CHAPTER (5)

Q; What are the factors affecting the workability of concrete?

A; It is apparent that workability depends on a number of interacting factors:

water content, aggregate type and grading, aggregate/cement ratio, presence of
admixtures and fineness of cement. The main factor is the water content of the mix
since by simply adding water the interparticle lubrication is increased. However, to
achieve optimum conditions for minimum voids, or for maximum density with no
segregation, the influence of the aggregate type and grading has to be considered. For
example, finer particles require more water to wet their larger specific surface, whilst
the regular shape and rougher texture of an angular aggregate demand more water
than a rounded aggregate. The porosity or absorption of the aggregate is also
important since some mixing water will be removed from that required for lubrication
of the particles.

Lightweight aggregate tends to lower the workability. In fact, workability is

governed by the volumetric proportions of particles of different sizes, so that when
aggregates of varying specific gravity are used.

For a constant water/cement ratio, the workability increases as the

aggregate/cement ratio is reduced because the amount of water relative to the total
surface of solids is increased.

A rather high ratio of volumes of coarse aggregate to fine aggregate can result
in segregation and in a lower workability, so that the mix is harsh and not easily
finished. Conversely, too many fines lead to a higher workability, but such an
oversanded mix makes less durable concrete. Fineness of cement is of minor
influence on workability but the finer the cement the greater the water demand.

There are two other factors which affect workability: time and temperature.
Freshly mixed concrete stiffens with time but this should not be confused with the
setting of cement. It is simply that some of the mixing water is absorbed by the
aggregate, some is lost by evaporation and some is removed by initial chemical
reactions. The stiffening of concrete is effectively measured by a loss of workability
with time, known as slump loss which varies with richness of the mix, type of cement,
temperature of concrete and initial workability. Some time after mixing, it is
preferable to delay the appropriate test until 15 minutes after mixing.

A higher temperature reduces the workability and increases the slump loss. In
practice, when the ambient conditions are unusual, it is best to make actual site tests
in order to determine the workability of the mix.