IRC:SP:70-2005

GUIDELINES FOR THE

USE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE
CONCRETE IN BRIDGES

THE INDIAN ROADS CONGRESS

2005
 IRC:SP:70-2005

GUIDELINES FOR THE

USE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE
CONCRETE IN BRIDGES

Published by

THE INDIAN ROADS CONGRESS

Kama Koti Marg,
Sector 6, R.K. Puram,
New Delhi - 110 022
2005
Price Rs.I60/-
^^^"'^^'^W^g* Postage)
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{racking oc ruMu^^ ^ ,
IRC:SP:70-2005

First Published : November 2005

Reprinted : December, 2008

(The Rights of Publication and of Translation are reserved)

(The official amendments to this document would be published by the IRC

in its periodical, 'Indian Highways', which shall be considered as
effective and as part of the code/guidelines/manual, etc. from the
Date specified therein)

Printed at Options Printofast, 46, Patparganj Ind. Area, Delhi-1 10 092

(500 copies)
 IRC:SP:70~2005

CONTENTS
Personnel of the Bridges Specifications and Standards Committee (i) & (ii)
1. Introduction 1

2. Scope 1

3. Terminology 2

4. Materials 4

5. Basic Permissible Stresses in Concrete 6

6. References 6
 Digitized by tlie Internet Archive
in 2014

Iittps://arcliive.org/details/govlawircy2005sp70
 ) 1

lRC:SP:70-2005
PERSONNEL OF THE BRIDGES SPECIFICATIONS AND
STANDARDS COMMITTEE
(As on 20-12-2004)

1. Velayutham, V. Addl. Director General, Ministiy of Shipping, Road Transport

( Convenor) & Highways, New Delhi

2. Sinha, V.K. Chief Engineer, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport &

(Co-Convenor) Highway, New Delhi

3. Dhodapkar, A.N. Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, New Dellii
Chief Engineer (B) S&R
( Member-Secretary

Members
4. Agrawal, K.N. C-33, Chandra Nagar, Ghaziabad-201 01
5. Ahmed, S. Secretary to the Govt, of Meghalaya PWD, Shillong
6. Alimchandani, C.R. Chairman & Managing Director, STUP Consultants Ltd.,
Mumbai
7. Banerjee, A.K. B-210, (SE), Chitranjan Park, New Delhi
8. Basa, Ashok Director (Tech.) B. Engineers & Builders Ltd., Bhubaneswar
9. Bhasin, P.C. ADG (B), MOST (Retd.) 324, Mandakini Enclave, New Delhi
10. Chakraborty, S.S. Managing Director, Consulting Engg. Services (I) Pvt. Ltd.,
New Delhi
11. Gupta, K.K. House No.1149, Sector 19, Faridabad
12. Jambekar, A.R. Chief Engineer & General Manager (Tech.) CIDCO, NAVI
Mumbai
13. Jain, S.K. Director & Head, Civil Engg. Department, Bureau of Indian
Standards, New Delhi
14. Kaushik, S.K. Chairman, Estate & Works & Coordinator (TIF AC-CORE)
IIT, Roorkee
15. Kand, C.V. Consultant, Bhopal

16. Koshi, Ninan DG (RD) & Addl. Secy., MOST (Retd.), H-54, Residency
Green, Gurgaon
17. Kumar, Prafulla DG (RD) & AS, MORT&H (Retd.) D-86, Sector-56, Noida

18. Manjure, P.Y. Director, Freyssinet Prestressed Concrete Co. Ltd., Mumbai
19. Merani, N.V. Principal Secy., Maharashtra PWD (Retd.), Mumbai
20. Muklierjee, M.K. 40/ 1 82, Chitranj an Park, New Delhi
21. Narain, A.D. Director General (Road Dev.) & Addl. Secretary, MOST
(Retd.) B-186, Sector-26, NOIDA
22. Puri, S.K. Chief Engineer, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and
Highways
23. Rajagopalan, N. Chief Technical Advisor, L&T-Ramboll Consulting Engg.
Ltd., Chennai
24. Rao, M.V.B. A-181, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi

