Segregation of Concrete

Segregation can be defined as the separation of constituent materials of concrete. If a

sample of concrete exhibit a tendency of separation, coarse aggregate from rest of
ingredients, then sample is said to be showing tendency for segregation.

The considerable differences and specific gravity and sizes of constituents causes
segregation. Segregation may be of 3 types-

1. The coarse aggregate settling down and separating from rest of matrix.

2. Paste or matrix separating away from coarse aggregate.

3. Water separating out from rest of material being a material of lowest specific gravity.

Insufficient mixed concrete with excess water content shows a higher tendency for
segregation. Dropping of concrete from different heights as in case of columns will
result in segregation.

Remedy:

1. By properly proportioning the mix correctly

2. Handling and transporting, compacting, placing in proper manner.

3. At any stage, if segregation occurs, remix the concrete to make it homogeneous.

Bleeding of Concrete

Bleeding is sometime referred as water gain. It is a particular form of segregation in

which some of the water comes out of surface of concrete.
Due to bleeding, water comes up and accumulates the surface, along with this water,
certain quantity of cement also comes out. This formation of cement paste on top is
called Laitance.

Water while traversing from bottom to top makes continuous channels, if w/c ratio >
0.7, bleed channel will remain continuous and un segmented by development of gel.
These continuous bleeding channels are often resposible for permeability. Bleeding rate
increases with time upto 1hour and there after decreases till final setting time of
cement.

It can be reduced by proper proportioning and uniform and complete mixing, use of
finely divided pozzolonas which reduce bleeding by creating longer path.

Use of air entraining agent is very effective in reducing bleeding. Use of low alkali and
also finer cements reduces bleeding.

Air Entrained Concrete

It is made by mixing a small quantity of air entraining agent or air entraining cement.
These agents incorporate millions of non-coalescing air bubbles which will act as flexible
ball bearing and modify properties of plastic concrete and also harden concrete.

Entrained air is intentional, minute spherical bubbles of range 5-80 microns.

AGENTS: 1. Natural wood resins

2. Animal and vegetable fats and oils, water soluble soaps and resins.

Effects:
1. Increased resistance to freezing thawing.

2. Improved workability and reduction in strength.

3. Reduces segregation and decrease permeability.

4. Reduce cement content, unit weight of concrete, sand content.

5. Reduce alkali aggregate reaction.

Entrainment of air increase with increase of mixing time upto a certain time and there
after it reduces. Other factors affecting amount of air entrainment are-

1. Type and quantity of air entraining agents.

2. Type and grading of aggregate- Temperature and Compaction.

Honey Combing

Honey combs are hollow spaces and cavities left in the concrete mass on the surface or
inside the concrete mass due to insufficient finer particle distribution.

Honey combs which are on sides are visible to named eyes are detected as shuttering is
removed and honey combs inside mass of concrete by advanced techniques like ultra
sonic testing.

CAUSES:

1. Improper vibration

2. Less cover to reinforcement bars

3. Use of very stiff concrete

4. Presence of more percent of large size aggregates

REMEDIES: Use of cement chemicals for grouting is the alternative but, demolition and
re-constructuion is the best solution for honey combing.

As the voids are left, the bearing strength reduces along with provision of voids for the
corrosion of reinforcement.