Concrete

CE 201
Engineering Materials
Concrete
Prepared by
Khan Abid Ahsan
Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering
AUST
What is Concrete?
➢ Concrete is the world’s single most widely used construction material and
after water, it is the most consumed material on earth.
➢ Concrete is an artificial stone-like material used for various structural
purposes, which is made by mixing a binding material (i.e. cement) and filler
materials like aggregates (sand, stone chips, brick chips etc.) with water and
allowing the mixture to harden by hydration.
➢ The Simplest representation of concrete is:

Cement + Water Cement Paste
Cement Paste+ Fine Aggregate Mortar
Mortar+ Coarse Aggregate Concrete
➢ Durable structures are not able to be made by only using cement and water. It
is important to use aggregates to restrain the shrinkage. A combination of two
or more materials that work together to achieve an improvement in
performance is called “composite material.” Concrete is regarded as a
composite material because it is composed of a number of materials in order to
improve the performance.
Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

General Components of Concrete
General Components of Concrete:
➢ Cement
➢ Aggregate- Coarse and Fine
➢ Water
➢ Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs)
➢ Admixtures
Cement
Cement:
➢ Type I – General-Purpose
➢ Type II - Moderate Sulphate Resistance
➢ Type III – High Early Strength
➢ Type IV – Low Heat of Hydration
➢ Type V - High Sulfate Resistant.
Aggregate: Fine Aggregate
▪ Fine Aggregate
▪ Coarse Aggregate
➢ Aggregate retained on 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve is called

coarse aggregate
➢ and the portion passes through the 4.75-mm (No. 4)
sieve is called fine aggregate)
Coarse
Functions of various Component of Concrete
Typically, a mix is about 10 to 15 percent cement, 60 to 75 percent aggregate and
15 to 20 percent water.
Example of component percentage in a concrete mixture:
✓ 6% air
✓ 11% Portland cement
✓ 41% Gravel or crushed stone (Coarse Aggregate)
✓ 26% sand ( Fine Aggregate)
✓ 16% water
Functions of water in concrete:
➢ Hydration reaction with cement.
➢ To provide workability. High water- cement ratio leads to low strength but
good workability.
Functions of aggregate in concrete:
➢ It makes the body and occupies about 60-70% volume of concrete. It is cheap
filler material.
➢ It provides for volume stability.
➢ It provides abrasion resistance.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Concrete
Advantages of Concrete:
➢ Concrete is a versatile construction material which can be used in buildings,
bridges, dams, tunnels , pavements etc.
➢ Concrete’s long life and relatively low maintenance requirements increase its
economic benefits.
➢ It is not likely to corrode, rot or decay.
➢ It has the ability to be molded or cast into almost any desired shape and it can
work with reinforcing steel.
➢ It is a non-combustible material which makes it fire-safe and able to withstand
high temperatures.
➢ It has the ability to consume waste like flyash, slag etc. which results
durability.
➢ Producing concrete uses less energy than producing other comparable building
materials.
Disadvantages of concrete:
➢ It has low tensile strength (compared to other building materials).
➢ It has low ductility.
➢ It is susceptible to cracking.
➢ Long curing time: Full strength development needs a month.
Qualities of Good Concrete
Qualities of good concrete:
➢ Strength: The concrete should be able to withstand the stresses that it is subjected to. It
is quite strong in compression but weak in tension.
➢ Durability: It should be durable enough to resist the effects of weathering agents.
➢ Workability: The concrete should be easily workable. This is the ease of mixing
concrete. It can also be regarded as the fluidity of the concrete.
➢ Density: The concrete should be well compacted so that no voids remaining in the
concrete.
➢ Water Tightness: Water tightness is necessary for the construction of water retaining
structures like dams, elevated tanks, water reservoirs. Lack of this the moisture inside the
RCC would corrode the steel and leakage would start resulting in the ultimate failure of
the structure.