(i)
IRC:SP:70-2005

25. Rao, T.N. Subba, Dr. Chairman, Construma Consultancy (P) Ltd., Mumbai
26. Reddi, S.A. Dy. Managing Director, Gammon India Ltd., Mumbai
27. Sharan, G. Member (T), National Highways Authority of India, New Delhi
28. Sinha,N.K. DG (RD) & SS, MORT&H (Retd.) G-1365, Ground Floor,
Chitranjan Park, New Delhi
29. Subramanian, R. Engineer-in-Chief, PWD, New Delhi

30. Tanihankar, M.G., Dr. BH-1/44, Kendriya Vihar Kharghar, Navi Mumbai
3 1 . Tandon, Mahesh Managing Director, Tandon Consultants (P) Ltd., New Delhi
32. Vijay, P.B. A-39/B, DDA Flats, Munirka, New Delhi
33. Director Highway Research Station, Chennai
34. Chief Engineer (NH) (Shri S.K. De) M.P. PWD, Bhopal
Planning & Budget
35. Addl. Director General HQ DGBR, Seema Sadak Bhavan, New Delhi
36. Chief Engineer (NH) U.P. PWD, Lucknow
37. Chief Engineer (NH) Chepauk, Chennai
38. Rep. of RDSO (R.K. Gupta) Executive Director (B&S) Bidges & Stmctures
Directt., RDSO, Lucknow

Ex-Officio Members

39. President, IRC (S.S. Momin), Secretary (R), Maharashtra PWD, Mumbai
40. Director General (Indu Prakash), Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport &
(Road Development) Highways, New Delhi

41. Secretary, IRC (R.S. Sharma), Indian Roads Congress, Kama Koti Marg,
Sector 6, R.K. Puram, New Delhi

Corresponding Members

1. Agarwal, M.K. Engineer-in-Chief, Haryana PWD (Retd.), Panchkula

2. Bhagwagar, M.K. Executive Director, Engg. Consultant Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

3. Chakraborti, A. Addi. Director General (TD), CPWD, New Delhi

4. Raina, V.K., Dr. B-13, Sector- 14, Noida

(ii)
 ) 8

IRC:SP:70-2005

GUroELINES FOR THE USE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE

CONCRETE IN BRIDGES

1. INTRODUCTIOxN 1.2. At its first meeting on 29* April, 2003, the

Committee felt that in the light of the massive

1.1. The Reinforced, Prestressed and Composite construction programme that was under
Concrete Committee (B-6) of the Indian Roads execution in the highway sector, it was necessary
Congress was reconstituted in 2003 with the to bring out guidelines on certain topics which
following personnel: were not adequately covered in the existing IRC
Codes and Standards. The guideline for the use
Ninan Koshi . . . Convenor of High Performance Concrete was one of the
Addl. DGBR ... Co-Convenor two topics selected. It was decided that the
T. Viswanathan . . . Member-Secretary guidlines would be generally in line with IRC: 1
and IRC:21 with additional inputs from BS:5400,
Members EURO and AASHTO codes, wherever
necessary.
Banerjee, A.K.
Bhowmick, Alok
1.3. The initial draft of the guidelines was
Dhodapkar, A.N.
prepared by Dr. A.K. Mullick. The draft was
Gupta, Vinay
discussed by the B-6 Committee at several
Haridas, G.R.
meetings and finalized in its meeting held on 3"^
Joglekar, S.G.
September, 2004. The draft document was
Kurian, Jose
approved by Bridges Specifications and Standards
Limaye, S D.
Committee in its meeting held on 2"''
December,
Muklierjee, M.K.
2004 and by Committee on 18*
the Executive
Mullick, Dr. A.K.
December, 2004. The document was considered
Rajagopalan Dr. N.
by IRC Council in its 173^'' meeting held on 8*
Saha, Dr. G.P.
January, 2005 in Bangalore and approved with
Sharma, R.S.
The required modifications
certain modifications.
Sinha, N.K.
were accordingly carried out by the Convenor B-
Thandavan, K.B.
6 Committee before sending the document for
CE (B) S&R, MOSRT&H publication.

