Properties and Application of

High Strength Concrete

CE -6118

Lecture 4
(Batching, Mixing, Transporting,
Placing, Curing, and Quality Control
Procedures of HSC)

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Batching, Mixing, Transporting, Placing,

Curing, and Quality Control Procedures:
 High-quality construction with HSC involves the
same procedures used for high-quality construction
with NSC.
 ACI 304 can be followed.
 Because of the higher cementitious-material
contents and the use of superplasticizers,
construction process should be emphasized to
provide for thorough mixing and adequate
consolidation, finishing, curing and quality control
procedures.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Batching, Mixing, Transporting, Placing,

Curing, and Quality Control Procedures:
 Large unit cement contents resulting greater heat
generation some of the recommendations on
production and delivery and on placing and curing
in ACI 305R, “Hot Weather Concreting,” may also
be applicable.
 Production and testing of HSC requires well-
qualified concrete producers and testing
laboratories

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Batching (Control, handling and storage of

materials):
 Proper stockpiling of aggregates, uniformity of
moisture and good sampling practice are essential.
 Maximum limit of 170F (77C) temperature, the
cement ais batched in warm weather and 150F
(66C) in hot weather.
 Batching facilities should be located at or near the
job site to reduce haul time.
 Delivery time should be reduced to a minimum and
special attention paid to scheduling and placing to
avoid having trucks wait to unload.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Batching (Control, handling and storage of

materials):
 Important to have an adequate supply of all
materials with minimum variations in uniformity.
 Cement uniformity should be evaluated in
accordance with ASTM C 917, and mineral
admixtures should meet their respective ASTM
specifications.
 Variations in fine-aggregate gradation should be
limited to changes in fineness modulus of ± 0.2.
 Best to saturate all aggregate and then account for
the free surface moisture in the batch weights.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Batching (Control, handling and storage of

materials):
 Saturated aggregate prevents additional slump loss
during mixing and placing operations, and water in
aggregate pores can serve as a reservoir for water
of hydration after the concrete has set.
 Prevention of slump loss due to continued
absorption of mix water by aggregates is especially
important for HSC, since superplasticizers maintain
slump for only a short period of time.
 Provision may be needed for dispensing a
superplasticizer at the job site.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Batching (Measuring and weighing):

 Materials for HSC may be batched in manual,
semiautomatic, or automatic plants.
 ACI 304 recommends that cements and pozzolans
be weighed with automatic equipment.
 Automatic weigh batchers or meters are
recommended for water measurement.
 To maintain the proper w/c ratios necessary to
secure HSC, accurate moisture determination in the
fine aggregate is essential.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Batching (Charging of materials):

 Batching procedures have important effects on the
ease of producing thoroughly mixed uniform
concrete in both stationary and truck mixers.
 If truck mixers are being used, ribbon loading will
prevent delayed mixing, which is sometimes used
to prevent hydration of the cement during long
hauls.
 The uniformity of concrete mixed in central mixers
is generally enhanced by ribbon loading the
aggregate, cement, and water simultaneously.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Mixing:
 HSC may be mixed entirely at the batch plant, in a
central or truck mixer, or by a combination of the
two.
 Mixing follows the recommendations of ACI 304.
 Reducing the batch size below the rated capacity
insure more efficient mixing.
 Due to relatively low water content and high
cement content and the usual absence of large
coarse aggregate, the efficient mixing of HSC is
more difficult than conventional concrete.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Mixing (Mixer performance):

 Performance of mixers is usually determined by a
series of uniformity tests (ASTM C 94) made on
samples taken from two to three locations within
the concrete batch being mixed for a given time
period.
 It becomes more important for the supplier of
HSC to check mixer performance and efficiency
prior to production mixing

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Mixing (Mixing time):

 Mixing time required is based upon the ability of
the central mixer to produce uniform concrete both
within a batch.
 ACI 304 may be used.
 Usually 1 min for 1 yd3 (0.75 m3) plus 1/4 min for
each additional yd3 of capacity.
 Prolonged mixing may cause moisture loss and
result in lower workability, which in turn may
require re-tempering to restore slump, thereby
reducing strength potential.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Mixing (Ready-mixed concrete):

