Concrete

Concrete
FRESH CONCRETE
The strength of concrete is affected by the degree of its
compaction. It is vital, therefore, that the consistency
(ability to flow) of the mix be such that, the concrete can be
transported, placed and finished sufficiently, easily and
without segregation
WORKABILITY
Used to describe the ease with which concrete
mixes can be compacted (completely compacted
using the lowest possible w/c)
Factors of Workability
1. Water Content: adding water
↑ workability, ↓ STRENGTH
2. Maximum size of aggregate:
↓ surface area to be wetted, ↑ water in medium
3. Grading of aggregates:
poor grading reduces consistency
4. Shape and Texture of aggregates:
smooth Surface gives better workability
Measurements of Workability
(Indirect)
1. Slump Test
2. Compacting Factor Test
3. Flow Table Test
4. VeBe Test
5. Kelly Ball Test

SLUMP TEST
Used in detecting variations in the uniformity of a mix of
given nominal proportions
Stiff Mix = zero slump
Rich Mix = slump varies but satisfactory
Lean Mix = shear or collapse slump
Compacting Factor Test
Measurement of the density ratio(actual recorded
density to the density of the same concrete that is
fully compacted)
Flow Table Test
Measures the diameter of the spread after
vibration
(Self ConsolidationConcrete/Self
CompactingConcrete)
Kelly Ball Test
Measures the depth of penetration
Segregation
Separation of the constituents of a heterogeneous mixture
so that the distribution is no longer uniform.
TWO FORMS OF CONCRETE SEGREGATION
1. Coarse particles tend to separate out since they settle more
than the fine particles
2. Segregation on wet mixes (separation of water + cement)
from the mix
Bleeding (Water Gain)
Water from the mix tends to rise to the surface of
freshly placed concrete. Bleeding can be expressed
as the total settlement per unit height of concrete.
Laitance
a weak, friable layer on the surface of concrete
and sand cement screeds which appears after
curing.
Compaction of Concrete
Consists essentially of the elimination of
entrapped air in concrete (ramming/vibration)
Types of Vibration
1. Internal Vibration
2. External Vibration
3. Vibrating Tables
Curing of Concrete (Sample and Onsite)
The creation of an environment for a period of

time (suitable temperature, prevention of loss of
moisture or providing moisture)
Quality of Mixing Water
Suitability of water for mixing and curing
processes should be considered, quality of water is
covered by saying water must be fit for drinking.
Pumped Concrete
A type of concrete which is designed to be pump able with
relatively high slump (6-8")
Underwater Concreting
A special technique used to make concreting in
water (Tremie Method)
HARDENED CONCRETE
Hardened concrete is product of binding and hardening of the concrete
mixture which contains ingredients quantified in the appropriate proportions:
binder (cement)
coarse aggregate (gravel)
fine aggregate (sand, fraction <2mm)
water and optional additives (> 5% by weight of binder)
admixtures (<5% by weight of the binder).

Compressive Strength
The compression strength of concrete is a measure
of the concrete's ability to resist loads which
tend to compress it. It is measured by crushing
cylindrical concrete specimens in compression
Flexural Strength
Flexural strength is one measure of the tensile
strength of concrete. It is a measure of an
unreinforced concrete beam or slab to resist
failure in bending
Tensile Strength
There is no field test for direct determination of
tension under axial loading. An indirect method
called the splitting tensile test, in which a
standard test cylinder is loaded in compression on
its side.
Shear, Torsion and Combined
Stresses
Shear is a loading in which a part of a member attempts to
slide or shear along another part. Torsion, which is a
twisting, is also complex and difficult to evaluate. When
concrete fails, a combination of stresses causes the failure.
Durability
Besides its ability to sustain loads, concrete is also
required to be durable. The durability of concrete can be
defined as its resistance to deterioration resulting from
external and internal causes. The external causes include
the effects of environmental and service conditions to
which concrete is subjected such as weathering, chemical
actions and wear. The internal causes are the effects of
interaction between the constituent material such as
alkali-aggregate reaction, volume changes, absorption and
permeability.
External Causes
1. Leaching out of Cement
2. Actions of sulphates, seawater and natural slightly
acidic water.
3. Occurrence of extreme temperatures, abrasion and
electrostatic action.
Internal Causes
1. Alkali-aggregate reactions
2. Volume change due to difference in thermal
properties of the aggregate and cement paste.
3. Permeability of concrete.
Shrinkage
Shrinkage of concrete is caused by the setting of
solids and the loss of free water from the plastic
concrete (plastic shrinkage), by the chemical
combination of cement with water (autogenous
shrinkage) and by the drying concrete (drying
shrinkage).
Types of Concrete Defects
1. CRACKS
Cracks are formed in concrete due to many reasons
but when these cracks are very deep, it is unsafe to use
that concrete structure. Various reasons for cracking and
improper mix design, insufficient curing. omission of
expansion and contraction joints, use of high slump
concrete mix, unsuitable sub-grade etc.
2. CRAZING
Crazing also called as pattern cracking or map
cracking is the formation of closely spaced shallow cracks
in an uneven manner. Crazing occurs due to rapid
hardening of top surface of concrete due to high
temperatures or if the mix contains excess water content
or due to insufficient curing.
3. BLISTERING
Blistering is the formation of hollow bumps of
different sizes on concrete surface due to entrapped air
under the finished concrete surface. It may cause due to
excessive vibration of concrete mix or presence of excess
entrapped air in mix or due to improper finishing.
4. DELAMINATION
Delamination is also similar to blistering. In this
case also, top surface of concrete gets separated from
underlying concrete. Hardening of top layer of concrete
before the hardening of underlying concrete will lead to
delamination. It is because the water and air bleeding
from underlying concrete are struck between these two
surfaces, hence space will be formed.
5. DUSTING
Dusting, also called as chalking, is the formation of
fine and loose powdered concrete on the hardened
concrete by disintegration. This happens due to the
presence of excess amount of water in concrete. It causes
bleeding of water from concrete, with this fine particles
like cement or sand will rise to the top and consequent
wear causes dust at the top surface.
6. CURLING
When a concrete slab is distorted into curved shape
by upward or downward movement of edges or corners, it
is called curling. It occurs mainly due to the differences in
moisture content or temperature between slab surface
(top) and slab base (bottom).
7. EFFLORESCENCE
Efflorescence is the formation of deposits of salts on
the concrete surface. Formed salts generally white in
color. It is due to the presence of soluble salts in the
water which is used in making concrete mix.
8. SCALING AND SPALLING
Scaling and spalling, in both the cases, concrete surface gets deteriorated and
flaking of concrete occurs. The main cause for this type of cases is penetration of water
through concrete surface. This makes steel gets corroded and spalling or scaling may
occur.

Concrete

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Concrete

2. Compacting Factor Test

3. Flow Table Test

5. Kelly Ball Test

The creation of an environment for a period of

coarse aggregate (gravel)

fine aggregate (sand, fraction <2mm)

water and optional additives (> 5% by weight of binder)

admixtures (<5% by weight of the binder).

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