Arc C.

Villanueva
Engr. Geffren Bernardo
BCE 323-5048

ASSIGNMENT 1

Problem 1.1 Name several of the admixtures that are used in concrete mixes.
What is the purpose of each?

-Air-entraining admixtures, conforming to the requirements of ASTM C260

and C618, are generally used to improve the resistance of concrete to freezing and
thawing as well as to offer improved resistance to the degradation of desiccating salts.

-Concrete's early strength development can be sped up by mixing in

accelerating admixtures like calcium chloride.

-Retarding Admixtures are employed to postpone temperature increases and

slow the setting of the concrete. For large pours where there could be significant
temperature spikes, retarding admixtures are very helpful. They also extend the
concrete's flexibility, which improves the bonding or blending of subsequent pours. In
order to create appealing exposed aggregate finishes, retarders can also be used to
decrease the hydration of cement on exposed concrete surfaces or formed surfaces.

-Superplasticizers are admixtures created from organic sulfonates. Engineers

can utilize them to significantly lower the water content of concretes while also raising
their slumps.

-Waterproofing materials usually are incorporated into concrete mixes or

applied on hardened concrete surfaces. They might assist slow down water seepage
into porous concretes, but they probably don't accomplish much for dense, properly
cured concretes.
Problem 1.2 What is Poisson’s ratio, and where can it be of significance in
concrete work?
-A concrete cylinder that has been compressed extends laterally in addition to
shortening in length. The Poisson's ratio is the ratio of this lateral expansion to the
longitudinal shortening. Its value ranges from 0.11 for stronger concretes to as high as
0.21 for weaker-grade concretes, with an average value of roughly 0.16.

The speed of propagation and reflection of stress waves is influenced by the

Poisson's ratio of a material. The Poisson's ratio value makes it simple to determine
how a concrete specimen bulges under compressive force and a material's capacity
for strain.

Problem 1.3 What factors influence the creep of concrete?

• The amount of creep will decrease the longer the concrete cures before
loads are applied. In addition to quickening strengthening, steam curing
will help lessen creep.
• When pressured at the same values, higher-strength concretes exhibit
less creep than lower-strength concretes. Although applied stresses for
stronger concretes are likely to be higher than for weaker concretes, this
fact tends to lead to increasing creep.
• Higher temperatures cause more creep. When the concrete is between
150- and 160-degrees F, it is at its greatest temperature.
• The amount of free pore water that can escape from the concrete will be
reduced in proportion to the relative humidity. At 50% relative humidity,
creep is nearly twice as big as it is at 100%. The distinction between
shrinkage and creep is obviously rather complex.
• Concretes with the highest cement-water paste content exhibit the
greatest creep because the paste, not the aggregate, creeps. If a
limestone aggregate is used, this is especially true.
• Steel exhibits relatively low creep at normal pressures, therefore adding
reinforcement to the compression zones of concrete will undoubtedly
significantly minimize creep. The reinforcing will block creep as it tends
to happen in the concrete and take on an increasing amount of weight.
 • In comparison to smaller, thinner members where the free water must
travel greater distances to escape, large concrete members (i.e., those
with significant volume-to-surface area ratios) will creep proportionately
less.

Problem 1.4 What steps can be taken to reduce creep?

There are three standard methods for preventing creep in metal. One method
is to utilize metals with higher melting points, another is to employ materials with larger
grains, and a third is to use alloying. In high temperatures, body-centered cubic (BCC)
metals are less creep resistant.

Problem 1.5 What is the effect of creep in reinforced concrete columns that are
subjected to axial compression loads?

Concrete will continue to distort over time when subjected to prolonged

compressive loads. Following the initial distortion, there is further deformation known
as creep or plastic flow. An immediate or instantaneous elastic shortening takes place
when a compressive load is applied to a concrete member. The member will keep
getting shorter if the load is left in place for a long time. The final distortion will typically
be two to three times greater than the original deformation after a period of time.

Problem 1.6 Why is silica fume used in high-strength concrete? What does it
do?

The extremely fine powder known as silica fume, which is more than 90%
silicon dioxide, can range in hue from light to dark gray and even blue green-gray. It
is produced as a byproduct in electric arc furnaces together with metallic silicon and a
number of other silicon alloys. Both powder and liquid forms are offered. Silica fume
can make up anywhere between 5% and 30% of the cement's weight in a mix.
When employed in concrete mixes, silica fume, a pozzolan (a siliceous
substance with no inherent cementing properties), reacts with the calcium hydroxide
in the cement to create a cementitious compound. There are many pozzolans that can
be utilized successfully in concrete. The density and strength of the concrete are
increased when silica fume is utilized. The ultrafine silica fume particles that are
scattered between the cement particles are what have caused these improvements.

Problem 1.7 Why do the surfaces of reinforcing bars have rolled-on

deformations?

Bars or welded wire fabric may be utilized as reinforcement for concrete

constructions. Plain or deformed reinforcing bars are used. For practically all
applications, deformed bars are utilized, which have ribbed projections rolled onto their
surfaces (with varying patterns depending on the manufacturer) to improve the
bonding between the steel and concrete. The distorted wire has indentations forced
into it rather than deformations that have been rolled on. Except for wrapping around
longitudinal bars, plain bars are mainly employed in columns.

Problem 1.8 What are “soft metric” reinforcing bars?

Problem 1.9 What are three factors that influence the magnitude of the
earthquake load on a structure?
• Given that seismic loads function differently and are not proportional to
the exposed surface of the building, but rather to how the building's mass
is distributed above the specific level under consideration.
 • Another factor to be considered in seismic design is the soil condition
• It is clear that structures are indirectly loaded by earthquakes. Because
the structures are attached to the ground, they are also vibrated and the
earth is moved. As a result, the structures experience a variety of
deformations and stresses.

Problem 1.10 Why are epoxy-coated bars sometimes used in the construction
of reinforced concrete?
Concrete exposed to corrosive circumstances, such as exposure to de-icing
solutions or maritime settings, is reinforced with epoxy-coated rebar. To reinforce the
concrete and prevent corrosion, epoxy-coated rebar is utilized in place of regular
reinforcing bars. Prior to shipping, the coating is put on the steel in a factory.

Problem 1.11 What is the diameter and cross-sectional area of a #5 reinforcing

bar?
The diameter of bar no. 5 is 0.625 in. and its cross-sectional area is 0.31 in2.