CIVL 111 Construction Materials

Prof. Zongjin Li
Department of Civil Engineering

5. Concrete
-5.1 Introduction
Definition of Concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of coarse
granular material (the aggregate of filler) embedded in a
hard matrix of material (the cement or binder) that fills
the space between the aggregate particles and glues
them together.
Concrete = Filler + Binder

5. Concrete
-5.1 Introduction
Composition of Concrete
Cement
+
Water

(Admixture)

Cement paste
+
Fine Aggregate

Mortar

+
Coarse
Aggregate

Concrete

5.1 Introduction
--Advantages of concrete
Concrete HK$ 200/T
Cement HK$ 400-500/T
V.S.
Aggregate HK$ 40 ~ 60/T Steel HK$ 2,000 ~ 4,000/T

(up to 100 in 2005)

Composite HK$ 20,000/T

5.1 Introduction-Advantages of concrete

--Ambient temperature hardened material

5.1 Introduction-Advantages of concrete

-- Ability to be cast

Bahai Tower in Chicago

Photo courtesy of Wilmette Public Schools
Source:
http://www.wilmette.newtrier.k12.il.us/wilmette/cen
tral/museum98/museum/places/bhaitmp.html

5.1 Introduction-Advantages of concrete

--Energy efficient
Let us make a comparison among:

Concrete
Reinforced concrete
Steel

450 ~ 750 kwh/T

850 ~ 3200 kwh/T
8000 kwh/T

5.1 Introduction-Advantages of concrete

--Excellent resistance to water
1.
2.
3.

can gain strength in water

can withstand water without serious
deterioration
examples: dam, pipeline

Pipeline under construction

Photo courtesy of California Precast
Concrete Pipe Association
Source:
http://www.cpcpa.com/
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5.1 Introduction-Advantages of concrete

--High temperature resistance
Let us make a comparison among:
lost strength at T=600 oC
Composites lost strength at T=100 -250 oC
Concrete can withstand fire for 2-6 hours
Steel

5.1 Introduction-Advantages of concrete

--Ability to consume waste
Use waste as supplement cementitious materials
Fly ash
Slag
Use waste to replace part of aggregate as filler
Glass particales
Rubber tyre
Recycled aggregates
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5.1 Introduction-Advantages of concrete

--Ability to work with reinforced steel

Similar coefficient of thermal expansion

Steel ----- 1.2 x 10-5

Concrete ----- 1.0 ~ 1.2 x 10 -5

(copper 10-8)

High alkaline environmental

pH value 12 ~ 13.5

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5.1 Introduction-Advantages of concrete

--Less maintenance required
No coating or painting is needed for concrete

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5.1 Introduction-Limitations of concrete

quasi brittle nature

Strain Softening
Strain hardening

Brittle

Quasi-brittle

Improvement

Ductile

Reinforced concrete

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5.1 Introduction-Limitations of concrete

--Low tensile strength
Ft ~ 0.1 fc (for high strength concrete even lower)

Improvement

Fiber reinforced concrete

Polymer concrete

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5.1 Introduction-Limitations of concrete

--Low toughness

Steel
Conc.

Improvement

Fiber reinforced concrete

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5.1 Introduction-Limitations of concrete

--Long curing time
Improvement

Steam curing
Precast

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Precast

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5.1 Introduction-Limitations of concrete

--Working with cracks
Improvement

Prestressed concrete

Reinforced Concrete

Crack = < 0.2mm

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5.1 Introduction-Classification of concrete

--Based on unit weight

light concrete <1200 kg/m3
Lightweight concrete 1200-1800 kg/m3
Normal-weight concrete
~2400 kg/m3
Heavyweight concrete
>3200 kg/m3
Ultra

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5.1 Introduction-Classification of concrete

--Based on strength
Low-strength

concrete
<20 MPa compressive strength of cylinder
Moderate-strength concrete
20~50 MPa compressive strength of cylinder
High-strength concrete
50~200 MPa compressive strength of cylinder
Ultra high-strength concrete
>200 MPa compressive strength of cylinder
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5.1 Introduction-Classification of concrete

--Based on additives:
Normal

concrete
Fiber reinforced concrete
Polymer concrete
Micro Silica (M.S.) concrete

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5.2 Three-phase theory

Three phases:

Aggregate

hardened cement paste (hcp)

transition (interface) zone.