Classification of Concrete
Based on unit weight:
➢ Light weight concrete (90-115 pcf)
➢ Normal weight concrete (140-150 pcf)
➢ Heavy weight concrete (>200 pcf)
Based on Strength:
USA Classification: 28-day compressive strength of cylinder (6 by 12 inches)
➢ Low-strength concrete: less than 20 Mpa (3000 psi)
➢ Moderate-strength concrete: 20 to 40 Mpa (3000 to 6000 psi)
➢ High-strength concrete: 40-100 Mpa
➢ Ultra high strength concrete: 100-150 Mpa
➢ Special: Ultra High-performance Concrete (UHPC): more than 150 Mpa (22000
psi)compressive strength of cylinder.
European Strength Classification:

The characteristic strength at 28 days of 150 mm diameter by 300 mm cylinders or the
character strength at 28 days of 150 mm (6 inches) cubes is used for classification.
Based on specified characteristic cylinder compressive strength, fCk
➢ Normal Strength Concrete: 12-55 MPa (1740 to 8000 psi)
➢ High Strength Concrete: 60-100 MPa (8700 to 14500 psi)

Classification of Concrete

Fresh Concrete & Hardened Concrete
Fresh Concrete:
➢ Fresh concrete is that type of concrete which is in plastic state and can be moulded
in any shape.
➢ The potential strength and durability of concrete of a given mix proportion is
dependent on the degree of its compaction.
➢ The long-term performance of concrete structures is affected by the properties and
behavior of concrete at early age. Therefore, it controls the long term behavior, Ec
(elastic modulus), creep and durability.
➢ No such defined timeline for early age could be found in the literature but generally
24 to 48 hours time period (1 to 2 days) after casting (from the time of mixing the
cement, water and aggregates) is considered as significant within which the
hydration product structure or matrix begins to form in a definite shape. It is rightly
assumed that the first 48 hours are very important for the performance of concrete
structure.
Hardened Concrete:
➢ Hardened concrete is one which is already ‘set’ during which time concrete has
reached it’s ‘final setting time’ and hence lost all properties of a fresh concrete
explained above.
➢ Hardened concrete is a concrete which must be strong enough to withstand the
structural and service loads which will be applied to it and must be durable enough
to the environmental exposure for which it is designed.

Properties of Fresh Concrete
Properties of Fresh Concrete:
➢ Workability
➢ Segregation
➢ Bleeding
➢ Plastic shrinkage
➢ Time of set etc.
Workability:
➢ Workability is a general term to describe the
properties of fresh concrete.
➢ It is defined as the amount of mechanical work
required for full compaction of concrete without
segregation.
➢ Workability is that property of freshly mixed
concrete or mortar that determines the ease and
homogeneity with which it can be mixed, placed,
consolidated and finished.
Workability
➢ Workability of a concrete is a composite property with at least two main
components:
• “Consistency”- indicates the mobility or flowability of freshly mixed
concrete- the ease of flow of fresh concrete.
• “Cohesiveness”- is used to describe the ability of fresh concrete to hold all the
ingredients.
➢ The primary characteristics of workability are consistency (or fluidity) and
cohesiveness.
➢ Higher workability concretes are easier to place and handle but obtaining higher
workability by increasing water content decreases strength and durability.

Workability
Classification Based on Workability:
Based on workability concrete can be classified into following 3 types:
▪ Unworkable Concrete:
➢ An unworkable concrete also known as harsh concrete having a very little
amount of water.
➢ The hand mixing of such concrete is very difficult. So, it is very difficult to
maintain the homogeneity of concrete mix.

Workability
▪ Medium Workable Concrete:
➢ It is preferred in most works.
➢ This type of concrete is relatively easy to mix, place, transport and compact
without segregation and loss of homogeneity.
▪ Highly Workable Concrete:
➢ This type of concrete is very easy to mix, place, transport and compact as it has
high water content.
➢ It is used for concreting where effective compaction of concrete is not
possible.
➢ The possibility of segregation and loss of homogeneity is high of this concrete.
Unworkable Concrete Medium Workable Concrete Highly Workable Concrete

Workability
Factors affecting workability:
➢ w/c ratio: Increasing the amount of water will increase the fluidity and make
concrete easy to be compacted. So, increase in w/c ratio increase workability
(decrease strength).
➢ Gradation of Aggregate: Well-graded aggregates will have better workability

than others as it trends to need to fill smaller void areas.
➢ Aggregate Mix Proportion: For a fixed w/c ratio, an increase in aggregate
/cement ratio will decrease the fluidity. The more cement is used concrete
becomes richer and aggregate will have proper lubrication which increase the
workability.
➢ Maximum Size of Aggregate: For a given w/c ratio, as the maximum size of
aggregate increases, the fluidity increases. This is generally due to the reduction
in surface area of the aggregates.

