Committee Report Technical Committee On Technological Standards of Concrete and Its Use
Committee Report Technical Committee On Technological Standards of Concrete and Its Use
Committee Report Technical Committee On Technological Standards of Concrete and Its Use
Abstract: The committee has aimed to investigate Japanese industrial standards (JIS)
and other international standards, such as ISO and EN, that are related to concrete
materials and structures, organize the relationships with the contents prescribed in
specifications and guidelines that use (cite, follow, etc.) the various test methods, and
propose methods for using information related to technical standards of concrete, such
as test methods, quality specifications and criteria for use. In practice, the committee
has a) organized the historical background and circumstances of the establishment of
standards on quality and test methods and the relationships between relevant standards,
b) surveyed the circumstances of establishing and/or revising specifications, etc.
related to concrete and reinforced concrete structures and organized the bases of citing
and following the contents of JIS, etc., and c) proposed a framework and model for
using the results of the aforementioned two activities.
Keywords: Specification, test method, quality standard, strength, mix proportion,
corrosion induced by chloride ion, frost damage, cracks, maintenance, carbonation
1. Introduction
Technical standards related to concrete require engineers to not only follow the values and
methods prescribed in the standards but also to understand the significance and basis (origin)
of each regulation because this leads to securing the quality and performances of concrete and
serves as the basis of further research and development. The “study committee on
interpretation of quality standards and testing methods related to concrete (TC-095A)”, which
acted in 2010 to 2011, mainly investigated JIS A 5308 (ready mixed concrete) and test
methods and quality standards related to its materials, analyzed and organized the
circumstances and basis of their establishment and revision, the relationship with international
standards (ISO, EN and ASTM), and the utilization states, and proposed and summarized
points needing improvement (a symposium held in November 2011).
The study committee on methods for using information about technological standards of
concrete (hereinafter referred to as the “committee”) expanded the scope of survey and
research and has surveyed JIS and international standards that were not included in the scope
of TC-095A, organized the relationship with contents prescribed in specifications that use the
standards, and investigated construction of methods for using information related to technical
standards (test methods, quality standards and criteria for use) of concrete. In concrete terms,
the committee has 1) expanded the scope of survey from TC-095A and organized the
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*1 Building Research Institute Dr. (Full member) *2 Shibaura Institute of Technology Dr. (Full member)
*3 Public Works Research Institute M.S. (Full member) *4 Tokyo Metropolitan University Dr.(Full member)
*5 National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management Dr.(Full member)
historical background (such as circumstances of the establishment) of quality standards such
as JIS and test methods related to concrete in general and the relationships between relevant
standards, 2) surveyed the circumstances of establishing and/or revising specifications, etc.
related to concrete and reinforced concrete structures and comprehensively organized the
concepts of citing and following the contents of JIS, etc., and 3) proposed a framework and
model for using the results of the aforementioned two activities.
The constitution of the committee (Chairman: Tanano) is shown in Table-1. Working
Group 1 (Chief: Hamasaki) conducted surveys and investigations related to the former of the
aforementioned topics in the first year and, in the second year, summarized matters related to
strength, maintenance and carbonation based on the results of the first year. Working Group 2
(Chief: Koga) conducted surveys and investigations related to the latter topic in the first year
and, in the second year, summarized matters related to mix proportion, salt damage, frost
damage and cracks due to drying and autogeneous shrinkage based on the results of the first
year.
2. Examination and tests during mix design and construction and standards
2.1 Mix proportion of fresh concrete
Regulations on mix proportion, which determines the properties of fresh concrete, were
surveyed in the following documents, etc.
(1) Japanese Architectural Standard Specification for Reinforced Concrete Work
JASS 5 published by Architectural Institute of Japan
The “Japanese Architectural Standard Specification for Reinforced Concrete Work
(JASS5)” 1) requires concrete 1) to have workability that is easy to transport, place, compact
and finish and conduct other works that involve transporting and changing the shape of the
concrete, and 2) to have comprehensive properties that maintain the concrete to be uniform
even during and after the works, ensure certain placement within formwork and around
reinforcing steel, and develop little bleeding and separation of materials. It prescribes values
such as minimum cement content to be 270kg/m3 for ordinary concrete and 290kg/m3 upon
usinghigh range water reducer with AE agent.
(2) Standard Specifications for Concrete Structures “Materials and Construction”
published by Japan Society of Civil Engineers
Standard Specifications for Concrete Structures “Materials and Construction” (hereinafter
referred to as “Standard Specifications of JSCE”) prescribes that workability is the properties
of fresh concrete that show the degree of easiness of transporting, placing, compacting,
finishing, etc. Of the workability, the properties of concrete that allow the concrete to fill
compactly throughout the form including cover sections and corners without undergoing
segregation of materials are defined as filling ability, which is determined by the balance
between fluidity and material separation resistance. To ensure resistance to segregation, it
states that the cement content (powder content) needs to exceed a certain value, at least
270kg/m3 for the concrete with aggregates whose maximum size is 20 or 25 mm and
desirably 300kg/m3 or more.
