ARTB01

ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING MATERIALS

RESEARCH NO. 1
CONCRETE AND CONCRETE PRODUCTS/MATERIALS

In partial fulfilment for the requirement in the degree of Bachelor of Science

In Architecture

Submitted to:

Ar. REYMAR G. BURLUNGAN

Submitted by:

CORDIAL, CHARLES GODWIN T.

BSA – 1A
CONCRETE
During the Prehistoric Period, it is said by the archeologists that the huts’ floor made by the
people during that time were made of a mixture of red lime, sand, and gravel.

As for the Roman Empire, concrete is made from quicklime, pozzolanic ash/pozzolana, and a
pumice aggregate.

In other periods, crude cements are made by crushing and burning gypsum or limestone. Lime
also refers to crushed, burned limestone. When sand and water were added to these cements,
they became mortar, which was a plaster-like material used to adhere stones to each other.

CEMENTING MATERIALS

1.) Lime
- This material is one among the oldest building materials used as a mortar and plaster
by all the early civilizations.
- It is produced by the calcination of limestone (carbonates of magnesium and
magnesium).

TYPES OF LIME

1.) Quicklime – a burnt limestone, calcium oxide (CaO).

NOTE: Not for single compound use, it needs to have more element to be
mixed before usage.
2.) Hydrated lime (slaked) - mixed with water to make lime putty.

2.) Gypsum
- Was used as a plaster by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.
- As a plaster, it is believed to be combined with fiber or hair for greater cohesiveness.

Photo 1 – Quicklime Photo 2 – Hydrated lime Photo 3 – Gypsum

3.) Cement
- First developed by the Romans by mixing slaked lime with pozzolana (volcanic ash)
which hardened under water.
WHAT IS CONCRETE?

If we would ask what concrete is, the main answer we always have is that it is the most commonly
used and important material in the construction and engineering industry.

This material is used in the following but not limited to:

1.) footings and foundations 7.) pavements

2.) both interior and exterior walls, 8.) concrete pipe
retaining walls 9.) mass concrete for dam
3.) columns 10.) structural pre-cast concrete
4.) beams 11.) pre-cast concrete specialties
5.) slabs on grade and elevated slabs 12.) decorative items
6.) stairs

Specifically, when a concrete is strengthened by any steel, it is called reinforced concrete while
without reinforcement is just plain concrete.

This material is normally mixed in the construction site where it is placed in form of its desired
shape (formwork).

One must remember that concrete should be (a) strong, (b) durable, (c) versatile, and is (d)
uniform in quality.
(a) the state or quality of being strong.
(b) the ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage.
(c) allows to adapt to many different situations.
(d) balance in its composition

COMPONENTS OF CONCRETE

1.) Cement (specifically Portland Cement)

- Aspdin, an English bricklayer and mason, invented and patented Portland cement.
- Portland cement is the most common cement used and is obtained by finely
pulverizing clinker produced by calcining a proportioned mixture of:

Silica 18% - 25% Iron Oxide 3% - 5%

Alumina 3% - 8% Magnesia 2% - 5%
Lime 1.6% - 65% Sulfur Trioxide 1% - 5%

TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT

1.) slow-setting cement

2.) quick-setting high early strength cement
3.) sulfate-resisting cement for applications
where alkaline water and soils occur
4.) white cement (or stainless cement which
is free of iron impurities).
(Refer to Classification of Portland Cement) Photo 4 – Ordinary Portland Cement
CLASSIFICATION OF PORTLAND CEMENT

This type of Portland Cement is

suitable to all uses in which
Normal
TYPE I special properties of the other
(General Purpose)
types of Portland cement is not
required.
It is used where protection against
moderate sulfate attack is
necessary.

This cement used in normal

structures or elements that are
exposed to soil or ground waters
where sulfate concentrations are
higher than the normal. In this
type, the sulfate is not usually
severe. For large piers & massive
TYPE II Moderate walls.

It contains no more than 8%

tricalcium aluminate.

Tricalcium aluminate - this

liberates a lot of heat during the
early stages of hydration, but has
little strength contribution. Gypsum
slows down the hydration rate of
C3A. Cement low in C3A is sulfate
resistant.
A Portland Cement that provides
strength at an earlier period than the
normally expected time.

Has an increase in tricalcium

silicate.

Tricalcium silicate - this

compound hydrates and hardens
High Early rapidly. It is largely responsible for
TYPE III
Strength Portland cement’s initial set and
early strength gain.

