Indian Standard: Glossary of Terms Relating TO Cement Concrete
Indian Standard: Glossary of Terms Relating TO Cement Concrete
( Reaffirmed 1997 )
Indian Standard
GLOSSARY OF TERMS RELATING TO
CEMENT CONCRETE
PART XII MISCELLANEOUS
0 Copyright 1973
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002
r6 November 1973
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
Indian Standard
GLOSSARY OF TERMS RELATING TO
CEMENT CONCRETE
PART XII MISCELLANEOUS
Chairnian Representing
DR H. C. VISVESVARAYA Cement Research Institute of India, New Delhi
Members
DR A. S. BHADURI National Test Ho&, Calcutta
SHRI E. K. RAMACHANDRAN
( Alternate)
SHRI A. K. CHA~ERII Cent;;orFe;ilding Research Institute ( CSIR ),
DR S. S. REHSI ( Alfernafe)
DIRECTOR Central Road Research Institute (CSIR), New Delhi
DR R. K. GHOSH (Alternafe)
DIRECTOR(CSM RS ) Central Water & Power Commission, New Delhi
DEPUTY DIRECTOR(CSMRS )
(Alternate)
SHRI K.C. GHOSAL Alokudyog Services Ltd. New Delhi
SHRI A. K. BISWAS(Alternate)
DR R. K. GHOSH Indian Roads Congress, New Delhi
DR R. R. HATTIANGADI Associated Cement Companies Ltd, Bombay
SHRI P. J. JAGUS(Alternate)
JOINT DIREUTOR,STANDARDS(B&S) ReseFu;arnoesigns & Standards Organization,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR,STANDARDS
( B & S ) (Alternate)
SHRI S. B. JOSHI S. B. Joshi & Co Ltd, Bombay
SHRI M. T. KANSE Directorate General of Supplies L Disposals
SHRI S. L. KATHURIA Roads Wing, Ministry of Transport & Shipping
SHRI S. R. KULKARNI M. N. Dastur & Co (Private) Ltd. Calcutta
SHRI M. A. MEHTA Concrete Association of India, Bombay
SHRI 0. MUTHACHEN Central Public Works Department
SUPERINTENDINGENGINEER,
END CIRCLE (Afternate)
SHRI ERACH A. NADIRSHAH Institution of Engineers (India), Calcutta
SHRI K. K. NAMBIAR In personal capacity (‘Ramanalaya’ II First
Crescent Park Road, Gandhinagar. Adyar,
Madras )
( Continued on page 2 )
@I Copyright 1973
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
This publication is protected under the Zndiun Copyright Act ( XIV of 1957 ) and
reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of
the publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
Members Representing
BRIG NARESHPRASAD Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch, Army Headquarters
COL J. M. TOLANC(Alternate)
PROF G. S. RAMASWAMY Stru;IActkeFngineering Research Centre (CSIR),
DR N. S. BHAL (Alternate)
DR A. V. R. RAO National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SHRI RAVINDERLAL (Alternate)
SHRI G. S. M. RAO Geological Survey of India, Nagpur
SHRI T. N. S. RAO Gammon India Ltd. Bombay
SHRI S. R. PINHEIRO(Alternate)
SECRETARY Central Board of Irrigation & Power, New Delhi
SHRI R. P. SHARMA Irrigation & Power Research Institute, Amritsar
SHRI MOHINDERSINGH (Alternate)
SHR~G. B. SINGH Hindustan Housing Factory Ltd. New Delhi
SHRI C. L. KASLIWAL (Alternate)
SHRI J. S. SINGHOTA Beas Designs Organization, Nangal Township
SHRI T. C. GARG (Alternate)
SHRI K. A. SUBRAMANIAM India Cements Ltd, Madras
SHRI P. S. RAMACHANDRAN(Alternate)
SHRI L. SWAROOP Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. New Delhi
SHRI A. V. RAMANA (Alternate)
SHRI D. AJITHA SIMHA, Director General, 1.51 (Ex-officio Member)
Director (Civ Engg )
Secretary
SHRI Y. R. TANEJA
Deputy Director (Civ Engg ), IS1
Members
SHRI M. D. PATHAK (Alternate to
Shri S. B. Joshi)
DR S. M. K. CHEESY CentFiorFeilding Research Institute ( CSIR ),
DR C. A. TANEJA(Alternate)
SHRI B. K. CHOKSI In personal capacity (‘Shrikunj’ Near Parkash
Housing Society, Athwu Lines, &rat 1)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, STANDARDS Research, Designs & Standards Organization,
(B&S) Lucknow
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, STAN-
DARDS (M/C ) (Alternate)
DIRECTOR Engineering Research Laboratories, Hyderabad
DIRECTOR (C&MDD ) Central Water & Power Commission, New Delhi
DEPUTY DIRECTOR(C&MDD )
(Alternate)
( Continued on page 24 )
2
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
Indian Standard
GLOSSARY OF TERMS RELATING TO
CEMENT CONCRETE
PART XII MISCELLANEOUS
0. FOREWORD
0.1 This Indian Standard ( Part XII ) was adopted by the Indian Standards
Institution on 16 February 1973, after the draft finalized by the Cement
and Concrete Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil
Engineering Division Council.