Workability
➢ Aggregate Properties: The shape and texture of aggregate particles can affect
the workability. The more nearly spherical and smooth the particles, the more
workable the concrete will be.
➢ Time and temperature: As temperature increases, the workability decreases.

Also, workability decreases with time. These effects are related to the
progression of chemical reaction.
➢ Cement: increase of cement fineness decrease of workability. Increased
fineness will reduce fluidity at a given w/c ratio, but increase cohesiveness.
➢ Admixture: Water reducing, air-entraining and set retarding admixtures will
improve workability.
Segregation
➢ Segregation refers to the separation of components of fresh concrete resulting in
a non- uniform mix. In general it means the separation of coarse aggregate from
mortar.
Causes-
▪ Badly proportioned mix (i.e. larger size particle, high proportion of large
particle, sufficient mortar not available to bind and contain aggregate)
▪ High specific gravity of coarse aggregate
▪ Dropping the concrete from too high
▪ Discharge of concrete from badly designed mixer.
Remedies-
▪ Correctly proportioning of the mix.
▪ Proper placing, transporting, compacting
and finishing.
▪ Re-mixing the concrete if any segregation
is observed.

Bleeding
➢ Bleeding means the concentration of water at certain portions of the concrete
( normally at the top). The locations with increased water concentration are
concrete surface, bottom of large aggregate and bottom of reinforcing steel.
➢ It is defined as the appearance of water on the surface of concrete after it has

consolidated but before it is set.

Bleeding
▪ Problems-
➢ When bleeding occurs, the top surface becomes wet. If this water is trapped then
porous, non-durable, weak concrete results.
➢ If some water is trapped under large aggregate or reinforced bar, it leaves weak
zones in concrete and reduces bond.
▪ Remedies-
➢ By reducing water content while maintain an acceptable workability.
➢ By using finer cement.
➢ By proper proportioning, uniform and complete mixing.

Plastic Shrinkage of Concrete
➢Tensile, compressive or shear forces generate deformation in concrete , which can
lead to cracking.
✓ Cracks due to compression are parallel to the applied force.
✓ Tensile cracks are perpendicular to the applied force.
✓ Shear cracks are perpendicular to the tensile stress.
The tensile strength of concrete is only about one 10th of its compressive strength,
therefore concrete is almost never used without reinforcement.
➢Plastic shrinkage develops on the surface of the fresh concrete i.e. it is a
consequence of water evaporation from the surface of fresh concrete.
➢These cracks appear mostly on horizontal surfaces. They are usually parallel to
each other on the order of 1 to 3 feet apart, relatively shallow and generally do not
intersect the perimeter of the slab.

Plastic Shrinkage of Concrete
➢Plastic shrinkage cracking is likely to occur when high evaporation rates cause
the concrete surface to dry out before it has set.
➢The magnitude of plastic shrinkage is affected by the amount of water lost from
the surface of the concrete, which is influenced by temperature, ambient relative
humidity and wind velocity.
➢This can be avoided by keeping the surface moist (curing) when its hardening.
Causes :
▪ Low w/c ratio Remedies:
▪ Higher binder fineness ▪ Wind breaks
▪ High amount of SCM ▪ Fog or spray surface
▪ High air temperature ▪ Pour at night
▪ Low relative humidity ▪ Redesign concrete mixture
▪ High wind speed
▪ High sun exposure

Concrete Hardening Process with Time
Setting and Hardening of Concrete:
➢ Setting- a chemical process that results in gradual development of rigidity of a
cementitious mixture.
➢ Hardening- gain of strength and other properties of a cementitious mixture as a
result of hydration after final setting.
Concrete Hardening Process with
Time:
➢ Setting determines the end of
workability and hardening is
responsible for strength gain and
stiffness development. As the concrete
sets, the workability reduces and the
concrete steadily becomes more
difficult to compact, however it is
inherently weak and can be easily
damaged.
➢ Setting of concrete represents the transition phase between a fluid and rigid
state. The period starts when concrete loses its plasticity, becoming
unworkable, and it is complete when it possesses enough strength to support
loads with acceptable and stable deformation.
Concrete Hardening Process with Time
➢ Concrete will reach a useful strength in about 3 days although this does depend
on the mix design and constituent materials. The majority of strength is gained
within a month. It is important to remember that concrete will reach its
maximum strength only if moisture is present during hardening process.
➢ The hardening process is therefore not dependent on the concrete ‘drying out’,
and it is normally important that the concrete is properly ‘cured’ to maintain the
moisture in the concrete.