In terms of its physical appearance,

this cement is having been ground
finer. This is used when
formworks need to be removed
as soon as possible or in cold
weather that permits a reduction in
length of curing period.
 This cement is used where the rate
and amount of heat generated
from hydration must be
minimized. It develops strength at
a slower rate (contrary to TYPE III).

Reduced content of tricalcium

silicate and an increased content of
TYPE IV Low Heat dicalcium silicate.

Dicalcium Silicate - C2S hydrates

and hardens slowly. It is largely
responsible for strength gain after
one week.

Good for massive structures like

dams.
Is used in concrete exposed in
severe sulfate environments. It
gains more strength than TYPE I.
TYPE V Sulfate Resisting The high sulfate resistance is
attributed to a low tricalcium
aluminate content, not more than
5%.
A Type I, Type II, or Type Ill Portland
cement to which a small quantity
of an air entraining agent has
Air-Entraining Portland Cement been inter-ground during
manufacture; designated by the
suffix A, as in Type IA, Type IIA, or
Type IllA.
A Portland cement produced from
raw materials law in iron oxide
and manganese oxide, the
substances that give concrete its
White Portland Cement gray color; used in precast
concrete work and in the making of
terrazzo, stucco, glass fiber precast
concrete facing panels, cement
paint, and tile grout.
 CLASSES OF CONCRETE APPLICATIONS

CEMENT MINIMUM REQUIRED

ULTIMATE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH WATER
CLASS PROPORTION SAND GRAVEL STRENGTH [US Gallons / 94lbs USES
40KG 50 KG CYLINDER CUBE (40kg) Cement]
(94lbs) (110lbs) [h=2h] [150mm X 150mm X 150mm]
Pre-Stressed and Post-
AAA 1:1:2 Tensioned
Underwater retaining
AA 1 : 1.5 : 3 12 9.5 0.5 1 4000 2400 2800 wall, shear wall and
elevator core walls
Footings, pier, columns,
A 1:2:4 9 7 0.5 1 3500 2000 2400 5 girders, beams,
joists and slabs
Slabs on fill and non-load
B 1 : 2.5 : 5 7.5 6 0.5 1 3000 1600 2000 5.75 bearing wall or
4” CHB
Concrete plant boxes
C 1:3:6 6 5 0.5 1 2500 1300 1600 6.5 and parapet walls
Plant boxes, footpaths,
D 1 : 3.5 : 7 5 4 0.5 1 2000 1000 1200 7 walkway and lean
concrete

Interpretation:

Example of Class “A” mix: One part cement is to two parts sand plus four parts gravel. (1:2:4)

2.) Water
- The water in the concrete mix should be clean and free of impurities.
- Water combines with the cement to form a paste which coats and surrounds the inert particles of aggregates.
- Upon hardening, it binds the entire mass together.
- The amount of water relative to the amount of cement changes how easily the concrete flows, but also affects the final
strength of the concrete.
- More water makes for easier flowing concrete, but also makes for lower strength concrete upon curing.

WATER-CEMENT RATIO

- The water-cement ratio is the amount of water used per bag of cement.
- This usually varies from 5 to 7 gallons (corresponds to concrete applications), with 6.5 gallons as average for ordinary
job conditions.
- The less water used in mixing, the better the quality of concrete.
 WATER – CEMENT RATIO
Assumed 28-day Maximum water-cement ratio
Pounds of water per 100 lbs.
Compressive strength U.S. gallons of water per sack
of cement
(lbs. per sq. inch) Cement of 94 lbs.
2000 7.00 62.0
2500 6.50 57.5
3000 5.75 51.0
3750/3500 5.00 44.5

3.) Aggregates
- inert mineral fillers used with cement and water in making concrete, should be
particles that are durable strong, clean, hard and uncoated.
- free from injurious number of dusts, lumps, soft and flaky particles, shale, alkali,
organic matter loam or other deleterious substances.

TYPES OF AGGREGATES

1.) Fine Aggregates

- (aggregates smaller than 6mm (¼”) in size) consist of sand, stone
screenings or other inert materials of similar characteristics.
- Specifications: 80 to 95% shall pass a No. 4 wire cloth sieve and not
more than 30% nor less than 10% shall pass a No. 50 sieve.