0.2 Cement concrete is one of the most versatile and extensively used
building materials in all civil engineering constructions. There are a
number of technical terms connected with the basic materials for concrete
as well as the production and use of concrete which quite often require
clarification to give precise meaning to the stipulations in the standard
specifications, codes of practices and other technical documents. It has,
therefore, become necessary to standardize the various terms and definitions
used in cement and cencrete technology and thus avoid ambiguity in their
interpretations. The Sectional Committee has, therefore decided to bring
out a series of glossaries of terms relating to concrete and concrete
mater:als.
0.3For convenience of reference, this glossary of terms relating to
cement concrete has been grouped into the following twelve parts:
Part I Concrete aggregates
Part II Materials ( other than cement and aggregate )
Part III Concrete reinforcement
Part IV Types of concrete
Part V Formwork for concrete
Part VI Equipment, tools, and plant
Part VII Mixing, laying, compaction, curing and other construction
aspects
Part VIII Properties of concrete
Part IX Structural aspects
Part X Tests and testing apparatus
Part XI Prestressed concrete
Part XII Miscellaneous
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
0.3.1 In addition to the above, two separate standards have been brought
out concerning terminology relating to hydraulic cement and pozzolanic
materials. These standards are IS : 48451968* and IS : 4305-19677.
0.4 In the formulation of this standard due weightage has been given to
international co-ordination among the standards and practices prevailing
in different countries in addition to relating it to the practices in the field
in this country. This has been met by deriving assistance from the
following publications:
BS : 2787-1956 Glossary of terms for concrete and reinforced
concrete. British Standards Institution.
BS : 4340-1968 Glossary of formwork of terms. British Standards
Instiution.
ASTM Designation : C 125 Definitions of terms relating to concrete
aggregate. American Society for Testing and Materials.
AC1 No SP-19 Cement and concrete terminology. American Concrete
Institute.
AC1 617-1968 Recommended practice for concrete form work.
American Concrete Institute.
1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard ( Part XII ) covers miscellaneous definitions relating to
cement concrete.
2. DEFINITIONS
2.0 For the purpose of this standard the following definitions shall apply.
2.1 Absolute Specific Gravity - Ratio of the mass of a given volume of a
solid or liquid, referred to a vacuum at a stated temperature to the mass,
referred to a vacuum, of an equal volume of gas-free distilled water at
a stated temperature ( see 2.229 ).
2.2 Acceleration - Increase in velocity or in rate of change, especially the
quickening of the natural progress of a process, such as hardening, setting,
or strength development of concrete.
2.3 Accidental Air - Air voids in concrete which are not purposely
entrained.
*Definitionsand terminology relating to hydraulic cement.
TGlossaryof terms relating to pozzolana.
L
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
2.19 Barrel-vault Roof - A thin concrete roof taking the form of a part of
a cylinder.
2.20 Base -A subfloor slab or ‘working mat’, either previously placed and
hardened or freshly placed, on which floor topping is placed in a later
operatioan; also the under-lying stratum on which a concrete slab, such as
a pavement, is placed.
