Concrete

Week 10, Sem 2, 2017

Dr. Mirzi L. Betasolo
Email: mirzi.betasolo@pnguot.ac.pg
 Concrete Properties
 Versatile
 Pliable when mixed
 Strong & Durable
 Does not Rust or Rot
 Does Not Need a Coating
 Resists Fire
Concrete Materials

Aggregate is the second most influential

ingredient in concrete.
Aggregate
 Occupies 60-75 % of volume
 Fine Aggregate is typically 35-45 % of total
aggregate
 Mortar (Air, water, cement, fly ash, sand)
is typically 50 - 65 % of total volume of a
mixture
Aggregates in Concrete

Fine: Sand or Crushed Stone (< 5mm)

Coarse: Gravel or Crushed Stone (5-50
mm)
Aggregate must be washed in many
areas
 Granite & other crushed stone
 Recycled concrete
All must satisfy AS Standard (AS
1141.6.1,1141.11, 1141.15
Influence of Aggregates
STRENGTH
Aggregate shape
Aggregate size
Aggregate texture
Influence of Aggregates
DURABILITY
Weathering
Impurities
Water in Concrete

Increased water:
 reduced strength
 increased shrinkage and creep
 increases permeability
 reduced abrasion resistance
 reduced Freeze-Thaw resistance
Drinkable Water is good for
making concrete
Table 4-2 Acceptance Criteria for
Questionable Water Supplies (ASTM C 94)
Limits Test method
Compressive 90 AS 2350.6
Strength, ASTM C 109 or
minimum T 106
percentage of
control at 7
days
Time of set, From 1:00 AS 2350.3
deviation from earlier to 1:30 ASTM C 191 or
control, hr:min later T 131
Table 4-3 Chemical Limits for Wash Water
used as Mixing water (ASTM C 94)
Chemical or type of Maximum Test Method
construction concentration, ppm
Chloride, as Cl ASTM D 512

Prestressed concrete 500

or concrete in bridge
decks
Other reinforced 1000
concrete
Sulfate, SO4 3,000 ASTM D 516

Alkalies, as 600
(Na2O+0.658 K2O)
Total solids 50,000 AASHTO T 26
Effects of Impurities in
Mixing Water

Excessive impurities in mixing

water affect setting time and
concrete strength and also cause
efflorescence (deposits of white
salts on the surface of concrete),
staining, corrosion of
reinforcement, volume changes,
and reduced durability
 Impurity Effects

1. Alkali carbonate and Acceleration or retardation of

bicarbonate setting timeReduction in
strength

2. Chloride Corrosion of steel in concrete

3. Sulfate Expansive reactions and

deterioration of concreteMild
effect on corrosion of steel in
concrete

4. Iron salts Reduction in strength

5. Miscellaneous inorganic salts Reduction in strength and large

(zinc, copper, lead, etc) variations in setting time
 Impurity Effects

6. Organic substances Reduction in strength

and large variations in
setting time
7. Sugar Severely retards the
setting of cement
8. Silt or suspended Reduction in strength
particles
9. Oils Reduction in strength

10. Algae Excessive reduction in

strength
Use of Questionable Waters as Mixing
Water

Sea Water
Seawater containing up to 35,000 ppm
of dissolved salts is generally suitable as
mixing water for plain concrete

Seawater is not suitable for use in

making steel reinforced concrete and
prestressed concrete due to high risk of
steel corrosion
Acid Waters
 Acid waters may be accepted as mixing water on the
basis of their pH values.

 Use of acid waters with pH values less than 3.0 should

be avoided.
 Organic acids, such as tannic acid can have significant
effect on strength at higher concentrations.
Alkaline Waters
 Waters with sodium hydroxide concentrations up to 0.5
% and potassium hydroxide in concentrations up to 1.2
% by weight of cement has no significant effect on
strength.

