CIVL 111 Construction Materials

Prof. Zongjin Li
Department of Civil Engineering

5.4 Admixtures
--Definition and Classifications
Material other than water, aggregates, cement and
reinforcing fibers that is used in concrete as an
ingredient and added to the batch immediately before or
during mixing.
i. Air-entraining agents (ASTM C260)
ii. Chemical admixtures (ASTM C494 and BS5075)
iii. Mineral admixtures
iv. Miscellaneous admixtures include:
Latexes
Corrosion inhibitors
Expansive admixtures

5.4 Admixtures
--Definition and Classifications (2)
Beneficial effects of admixtures on concrete properties
Concrete property

Admixture

Workability

Superplasticizer
Air-entraining

Setting

agents

Accelerators
Retarders

Strength

Silica

Durability

Air-entraining

fume
Polymers
agent

Silica

fume
Corrosion inhibitors
3

5.4 Admixtures for concrete

Admixture in liquid form

Admixture in solid form

4

5.4 Admixtures
-- Water reducing admixtures (1)
Water-reducing admixture lowers the water required to
attain a given workability.
Test series
1Reference concrete
(no admixture)
A given dosage of a
water-reducing
admixture is added
with the purpose of:
2Consistency
increase
3Strength increase
4Cement saving

Cement
content
(kg/m3)

Water /
cement
ratio

Slump
(mm)

300

0.62

300
300
270

Compressive strength
(Mpa)
7 days

28 days

50

25

37

0.62

100

26

38

0.56
0.62

50
50

34
25.5

46
37.5
5

5.4 Admixtures
-- Water reducing admixtures (2)
a.

Mechanism:
separate the cement particles
Release the entrapped water

Water is trapped
Cement Particle

5.4.2.1 Water reducing admixtures (3)

b.

Two kinds of water-reducing admixture:

The normal range (WR):
Reduce 5 10% of water

i.

The high range water reducing admixture (HRWR):

i.
ii.

Superplasticizer
Reduce water in a range of 15-30%

5.4.2.1 Water reducing admixtures (4)

c.

Superplasticizer
Superplasticizers are used for two main purposes:
i.
To produce high strength concrete at w/c ratio in a
range of 0.23 0.3 (60 150MPa)
ii.
To create flowing concrete with high slumps in the
range of 175 to 225mm. Self compacting concrete: for
beam-column joint and footing (heavy reinforced)
Two forms
i.
Solid power
ii.
Liquid --- 40% - 60% of water
8

5.4.2.1 Water reducing admixtures (5)

c.

Superplasticizer
Dosage:
Normal dosage of superplasticizer for concrete is 1%-2%
by weight of cement.
Other benefits on hardened concrete may be stated as:
A lower w/c ratio would lead to better durability and
lower creep and shrinkage.
The major drawbacks of superplasticizer are:
i.
retarding of setting (especially at large amount
addition)
ii.
causing more bleeding
iii. entraining too much air.
9

5.4.2.2 Setting control admixtures (1)

a.

Mechanisms
Change the rate of the crystallization of portland cement
by adding certain soluble chemicals to influence the ion
dissolution rate.
Anions (silicate and aluminate)
Cations (calcium)
The setting will be speeded up when dissolution rates of
cations and anions are higher. On the other hand, the
setting will be slow down when dissolution rates of
cations and anions are lower.

10

5.4.2.2 Setting control admixtures (2)

a.

Mechanisms (Contd)
Accelerating admixture:
must promote the dissolution of cations and anions.
Retarding admixture must impeded the dissolution of
cations and anions
Two different setting control admixture:

11

5.4.2.2 Setting control admixtures (3)

a.

Mechanisms (Contd)
i.
Dual role setting control admixture
A lot of chemical admixtures has both
complementary and opposing effects.
The dominate effect usually depends on the
concentration.
ii.
Monotonic retarding agent
Forming insoluble and impermeable products or
delaying bond formation.

Coating
C3S

12

5.4.2.2 Setting control admixtures (4)

a.

Mechanisms (Contd)
ii. Once insoluble and dense coatings are formed
around the cement grains, further hydration slows
down considerably. Surger and carbonated
beverage belongs to this category.

13

5.4.2.2 Setting control admixtures (5)

b.