2.21 Base Bead - See 2.24.
2.22 Base Coat - Any plaster coat or coats applied prior to application of
the finish coat.
2.23 Base Plate -A plate of metal or other approved material formerly
placed under pavement joints and the adjacent slab ends to prevent the
infiltration of soil and moisture from the sides or bottom. of the joint
opening. Also a device used to distribute vertical loads as for building
columns or machinery.
2.24 Base Screed - A preformed metal screed with perforated or expanded
flanges to provide a ground for plaster and to separate areas of dissimilar
materials.
2.25 Batch - Quantity of concrete or mortar mixed at one time.
2.26 Batch Box - Container of known volume used to measure constituents
of a batch of concrete or mortar in proper proportions.
2.27 Batter - Inclination from the vertical or horizontal.
2.28 Batter Boards -Pairs of horizontal boards nailed to wood stakes
adjoining an excavation, used as a guide to elevations and to outline
the building.
2.29 Beam Bottom - Soffit or bottom form for a beam.
2.30 Beam Pocket - Opening left in a vertical member in which a beam f
is to rest; also an opening, in the column or girder from where forms for
an intersecting beam will be framed.
2.31 Beneficiation - Improvement of the chemical or physical properties of
a raw material or intermediate product by the removal of undesirable
components or impurities.
2.32 Bent - Two-dimensional frame which is self-supporting within these
dimensions, having at least two legs and usually placed at right angles to
the length of the structure which it supports.
2.33 Bentonite - A clay composed principally of minerals of the montmo-
rillonite group, characterized by high adsorption and very large volume
change with wetting or drying.
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
2.34 Berlin& (Crazy) - A type of terrazzo topping using small and large
pieces of marble paving, usually with a standard terrazzo matrix between
pieces.
2.35 Blaine Fineness - The fineness of powdered materials, such as cement
and pozzolana, expressed as surface area usually is square centimetres/gram.
2.36 Block Beam-A flexural member composed of individual blocks
which are joined together by prostressing.
2.37 Board Butt Joint - Shotcrete construction joint formed by sloping
gunned surface to a 25 mm board, laid flat.
2.38 Belt Sleave - A tube surrounding a bolt in a concrete wall to prevent
concrete from sticking to the bolt and acting as a spreader for the
formwork.
2.39 Bredigite - A mineral, alpha prime dicalcium silicate (2CaO.Si0, )
ockurring naturally or in slags and Portland cement.
2.40 Brownmillerite - A tennary compound originally regarded as
4CaO.Al,O,.Fe,O, (C,AF) occurring in Portland cement and high
alumina cement; now used to refer to a series of solid solutions between
2CaO.Fe,O, (C,F) and 2CaO.A1,0, (C,A).
2.41 Bulk Density - The weight of a material (including solid particles
and any contained water) per unit volume including voids.
2.42 Bulking-Increase in the bulk volume of a quantity of sand in a
moist condition over the volume of the same quantity, dry or completely
inundated.
2.43 Bulking Curie - Graph of charge in volume of a quantity of sand
due to change in moisture content.
2.44 Bulking Factor - Ratio of the volume of moist sand to the volume of
the sand when dry.
2.45 Bulk Loading - Loading of unbagged cement in containers, specially
designed trucks, railroad cars or ships.
2.46 Bulk Specific Gravity - See 2.229.
2.47 Butyl Stearate - A colourless oleaginous, practically odourless
material (C, ,HS,COOC4H, ) used as a damp-proofer for concrete.
2.48 Cage - A rigid assembly of reinforcement ready for placing in
position.
2.49 Caisson Pile - A cast-in-place pile made by driving a tube, excavating
it, and filling the cavity with concrete.
7
Is:6461 (PartXII)-1973
9
IS:6461(PartXII)-1973
10
IS : 6461( Part XII) - 1973
11
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
12
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
13
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
2.136 Hot Face - The surface of a refractory section exposed to the source
of heat.
2.137 Hot Load Test - A test for determining the resistance to deforma-
tion or shear of a refractory material when subjected to a specified
compressive load at a specified temperature for a specified time.