Ex-Officio Members
2. SCOPE
President,IRC
(S.S. Momin) High Performance Concrete (HPC) can be
DG(RD), MOSRT&H used both in super and substructure of bridges.
(Indu Prakash The guidelines provide broad aspects for
Secretary, IRC production of HPC including mix design. The
(R.S. Sharma) guidelines on HPC should be read in conjunction
with relevant IS and IRC Specifications and Codes
Corresponding Members of practice, besides International Codes/
Basa, Ashok Guidelines on the same topic, to gain confidence
Kand, C.V. on its usage.

1
IRC:SP:70-2005

3. TERMINOLOGY may be used as part replacement of Ordinary

Portland Cement with the approval of the
3.1. High Performance Concrete competent authority. Uniform blending with
cement should be ensured by having
Concrete, whose ingredients, proportions dedicated facility and complete mechanised
and production methods are specifically chosen process control at the site to achieve specified
to meet special performance and uniformity quality.
requirements that cannot be always achieved
routinely by using only conventional materials, 4.2.1. Fly ash: Conforming to Grade I of IS:
like, cement, aggregates, water and chemical 3812-3. The proportion should not be less than
admixtures, and adopting normal mixing, placing 20 per cent, nor should exceed 35 per cent by mass
and curing practices. These performance of cement.
requirements can be high strength, high early
strength, high workability, low permeability and 4.2.2. Granulated Slag: Ground granulated
high durability for severe service environments, slag obtained by grinding granulated slag
etc. or combinations thereof. Production and use conforming to IS: 12089. The proportion should
of such concrete in the field necessitates high not be less than 50 per cent, nor should exceed 70
degree of uniformity between batches and very per cent by mass of cement.
stringent quality control.
4.2.3. Silica Fume: Silica fume is very fine,
4. MATERIALS non-crystalline SiO^, obtained as a by-product of
Silicon or Ferro-Silicon alloy industries. It should
4.1. Cement conform to IS: 15388.

Any of the types of cement as per Table 1 4.3. Admixtures

may be used with the approval of the competent
authority. Chemical admixtures and superplasticisers
conforming to IS:9103 may be used.
4,2. Mineral Admixtures Compatibility of the superplasticiser with the
cement and any other pozzolanic or hydraulic
Any of the following mineral admixtures additives as covered in Clause 4.2 being used,

Table 1. Types of Cement

S. No. Type Conforming to

1. Ordinary Portland Cement 43 Grade IS : 8112

2. Ordinary Portland Cement 53 Grade IS : 12269

3. Rapid Hardening Portland Cement IS : 8041

4. Sulphate Resistant Portland Cement IS : 12330

5. Low Heat Portland Cement IS : 12600

6. Portland Pozzolana Cement IS : 1489 - Part I

7. Portland Slag Cement IS : 455

Notes : (i) Use of Portland Pozzolana Cement may be peiinitted only in plain concrete members.
(ii) Under severe condition of Sulphate Content in subsoil water, special literature on precautions to be
taken with regard to the use of special types of cement with low C^A content may be referred to.
Durability criteria, like, minimum cement content and maximum water cement ratio, etc. should
also be given due consideration.

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 IRC:SP:70-2005

should be ensured by trials, so that the following 4.5. Water

problems are avoided.
Water should conform to provisions of
• Large dosage of superplasticiser required Clause 302.4 of IRC:2 1-2000.
to achieve the desired workability,

• Excessive retardation of setting, 4.6. Concrete

• Excessive entrainment of large air bubbles,

4.6.1. Strength grades of concrete: The
• Unusually rapid stiffening of concrete, concrete shall be in grades designated in Table 2,

• Rapid slump loss, and where the characteristic strength is defined as the
strength of concrete below which not more than
• Excessive segregation and bleeding.
5 per cent of test results are expected to fall.