Curing
➢ Strength gain is rapid at early stage but continues more slowly for an indefinite period.
To continue the hydration process, in-situ concrete must have sufficient moisture and a
temperature that favors the chemical reaction at a rapid and continuous rate.
➢ The term curing is used to describe the action taken to maintain moisture and
temperature conditions in a freshly placed cementitious mixture to allow hydration so
that the potential properties of the mixture may develop.
➢ The objectives of curing are to prevent the loss of moisture from concrete and, when
needed, supply additional moisture and maintain a favorable concrete temperature for a
sufficient period of time.

Curing
➢ Proper curing will increase durability, strength, water-tightness, abrasion
resistance, volume stability and resistance to freezing and thawing.
➢ The length of adequate curing time is dependent on the following factors:

▪ Mixture proportions
▪ Specified Strength
▪ Size and shape of concrete member
▪ Ambient weather conditions
▪ Future Exposure conditions
➢ The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recommends a minimum curing period

corresponding to attaining 70% of the compressive strength of concrete. It is
often specified that this can be achieved after seven days of curing.
➢ However, 70% strength can be reached quicker when concrete cures at higher
temperature, or when certain admixtures are used in concrete mix. Similarly,
more time may be needed for curing when concrete or ambient temperatures are
lower.

Curing
Temperature Effects on Curing:
➢ The higher the temperature the faster the curing
➢ Typically, 20◦C is considered an ideal curing temperature.
➢ If concrete freezes during the first 24 hrs. it may never be able to attain its
original properties.
➢ Real high temperatures above 120◦F (48.9◦C)
can cause serious damage since cement may
set too fast.
➢ Higher curing temperatures promote an early

strength gain in concrete but may decrease its
28-day strength.

Curing
Phases of Curing:
➢ Concrete curing is carried out in three phases:
✓ Initial curing.
✓ Immediate curing.
✓ Final Curing.
➢ Cuing (final) should start after minimum six hours (final setting time of
concrete) and not less than 24 hours. Thus, when concrete curing has to start
varies and depends on when the surface of the concrete begins to dry.
➢ Concrete curing should be started before concrete surface losses its water.
Methods of Curing
Water curing- This technique involves i) Ponding ii) Spraying or sprinkling of
water on concrete surface. The water should be continuously applied so that the
concrete does not dry out.
Sealed curing- i. Waterproof paper ii. Plastic sheeting iii. Curing membranes are
the most widely used material for sealed curing. These materials simply reduce the
amount of water lost due to evaporation.
Curing
Ponding /Immersion:
➢ Generally used for flat surface like slabs in roof, pavement. A temporary pond
is made bounded by mortar perimeter made up of less amount cement and sand
or clay, and this is filled with water for curing.
➢ Ponding is an ideal method for preventing loss of moisture form the concrete; It
is also effective for maintaining a uniform temperature throughout the concrete.

Curing
Fogging or Sprinkling:
➢ Fogging or sprinkling with nozzles or sprays provides excellent curing when the
air temperature is above freezing.
➢ A disadvantage of sprinkling is the cost of the water in regions where an ample
supply is not readily available.
➢ If sprinkling is done at intervals, the concrete must be prevented from drying.

Curing
Saturated Wet Covering:
➢ Burlap, cotton mats, and other coverings of absorbent materials can hold water
on horizontal or vertical surfaces.
➢ The materials should be placed as soon as the concrete has hardened enough to
prevent surface damage. They should be kept constantly wet so that a film of
water remains on the concrete surface throughout the curing period.

Curing
Covering Concrete with impervious Plastic Sheets
➢ Impervious paper and plastic sheets can be applied on thoroughly wet concrete
to control moisture loss.

Curing
Steam Curing

Effect of w/c on Concrete Properties
Effect on strength:
➢ Water-cement ratio is defined as the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of
cement.
➢ The water cement ratio law states that as the water to cement ratio is reduced (to
a minimum point) the strength is increased. As the water/cement ratio is
increased the distance between hydrated cement crystals is increased, thereby
reducing the bonding contact area between the hydrated cement crystals and the
aggregate. This, in turn, reduces the strength of the concrete.
➢ From experimental data, it has been found that for full hydration of cement paste
and no pores to be left there, sufficient water is required in the concrete mix.
The least quantity of this water corresponds to 0.38 w/c ratio. If water-cement
ratio is less than 0.38, complete hydration is not possible, concrete becomes dry
and harsh and may not develop full strength.
➢ The strength of concrete is very much dependent upon the hydration reaction.
Water plays a critical role, particularly the amount used. The hydration reaction
itself consumes a specific amount of water. Concrete is actually mixed with
more water than is needed for hydration reactions. The extra water is added to
give concrete sufficient workability.