 HSC may be mixed at the job in a truck mixer.
 Not all truck mixers can mix HSC, especially if the
concrete has very low slump.
 Close job control is essential for high-strength
ready-mixed concrete operations to avoid causing
trucks to wait at the job site due to slow placing
operations.
 Retarding admixtures are used to prolong the
time the concrete will respond to vibration after it
has been placed in the forms.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Mixing (Ready-mixed concrete):

 After adding the remaining required water, an
additional 30 revolutions at mixing speed are used
to incorporate the additional water into the
mixture adequately.
 If a high-range water reducer is added at the site,
a truck mounted dispenser or an electronic field
dispenser is usually required.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Transporting:
 HSC can be transported by a variety of methods
and equipment, such as truck mixers, stationary
truck bodies with and without agitators, pipeline or
hose, or conveyor belts.
 Each type of transportation has specific advantages
and disadvantages depending on the conditions of
use, mixture ingredients, accessibility and location
of placing site, required capacity and time for
delivery, and weather conditions.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Transporting (Truck-mixed concrete):

 Proportioned concrete materials from a batch plant are
transferred into the truck mixer where all mixing is
performed. The truck is then used to transport the
concrete to the job site.
 Dry materials are transported in truck drum with the
mixing water in a separate tank mounted on the truck.
Water is added and mixing is completed.
 This is a solution to long hauls and placing delays, where
it is desirable to retain the workability as long as
possible.
 However, free moisture in the aggregates, which is part
of the mixing water, may cause some cement hydration.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Transporting (Stationary truck body with and

without agitator):
 Usually consist of an open-top body mounted on a truck.
 The smooth, streamlined metal body is usually designed
for discharge of the concrete at the rear when the body
is tilted.
 A discharge gate and vibrators mounted on the body are
provided at the point of discharge.
 An apparatus that blends the concrete as it is unloaded
is desirable.
 Water is not added to the truck body because adequate
mixing cannot be obtained with the agitator.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Transporting (Pumping):
 HSC is likely to have a high cement content and
small maximum size aggregate-both factors which
facilitate concrete pumping.
 Pumps are available that can handle low-slump
mixtures and provide high pumping pressure.
 ACI 304 provides guidance of pumping for
transporting HSC.
 In the field, the pump should be located as near to
the placing areas as practicable.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Transporting (Pumping):
 Pump lines should be laid out with a minimum of
bends, firmly supported, using alternate lines and
flexible pipe or hose to permit placing over a large
area directly into the forms without re-handling.
 Direct communication is essential between the
pump operator and the concrete placing crew.
 Continuous pumping is desirable because if the
pump is stopped, movement of the concrete in the
line may be difficult or impossible to start again.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Transporting (Belt conveyor):

 Guidance is given in ACI 304.4R.
 The conveyors must be adequately supported to
obtain smooth, non vibrating travel along the belt.
 The angle of incline or decline must be controlled to
eliminate the tendency for coarse aggregate to
segregate from the mortar fraction.
 1 to 4 in. (25 to 100 mm) belts may be used to
move HSC only for relatively short distances of 200
to 300 ft (60 to 90 m).

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Transporting (Belt conveyor):