(3) Tests on segregation resistance
The segregation resistance of fresh concrete is judged by 1) a slump test, 2) from the
flowing states during a slump flow test, or 3) from the distribution states of coarse aggregates
in a specimen in a state of rest. Evaluation by these methods contains subjectivity of the
person who performs the test. Various test methods have been proposed to secure universality
of test results, but there has been no testing method established. For example, the
Recommendation for practice of mix design of concrete 2) of Architectural Institute of Japan
proposes inserting the cylinder penetration tester shown in Fig.-1 into a specimen for 10
seconds and measuring the amount of mortar that flows into the cylinder.
Inner diameter:
ϕ30mm
[Unit: mm]
28 holes of ϕ7mm
Standard Specifications
of JSCE
The Building Center
of Japan
2.4 Examination and tests for corrosion induced initial salt content in fresh concrete
The committee surveyed quality control and test method for the measurement of initial
salt content in fresh concrete and transitions of the methods. Regulations on initial salt content
in countries outside Japan were also comparatively investigated.
(1) Circumstances of regulations on initial salt content in Japan
Chloride ions (initial chloride ions) in fresh concrete derived from aggregates, chemical
admixtures, cement and/or mixing water and are strictly controlled to prevent corrosion of
steel in reinforced concrete structure.
Until the 1970’s, NaCl in sea sand was the main source. Therefore, the amount of
chlorides in sea sand was regulated. After the Ministry of Construction issued the notification
on “chloride total quantity limit in concrete” (1986), all materials of concrete (cement,
admixture, chemical admixture and mixing water) are in the scope of regulation.
The chloride total quantity limit (notification by the Ministry of Construction) prescribes
standard values of Cl- content in fresh concrete to not exceed 0.30kg/m3 or 0.60kg/m3
depending on the types of structures.
For buildings, the notification issued in 1977 on use of fine aggregates containing salt in
concrete prescribes NaCl content to not exceed 0.04% of the weight of fine aggregate. This is
roughly equivalent to a Cl- content of 0.30kg per 1m3 of concrete when calculated by
considering the salt contents in cement and mixing water 10). Assuming that rust preventives
are used, the limit of NaCl content may be mitigated to not exceed 0.1%, which is equivalent
to 0.60 kg per 1m3 of concrete.
For civil engineering structures, the conventional chloride quantity limit (Cl- content not
exceeding 0.60kg/m3) has been judged to be appropriate via comprehensive investigation of
experimental results conducted in Public Works Research Institute and other institutes in
Japan, standards, studies, calculations and actual chloride contents in ready mixed concrete.
Provided, the limit is 0.30kg/m3 or less for prestressed concrete of pretension type, in which
the steels are under high stress, and for cases of performing autoclave curing 11).
(2) Specifications on initial salt content in other countries
ACI 318 prescribes the maximum amount of chloride ions in hardened concrete. The
soluble salt content is to be measured based on the test method specified in ASTMC 1218.
The specified limit are the same as those in ACI 318-83 and are shown in Table-3. According
to a trial calculation mentioned in Reference 11), 0.15% per unit mass of cement corresponds
to 0.45kg/m3 in concrete. This value shows the quantity of soluble chloride ion and is more
moderate than the limit in Japan. On the other hand, ACI 318 limits the maximum water
cement ratio at 0.40% in areas where salt is supplied, which is stricter than the regulations in
Japan.
EN 206 (Table-4) prescribes different values for maximum chloride ion content
depending on type of concrete such as plain concrete, reinforced and prestressed concrete.
The value differs by cement content, but the limit for reinforced concrete is about 0.60kg or
less per 1m3 of concrete.
(3) Summary of initial salt content
In Japan, the 1986 version of JIS A 5308 prescribes that the chloride ion content can be
increased up to 0.60kg/m3 upon obtaining approval of the owner, but in practice the actual salt
content in almost all products is limited to below 0.30kg/m3, requiring a value slightly lower
compared to regulations in other countries.
The limit on the initial quantity of chloride ions is possible to be mitigated depending on
the purpose of concrete and the environment to which the structure is exposed, but the mix
proportions and environmental conditions need to be clarified to do so.