 The possibility for increased alkali-aggregate reactivity

should be considered before using the alkaline water as
mixing water.
Tannic acid can have significant effect on
strength at higher concentrations.
Wash Waters
 Wash waters may be reused as mixing water in concrete
if they satisfy the limits in Tables 4-2 and 4-3

Industrial Wastewaters
 Industrial wastewaters may be used as mixing water in
concrete as long as they only cause a very small
reduction in compressive strength, generally not greater
than 10 % to 15 %.

 Wastewaters from paint factories, coke plants, and

chemical and galvanizing plants may contain harmful
impurities. Thus such wastewaters should not be used as
mixing water without testing.
Sanitary Sewage

The sanitary sewage may be safely

used as mixing water after treatment or
dilution of the organic matter.
Desired Properties of Fresh Concrete

Consistency
Workability
Uniformity
Finishability
Low Bleeding
 Properties of Fresh Concrete

Fresh concrete: from time of mixing to end of time concrete surface

finished in its final location in the structure
Operations: batching, mixing, transporting, placing, compacting, surface
finishing
Treatment (curing) of in-placed concrete 6-10 hours after casting
(placing) and during first few days of hardening is important.
Concrete properties
Negative properties Positive properties
Low tensile Able to be cast
Volume unstable Caste on the site
Low durability against weigh Economically
Low elasticity Heat resistance
Durability

Aesthetic properties
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 Properties of Fresh Concrete

Fresh state properties enormously affect hardened state

properties.
 The potential strength and durability of concrete of a given mix
proportion is very dependent on the degree of its compaction.
 The first 48 hours are very important for the performance of the
concrete structure.
 It controls the long-term behaviour, influence f'c (ultimate strength),
E (elastic modulus), creep, and durability.

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 Properties of Fresh Concrete

Main properties of fresh concrete during mixing, transporting,

placing and compacting.
• Fluidity or consistency: capability of being handled and of flowing into
formwork and around any reinforcement, with assistance of compacting
equipment.
• Compact ability: air entrapped during mixing and handling should be
easily removed by compaction equipment, such as vibrators.
• Stability or cohesiveness: fresh concrete should remain homogenous
and uniform. No segregation of cement paste from aggregates (especially
coarse ones)
Fluidity & compactability known as workability
Higher workability concretes are easier to place and handle but obtaining
higher workability by increasing water content decreases strength and
durability
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 Properties of Fresh Concrete

Main properties of fresh concrete during mixing, transporting, placing

and compacting.
• Fluidity or consistency:
• Compactability
• Stability or cohesiveness
• Fluidity & compactability known as workability

Compaction of Concrete Finishing of Concrete

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 Workability

Definition: Effort required to manipulate a concrete mixture with a

minimum of segregation.
Factors affecting concrete workability:
 w/c ratio: increase in w/c ratio increase workability (decrease
strength)
 grading of agg.: increase agg. to cement ratio decrease workability
 agg. properties: rounded agg. have high workability (occur
segregation)
 time and temperature: high temperature decrease workability
 cement: increase of cement fineness decrease of workability
use new cement decrease workability
 admixture: increasing concrete workability
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 Workability

Workability measurement methods

1. Slump test
2. Compacting factor test
3. Vebe test
4. Flow table test
1. Slump test - simplest and crudest test

Fill concrete into Hand tap Lift cone up. Define

frustum of a steel concrete slump as downward
cone in three layers In each layer Movement of the
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concrete
Workability

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Workability

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 Workability

Concrete Compacting factor

Uses & recommended of compaction
consistency (AC)%

Stiff 75 - 80 Dames-retaining walls (Vibration)

Plastic 80 - 90 All mass structures (hand compaction)

Flowing 90 - 95 Slabs-reinf. Structures (vibration)

Self compacting > 95 Thick steel renif structures(no compaction) 28

 Workability

Concrete Compacting factor

Uses & recommended of compaction
consistency (AC)%

Stiff 75 - 80 Dames-retaining walls (Vibration)

Plastic 80 - 90 All mass structures (hand compaction)

Flowing 90 - 95 Slabs-reinf. Structures (vibration)

Self compacting > 95 Thick steel renif structures(no compaction)

