and Since it is an inert material, it renders structure more
resistant against atmospheric agencies.
 The grading of these various sizes of sand particles is determined using ‘Sieve Analysis’.
All sand particles should pass No. 4 to No. 16 sieves. But at the same time, sand should
 not contain very fine particles. In between these two extreme sizes (3/16 to 1/16 inch),
sand should contain particles of uniformly varying sizes or it should be well graded in
order to get dense mortars.
 Stone Screenings - are fine particles obtained by screening crushed stones. The grains
are sharp and strong, and hence impart better strength to the concrete. Crushed stones
are used as a leveling agent for under pavers.
 Surki - made by grinding freshly burnt and well-burnt bricks. It should be perfectly clean,
free from foreign matter and sufficiently fine to pass through No. 8 sieve (US). Largely
used in making lime mortar, lime plaster, and lime concrete.

3. Coarse Aggregates
 irregular and granular materials such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone, and are used for
making concrete. In most cases, Coarse is naturally occurring and can be obtained by
blasting quarries or crushing them by hand or crushers. Also identified as any aggregate
retained in a #4 sieve.

 Coarse aggregates are used in different ways in the construction industry usually as
ballast in road and railway works to resist the overall load, to distribute the load
properly to the soil base, and drain off the rainwater.
 There are different types of Coarse aggregate that were classified based on various
parameters like shape, origin, texture, density, and grain size, etc.
(a) Based on Shape
(i) Rounded Aggregates - mostly available in the seashore or riverbank area. Used
mainly in road construction for filling voids between angular aggregates.
(ii) Angular Aggregates - Usually use in the preparation of high-strength concrete
which is used in building construction, bridge construction, etc.
(iii) Irregular Aggregates - Usually use in low strength or medium-strength concrete,
road construction, etc.
(iv) Elongated Aggregates - offers low compressive strength and is not
recommended to use in concrete. In case they are used in concrete, the void
 content and ratio in concrete are become too high compared to the other
aggregates.
(v) Flaky Aggregates - offers too low workability and it used not recommended to
be used in concrete making and also it quickly gets broken due to its minor
thickness.
(vi) Flaky and Elongated Aggregates - It is not recommended to use in concrete
making because of its lower compressive strength.
(b) Based on Geological Origin
(i) Natural Aggregates
1. Gravel
2. Crushed Aggregates
(ii) Artificial Aggregates – They are manufactured from various pollutant by-
products such as ash, power station solid waste, rice husk ash, furnace slag,
granite powder, iron ore slag, over burnt brickbats, etc.
(c) According to Size

Coarse aggregate Size

Fine gravel 4mm – 8mm

Medium gravel 8mm – 16mm

Coarse gravel 16mm – 64mm

Cobbles 64mm – 256mm

Boulders >256mm

4. Concrete Reinforcing Bars

 Also known as Rebar. Used to help concrete withstand tension forces. Concrete is
sufficiently strong to compression forces by nature, but tension forces can crack it.

 There are many different types of Reinforcing bars and listed below are only some:
(a) Carbon Steel Rebars - This is the most common type of rebar and is sometimes
referred to as a "black bar." It's extremely versatile but it corrodes more easily than
other types, making it inappropriate in areas that are subject to high humidity or in
structures that are frequently exposed to water. Many consider carbon steel rebars
to be the best option in all other types of construction, however.
 (b) Welded Wire Fabric - is made from a series of steel wires arranged at right angles
and electrically welded at all steel wire crossings. It can be used in slab-on-ground
slabs where the ground has been well compacted. This is commonly used in road
pavement, box culverts, drainage structures, and in small concrete canals.
(c) Sheet-Metal Reinforcing Bars - Sheet-metal reinforcement is commonly used in
floor slabs, stairs, and roof construction.
(d) Epoxy-Coated Rebars – usually expensive and used in areas that will be in contact
with salt water or where a corrosion problem is imminent.
(e) European Rebars - typically made of manganese so they tend to bend more easily.
They're not suitable for use in areas that are prone to extreme weather conditions
or geological effects, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or tornadoes.
(f) Stainless Steel Rebars - can be used as an alternative reinforcing steel bar with
carbon steel reinforcement. Can be a cost-effective solution in areas subject to
corrosion problems or where repair is difficult and expensive.
(g) Galvanized Rebars – usually 40 times more resistant to corrosion than carbon steer
rebars, making them ideal for structures that will be heavily exposed to wet and
humid conditions.
(h) Expanded Metal or Wire Mesh Rebars - commonly used as reinforcement in areas
where a considerable thickness of plaster is required, or to reinforce light concrete
construction. Wire mesh reinforcement can be used on sidewalks, small concrete
pads, or walkable surfaces that don't receive high live or load charges.
(i) Glass-Fiber-Reinforced-Polymer (GFRP) Rebars - Similar to carbon fiber, GFRP
rebars will not corrode — ever, under any conditions.
5. Water
 Water is required for preparation of mortar, mixing of cement concrete and for curing
work etc during construction work. The quality and quantity of water has much effect on
the strength of mortar and cement concrete in construction work.
 Water used in mixing concrete shall be clean and free from injurious amounts of oils,
acids, alkalis, salts, organic materials or other substances deleterious to concrete or
reinforcement.
 The amount of water in concrete controls many fresh and hardened properties in
concrete including workability, compressive strengths, permeability and watertightness,
durability and weathering, drying shrinkage and potential for cracking.
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https://constructionor.com/coarse-aggregates/

https://dreamcivil.com/coarse-aggregate/

https://www.concrete.org/portals/0/files/pdf/fe2-00.pdf

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/types-of-rebars-844455

https://www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete/equipment-products/article/11359846/water-in-
concrete

http://www.gharexpert.com/tips/articles/Construction/1837/Water-1837-Water-
Construction_0#:~:text=The%20water%20is%20required%20for,cement%20concrete%20in
%20construction%20work.