ABSTRACT

High performance concrete (HPC) represents a rather recent development in

concrete materials technology. HPC is not a commodity but a range of products,
each specifically designed to satisfy in the most effective way the performance
requirements for the intended application

The quality – or durability – of concrete is not only a function of its compressive

strength but as much of its porosity (impermeability)

Durability of concrete identifies the ability of the concrete to resist degradation due
to environmental exposure conditions.

The performance characteristics related to durability include freeze-thaw

resistance, scaling resistance, abrasion resistance, chloride ion penetration, alkali-
silica reactivity, and sulphate resistance.

This project report aims the comparison between the normal concrete and the HPC
under sulphate attack from the point of view of durability.

Chemical attack occurs in which sulphates of magnesium, calcium, and sodium, in

solution react with hydrated lime and hydrated calcium aluminate to form a
calcium sulphate and calcium sulfoaluminate, whose formation causes expansion
and disruption of the cement paste
 CHAPTER – 1
INTRODUCTION

1.1 INTRODUCTION OF CONCRETE

Concrete, which has the distinction of being the largest man made material on
EARTH, is in essence, a proven durable and maintenance free material. A large
number of structures constructed decades back and standing in good shape today,
bear testimony to this. However this image of concrete has been tarnished in recent
years, mainly due to the phenomenon of premature deterioration of concrete
structures being witnessed all over the world. More extensive use of concrete is
limited by its low tensile strength, susceptibility to severe moisture and
temperature changes and its low resistance to chemical attack under adverse
environmental conditions. Expenditure on maintenance, protection and repair /
rehabilitation is rising alarmingly, reaching nearly 40 % of the total expenditure on
construction in some of the industrialized countries.
1.2 HIGH PERFORMANCE CONCRETE

Any concrete which satisfy certain criteria proposed to overcome limitation of

conventional concrete maybe called as High Performance Concrete (HPC). It may
include concrete which provides either substantially improved resistance to
environmental influence (durability in service) or substantially increased structural
capacity while maintaining adequate durability. It may also include concrete,
which significantly reduce construction time to permit rapid opening or reopening
of roads to traffic, without compromising long term serviceability.

1.2.1 DEFINITION:

a) The American Concrete Institute committee has defined HPC in ACI Special
Publication SP-140 (Goodspeed) as

“Concrete that meets special performance and uniformity requirements that can not
always be obtained by using conventional ingredients, normal mixing procedure
and typical curing procedures. These requirements may include the following
enhancements.”

• Ease of placement in consolidation without affecting strength

• Long term mechanical properties.

• Early high strength

• Toughness

• Volume stability, and

• Longer life in severe environment.

b) A Strategic Highway research program (SHRP) study reported by
Goodspeed (1996) defined HPC as consisting of :

• maximum w/c ratio of 0.35.

• minimum durability factor of 80% (as determined by ASTM C 666,

Procedure A and 3).

• minimum compressive strength of either a) 21 MPa after 4 hours, b) 34

MPa within 24 hours or 69 Mpa after 28 days.

c) Forster has defined HPC as

“ a concrete made with appropriate materials combined according to a selected

mix design and properly mixed, transported, placed, consolidated, and cured so
that the resulting concrete will give excellent performance in the structure in which
it will be exposed, and with the loads to which it will be subjected for its design
life,” and resistance to some forms of attack.

Aitcin and Neville [1993] stated that

“in practical application of this type of concrete, the emphasis has in many cases
gradually shifted from the compressive strength to other properties of the material,
such as high modulus of elasticity, high density, low permeability, and resistance
to some forms of attack
1.4 DURABILITY

The durability of cement concrete is defined as its ability to resist weathering

action, chemical attack, abrasion, or any other process of deterioration. Durable
concrete will retain its original form, quality and serviceability when exposed to its
environment.

Durability is of utmost importance for structures exposed to the environment and

concrete for each structure may need one or more of the following performance
characteristics.

1. Alkali-aggregate reactions - Under certain conditions of temperature, moisture,

and concrete proportions the minor alkalies of cement, sodium and potassium
oxides, react with various forms of amorphous silica present in the aggregates to
form reaction products commonly called silica gel, which through osmotic action
creates hydrostatic pressure exceeding the tensile strength of the concrete.
2. Freezing and thawing – Water freezing and thawing in the surface voids, and in
the interior capillary channels and voids, sets up stresses of sufficient magnitude to
cause disruption and progressive disintegration of concrete.

3. Thermal incompatibility – When two different aggregates, or an aggregate and

mortar mix, are in intimate contact and have sufficient differential in either
coefficient of linear expansion, or thermal diffusivity, or both, stresses set up when
heat transfer occurs cause incipient fractures large enough to cause deterioration of
concrete when exposed to water and freezing action.

4. Erosion – Mechanical disintegration of concrete is caused by the abrasive

actions of water or wind-borne particles striking the surface.

5. Cavitation – Severe repeated stresses set up by the cycles of negative and

positive pressures on concrete surfaces in areas of turbulency stress the concrete
beyond its elastic limit and cause progressive failure and disintegration.

6. Sulphate attack – The formation of ettringite – the result of calcium aluminates

reeacting with sulphates – which occupies a larger volume, causes distress in
concrete.