3. Concrete

There are different mix ratios of Concrete.
Mix ratios are decided based upon the type of construction

structures and mix designs.
For Concrete Mix Ratio the components are — Cement, Sand, Course Aggregates and Water.
Different Grades of Concrete denotes its strength for required construction. The “M” denotes mix. For
example if the concrete mix is of M20 Grade then the compressive strength will be 20 MPa.
Different types of Concrete Mix Ratio
Nominal Concrete Mix Ratios
Previously the specification for concrete was proportion of Cement, Sand and Course Aggregates. The fixed
ratio of these was to ensure the strength to the structure.
Standard Concrete Mix/Ratio
As per Indian Standards (IS 456–2000) concrete mixes are segregated into different grades. It starts from M5
and goes up to M40. M refers to Mix and the numbers are to signify the strength of Mix N/mm2.
What Is Fresh Concrete?
When concrete is its plastic state, it is known as fresh concrete. Fresh concrete can be easily molded to a
durable structural member. It can be prepared on the spot and may give a wide range of properties from easily
available raw materials.
Properties of Fresh Concrete
Workability.
Temperature.
Water Cement Ratio.
Segregation.
Bleeding.
Plastic shrinkage.
Setting Time.
Hydration.
• Workability of Fresh Concrete: defines workability as that Property of freshly mixed mortar or
concrete that determines the ease and homogeneity by which it could be mixed, placed, compacted, and
completed.
• Temperature of Fresh Concrete: Concrete is not recommended to be placed at a temperature above 40°C
without proper precautions, as laid down in IS:7861(part -1).
• Special problems are encountered in the preparation, placement, and curing of concrete in hot weather. The First 24 to 72
hours after placing fresh concrete are of extreme importance.
• In this period, hydration of concrete occurs, which is a chemical process in which concrete gains its strength.
• If the temperature of concrete is not controlled and it goes beyond maximum range during hydration, then stresses are
produced, and cracks are formed in concrete.
• Also if the temperature falls below the minimum temperature, then concrete takes a large time to set, and the hydration
process slows down.
• It is necessary to understand here that concrete can be done at any temperature unless the temperature is controlled.
• Water Cement Ratio (w/c) of Fresh Concrete: It is the ratio of cement and water utilized in the preparation
of concrete. The quantity of water used at mixing concrete is very important. If the percentage of water used
is less, then there will not be a sufficient quantity of water to hydrate cement. It will result in weak
and porous concrete.
• Too much water results in the segregation of aggregates and gives porous concrete of low strength and low
density.
• Abrahms, as a result of a large number of experiments, states that “with given materials and conditions of the
test, the ratio of the quantity of mixing water into the quantity of cement alone determines the potency of
concrete as long as the mix is of workable plasticity.“
• Segregation of Fresh Concrete: Is usually caused by excessive vibration of cemenet. The different
materials that make up the concrete mix have different weights, so while the concrete is in a liquid
state, there is a tendency for heavier materials to settle to the bottom, and the lighter slurry to rise to the
top.
Bleeding of Fresh Concrete: Bleeding in concrete is sometimes referred to as water gain. This is a special form of
separation, in which some water from the concrete flows to the surface of the concrete, with the lowest specific gravity
among all concrete components.
Excessive bleeding is seen in thin members such as roof slabs or road slabs, and when the concrete is placed in sunny
weather.
• Plastic Shrinkage of Fresh Concrete: If water is removed from the concrete before it sets, the volume of
the concrete is reduced by the amount of water removed. This volume reduction is known as plastic
shrinkage.
• This is the shrinkage that the fresh concrete undergoes until it sets completely.
• Setting Time of Fresh Concrete: When concrete changes its state from fresh to hardened then this process
is called setting. And the time required to complete this process is known as setting time of Concrete.
• Hydration In Fresh Concrete: When cement comes in contact with water, a chemical reaction begins. This
reaction is known as hydration.
• Hydration occurs more rapidly at higher air temperatures. Hydration itself also generates heat. This heat of
hydration can be helpful during cold-weather construction but harmful during hot-weather construction.
• Following are the properties of hardened concrete:
• Strength of Concrete
• Concrete Creep
• Shrinkage
• Modulus Of Elasticity
• Water tightness (impermeability)
• Rate of strength gain of concrete