2.138 Hydrate- A chemical combination of water with another compound
or an element.
2.139 Hydration - Formation of a compound by the combining of water
with some other substance; in concrete, the chemical reaction between
cement and water.
2.140 Hydraulic Properties - Hydraulic properties are the ability of a
material to set and harden in the presence of water, with formation of
stable compounds.
2.141 Isotropy-The behaviour of a medium having the same properties in
all directions.
2.142 Joint Filler - Material used to fill a joint to prevent the infiltration
of debris.
2.143 Joint Sealant - Material used to exclude water and solid foreign
materials from joints.
2.144 Liquid -Volume Measurement - Measurement of grout on the basis
of the total volume of solid and liquid constituents.
2.145 Macroscopic - Visible to the unaided eye.
2.146 Marl - Calcareous clay, usually containing from 35 to 65 percent
calcium carbonate (CaCO,), found in the bottoms of shallow lakes,
swamps, or extinct fresh-water basins.
2.147 Masonry Mortar - Mortar used in masonry structures.
2.148 Matrix-In the case of mortar, the cement paste in which the fine
aggregate particles are embedded; in the case of concrete, the mortar in
which the coarse aggregate particles are embedded.
2.149 Megascopic - See 2.145.
2.150 Melilite - A group of minerals ranging from the calcium magnesium
silicate, ackermanite, to the calcium aluminate silicate, gehlenite, that occur
as crystals in blast-furnace slag.
2.151 Membrane Curing - A process that involves either liquid sealing
compound ( for example, bituminous and paraffinic emulsions, coal tar cut-
backs, pigmented and nonpigmented resin suspensions, or suspensions
14
IS : 6461(Part XII) - 1973
of wax and drying oil ) or nonliquid protective coating ( for example, sheet
plastics or waterproof paper ), both of which types function as films to
restrict evaporation of mixing water from the fresh concrete surface.
2.152 Micron - A unit of length; one-thousandth of a millimeter or
one-millionth of a metre.
2.153 Microscopic - Discernible only with the aid of a miqroscope.
2.154 Modulus of Subgrade Reaction - An experimentally determined ratio
between the vertical subgrade reaction and the deflection at a point on the
surface of contact.
2.155 Monolith-A body of plain or reinforced concrete cast or erected
as a single integral mass or structure.
2.156 Montmorillonoid - See 2.157.
2.157 MontmorilIonite - A group of clay minerals, including montmo-
rillonite, characterized by a sheet like internal molecular structure;
consisting of extremely finely-divided hydrous aluminum or magnesium
silicates that swells on wetting, shrink on drying, and are subject to ion
exchange.
2.158 Nailer -A strip of wood ‘or other fitting attached to or set in
concrete, or attached to steel to facilitate making nailed connections.
2.159 Neat Cement - Hydraulic cement in the unhydrated state.
2.160 Neat Line - A line defining the proposed or specified limits of
an excavation or structure.
2.161 Nicol Prism - A system of two optically clear crystals of calcide
( Iceland spar ) .used in producing plane-polarized light.
2.162 Nonevaporable Water - The water that is chemically combined
during cement hydration; not removable by specified drying.
2.163 Ocrate Process ( trade name ) - The treatment of concrete with
gaseous SiF, to transform any free CaO into CaF,.
2.164 Offset-A horizontal ledge occurring along a change in wall
thickness; the narrow flat surface ( or shelf) created by reducing the
thickness of the wall above.
2.165 Ovals - Marble chips which have been tumbled until a smooth oval
shape has resulted.
2.166 Packer-head Process-A method of casting concrete pipe in a vertical
position in which concrete of low water content is compacted with a
revolving compaction tool.
15
IS : 6461( Part XII) - 1973
2.167 Pack Set - Finished cement which develops low or zero flowability
during or after storage in silos, or after transporation in bulk containers,
hopper-bottom cars, etc; may be caused by:
a) interlocking of particles,
b) mechanical compaction, and
c) electrostatic attraction between particles.