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Workability

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 Workability

Vebe test – like slump test measures only the consistency but more
meaningful for mixtures of concrete with low consistency.
 The equipment for the test, as shown in the above figure, was
developed by Swedish engineer V. Bahrner .
 Vebe test equipment consists of a vibrating table, a cylindrical pan, a
slump cone, and a glass or plastic disk attached to a free-moving rod,
which serves as a reference end point
 The cone is placed in the pan, filled with concrete, and removed like
slump test
 The disk is brought into position on top of the concrete cone, and the
vibrating table is set in motion
 The time required to remold the concrete, from the conical to the
cylindrical shape until the disk is completely covered with concrete, is
reported as the Vebe time in seconds
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Workability

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 Segregation and Bleeding

From placing to final set, concrete is in a plastic, semi-fluid state. Heavier

particles (aggregates) have tendency to move down (SEGREGATION).
Mix water has a tendency to move up (BLEEDING)
 Segregation is when the coarse and fine aggregate, and cement paste,
become separated.
 Segregation may happen when the concrete is mixed, transported,
placed or compacted.
 Segregation makes the concrete:
WEAKER,
LESS DURABLE,
and will leave A POOR SURFACE FINISH.

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 Segregation and Bleeding

BLEEDING
A layer of water ( 2 % or more of total depth of concrete) accumulates on
surface, later this water evaporates or re-absorbed into concrete.

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 Segregation and Bleeding

Types of segregation:
There are two kinds of segregation
Separation of the mortar (paste + fine aggregate) from the body of
concrete (for example, due to over vibration or mishandling of concrete)
Bleeding
It is defined as phenomenon by virtue of which water appears on the
surface after a concrete has been placed and compacted but before it
has set.
Bleeding takes place due to sedimentation of the solids in voids of concrete
Laitance is a form of bleeding in which water rising in the internal
channels within concrete, carry with it very fine particles of cement,
sand, and clay and deposit them in the form of a scum at the concrete
surface.

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 Segregation and Bleeding

Measurement:
 There are no tests for the measurement of segregation.
 Visual observation and inspection of cores of hardened concrete are
generally adequate to examine the segregation.
 There is, however, an ASTM standard test for the measurement of rate
of bleeding and the total bleeding capacity

According to ASTM C 232, a sample of concrete is placed and consolidated

in a container 250 mm diameter and 280 mm height. The bleed water
accumulated on the surface is withdrawn at 10 min. intervals during the
first 40 min., and thereafter at 30 min. intervals.

Bleeding is expressed in terms of the amount of accumulated

water as the percentage of net mixing water in the sample
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 Segregation and Bleeding

Causes and Control:

The following are the general causes segregation and bleeding problems in
concrete:
1) Improper consistency
2) Excessive amount of large particles of coarse aggregate with either too
high or too low density
3) Presence of less fines (due to low cement and sand contents or the use
of a poorly graded sand)
4) Inappropriate placing and compacting methods

The problems of segregation and bleeding can be reduced or eliminated by

 paying attention to mix proportioning and to

 handling and placement methods
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 Segregation and Bleeding
Methods of reducing segregation and bleed and their effects

Workability:
The amount of mechanical work or energy required to produce full
compaction of the concrete without segregation or bleeding.
It means (how easy it is to: PLACE, HANDLE, COMPACT and FINISH a
concrete mix)
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 Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

Water content of the mix

- The most important factor
- Increasing water Increase the ease of flows and compaction.
Reduce strength and durability.
May lead to segregation and bleeding.
- mixing water is divided into three parts
1- adsorbed on the particle surfaces
2- filled the spaces between the particles.
3- lubricates the particles by separating them with a film of
water finer particles require more water.

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 Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

To make a more workable mix:

 Add more CEMENT PASTE.
 Use WELL GRADED aggregates.
 Use an ADMIXTURE.
Never try to make a mixture more workable by just adding more water
because this lowers the strength and durability of concrete.