2.) Coarse Aggregates

- (aggregate larger than ¼” in size) consists of crushed stones, gravel
or other inert materials of similar characteristics.
- Specifications: should be well graded in size to a size which will readily
pass between all reinforcing bars and between reinforcement and forms
but not exceed 25mm (1”) in size for reinforced beams, floor slabs, & thin
walls.
- They may range up to 50mm (2”) for less highly reinforced parts of the
structures such as footings, thick walls, and massive work.

Photo 5 – Fine Aggregates Photo 6 – Coarse Aggregates

4.) Concrete Additives/Admixtures
- can be added to the concrete during the mixing process to change its characteristics.
- his is to maximize the potential of concrete and provide flexibility for its use in a variety
of environments and situations.

TYPES OF ADDITIVES/ADMIXTURES

1.) Concrete Hardeners

- It is a permanent, transparent sealer that is protecting underlying
concrete to be damaged from chemicals and contaminants.
- It acts as a strong adhesive for different floor coverings and surface treatments.
- It prevents newly poured concrete from curling, a distortion of a slab into a
curved shape by upward or downward bending of the edges.

TYPES OF HARDENERS

1.) Chemical Hardeners

- liquids containing silicoflouride or fluosilicates and acting
agent which reduces the surface tension of the liquid and allows it
to penetrate the pores of the concrete more easily.
- It permanently increases the abrasion, impact and wear resistance
of concrete with high volumes of pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic.

2.) Metallic Aggregates

- are specially processed and graded iron which are dry-mixed
with Portland Cement.
- The material is broadcast onto and worked into the surface of
wet concrete.

Photo 7 – Branded Chemical Hardener Photo 8 – Metallic Aggregates

2.) Bonding Agents
- are used in concrete where there is a requirement to join the old and the
new concrete surfaces. It is also used to join the surfaces between the
successive concrete layers.
- Bonding agents usually cause entrainment of air and have a sticky consistency
in a mixture. They are effective only on dry, clean and sound surfaces.

CHARACTERISTICS OF BONDING AGENTS

1.) It provides excellent adhesion and workability.

2.) It enhances the tensile, flexural and bond strength of the concrete as
well as mortar.
3.) It also reduces the permeability of the concrete.
4.) It reduces the risk of cracking.
5.) It increases the resistance against frost and various other chemical.
6.) It enables easy use and application.

TYPES OF BONDING AGENTS

1.) Latex Emulsions

- most commonly used as the oil-in-water type emulsions in
cementitious compositions.
- These emulsions contain more than 50% water in some
compositions.
- Some have a greater degree of water resistance in comparison with
the others.

TYPES OF LATEX EMULSIONS

1.) Acrylic Latex

- Acrylic latex is milky white in color and consists of 45% solid
content in it.
- The primary use of this type of latex is bonding fresh
concrete to the old concrete.
- It can be applied by a brush, broom, spray, roller as
adhesive or trowel as a topping.
2.) Styrene Butadiene (SBR)
- is a co-polymer which is compatible with the cementitious
compounds.
- They are primarily used for bonding fresh concrete to the old
concrete and thin layer toppings. Additionally, they can be
used as a plaster bond within 45-60 minutes.
3.) Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA)
- used for the repair applications in the construction industry.
- They are non-re-emulsifiable and emulsifiable.
- The non-re-emulsifiable forms a thin film that offers great
water resistance, aging characteristics and ultraviolet
stability. Tare also used as a binder for cementitious water-
based paints and waterproofing coatings.
 - emulsifiable polyvinyl acetate latex (PVA) produce a film
which can be softened and rewetted with water, if required.
This type of latex permits application of the film way before
the application of a water-based overlay.

2.) Epoxy Resin

- most ideal resin for high performance and lightweight parts.
- It has a great bonding capability and wets out fast.
- Epoxy resins are widely used in the construction field because of
their high compressive strength, strong adhesion, chemical
resistance and other unique properties.

Photo 9 – Latex Emulsion Photo 10 – Epoxy Resin with one sample brand

3.) Cement Accelerators

- to achieve early strength gain and early setting.
- In relation to the first statement, winter weather also has an effect on concrete
placement, as low temperatures may cause a notable reduction in concrete
cure times making accelerators suitable for use.
- best known and most widely used accelerator is calcium chloride.

Photo 10 – Insertion of cement accelerators on cement mix

 4.) Cement Retarders
- set-reducing or retarding admixtures can be incorporated to slow down the
curing process and provide a normal period of workability and uniform
cohesiveness of the concrete mix significantly during hot weather.
- We use retarders since during hot weather, the elevated temperatures cause
the concrete to cure at an increased rate and begin to set up relatively quickly,
which results in problems in workability and also results in shrinkage cracking.