Effect on workability:
➢ Workability of concrete means the ability of concrete to perform concreting
process like mixing, placing, transporting, compacting with ease and without
any segregation. In other words, workability of concrete means the ability of
concrete to work easily.
➢ High water to cement ratio leads to higher workability because inter particle
lubrication is increased. Similarly, lower w/c ratio leads to lower workability
because there is lack of interparticle lubrication.
➢ Water cement ratio varies from 0.4-0.6. But its selection depends on the
requirement of workability in different exposure conditions and nature of work.
At this w/c ratio, the mix has sufficient water for hydration as well as for
providing ease in the concreting process like mixing, placing, transporting and
compacting. Because water works as a lubricant in the concrete mix and reduces
the internal friction between particles of concrete.

Effect on porosity:
➢ The water that is not consumed in the hydration reaction will remain in the
microstructure pore space. These pores make the concrete weaker due to lack of
strength-performing calcium silicate hydrate bonds. Some pore will remain no
matter how well the concrete has been compacted.
➢ At higher water/cement ratio the ‘gel’ formed is in the poor physical structure,
create void during subsequent evaporation and become more porous resulting in
a lower strength of concrete at a later age.

Admixture
Definition:
➢ Admixture is a material other than water, aggregate, hydraulic cement and
aggregate used as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly
mixed, setting or hardened properties and is added before or during mixing.
Functions of Admixture:
➢ Increase workability without increasing water content or decrease the water content
at the same workability.
➢ Retard or accelerate time of initial setting.
➢ Reduce segregation.
➢ Modify the rate or capacity of bleeding.
➢ Accelerate the rate of strength development at early stages.
➢ Decrease permeability of concrete.
➢ Retard or reduce heat evolution during early hardening.
➢ Increase strength (compressive, tensile or flexural).
➢ Increase durability or resistance to severe conditions of exposure including
application of deicing salts and other chemicals.
➢ Control expansion caused by the reaction of alkalies with potentially reactive
aggregate constituents.
➢ Improve impact and abrasion resistance.
➢ Increase bond of concrete to steel reinforcement.
➢ Reduce or prevent shrinkage.
Classification of Admixture
Types of Admixture:
1. Mineral Admixture
2. Chemical Admixture
Mineral Admixture:
▪ Fly ash
▪ Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag
▪ Silica Fume
▪ Rice Husk
Chemical Admixture:
▪ Accelerating admixture or Accelerator
▪ Retarding admixture or Retarder
▪ Water-reducing admixture or Plasticizer
▪ High range water Reducing admixture or Superplasticizer
▪ Air-entraining admixture

Accelerating admixture or Accelerator:
➢ An admixture that causes an increase in the rate of hydration of cement and
shorten the time of setting or increase the rate of hardening or strength
development.
➢ These are used in cold water conditions, under water constructions, early
removal of formwork, less period of curing etc.
Retarding admixture or Retarder:

➢ An admixture that causes a decrease in the rate of hydration of cement and
lengthens the time of setting.
➢ These are used for long distance/ transportation of concrete.
Water reducing admixture or plasticizer:

➢ An admixture that either increases slump of freshly mixed concrete without
increasing water content or maintains slump with a reduced amount of water.
➢ These are used to achieve a higher strength by decreasing water cement ratio at
the same workability.
➢ 5-12% water reduction is possible by using plasticizer in concrete mix.

High range water reducing admixture or Super plasticizer:
➢ Super plasticizers are high range water reducers and they reduce water
requirement of concrete up-to an extent of 30 percent.
➢ It can improve workability, speed finishing, increase strength, conserve cement
and help reduce shrinkage and thermal cracking.
Air entraining admixture:

➢ An admixture that causes the development of a system of microscopic air
bubbles in concrete during mixing.
➢ It makes the concrete resistant to freezing and thawing.

Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) in Concrete
➢ Concrete deterioration caused by reactions between alkalis and aggregate. The
aggregates are chemically attacked inside of the hardened concrete and causing
cracking.
➢ The Alkali–Silica reaction (ASR) is a reaction which occurs over time in
concrete between the highly alkaline cement paste and reactive silica which is
found in many common aggregates.