Table-3 Maximum chloride quantity limits for protecting steels from corrosion (ACI 318-11)
Maximum quantity of soluble Cl-
Environmental Maximum water Minimum strength (wt% vs C)
conditions cement ratio (N/mm2)
RC PC
C0 N/A ca. 17 1.00 0.06
C1 N/A ca. 17 0.30 0.06
C2 0.40 ca. 34 0.15 0.06
C0: Dry environment or environment protected from moisture
C1: Exposed to moisture but no supply of salt
C2: With supply of salt from the ambient
3. Methods for inspecting newly built and existing structures and standards
3.1 Examination and inspection of compressive strength of concrete in structure
Methods and concepts of examination and inspection (inspection of structural concrete
strength) for checking whether the concrete placed as a structure has manifested strength as
designed or not differ by field. The committee organized inspection of structural concrete
strength in JASS 5 and the Standard Specifications of JSCE.
In the field of architecture, Article 74 in Enforcement Ordinance of Construction Standard
Law stipulates that structural concrete strength must satisfy the safety standards in relation to
specified design strength; and the evaluation methods are prescribed as follows in a related
notice. The mean strength of a specimen of 28-day age cured underwater at job site must be
the specified design strength or larger, or the mean compressive strength of a core specimen
or a similar specimen of 28-day age cured (sealed curing at job site is assumed) must be at
least 7/10 of the specified design strength and the strength must not fall below the specified
design strength at the age of 91 days. This is because it considers increases in strength after 28
days of age and the strength of specimen cured underwater at job site is larger than the
strength of the structure. Based on the regulation, JASS 5 (1997 version) mentioned to
calculate the difference ΔF in strength between a core specimen or specimen cured sealed at
job site and a specimen cured underwater at job site, set a correction value T for temperature
during curing, and assess the strength by adding ΔF and T to the specified design strength.
However, in the revision in 2009, the difference in strength between a standard cured
specimen of 28-day age and structural concrete strength at the age of 91 days is put as
structural strength correction value (28S91), and the sum of the S value and specified design
strength is to be evaluated. In this way, concrete is checked in the field of architecture for
manifestation of required strength by considering curing conditions after concrete placement,
such as temperature during curing. Fig.-3 is a schematic diagram of strength correction value
between the strength of concrete in structure and the strength of specimen for controlling
compressive strength stated in JASS 5 (1999 and 2009 versions).
On the other hand in the field of civil engineering, the Standard Specifications of JSCE
gives material factor that considers change from characteristic material strength value and
difference from structural body. The design strength used for designing concrete is the value
determined by dividing the specified design strength by material factor and includes the
effects of differences in materials and curing in the design. The compressive strength of
concrete in structure that is appropriately cured is expected to be larger than the strength of a
standard cured specimen of 28-day age. Therefore, ordinary structures are controlled by
checking the compressive strength of standard cured specimen of 28-day age. The Standard
Specifications also mentions that concrete in structure needs not to be inspected as long as
receiving inspection is properly performed and shows satisfactory results.
Concrete in structure Concrete cured under Standard cured Specimen for controlling
conditions similar to concrete compressive strength of
the structure concrete in structure
Standard cured
Core specimen specimen Standard cured
(91 days) (28 days) specimen
Fig.-3 Concept of strength correction value between concrete in structure and specimen
for controlling compressive strength in JASS 5
The concept and methods of compressive strength inspection for concrete in structure
differ between fields of architecture and civil engineering in this manner. In the field of civil
engineering, compressive strength tests other than JIS, etc., such as nondestructive test and
small-diameter core, are also used to control concrete in structure. In such a case, the strength
control aims not at quantitatively determining the structural concrete strength but at checking
that appropriate concrete has been placed and has been properly cured. The committee also
organized such test methods other than JIS, etc. for overview, actual states of implementation
and issues for implementing the methods.
5. Summary
The study committee on methods for using information about technological standards of
concrete aimed to survey Japanese industrial standards and international standards, such as
ISO and EN, organize the relationships with the contents prescribed in specifications and
guidelines that use the standards in and outside Japan, and propose methods for using
information related to technical standards of concrete, such as test method, quality standards
and criteria for use. Over a period of 2 years, the committee has conducted surveys and
investigations on the following topics. The committee has:
a) organized the historical background and circumstances of the establishment of
quality standards such as JIS and test method and the relationships between relevant
standards,
b) surveyed the circumstances of establishing and/or revising specifications, etc.
related to concrete and reinforced concrete structures and organized the bases of
citing and following the contents of JIS, etc., and
c) proposed a framework and model for using the results of the aforementioned two
activities.
Many researchers and engineers have used and cited provisions in technical standards and
specifications related to concrete structure without full understanding of the significance and
basis (origin). It is not rare that the provisions are modified. We would appreciate if the
results of the committee were used for applying, citing or modifying regulations of various
kinds.
The method for using information proposed this time involved only digitalizing part of
existing study committee reports so far. We expect it would be a help for a JCI member
having an easy access to precious study results in the past.
References