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 Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

Aggregate properties
There are two important factors here
1- amount of aggregates.
2- the relative proportions of fine to coarse aggregates.
 increase of aggregate/cement ratio decreases workability
 more cement is needed when finer aggregate grading are used.
 Harsh concrete: deficiency in fine aggregate resulting in lack of the
desired consistency resulting in segregation.
 Shape and texture of aggregate particles.
 Nearly spherical particles give more workable concrete. Spherical
particles give lower surface –to –volume ratio, less mortar to coat
the particles, leaving more water to enhance workability.
 The porosity of the aggregates can absorb a great deal of water and
less will be available to provide workability.
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 Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

Time and temperature.

Considerable evidence that temperature increase will decrease workability
as higher temperatures will increase both the evaporation rate and
hydration rate.
Very warm weather will require more water to maintain the same
workability.

Cement characteristics.
Less important factor in determining workability than the aggregate
properties.
However, increased fineness of type III (rapid –hardening 0 cements will
reduce workability at a given w/c ratio.
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Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

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Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

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 Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

Sample collected Slump Cone Filled

Cone Removed and Concrete Slump Measured 45

Allowed to ‘Slump’
Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

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 Compacting Concrete
WHAT IS COMPACTION:
Compaction is done by shaking, or vibrating, the concrete which
liquefies it, allowing the trapped air to rise out. The concrete settles,
filling all the space in the forms
WHEN TO COMPACT:
Compaction must be done as concrete is placed, while it is still plastic.
Never let concrete dry-out and stiffen because it will be too hard to
compact
WHY COMPACT:
Properly compacted concrete is more dense, strong and durable. Off-
form finishes will also be better.

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 Compacting Concrete
EXTERNAL VIBRATION

Screeding:

The Mechanical Screed:

Concrete is screeded TWICE.

 The first screed levels the concrete roughly and
compacts it.
 The second screed levels and compacts the concrete
more.
 The screed is pulled along the top of the forms by
two workers.

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 Compacting Concrete
INTERNAL VIBRATION
is done with a mechanical vibrator or poker vibrator.
The POKER is put into concrete and vibrates it from the inside.
Method of internal vibrations:
Make sure there are enough workers so some can compact while
others continue to place.
Put the poker into the concrete QUICKLY.
Take the poker out very SLOWLY otherwise a hole, or weak spot, may
be left in the concrete

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 Compacting Concrete
INTERNAL VIBRATION
 The SIZE of the poker determines how much concrete
is vibrated at one time.
 The area vibrated at one time is called the RADIUS OF
ACTION.
 This can be seen by over what radius air bubbles rise
to the surface.
 The radius of action will be greater with a LARGER
poker and more-workable concrete.
 Always compact in a definite pattern so the radius of
action overlaps and covers the whole area of the
concrete.

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 Compacting Concrete
PRECAUTIONS:
1. Taking the poker out TOO QUICKLY will leave a hole in the
concrete.
2. To close the hole, vibrate near the hole and take the poker out
VERY SLOWLY.
3. NEVER touch the form face with the poker as it can damage the
formwork and the concrete.
4. NEVER touch the reinforcement with the poker.
5. NEVER spread or move concrete sideways with the poker,
always use a shovel.

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 Compacting Concrete

HOW LONG TO COMPACT:

 For concrete of average workability ( slump of 60 mm) with a
poker size between 25–75 mm, concrete should usually be
vibrated for between 5 and 15 seconds.
 It is worse to UNDER-VIBRATE than to OVER-VIBRATE
concrete.

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 Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

Curing
Curing; protection of concrete from moisture loss from as soon after
placing as possible, and for the first few days of hardening
--------Curing means to cover the concrete so it stays MOIST--------
By keeping concrete moist the bond between the paste and the aggregates
gets stronger. Concrete doesn’t harden properly if it is left to dry out.
WHEN TO CURE Curing is done just after finishing the concrete surface,
as soon as it will not be damaged.
WHY CURE Concrete that is cured is:
 LESS LIKELY TO CRACK.
 More DURABLE.
HOW TO CURE Concrete is cured by:
 APPLYING EXTRA WATER to the surface of the concrete, or
 STOPPING water loss from the concrete.
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 Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

Effect of curing temperature

Hydration reactions between cement and water are temperature dependent
and rate of reaction increases with curing temperature