Applications
i.
Retarding admixtures:
1.
Offset fast setting caused by hot weather
2.
Setting control of large structural units
3.
Setting control of long distance transport
ii.
Accelerators:
1.
Plugging leaks:
2.
Emergency repair: High way; Bridge
3.
Winter construction in cold region
E.g. use calcium chloride (CaCl2)

Swimming pool

Use cement to
mend the leak

Side effects: corrosion

14

5.4.2.2 Setting control admixtures (6)

Influence of calcium chloride

in relation to setting period

Effect of calcium chloride on

strength development at
different temperatures
15

5.4.3 Air-entraining admixtures entrain air in

the concrete
Small size air bubbles is introduced into
concrete uniformly
The air bubbles are enclosed, not
connected

16

5.4.3.2 Two types of air bubble introduced in

concrete (1)
Entrained air:
On purpose
Size: 50 to 200 m
Entrapped air:
By chance
As large as 3mm

17

5.4.3.2 Two types of air bubble introduced

in concrete (2)
Dimensional range of solids and pores in a hydrated
cement paste

18

5.4.3.3 Mechanism of air-entraining

admixtures
Schematic representation of air entrainment by surface
active molecule

Hydrophilic group
Hydrophobic component

19

5.4.3.4 Advantages of adding air entraining

admixtures

Improved workability --- air bubble as lubricant

Improved ductility --- more deformation from small hole
Reduced permeability --- isolated air bubble
Improved impact resistance --- more deformation
Improved durability --- freezing and thawing(release ice
forming pressure)
air bubbles
water

Connected air bubbles

air bubbles

water

Isolated air bubbles

20

5.4.3.5 Disadvantage of adding air entraining

admixtures

Strength loss of 10-20%

Effect of entrained air on durability

21

5.4.3.6 Role of bubble spacing (1)

The smaller the spacing factor, the more durable the

concrete.
Critical spacing: 0.3mm

Relationship between durability and

bubble spacing factor of entrained air
22

5.4.3.7 Gel spacing ratio

The formula used to calculate the gel space ratio (X) has
to be modified if entrained air is added into cement
paste as follows:

(including gel pores )

volume
of
gel
volume
of
gel + volume
of
capillary
pores + entrained
0.68
=
0.32 + w / c + entrained
air

X =

air

Where = degree of hydration

23

5.4.4 Mineral admixtures

Finely divided siliceous materials which are added into

concrete in relatively large amount.

5.4.4.1 Silica fume

5.4.4.2 Fly ash

24

5.4.4.1 Silica fume (1)

Silica fume has very fine particles

below
below
below
below

0.05
0.10
0.20
0.50

micron
micron
micron
micron

%
100
80
60
40
20

Below 0.05 micron

20%
70%
95%
99%

Below 0.50 micron

Below 0.20 micron

Silica fume is a by-product of the induction arc furnaces

in the silicon metal and ferrosilicon alloy industries.

Below 0.10 micron

25

5.4.4.1 Silica fume (2)

The typical chemical composition of silica fume
Moisture %
LOI %
SiO 2 %

Typical
0.30
1.18
92.9

St.dev.
0.09
0.26
0.60

Min
0.09
0.79
92.0

Max
0.50
0.73
94.0

Al2 O 3 %

0.69

0.10

0.52

0.86

Fe 2 O 3 %

1.25

0.46

0.74

2.39

CaO %
MgO
K 2O %

0.40
1.73
1.19

0.09
0.31
0.15

0.28
1.23
1.00

0.74
2.24
1.53

Na 2 O %

0.43

0.03

0.37

0.49

C%
Cl %
S%
P%

0.88
0.02
0.20
0.07

0.19
0.01

0.62
0.01
0.10
0.03

1.30
0.03
0.30
0.12

LOI --- Loss of ignition

26

5.4.4.1 Silica fume (3)

Silica fume particle

27

28

5.4.4.1 Silica fume (4)

A comparison of size distribution of silica fume to other materials

29

Effect of silica fume

Physical: Packing
Chemical: Pozzolanic reaction

30

Packing effect

31

Pozzolanic reaction
pozzolan + calcium hydroxide
+
water
=
calcium silicate hydrate (secondary)
32

Classification of coal ash (1)

Fly ash
The fine particulate matter rises with flue
gasses collected by electrostatic
precipitators
Bottom ash
Larger particles and fused particles fall to
bottom

33

5.4.4.2 Fly ash

Fly ash particles

34

Classification of coal ash (2)

- Fly ash classification (ASTM)
Classified

according the coal burned

- Class F: Anthracite or bituminous
coal
- Class C: Lignite or subbituminous
coal
Class C is more active than Class F
35

Various Usage of Coal Ash

- Construction
Concrete production
- 25% to 30% replacement
- can improve durability
- Good for long term strength
- better to used with other mineral
admixtures

36

5.4.4.2 Fly ash

Advantages of incorporation of fly ash
Low cost --- $200-300/Ton (cement $500/Ton)
Low energy demand --- Industry by product
Low hydration hear --- pozzolanic reaction
Disadvantages of incorporation of fly ash
Low early age strength
Longer initial setting time
Solution: Alkali activator (1% NaOH)

37

Chapter 5 Concrete
--Hardened concrete

Harden concrete is the concrete have

gain sufficient strength and ready to
carry out the external load. Its
properties have to meet the
requirement of end users.