➢ Various types of silica present in aggregates react with the hydroxyl ions present
in concrete. The silica, now in solution, reacts with the sodium (Na+) or
potassium (K+) alkalis to form a volumetrically unstable alkali-silica gel. For the
reaction to take place in concrete, three conditions must exist: high pH,
moisture, and reactive silica. For the sake of simplicity, this reaction can be
schematically represented as following:
SiO2 + 2NaOH + H2O à Na2 SiO3.2 H2O
[Silica + Alkali + Water à Alkali-Silica Gel (Sodium Silicate)]
➢ This reaction causes the expansion of the altered aggregate by the formation of a
swelling alkali- silica gel. This gel increases in volume with water and exerts an
expansive pressure inside the material, causing spalling cracking and loss of
strength of the concrete, fragments breaking out of the surface and finally
leading to its failure.
Mechanism:
Alkali hydroxide + Reactive silica à Alkali silica gel
Gel (reaction product) + moisture à expansion

Mitigating or preventing deleterious expansions caused by the alkali-silica reaction
can be achieved by:
➢ Selecting Non-Reactive Aggregates: Using non-reactive aggregates in concrete
and avoiding reactive aggregates will prevent ASR damage.
➢ Minimizing Alkalis: The most commonly used mitigation method is to control

the alkali content in the concrete for the purpose of reducing the hydroxyl ion
concentration and eventually the pH of the concrete. Cement is the major source
of alkali in the concrete. A proposed limit of 0.60% has been recommended for
the alkali content of cement to be used in concrete to reduce ASR expansions
(ACI 221, 1998).
➢ Adding Mineral Admixtures: Effective mineral admixtures include fly ash,

silica fume, ground granulated slag etc. Mineral admixtures reduce ASR
expansions by reducing the alkali content of the concrete mix.
➢ Using Chemical Admixtures: Lithium salts have been used to prevent excessive
ASR expansions. The best results were obtained using lithium nitrate (LiNO3)
because 1) it is non- toxic and 2) minimal amounts were found to significantly
reduce the ASR expansions (ACI 221, 1998).
Modulus of Elasticity of Concrete
➢ The stress-strain curve for hardened cement paste is
almost linear as shown in the figure. The aggregate
is more rigid than the cement paste and will
therefore deform less (i.e. have a lower strain)
under the same applied stress. Concrete is a
composite material. It has a non-linear stress strain
curve. The stress strain curve of concrete lies
between those of the aggregate and the cement
paste.
➢ A typical relationship between stress and strain

for normal strength concrete is presented in
Figure 1. After an initial linear portion lasting up
to about 40 – 45% of the ultimate load, the curve
becomes non-linear. The strain corresponding to
ultimate stress is usually around 0.002 for normal Stress
strength concrete. The rapture strain ranges from
0.003 to 0.004.
0.002 Ɛcu =0.003-0.004
Stress
➢ As the compressive strength of concrete increases the rupture strain decreases.

➢ Since the stress-strain curve of concrete is nonlinear, following methods for computing
modulus of elasticity of concrete are used:
1. Initial Tangent Modulus:
It is given by the slope of a line drawn tangent to the stress-strain curve at the origin. . This
modulus has significance only for low stresses and thus is of limited value and not easy to
determine
2. Tangent Modulus:
It is represented by the slope of the line drawn tangent to the stress-strain curve at any point
on the curve. But it is difficult to determine tangent modulus with accuracy as the tangent to
the curve is drawn by the eye judgment.
3. Secant Modulus:
It is represented by the slope of a line drawn from the origin to any point on the curve. This
method is most practical and is in most general use as it represents the actual deformation at
the selected point and no uncertainties are involved in its determination.
➢ According to ACI Building Code ACI- 318, with a concrete unit weight between 90 and
155 lb/ft3 and for concretes up to about 6000 psi, the modulus of elasticity can be
determined from:
E = 33w1.5 f́ć
Where w is the weight (pcf), fć ́ is the specified cylinder strength (psi) at 28 days. The weight
density of reinforced concrete using normal sand and stone aggregates is about 150 pcf. If 5
pcf of this is allowed for the steel and w is taken as 145 in the previous equation then,
E= 57,000√f́ć