4.4. Aggregates
Table 2. Characteristic Compressive Strength

4.4.1. General: All coarse and fine aggregates Grade Specified characteristic
shall conform to IS:383 and shall be tested as per designation compressive strength at
IS:2386 Parts I to VIII. 28 days (MPa)
M40 40
4.4.2. Coarse aggregate: Coarse aggregates M45 45
shall consist of clean, hard, strong, dense, non-
M50 50
porous, equi-dimensional (i.e., not much flaky or
elongated) and durable pieces of crushed stone,
M55 55

crushed gravel, natural gravel or a suitable M60 60

combination thereof. M65 65
M70 70
The maximum size of the coarse aggregate M75 75
should not be greater than; M80 80

• one quarter of the minimum thickness of 4.6.2. The Cement content of concrete,
the member, inclusive of any mineral admixtures, shall be not
less than 380 kg/ml
• 10 mm less than the minimum lateral

clear distance between individual

4.6.3. The Cement content excluding any
reinforcements,
mineral admixtures shall not exceed 450 kg/m^.
• 10 mm less than the minimum clear cover
to any reinforcement, 4.6.4. The water/(cement+all cementitious
• Nominal maximum size of aggregate materials) ratio should generally not exceed 0.33,
should not exceed 20mm. but in no case more than 0.40.

4.4.3. Fine aggregate: Fine aggregate shall 4.6.5. Workability: The concrete mix
consist of hard, strong, clean, durable particles of proportions chosen should be such that the
natural sand, crushed stone or crushed gravel. concrete is of adequate workability for placing
Suitable combinations of natural sand and crushed conditions and congestion of reinforcement, to
stone or crushed gravel can be permitted. They ensure proper placement without segregation or
shall not contain dust, lumps, soft or flaky honey combing, and thorough compaction.
particles, mica or any other deleterious materials
in such quantities as would reduce the strength or Suggested ranges of workability of concrete
durability of concrete. Fine aggregate of Zone 11 measured in accordance with IS: 1199 are given
or III of IS: 3 83 are preferable. below:

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IRC:SP:70-2005

Degree or Workability Slump (mm) 4.8. Concrete Mix Design

Low 25-50
4.8.1. General: Choice of materials, concrete
Medium 50 - 100 mix design and field practices are quite critical,
High 100- 150 so that optimum performance can be extracted of

Very High 150 - 200* each of the ingredients. The procedure of mix
proportioning of nonnal grades of concrete may
Note* :In the 'Very High' category of workability,
not be adequate. Relationships between the
measurement of workability by determination
compressive strength of concrete and water-
of flov/ as per IS:9103 will be appropriate.
cement water-cement+cementious
ratio (or

4.7 Durability
materials ratio, when
part of the cement is
replaced by mineral admixtures) and between
water content and workability will have to be
4„7.1. Concrete should be durable to provide
established by laboratory trials for the grade of
satisfactory performance in the anticipated
concrete, the materials to be used, and the water-
exposure conditions during service. The materials
reducing efficiency of the supeiplasticiser.
and mix proportions specified and used, and the
workmanship employed should be such as to
maintain its integrity and to protect embedded
4.8.2. Target mean strength: The target mean
metal from corrosion.
strength of the mix should be equal to be
characteristic strength for the grade plus the
current margin.
4.7.2. One of the main characteristics
influencing the durability of concrete is its

impermeability to the ingress of water, oxygen, 4.8.2.1. The current margin for a concrete mix
carbon dioxide, chloride, sulphate and other shall be taken as 1 .64 times the standard deviation

potentially deleterious substances. of sample test results taken from at least 40

Impermeability is governed by the constituents separate batches of concrete of nominally similar

and workmanship employed in making the proportions produced at site by the same plant
concrete. A suitably low permeability is achieved under similar supervision, over a period exceeding
by having an adequate cement content, 5 days, but not exceeding 6 months.

sufficiently low water-cement ratio, dense

packing of fine particles, by ensuring thorough 4.8.2.2. Where there are insufficient data to

compaction of the concrete, and by timely and satisfy the above, the target mean strength for the

adequate curing. initial mix design shall be taken as given in Table

3. As soon as the results of samples are available,

4.7.3. Total water-soluble sulphate (SO3) actual calculated standard deviation may be used
content of the concrete mix, expressed as (SO3) and the mix designed accordingly.
shall not exceed 4 per cent by mass of cement
used in the mix. Table 3. Target Mean Strength

Concrete Target Mean

4.7.4. Total chloride content in concrete,
Grade Strength (MPa)
expressed as chloride-ion, shall not exceed the
following values by mass of cement used:
M40 52
M45 58
Type Amount (per cent) M50 63