 Over longer distances or extended time lapses,
there will be loss of slump and workability.
 Enclosures or covers are used for conveyors when
protection against rain, wind, sun, or extreme
ambient temperatures is needed to prevent
significant changes in the slump or temperature of
the concrete.
 Proper planning, timing, and control are essential.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Placing:
 Since workability time is expected to be reduced,
preparation must be made to transport, place,
consolidate, and finish the concrete at the fastest
possible rate.
 Delivery of concrete to the job site must be
scheduled so it will be placed promptly on arrival,
particularly the first batch.
 Equipment for placing the concrete must have
adequate capacity to perform its functions
efficiently so there will be no delays at distance
portions of the work.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Placing:
 There should be ample vibration equipment and
manpower to consolidate the concrete quickly after
placement in difficult areas.
 All equipment should be in the first class operating
condition.
 Breakdowns or delays that stop or slow the
placement can seriously affect the quality of the
work.
 Due to more rapid slump loss, the strain on
vibrating equipment will be greater.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Placing:
 Provision should be made for an ample number of
standby vibrators, at least one standby for each
three vibrators in use.
 Selection of equipment should be based on its
capability for efficiently handling concrete of the
most advantageous proportions that can be
consolidated readily in place with vibration.
 Concrete should be deposited at or near its final
position in the placement.
 Buggies, chutes, buckets, hoppers, or other means
may be used to move the concrete as required.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Placing:
 Proper internal vibration is the most effective
method of consolidating HSC.
 Up to 5% loss in strength may be sustained from
each 1 percent void space in concrete.
 Vibration almost to the point of excess may be
required for HSC to achieve its full potential.
 All columns and shear walls in any given story be
placed with the same strength concrete.
 For formwork economy, no changes in column size
in the typical high rise buildings are recommended.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Placing:
 In areas where two different concretes are being
used in column and floor construction, it is
important that the HSC in and around the column
be placed before the floor concrete.
 An unforeseen cold joint forms between the two
concretes.
 Placement at a higher temperature risks a
significant reduction in the setting time due to the
heat generated by the high cement content.
 Recommended temperature is 15 to 25°C.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Placing:
 Below l0°C, naphthalene superplasticizers become
viscous, causing problems with their dispersion in
water, and excessive retardation may occur.
 If necessary, during placement, slump should be
maintained by re-dosing with a superplasticizer
since such additions will restore workability and
usually result in an increase in compressive
strength.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Curing:
 Curing is essential in the production of quality
concrete; it is critical to the production of HSC.
 HSC should be water cured at an early age since
partial hydration make the capillaries discontinuous.
 “Ponding” or immersion is an excellent method
wherever a pond of water can be created by a ridge
or dike of impervious earth or other material at the
edge of the structure.
 Fog spraying or sprinkling with nozzles or sprays
provides satisfactory curing when immersion is not
feasible.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Curing:
 Irregular sprinkling is not acceptable if drying of the
concrete surface occurs.
 Soaker hoses are useful, especially on surfaces that
are vertical.
 Burlap, cotton mats, rugs, and other coverings of
absorbent materials will hold water on the surface,
whether horizontal or vertical.
 Liquid membrane-forming curing compounds retain
the original moisture in the concrete but do not
provide additional moisture.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Curing:
 Water curing of HSC is highly recommended due to
the low water cement ratios employed.
 At water-cement ratios below 0.4, the ultimate
degree of hydration is significantly reduced if free
water is not provided.
 Water curing will allow more efficient, although not
complete, hydration of the cement.
 A researcher reported that for low water cement ratio
concretes it is more advantageous to supply
additional water during curing than is the case with
higher water-cement ratio concretes.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Curing:
 It has been from various researches that for
concretes with water-cement ratio of 0.29, the
strength of specimens made with saturated
aggregates and cured by ponding water on top of
the specimen was 850 to 1000 psi (5.9 to 6.9 M Pa)
greater at 28 days than that of comparable
specimens made with dry aggregates and cured
under damp burlap.
 Others have reported that moist curing for 28 days
and thereafter in air was highly beneficial in securing
HSC at 90 days.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Finishing:
 The cohesive consistency of most HSCs often makes
it "sticky," so that it is difficult to provide a smooth
trowel finish.
 The surface water evaporates and these concretes
are particularly susceptible to plastic shrinkage
cracking.
 The area of placement needs to be limited, finishing
operations completed, and protective covering
provided before plastic shrinkage cracking can occur.
 The use of fog spray and evaporation retardants are
advantageous in reducing the rate of evaporation.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality assurance:
 In HSC proportioning, the concrete supplier or
sampling and testing program is recommended to
assure the physical properties required.
 The use of ASTM standard method for evaluation of
cement strength uniformity from a single source
(ASTM C 917) with appropriate limits will provide the
proper basis for such uniformity.
 It is desirable that the aggregates and admixtures
specified in the mixture be uniform and come from
the same source for the duration of the project.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality assurance:
 Effective coordination and control procedures
between the supplier and the contractor are critical
to the operations.
 Control of the slump, time on job, mixing, and
mixture adjustments is under the jurisdiction of the
supplier.
 Cement hydration, temperature rise, slump loss, and
aggregate grinding during mixing all increase with
passage of time; thus it is important that the period
between initial mixing and delivery be kept to an
absolute minimum.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality assurance:
 The contractor must be prepared to handle, place,
and consolidate the concrete promptly as received.
 The dispatching of trucks is coordinated with the
rate of placement to avoid delays in delivery.
 When elapsed time from batching to placement is so
long as to result in significant increases in mixing
water demand, or in slump loss, mixing in the trucks
is delayed until only sufficient time remains to
accomplish mixing before the concrete is placed.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality assurance:
 Equipment for direct communication between the
supply and placement locations for use by the
inspection force is essential.
 The project engineer will normally advise the
contractor of the equipment that is necessary and
require him to present plans or descriptions of the
equipment for review well in advance of the start of
placement.
 A competent concrete laboratory must be available
for testing the concrete delivered to the job site.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality assurance:
 This laboratory should be inspected regularly by the
Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL)
and conform to the requirements of ASTM E 329.
 A minimum of one set of cylinders is normally made,
with at least two cylinders cast for each test age;
that is, 7, 28, 56, and 90 days.
 Backup equipment is essential, especially vibrators.
 Batch mixes are reduced if placing procedures are
slowed.
 For truck mixed concrete, rush hour traffic delays
can cause serious problems.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality assurance:
 It may be desirable to reduce the elapsed time
between contact of the cement and water (mixing
and transporting), especially during warm weather.
 A maximum elapsed time of one and half hours after
the cement has entered the drum until completion
of discharge is frequently specified (see ASTM C
94).
 The first consideration for selecting quality control
procedures is determining that the distribution of
the compressive strength test results follows a
normal distribution curve.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality Control Procedures:

 ACI 214 will normally be a convenient tool for
quality control procedures for HSC.
 Several investigators have suggested that the
specification for compressive strength should be
modified from the typical 28-day criterion to either
56 or 90 days.
 HSC is generally used in high-rise structures;
therefore, the extension of the time for compressive
strength test results is reasonable since the lower
portion of the structure will not attain full dead load
for periods up to one year and longer.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality Control Procedures:

 To satisfy strength performance requirements, the
average strength of concrete must be in excess of
fc', the design strength.
 The amount of excess strength depends on the
expected variability of test results as expressed by a
coefficient of variation or standard deviation and on
the allowable proportion of low tests.
 Available information indicates that the standard
deviation for HSC becomes uniform in the range of
500 to 700 psi (3.5 to 4.8MPa), and therefore, the
coefficient of variation will actually decrease as the
average strength of the concrete increases.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality Control Procedures:

 Since much of the interest in HSC is limited to strength
in compression, compressive strength measurements
are of primary concern in the testing of HSC.
 Standard test methods of the ASTM are followed.
 ASTM standards specify a cylindrical specimen 6 in. (152
mm) in diameter and 12 in. (305 mm) long.
 Recently some 4  8 in. (102  204 mm) cylinders have
been used for determining compressive strength.
 However, 4  8 in. (102  204 mm) cylinders exhibit a
higher strength and an increase in variability compared
to the standard 6  12 in. (152  305 mm) cylinder.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality Control Procedures:

 Testing machine characteristics that may affect the
measured compressive strength include calibration
accuracy, longitudinal and lateral stiffness, stability,
alignment of the machine components, type of
platens, and the behavior of the platen spherical
seating.
 Testing machines should meet the requirements of
ASTM C 39 when used for testing compressive
strength of cylindrical specimens.
 The type of platens and behavior of the spherical
seating will affect the level of measured
compressive strength.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality Control Procedures:

 Longitudinally “flexible” machine would contribute
to an explosive failure of the specimen at the
maximum stress.
 Machine which is longitudinally stiff but laterally
flexible deleteriously influences the measured
compressive strengths.
 The upper platen must have a spherical bearing
block seating and be able to rotate and achieve full
contact with the specimen under the initial load and
perform in a fixed mode when approaching the
ultimate load.
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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality Control Procedures:

 The diameters of the platen and spherical bearing
socket are critically important.
 Ideally, the platen an spherical bearing block
diameters should be approximately the same as the
bearing surface of the specimen.
 Bearing surfaces larger than the specimen will be
restrained (due to size effects) against lateral
expansion will probably not expand as rapidly as
the specimen, and will consequently create
confining stresses in the specimen end.

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 Mix Design of HSC

 Quality Control Procedures:

 Bearing surfaces and spherical seating blocks
smaller in diameter than those of the specimen
may result in portions of the specimens remaining
unloaded and bending of the platen around the
socket with a consequent non uniform distribution
of stresses.

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