Slump Test of Concrete
➢ The concrete slump test measures the consistency of fresh concrete before it sets.
It is performed to check the workability of freshly made concrete, and therefore
the ease with which concrete flows. It can also be used as an indicator of an
improperly mixed batch. The test is popular due to the simplicity of apparatus
used and simple procedure.
➢ The slump value of concrete is just a principle of gravity flow of surface of the
concrete cone that indicates the amount of water added to it, which means how
much this concrete mix is in workable condition.
Procedure:
➢ Video- Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDUQO-bn8pU
➢ Concrete is placed in three layers in a mold (a frustum

cone) approximately 1/ 3 of the height of the cone. The
apparatus consists of a mold in the shape of a frustum of
a cone with a base diameter of 8 inches, a top diameter of
4 inches and a height of 12 inches.

➢ Each layer is tamped 25 times by a tamping rod.
➢ When the top layer has been rodded, the top surface is then struck plain with a
trowel.
➢ Then the mold is removed by raising it slowly and vertically and it allows the
concrete to subside.
➢ The subsidence is referred to as ‘slump’.


Data:
Slump Value (Sample-1)= 20 mm
Sample Calculation:
20+25+20
Slump Value =
3
= 21.67 mm
≈ 20 mm
Result: Report the slump in terms of inches [millimetres] to the nearest 1⁄4 in. [5 mm] of
subsidence of the specimen during the test.

Types of Slump:
➢ Four types of slumps are commonly encountered. The only type of slump permissible
under ASTM C143 is frequently referred to as the “true” slump, where the concrete
remains intact and retains a symmetric shape.
➢ True Slump: True shape of a slump is only a verified slump which indicates good
cohesion and good consistency.
➢ Collapse Slump: Collapse slump indicates that concrete mix is too wet and the mix is
regarded as harsh and lean.
➢ Shear Slump: Shear slump indicates that the concrete lacks cohesion. It may undergo
segregation and bleeding and thus is undesirable for the durability of concrete. If part of
concrete shears from the mass, the test must be repeated with a different sample of
concrete. A concrete that indicates a shear slump in a second test is not sufficiently
cohesive and should be rejected.
Air Content Determination of Concrete
Air Content Determination:
➢ There are three methods available for determining the air content in concrete.
1. Gravimetric method (ASTM C-138)
2. Volumetric method (ASTM C-173)
3. Pressure method (ASTM C-231)
Air content determination using gravimetric method is as follows:
γ
Air content = (1- γ actual ) × 100%
𝑛𝑜 𝑎𝑖𝑟
−
𝑊𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 +𝑊𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡+𝑊𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑊𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑

Air-Free Unit Weight = +
𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 +𝑉𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑉𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 +𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑
+
Wingredient
V ingredient =
𝐺𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 γ𝑤
×
580
V cement =
3.15 ×62.5
= 2.95 ft3

Air Content Determination of Concrete
320 + 580 + 1940 + 1110 𝑙𝑏 Given,

γ no- air =
5.13 + 2.95 + 11.60 + 6.71 𝑓𝑡3 Wwater = 320 lb
Wcement = 580 lb
=149.7 lb/ 𝑓𝑡3 Wgravel= 1940 lb
Wsand = 1110 lb
Gwater = 1.00
Assume,
Gcement = 3.15
γ Actual = 146.2 lb/ 𝑓𝑡3
Ggravel= 2.68
Gsand = 2.65
146.2
Air content = (1- ) × 100%
149.7
= 2.3%

Compressive Strength of Cylindrical and Cube Concrete Specimens
➢ The compressive strength of the specimen is calculated by dividing the

maximum load attained during the test by the cross-sectional area of the
specimen i.e. maximum force per unit area, in compression, which a material
can withstand before breaking.
➢ The compressive strength of concrete is one of the most important and useful
properties of concrete. The compressive strength of concrete is of primary
importance in structural applications because design procedures require this
property. Many other properties of concrete such as durability, resistance to
shrinkage, Young's Modulus, imperviousness, etc. are depended on the
compressive strength of the concrete. Thus the compressive strength reflects the
overall quality of concrete. Strength tests of concrete specimens are used for
three main purposes:
▪ For research.
▪ For quality control and quality assurance.
▪ For determining in-place concrete strength.