38

Chapter 5 Concrete -5.5 Hardened concrete

Strength Definition (1)
Definition
The ability of concrete to resist stress without
failure
Failure identification
Appearance of cracks
Why is strength specified in construction design and
quality control?
It is relatively easy to be measured
Other properties are related to the strength

39

5.5 Hardened concrete

--Strength Definition (2)
General

index of concrete strength

28 day compressive strength of concrete
determined by a standard uniaxial
compression test
More realistic criteria of failure of concrete
Limiting strain
Tension:
100 X 10-6 to 200 X 10-6
Compression: 70 MPa
2000 X 10-6
14 MPa
4000 X 10-6

40

Examples of transducers for strength test

Transducer

41

Compressive strength test

-- Failure mechanism

a.
b.
c.
d.

Random microcrack
Stably growth of microcracks
Microcrack localization
Failure (major crack in vertical direction)

42

Compressive strength test

-- Specimen preparation (1)
a.

Cube specimen
British Standard (BS) 1881: Part 108: 1983. Filling in
3 layers with 50mm for each layer. Stokes 35 times
(150mm cube) and 25 times (100mm cube). Part 11 is
for curing. 20
5oC. Relative humility: 90%

L/B = 1

L
B

43

Compressive strength test

-- Specimen preparation (2)
b.

Cylinder specimen
American Society of Testing & Materials (ASTM) C47081. Standard cylinder size is 150 x 300mm. Curing
condition is temperature of 23
1.7oC and moist
condition. Grinding or capping are needed for level and
smooth compression surface.

44

Compressive strength test

--Factors influencing experiment results (1)
a.

Loading rate
The faster the load rate, the higher the ultimate load
obtained. The standard load rate is 0.15 0.34
MPa/s for ASTM and 0.2 - 0.4 MPa/s for BS.

Max. Load

Loading rate

45

Compressive strength test

--Factors influencing experiment results(2)
b.

End condition
Influence of platen restraint. Cubes apparent strength
is 1.15 time of cylinders.

deformation
on L/R side

shear force friction

specimen

46

Compressive strength test

--Factors influencing experiment results(3)
c.

Size effect
Probability having large deficiencies (such as void and
crack) increases with size increases.

Standard size: cube 150 x 150 x 150mm

cylinder 150 x 300mm

47

Tensile strength and corresponding tests

--Failure mechanism
/ max

80%
/ max

30%

a.
b.
c.

Random crack development

Localization of micocracks
Major crack propagation

Detection of microcrack: use of acoustic emission

48

Stress concentration factor

Stress concentration is the stress at the edge of the

hole,
smax , is large than the normal stress sN

49

Direct tension test methods (1)

Direct tension tests of concrete are seldom to carry

out because it is difficult to control and because the
specimen holding devices introduce secondary stress
that cannot be ignored. Two frequently used methods
are described below.

50

Direct tension test methods (2)

a.

Grips dog bone test

b.

End plate loading method

tension force
pin

grip
steel plate
specimen
L

Boundary
stresses are
complicated
L-Uniform
stress
distribution
zone
51

Indirect tension test

--(split cylinder test or Brazilian test) (1)

BS 1881: Part 117:1983

150 x 300mm cylinder. Loading rate 0.02 to 0.04
MPa/s

ASTM C496-71:
150 x 300mm cylinder. Loading rate 0.011 to 0.023
MPa/s

52

Indirect tension test

--(split cylinder test or Brazilian test) (2)

(a) Set-up for indirect

tension test
(b) The stress distribution
along diameter
The splitting tensile strength:

53

Flexural strength and corresponding test (1)

BS 1881: Part 118: 1983

Flexural test. 150 x 150 x 750mm or
100 x 100 x 500mm (Max. size of aggregate is less
than 25mm)
The arrangement for modulus of rupture is shown in
the following figure, in which, the moment diagram
and distribution of strain and stress along the height
of specimen are also shown.

54

Flexural strength and corresponding test (2)

Flexural strength test

55

Flexural strength and corresponding test (3)

Modulus of rapture:
For the case of fracture takes place within the middle one third
of the beam,

Mmax =

p
2

Ymax =

d
2

I=

f bt

l
3

pl
6

bd3
12

PL
=
2
bd
56

Flexural strength and corresponding test (4)

For fracture occurs outside of the middle one-third,

Mmax =
Ymax =
I=

p
2

d
2
bd3
12

Valid for ASTM standard only

57