5.) Air-Entraining Admixtures

- provide extensive protection against freezing, by creating an internal buffer
within the concrete that allows it to contract without immediately resulting in
breakage.

6.) Inert Materials

- are added to improve workability, used as per manufacturer’s directions.
- Hydrated lime is usually in the proportion of 10 to 15% of the cement by
volume.

7.) Waterproofing (permeability-reducing) Compounds

- reduce the capillary attraction of the voids in the concrete or mortar, but while
it may decrease water absorption of the concrete or mortar, it does not render
concrete waterproof.
- manufactured from stearic acid or its compounds, mainly calcium stearate,
and include asphalt emulsions. They are introduced usually in the amounts of
0.1 to 4.0% of the weight of cement.

8.) Coloring Pigments

- Dry-cast, broadcast or dust-on, for surface coloring.
- Integral colors, for body coloring. Integral color pigments are incorporated in
the mortar topping.

CONCRETE SLUMP TEST

Used for measuring the consistency of a concrete mix.

Consistency may be defined as the “state of fluidity of the mix”, and it includes the entire range
of fluidity from the wettest to the dry possible mixtures.

THE METAL CONE

The tendency of a mix to “slump”, or reduce its height due to gravity action, is measured.
The apparatus consists of metal cone having:
(a) the bottom opening being 200mm (8”) in diameter
(b) the top opening being 100mm (4”)
(c) the height exactly 300mm (12”).
 Photo 11 – the metal cone and measuring the slump

MAKING THE SLUMP TEST

1.) The slump tester is placed on a flat, smooth surface and is filled with newly mixed
concrete from mixer.
2.) In filling the mold with concrete, the latter is tamped in with a 12mm (½”) rod pointed
at one end and the top of the concrete is smoothed off exactly level.
3.) The mold is then slowly raised vertically and the height deducted from the original
height of 300mm (12”) represents the slump.

TYPES OF SLUMP

Perfect mix Too dry Too wet Bleeding

Photo 12 – Types of Slump

The following table gives the permissible slump for various types of concrete in relation to their
uses:

PERMISSIBLE SLUMP CONSISTENCY

DESCRIPTION MAXIMUM MINIMUM

Slabs, beams, thin reinforced walls & bldg. columns 150mm (6”) 75mm (3”)
Reinforced foundation walls and footings 125mm (5”) 50mm (2”)

Plain Footings, caisson, and substructure walls 100mm (4”) 25mm (1”)

Pavements and floor laid on ground 75mm (3”) 25mm (1”)

Heavy mass construction 75mm (3”) 25mm (1”)
CONCRETE MATERIALS

1.) Concrete Pavements

- a concrete layer that is in contact with traffics directly and it is used for different
purposes and applications.
2.) Colored Concrete
- combine with stamped concrete finishing and exposed aggregate concrete finishing
3.) Cast-In-Place Concrete
- slab-on-grade is an economical and durable structure, suitable for a variety of floors
and foundations. The slabs are usually reinforced, and various types of joints are
used to control cracking due to shrinkage of the concrete.
4.) Structural Concrete
- reinforced with steel and can be cast in place as a beam, column, girder, joist, slab
or other structural member.
5.) Architectural Concrete
- an exposed concrete that has an aesthetically pleasing, finished appearance.
6.) Underwater Placed Concrete
- Mixtures for underwater concrete are designed for a continuous pour and prevention
of cement washout.
7.) Specialty Placed Concrete
- Offer economic advantages in terms of site preparation, the need for accessories and
equipment, and reduced labor costs.
8.) Shotcrete
- does not require formwork and can be reinforced with steel rods, mesh or fibers.
9.) Precast Concrete
- is a form of concrete that is prepared, cast and cured off-site, usually in a controlled
factory environment, using reusable molds.
10.) Precast Structural Concrete
- has a dull, gray appearance that is commonly concealed behind finishes.
- It is reinforced with steel and produced for use as beams, columns, girders, joists,
hollow core planks, stairs and slabs.
11.) Precast Architectural Concrete
- a product that is cast in a controlled environment, delivered to a site and lifted into
place.
- exposed concrete product that has an aesthetically pleasing, finished appearance.
12.) Tilt-Up Concrete
- or tilt-up construction wall panels are concrete walls that are cast in forms on a cured
slab next to their intended location, allowed to cure and then tilted up, into place.
- A crane is used to hoist or tilt the wall panel from its horizontal position into the
intended vertical position.
13.) Porous Concrete Pavements
- with permeability high enough to allow water to readily pass through and significantly
influence hydrology, rooting habitat, and other environmental factors.
14.) Concrete Pipes
- are durable and resist rust and fire.
15.) Concrete Hollow Block (CHB)
- is a hollow masonry unit, with two or three cells or cores, made of the following
ingredients: water, Portland cement, and various types of aggregate such as sand,
gravel, and crushed stone.
 - Standard CHB sizes are from:

thicknesses of 100mm (4”) for non-load bearing partitions;