Prestressed concrete 0.10

M55 69

Reinforced concrete
M60 74

(i) in severe condition 0.20

M65 80
of exposure M70 85

(ii) in moderate condition 0.30

M75 90
of exposure M80 95

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 IRC:SP:70-2005

4.8.3. Field Trial Mixes: Mix proportions curing should commences soon after initial setting
arrived at by laboratory trials shall, in addition, of concrete. Concrete should be covered with
be verified to be satisfactory under field moist covers, opaque colour plastic sheets or
conditions and necessary adjustments made. Field suitable curing compound. Final moist curing
trial mixes shall be prepared for all grades of should commence after final setting of concrete
concrete, using samples of approved materials. and continue for at least 14 days.
Sampling and testing procedures shall be in
accordance with para 4.1 1. 4.10. Quality Assurance

4.8.3.1.The concreting plant and means of In order that the performance of the
transportation employed to make trial mixes and completed structure be consistent with the
to transport them to representative distances shall requirements and assumptions made during the
be similar to the corresponding plant and transport planning and design, stringent quality assurance
to be used in the works. The optimum sequence measures shall be taken. The construction should
of mixing of ingredients shall be established by result in satisfactory strength, serviceability and
trials. Mixing time may be longer than in normal long-term durability. In particular, it should be
grade concrete mixes. aimed to ensure uniformityand to lower the
variabilitybetween batches of production, as
4.8.3.2. The temperature of concrete at the time evidenced by the standard deviation in test results.
of placement shall not exceed 25°C. The
temperature of concrete at the mixing stage should The methods and procedures of Quality
be lower, to allow for rise in temperature during System shall be followed as per the guidelines
transport. When considerable distance of transport contained in IRC:SP-47. Q-4 class of Quality
is involved, particular attention should be paid to Assurance shall be adopted for the 'Materials' and
ensure retention of slump as targeted for 'Workmamship' items.
placement.
4.11. Sampling and Testing
4.8.4. Prototype testing: Further mock-up
trails or prototype testing may be carried out to Provisions of Clause 302.10 of IRC:21 shall
ensure that the concrete can be satisfactorily apply.
placed and compacted, taking into account the
location of placement and provision of 4.12. Acceptance Criteria
reinforcement, and adjustments made in concrete
mix design and/or detailing of reinforcement Provisions of Clause 302. 11 of IRC:21 shall
accordingly. apply.

4.9. Production of Concrete 4.12.1. Acceptance testing on site shall not be

resticted to tests for compressive strength of
4.9.1. Batching an mixing: Provisions of concrete alone. Where durability of concrete is

Clause 302.9.1 of IRC:21 shall apply. Fully the main reason for adopting High Performance
automatic, computer controlled batching and Concrete, Rapid Chloride Ion Permeability test
mixing plant shall be used. as per ASTM C-1202 or AASHTO T-277 shall
be carried out. The permissible value of
4.9.2. Curing: High Performance Concrete chloride- ion permeability shall be less than 800
containing silica fume is more cohesive than coulombs.
normal mixes hence, there is little or no bleeding
and no bleed water to rise to the surface to offset 4.12.2. Additional durability tests, such as. Water
water lost due to evaporation. Plastic shrinkage Permeabihty test as per DIN: 1048 Part 5-1991 or
cracking is possible, if curing is not proper. Initial Initial Surface Absorption test as per BS: 1881 Part 5

5
IRC:SP:70-2005

can also be specified. The permissible values in 7. IS 1199:1959 Methods of sampling for
such tests shall be decided taking into account analysis of concrete.

the severity of the exposure conditions. 8. IS 12089:1987 Specificaion for Granulated

slag for Manufacture of
Portland Slag construction
5. BASIC PERMISSIBLE STRESSES
9. IS 2386:1963 pt. Methods of test for aggregates
IN CONCRETE 1-8 for concrete
10. IS 3812:2003 Specification for Flyash for use
The properties and basic permissible stresses as Pozzolana and Admixture
for concrete of grades upto M 60 shall be as given 11. IS 15388:2003 Specifications for Silica fume
in Table 9 of IRC:21. For concrete of grades 12. IS 8112:1989 Specification for 43 Grade
higher than M 60, properties of concrete, Ordinary Portland Cement
permissible stresses and design parameters given 13. IS 9103:1999 Concrete admixtures-
inIRC: 18 and IRC:21 will not be applicable. specification
14. IS 12269:1987 Specification for 53 grade
Appropriate values may be obtained from
Ordinary Portland Cement
specialized literature and/or International Codes
15. IS 12330:1988 Specification for Sulphate
of Practice.
Resisting Portland Cement
16. IS 12600:1989 Specification for Low heat
REFERENCES Portland Cement
17. IS 8041:1990 Specification for Rapid
In this pulication reference to the following hardening Portland Cement
IRC, IS, BS, DIN Standards ASTM and AASHTO 18. BS 1881 pt. Testing Concrete methods for
has been made. At the time of publication, the 5-1970 testing Hardened concrete for