2.168 Palladina - See 2.34.
2.169 Petrography - The branch of petrology dealing with description and
systematic classification of rocks aside from their geologic relations, mainly
by laboratory methods largely chemical and microscopical; also, loosely,
petrology or lithology.
2.170 Petrology - The science of rocks, treating of their origin structure,
composition, etc; from all aspects and in all relations.
2.171 Phenolic Resin - A class of synthetic, oil-soluble resins ( plastics )
produced as condensation products of phenol, substituted phenols and
formaldehyde, or some similar aldehyde that may be used in paints for
concrete.
2.172 Pigment - A colouring matter, usually in the form of an insoluble
fine powder.
2.173 Plaster - A cementitious material or combination of cementitious
material and aggregate that, when mixed with a suitable amount of water,
forms a plastic mass or paste which when applied to a surface, adheres to
it and subsequently hardens, preserving in a rigid state the form or texture
imposed during the period of plasticity; also the placed and hardened
mixture.
2.174 Plaster of Paris - Gypsum ( CaSO, 4 Hz0 ) from which three
quarters of the chemically bound water has been driven off by heating;
when wetted jt recombines with water and hardens quickly.
2.175 Plastic - Possessing plasticity, or possessing adequate plasticity.
2.176 Plastic Mortar - A mortar of plastic consistency.
2.177 Plasticizing - Producing plasticity or becoming plastic.
2.178 Plastic or Bond Fire Clay - A fire clay of sufficient natural plasticity
to bond nonplastic material; a fire clay used as a plasticizing agent in
mortar.
2.179 Plumb - Vertical or to make vertical.
2.180 Polish or Final Grind -The final operation in which fine abrasives
are used to hone a surface to its desired smoothness and appearance.
16
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
17
IS ~~6461 (Part XII) - 1973
2.222 Skew Back - Sloping surface against which the end of an arch rests,
such as a concrete thrust block supporting thrust of arch bridge.
2.223 Slop - The waste material produced in the wet grinding process and
consisting of finely ground terrazzo and water.
2.224 Sludge - See 2.223.
2.225 Solid Volume-The displacement volume of an ingredient of
concrete or mortar; in the case of solids, the volume of the particles
themselves, including their permeable and impermeable voids but excluding
space between particles; in the case of fluids, the cubic content which they
OCCUQY.
20
-.
IS:6461(PartXII)-1973
21
IS : 6461(Part XII) - 1973
22
IS : 6461 (Part XII) - 1973
( Conlinuedfiom page 2 )
Members Representing
SHRI V.K. GHANEKAR Struc;orl%gineering Research Centre (CSIR),
24
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
Headquarters:
Manak Bhavan. 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, NEW DELHI 110002
Telephones: 323 0131,323 6375,323 9402
Fax : 91 11 3234062,91 11 3239399
Telegiams : Manaksanstha
(Common to all Off&a)
Central Laboratory : Telephone
Plot No. 20/9, Site IV, Sahibabad Industrial Area, Sahibabad 201010 0-77 00 32
Regional OtYices:
Central : Manak Bhavan, 9 Eahadur Shah Zafar Marg, NEW DELHI 110002 323 76 17
*Eastern : l/l4 CIT Scheme VII M, V.I.P. Road, Maniktola, CALCUlTA 700054 337 66 62
tWestern : Manakalaya, E9, Behind Marol Telephone Exchange, Andheri (East), 632 92 95
MUMBAI 400093
Branch Offices::
‘Pushpak’, Nurmohamed Shaikh Marg. Khanpur, AJ-IMEDABAD 360001. 5501346
Gangotri Complex, 5ti Floor, Bhadbhada Road, T.T. Nagar, BHOPAL 462003 554021
Plot No. 62-63, Unit VI, Ganga Nagar, BHUBANESl-&AR 751001 403627
53/5 Ward No.29, R.G. Barua Road, 5th By-lane, GUWAHATI 761003 54 1137
S-6-56C, L.N. Gupta Marg, Nampally Station Road, HYDERABAD 500001 20 1063
Seth Bhawan. 2nd Floor, Behind Leela Cinema, Naval Kishore Road, 236923
LUCKNOW 226001