1. Strength:
• The strength of concrete is basically referred to compressive strength and it depends upon three
factors.
• 1- Paste Strength
2- Interfacial Bonding
3- Aggregate Strength
• 1. Paste strength:
• It is mainly due to the binding properties of cement that the ingredients are compacted together.
If the paste has higher binding strength, higher will be strength of concrete.
2. Interfacial bonding:
• Interfacial bonding is very necessary regarding the strength. Clay hampers the bonding between
paste and aggregate. The aggregate should be washed for a better bonding between paste and
aggregate.
3. Aggregate strength:
• It is mainly the aggregate that provide strength to concrete especially coarse aggregates which
act just like bones in the body. Rough and angular aggregate provides better bonding and high
strength.
• 2. Creep in Concrete
• Concrete creep is defined as: deformation of structure under sustained load. Basically,
long term pressure or stress on concrete can make it change shape. This deformation
usually occurs in the direction the force is being applied. Like a concrete column getting
more compressed, or a beam bending. Creep does not necessarily cause concrete to
fail or break apart. Creep is factored in when concrete structures are designed.
• 3. Shrinkage
• Concrete is subjected to changes in volume. Volume change is one of the most
detrimental properties of concrete, which affects the long-term strength and durability.
To the practical engineer, the aspect of volume change in concrete is important from
the point of view that it causes unsightly cracks in concrete.
• . Modulus of Elasticity
• Young's modulus ( E ) describes tensile elasticity, or the tendency of an object to
deform along an axis when opposing forces are applied along that axis; it is defined
as the ratio of tensile stress to tensile strain. It is often referred to simply as the elastic
modulus.
• The modulus of elasticity of concrete is a function of the modulus of elasticity of the
aggregates and the cement matrix and their relative proportions. The modulus of
elasticity of concrete is relatively constant at low stress levels but starts decreasing at
higher stress levels as matrix cracking develops. The elastic modulus of the hardened
paste may be in the order of 10-30 GPa and aggregates about 45 to 85 GPa. The
concrete composite is then in the range of 30 to 50 GPa.
• 5. Water Tightness
• Watertightness is the ability of concrete to keep water out or in. Watertight is a versatile
range of specialized ready mix concretes designed to protect a structure from water ingress
or to retain water within a structure.
• Water-tight concrete, or concrete made water-tight by some kind of waterproof coating, is
frequently required, either for inclosing a space which must he kept dry, or for storing water
or other liquids. Concrete, even when most carefully prepared from materials of the highest
grade, is never of itself completely waterproof.
• 6. Rate of Strength Gain of Concrete
• Strength can be defined as ability to resist change. One of the most valuable properties of
the concrete is its strength. Strength is most important parameter that gives the picture of
overall quality of concrete. Strength of concrete usually directly related to cement paste.
What is characteristic strength?
• The strength of concrete, where not more than 5% of the test results are expected to fail is
known as characteristic strength of concrete.
• in simple words only 5% chances are there that the concrete will fail at its characteristic
strength.
• EX: if a block of M25 concrete has a characteristic strength of 23MPa means that the
chances of failure are only 5% of that load(23MPa). 95% chance is there it will survive.
• Compressive strength test will be determined by the strength of concrete at 28 days as per
IS standard
• Based on the cube results graph will be plotted. No of cube sample represents the vertical
axis and compressive strength of concrete cube the horizontal axis.

3. Concrete

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

3. Concrete

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

3. Concrete

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

There are different mix ratios of Concrete.

Mix ratios are decided based upon the type of construction

without proper precautions, as laid down in IS:7861(part -1).

hours after placing fresh concrete are of extreme importance.

produced, and cracks are formed in concrete.

process slows down.

• Water tightness (impermeability)

• Rate of strength gain of concrete

You might also like