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5.2 Three-phase theory

-- Transition zone

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5.2 Three-phase theory

-- Transition zone

A thin shell layer (10-50 m thick) around

large aggregate.
Formation: Water films around large
aggregate during mixing.
Characteristic: Larger CH crystals; more
porous framework; relatively weak

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5.2 Three-phase theory- Transition zone

--Influence on concrete properties
Fraction

of transition zone in size is much

smaller than other two phases, its
influence on concrete properties is far
greater.
It lower the strength
It increase the permeability
It prompt non-linear behavior
It favorites crack formation
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5. 3 Fresh Concrete
--Definition
A

fully mixed mixtures in a plastic stage

before notable strength being developed
Cover the cement hydration stages of 1
and 2, as well as initial part of stage 3

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Workability

--definition
A

general term to describe the properties

of fresh concrete.
Consistency (or fluidity)
-- describes the ease of concrete flow
Cohesiveness
-- describes the ability to keep concrete
uniformity (no concentration of a single
component)

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5. 3 Fresh ConcreteWorkability
-Factors Affecting Workability: Water Content

Extra water can lubricate the particles in mixture: the

more the water, the easier the flowing. However, too
much water will cause segregation
W/C

Fluidity

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5. 3 Fresh ConcreteWorkability
-Factors Affecting Workability: Aggregate
Aggregate/cement

ratio
Fine aggregate/Coarse aggregate
Maximum aggregate size
Aggregate shape and texture

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5. 3 Fresh ConcreteWorkability
-Factors Affecting Workability: Cement
Fineness
Fluidity

Cement

with fineness

Content: Lubrication effect of

paste
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5. 3 Fresh ConcreteWorkability
-Factors Affecting Workability: Admixtures
Air

entraining agent
-- air bubbles lubricates
Superplasticizers
-- release water; retarding, air entraining
effect

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5. 3 Fresh ConcreteWorkability
-Factors Affecting Workability: Temperature
Can

influence the hydration rate and

water loosing rate
Temperature

Workability

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Measurement Workability

--Slump test

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Measurement Workability

--Slump test

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Measurement Workability

--Slump test

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Measurement Workability

--Slump test

Three different kinds of possible slumps --- true slump,

shear slump and collapse slump

Types of slump of concrete:

(a) true slump
(b) shear slump
(c) collapse slump
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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Measurement Workability

--Vebe test

Suitable for very dry mixes recommended by ACI211 for

max. size of aggregate < 40mm

Vebe apparatus
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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Measurement Workability

--Vebe test

Vebe apparatus
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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Measurement Workability

--Compaction factor test

Compacting factor apparatus

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Measurement Workability

--Compaction factor test

Compacting

factor = mp/mf
mp mass of partially compacted
cylinder
mf mass of fully compacted cylinder
(using rod)
Range between 0.8 to 0.92

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Measurement Workability

--Ball-penetration test

The ratio of slump to penetration 1.3 to 2.0

Ball-penetration apparatus
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5. 3 Fresh Concrete: Setting of Concrete

Setting onset of rigidity in fresh concrete
Hardening development of measurable strength

Process of setting and

hardening
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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Setting of concrete

-- Segregation and Bleeding

Segregation
(concentration of heavy particles)
Bleeding
(concentration of water)

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5.3 Fresh Concrete: Bleeding

Water concentration at bottom of aggregate and the
reinforcing steel
It occurs on the surface of specimen due to the
compacting process.

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete: Segregation (separation)

A nonuniform distribution of ingredient

.
..
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
Uniform distribution

water

. . .. . . .. .. .. .
aggregate

Nonuniform distribution

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete: Slump loss

It

is defined as the loss of fluidity in fresh

concrete with time.
Due to: hydration of cement, loosing of
water
Can be delayed or retarded by admixture

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Compacting

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Placing,

Compacting, and Curing

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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Curing

Definition

Curing is the additional maintenance process

to take care of the fresh concrete to gain
strength
Importance
Concrete strength
Early volume changes
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5. 3 Fresh Concrete Curing

Curing method
Principle
Keep moist condition and provent the evaporation of
water inside concrete
Methods
Moisten the subgrade and forms; erect windbreaks and
sunshades; cooling aggregate and mixing water; fog
spray; covering
Curing materials
Liquid membrane-forming compounds
Paper and plastic sheets
Mats and blankets
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5. Concrete
--Fresh Concrete: Curing (3)

Plastic shrinkage
Result of improper curing
Surface layer shrinks; inside concrete is plastic
crack

Wet
concrete

. .
.

. ..

. ..

Coarse aggregate
Fine aggregate

Plastic shrinkage

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5. Concrete
--Fresh Concrete: Curing (4)
Photo showing plastic shrinkage crack

Plastic shrinkage

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5. Concrete
--Fresh Concrete: Setting of Concrete
False

setting Caused by crystallization of

gypsum
_

C S H 2 C S H 1 / 2
120

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5. Concrete
--Fresh Concrete: Setting of Concrete

Flash setting Caused by quick hydration of C3A

Diagrammatic sketches of
different types of set of
cement mortar, and slump
loss of concrete
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