editions indicated were valid. All Standards are other than strength (current,
patially replaced)
subject to revision and the parties to agreements
19. DIN 1048 pt. Testing concrete testing of
based on these guidelines are encouraged to
5-1991 Hardened concrete (specimens
investigate the possiblitiy of applying the most
prepared in mould)
recent editions of the Standards indicated below:
20. ASTM C 1202: Test method for electrical
1997 indication of concretes ability
Codes and SpeciHcations: to resist chloride ion
21. AASHTO T Rapid Determination of the
1. IRC: 18-2000 Design Criteria for Prestressed 277-831 Chloride Permeability of
Concrete Road Bridges (Post- Concrete
Tensioned Concrete) (Third
Revision) Papers and Publications
2. IRC:2 1-2000 Standard Specifications and
Code of practice for Road 1. ACI State-of-the-Art Report on High Strength
Bridges, Section-Ill Cement Concrete, ACI 363R-84, 1984.
Concrete Plain & Reinforced, 2. StrategicHighway Research Program, SHRP-C/FR-
(Third Revision) 91-103, High Perfomance Concretes: A State-of-the-
3. IRC:SP:47-1998 Guidelines on Quality Systems Art Report, 1991, NRC, Washington D.C., p. 233.
for Road Bridges (Plain, 3. FIP, Condensed Fume in Concrete,
Silica State-
Reinforced, Prestressed and of-the-Art Report, FIP Commission on Concrete,
Composite Concrete) Thomas Telford, London, 1988, p. 37.
4. IS 383:1970 Specificaton for Course and 4. Goodspeed, C.H., Vanikar, S.N. and Cook,
Fine Aggregates from Natural Raymond, High Performance Concrete (HPC)
Sources for Concrete Defined for Highway Structures, Concrete
5. IS 455:1989 Specification for Porland Slag Intemadonal, ACI, February 1996, p. 14.

Cement 5 . Aitcin, Pierre-Claude, Jolicoeur, C. and Macgregor,

6. IS 1489-R1:1991 Specification for Portland J.G., Superplasticisers: How They Work and Why
Pozzolana Cement-part 1 They Occasionally Don't Concrete International,
Flyash based ACI, May 1994, pp. 45-52.

6
 IRC:SP:70-2005

6. Mullick, A.K., Area Review paper on High Experience in Silica Fume based HPC, Indian
Performance Concrete, 64* Annual Session, Indian Concrete Journal, October 2001, pp. 656-664.
Roads Congress, Ahmedabad, January, 2004, 9. Saini, S., Dhuri, S.S., Kanhere, D.K. and Momin,

pp.23-36. S.S., High Performance Concrete for an Urban

7. Mullick, A.K. Silica Fume in Concrete for Viaduct in Mumbai, ibid, pp. 634-640.

Performance Enhancement, Special Lecture in 10. Rashid, M.A., Considerations in Using HSC in RC
national Seminar on Performance Enhancement of Flexural Members, Indian Concrete Journal, May
Cement and Concrete by Use of Fly Ash, Slag, 2004, pp. 20-28.
Silica Fume and Chemical Admixtures, New Delhi, 11. FHWA Manual High Performance Concrete-
Jan. 1998, Proc. pp. 25-44. Structural Designers Guide, Deptt. of
8. Basu, P.C., NPP Containment Structures: Indian Transportation, March 2005.

7
(The official amendments document would be published by the IRC
to this
in its periodical, 'Indian Highways', which shall be considered as
effective and as part of the code/guidelines/manual, etc. from the
Date specified therein)