At early ages, rate of strength gain increases with curing temperature

(higher temperatures increases rate of reaction, thus more C-S-H and
gel is produced at earlier times, achieving a higher gel/space ratio and
thus higher strength)

At later ages, higher strength are obtained from concrete cured at lower
temperatures.
(C-S- H gel is more rapidly produced at higher temperature
and is less uniform and hence weaker than produced at
lower temperatures)
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 Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate (C-S-H) gel

• The C-S-H gel is not only the most abundant reaction

product, occupying about 50% of the paste volume, but it is
also responsible for most of the engineering properties of
cement paste.
•This is not because it is an intrinsically strong or stable phase
(it isn't!) but because it forms a continuous layer that binds
together the original cement particles into a cohesive whole.
•All the other hydration products form as discrete crystals that
are intrinsically strong but do not form strong connections to
the solid phases they are in contact with and so cannot
contribute much to the overall strength.
•The ability of the C-S-H gel to act as a binding phase arises
from its nanometer-level structure.
 Properties of Fresh Concrete (Cont.)

Curing methods
1. Spraying surface of concrete with water
2. Protecting exposed surfaces from wind and sun by
windbreaks and sunshades
3. Covering surfaces with wet hessian and/or polythene sheets
4. Applying a curing membrane, a spray-applied resin seal, to
the exposed surface to prevent moisture loss

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Compressive Strength
Strength
 fc' (required 28 day compressive strength)
 fcr' (actual average 28-day strength of mixture)
 fc (compressive strength of concrete)
fcr' is based on field records and laboratory
results
 variations in materials
 variations in mixing times and methods
 variations in transportation time and methods
 variations in the preparation of test cylinders
Strength (7 day)

I > 19.3 MPa (2800 psi)

II > 17.2 MPa (2500 psi)
III > 24.1 MPa (3500 psi @ 3 days)
Type III - High Early Type IV - Low Heat of Hydration

Type I - Normal Type I - Normal

Compressive Strength
Concrete - Hardened
Properties
Strength Gain
 Normal strength concrete 7-day fc is 60-
70% of the 28-day for Type I
 3-day fc is about 50% of the 7 day.
 Type III may have 3-day fc of 60-70% of
the 28-day
 Moist cured concrete gains faster than air
dried
 Steam curing is fastest, but......
Concrete - Hardened
Properties
Flexural Strength: Measure of cracking
strength.
 (pavement and slabs on grade
applications)
 Flexural Strength is generally 7.5 - 10 fc'
Shear Strength 20% of compressive
strength
Improperly consolidated Concrete
3.5. TYPE OF CONCRETE FOR STRUCTURAL USE

- Mass concrete
- Normal reinforced concrete - Beam behavior and cracking
- Pre-stressed concrete
- Mechanics of pre-stressing
- Pre-tensioned and post-tensioned profile of pre-stressing bars
- Casting of a concrete wall

- Casting of a floor and roof framing system

 Prestressing
Theory: “Place all the concrete of the member in
compression” (take advantage of concrete’s compressive
strength of the entire member)
Advantages:
- Increase the load carrying
capacity
- Increase span length, or
- Reduce the member’s size
 Prestressing - Pretensioning
 Pretensioning
– Prior to concrete placement
– Generally performed
– at a plant - WHY???
Prestressing - Posttensioning
– Cables positioned prior to concrete placement
– Stressed after concrete placement (& curing)
– Generally performed
at the jobsite
Large Conduits for Placement of
Post Tensioning Cables on a Bridge
 Casting A Concrete Wall
(cont)
 Layout, Install one side, anchor, & brace
 Coat w/ Form Release
 Elevated Framing Systems

 One-Way System
– Spans across parallel lines of
support furnished by walls
and/or beams

 Two-Way System
– Spans supports running in
both directions
One-Way Slab & Beam
 Two-Way Flat Slab

 Flat slab w/ reinforcing beams

Flat
Plate

Drop Panel

 With, or w/o Capitals or drop panels Drop Panel w/

Capital
Two-Way Waffle Slab