150mm (6”) for load bearing walls; and,
200mm (8”) for heavier load bearing loads

x height of 200mm (8”) x length of 400mm (16”).

- CHB of 100mm (4”) thickness should be used only for interior partition walls where
weather-tightness is not required.

TYPES OF CONCRETE HOLLOW BLOCKS

WEB

CELL

FACE SHELL
 Photo 13.1. – Concrete Hollow Blocks

developed for a wide variety of

TABLE 1 Typical CHB Unit
applications

TABLE 2 Special CHB Unit developed for specific wall applications

TABLE 3 Energy Efficiency CHB Unit designed to increase energy efficiency

dampens sound, thus improving the noise

TABLE 4 Acoustical CHB Unit
reduction attributes of an interior space

Photo 13.2. – Concrete Hollow Blocks

- the quantity of CHB required per sq.m. is equal to area to be filled divided by the area
of CHB = 1 sqm / (0.8m2) = 12.5 CHB, approx. 13 CHB (16"x8"x8).
 BRAND PRICE
MATERIAL BRIEF MATERIAL DESCRIPTION PHOTO TYPES/CLASSIFICATION SIZES
(Philippine Based) RANGES

Holcim P195.00

Kaito P170.00

Conch P169.00

Cemex P205.00

Champion P200.00
It is a binding agent that can be
Portland
used to stick various building Republic P265.00
Cement
materials together.
Barako 40KG P184.00

Vincem Type 1 P175.00

Eagle P260.00

Island P230.00

Star Cement P175.00

Aalborg White P675.00

is similar to ordinary, gray SCG P690.00
White
Portland cement in all aspects
Portland
except for its high degree of
Cement Chichibu 1KG P55.00
whiteness.
Novtek 2KG 55.00

providing bulk, strength and

stability to other materials such as PER
Sand N/A N/A P90
asphalt, concrete, mortar, render, SACK
cement, and screed.
 along with sand, is used for the
manufacture of concrete, as well PER
Gravel N/A N/A P180
as for mixing with asphalt as part SACK
of road construction.

4” P14.00

Concrete are used as substitutes for

Hollow traditional bricks in building N/A N/A 5” P18.00
Blocks construction.

6” P21.00

1KG P166.75

made of hardened steel and have AA Hardware 75MM

Concrete
fluted shafts that help them sink 100G P39.50
Nails
into the concrete.

N/A 1” – 4” 100G P80.00

Low Viscosity Set 3.5L P975

Buildrite

high compressive strength, strong 3.5L P765.00

Concrete
adhesion, chemical resistance High Viscosity Set
Epoxy
and other unique properties. 1L P999.00
Pioneer
High / Low Viscosity
4L P3,330.00
Set
 Dust Proofer Surface
Buildrite Hardener and Sealing 20KG P5.,945.00
Compound

Novtek Surface Coating 4L P327.50

Bronco Concrete Primer Sealer 4L P360.00

protect the concrete from weather
Concrete
exposure, water, grease and oil Matte 1L P720.00
Sealer
stains, abrasion and deicing salts.
PYE Slate-Seal
Gloss 5L P3,400.00

16L P2,067.70
Megacryl Concrete
Davies
Primer & Sealer White
4L P629.00

Concrete-based
Thoroseal 10LBS P567.000
Waterproof Coating

4KG P838.00
Plexibond Cementitious
Boysen
Waterproofing Paint
4L P758.00

penetrate down into the pours of

Concrete
the concrete and the protective Novtek N/A 25KG P2,346.24
Waterproofer
layer will form.

Buildrite Crystor - Crystalline 5KG P645.00

Semi Flexible
Mortaseal 20KG P1,505.60
Waterproofing

SEAL-Krete N/A 1GAL P2,999.00

 Castle N/A 10L P3449.80

Deck Waterproofing
Primero 4KG P1,680
Membrane

Watershield N/A 1KG P50.00