➢ The compressive strength of hardened concrete is affected by various factors

such as:
a. Water cement ratio: Smaller the w/c ratio higher the strength and vice versa.
b. Quality and type of cement: Strength of concrete using older cement is less
than that using fresh cement. Different types of cement have different strengths.
c. Grading of aggregate: Well graded aggregate gives a good mix with higher
strength.
d. Quality of aggregate: the grains of sand or coarse aggregate should be of a

durable quality, clean without any deleterious materials for higher strength.
e. Method employed in mixing: Machine mixing gives a more homogeneous mass

than hand mixing and so results in higher strength.
f. Compaction: Compaction by vibrations gives more compact and strong concrete

than hand tamping by rods or tampers.

g. Curing: Concrete must not be allowed to dry for a certain period. Good curing
keeps the concrete wet and results in optimum strength.
h. Age of concrete: Strength increases with age. Thus the strength at 7 days is
almost 70% of strength at 28 days.
Test Procedure:
• Video 1: Cube Casting
Source- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTsLuaXOJWY&t=8s
• Video 2:
Source- AUST Lab
• Video 3: Bearing Pad

Source-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYmil0luMEs
• Video 4: Capping
Source- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMa_kebxR3o

Cylinder Test for Concrete:
➢ The standard cylinder specimen is 6 inch in diameter and
12inch in height.
➢ First fill the cylindrical mould with concrete in three
equal layers.
➢ Each layer is compacted by 25 strokes of a 16mm dia
steel rod.
➢After filling & compacting all three layers, the top surface should be struck
plane by means of a trowel.
➢After preparation, the cylinders (with mould) are placed undisturbed in the
moist storage at a temperature of 23+1.70C for 24 hours.
➢Then remove the specimens from the mould and the removed specimens are
further cured in water.
➢The tests are carried out after 3,7 and 28 days of curing.
➢3 cylinders are selected from different batch by random sampling. Then the
average of those 3 samples is considered as compressive strength of concrete.
➢Maximum failure types are of shear and shear & cone.
Fig.: Different Types of Failure in Concrete Specimen

Splitting Tensile Strength Test of Concrete
Compressive and tensile strength are important parameters to know the quality of
concrete. In some circumstances, tensile strength is also required to analyze and
design a structure.
Although concrete does not design to resist direct tension, but the knowledge of
tensile strength should be taken under consideration as it decides the crack that
will develop under the load. Besides that, the determination of the tensile strength
of the concrete is also required:
• In the handling of highway pavement slab design and airfield runway slab
design, these are designed based on flexural strength, which is related to tensile
stresses in the bottom part of the member.
• Mass concrete structures such as the sidewalk, some soil or base and sub-base
supported rigid pavement and dam under earthquake excitations and shear
strength.
• Most important is resistance to cracking requires information of the flexural

member of the concrete structure.

Splitting Tensile Strength Test of Concrete
➢ The tensile strength of concrete is obtained by

applying a compressive force along the length of
the concrete cylinder. The dimensions of
cylindrical specimen are 6” diameter and 12”
height.
Calculation:
Calculate the splitting tensile strength of the

specimen as follows:
T = 2P/π*ld
Where,
T = Splitting tensile strength, psi [MPa]
P = Maximum applied load indicated by testing
machine, lbf [N]
l = length, in. [mm]
d = diameter, in. [mm]

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CE 201

➢ The Simplest representation of concrete is:

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

➢ Aggregate retained on 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve is called

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

➢ Durability: It should be durable enough to resist the effects of weathering agents.

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

European Strength Classification:

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Unworkable Concrete Medium Workable Concrete Highly Workable Concrete

➢ Gradation of Aggregate: Well-graded aggregates will have better workability

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

➢ Time and temperature: As temperature increases, the workability decreases.

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

➢ It is defined as the appearance of water on the surface of concrete after it has

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

➢ The length of adequate curing time is dependent on the following factors:

➢ The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recommends a minimum curing period

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

➢ Typically, 20◦C is considered an ideal curing temperature.

➢ Higher curing temperatures promote an early

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Retarding admixture or Retarder:

Water reducing admixture or plasticizer:

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Air entraining admixture:

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Gel (reaction product) + moisture à expansion

➢ Minimizing Alkalis: The most commonly used mitigation method is to control

➢ Adding Mineral Admixtures: Effective mineral admixtures include fly ash,

➢ A typical relationship between stress and strain

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

➢ Concrete is placed in three layers in a mold (a frustum

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

➢ The subsidence is referred to as ‘slump’.

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST

Khan Abid Ahsan, Lecturer, Departmnet of CE, AUST