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Setting and Hardening of

Concrete
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Introduction
Concrete is made by the combination of cement, water,

and aggregate of various sizes to make a workable slurry


that has the consistency of a thick milk shake.
The binding quality of Portland cement paste is due to the
chemical reaction between the cement and water, called
hydration.
Portland cement is not a simple chemical compound, it is
a mixture of many compounds.
Four of these make up 90% or more of the weight of
portland cement: tricalcium silicate, dicalcium silicate,
tricalcium aluminate, and tetracalcium aluminoferrite.
In addition to these major compounds, several other play
important roles in the hydration process.

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Chemical composition of cement


Percent by
Name
Weight

Chemical
Formula

Tricalcium silicate

50%

3Ca0 SiO2

Dicalcium silicate

25%

2Ca0 SiO2

Tricalcium aluminate

10%

3Ca0 Al2 O3

Tetracalcium
aluminoferrite

10%

4Ca0 Al2 Fe2 O3

Gypsum

5%

CaSO4 H2O

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Different types of cement contain the same four

major compounds, but in different proportions.


When water is added to cement, the chemical
reaction called hydration takes place and contributes
to the final concrete product.
The calcium silicates contribute most to the strength
of concrete.
Tricalcium silicates are responsible for most of the
early strength (first seven days).
The original dicalcium silicate hydrates, which form
more slowly, contribute to the strength of concrete at
later stages
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Even though the chemical reactions may be

complete at the surface of the concrete, the


chemical reactions at the interior of the
concrete take much longer to complete.
The strength of the concrete keeps growing
as long as the chemical reactions continue.

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Setting
Setting time is defined as the

transition from a fluid state to


a plastic state.

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Setting (contd)
The stiffening of the concrete after it has been

placed.
A concrete can be 'set' in that it is no longer fluid, but
it may still be very weak; you may not be able to walk
on it.
Setting is due to early-stage calcium silicate
hydrate formation.
The terms 'initial set' and 'final set' are arbitrary
definitions of early and later set; there are laboratory
procedures for determining these using weighted
needles penetrating into cement/concrete paste.
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Setting (contd)
Initial setting time of cement paste

is defined as the time when the


paste has gained enough rigidity to
no longer be in a fluid state.
It has been found that this transition
can occur in less than one hour or
could take up to 24 hours.
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Setting (contd)
The final setting time is when rigidity

has increased to a point that the paste


becomes a solid of very low strength.
In general, cement exhibit initial set in 2
to 4 hours and final set in 5 to 8 hours.
Final set is then followed by substantial
increases in strength, referred to as the
hardening stage.
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Addition of water
Dormant
period
Plastic and workable paste

Initial setting
time min 45
minutes

Initial set

Stiff and unworkable paste

Final setting
time max 10h.

Setting

Final set

Hardening

Rigid solid gaining strength


with time

Schematic description of setting and hardening of a cement paste.


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Hardening
The process of strength growth and

may continue for weeks or months


after the concrete has been mixed
and placed. Hardening is due
largely to the formation of calcium
silicate hydrate as the cement
hydrates.
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Hardening (contd)
Hardening time is when concrete

has a sufficient bearing capacity to


support construction loads.
This hardening of concrete may
occur in a few hours, or could take
up to 2-3 weeks.

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Factors that affect the setting and hardening time


include, but are not limited to

Type and amount of cementitious

material (cement and fly ash);


Water content;
Presence of admixtures
(accelerators, air entrainers, and
water reducers);
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Factors that affect the setting and


hardening time include, but are not limited
to (contd)
Volume of fill;

Properties of surrounding soil

(permeability and degree of


saturation);
Ambient temperature; and
Curing conditions.
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HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

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High temperature during

construction means that extra


precautions need to be taken to
ensure successful concrete pours.
Hot weather, especially when
combined with low humidity and
high winds, can make pouring
difficult
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The ideal temperature for laying concrete

is around 60F (15.6C), and anything


above 80(26.7C)and 90F (32.2C) is
considered hot weather concreting.
When the aggregate and the water reach
a higher temperature the concrete does
not mix as well, and shrinkage of the
concrete is greatly increased.
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Listed below are the potential problems


for freshly mixed or plastic concrete:
Increased demand for water
Faster rate of setting, increased difficulty with
handling, transporting, compacting, finishing
and a greater risk of cold joints
Rate of slump loss increased
Increased jobsite water additions
Increased plastic shrinkage cracking

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Listed below are the potential problems


for hardened concrete:
Decreased compressive strength at 28 days

and later (sometimes up to 30%) resulting


from higher water demand and/or higher
temperature levels at time of placement
Increased incidence of drying shrinkage and
differential thermal cracking
Decreased durability
Variability of surface aesthetics
Increased permeability
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Methods which will help control mix


temperature and heat are:

Using crushed ice in the water added to the mix


Liquid nitrogen
Sprinkling aggregates stockpiles
Storing aggregates in a cooled place
Incorporation of fly ash
Moisten sub-grade before placement
Incorporation of retarding admixtures
Applying evaporation retardant to the concrete
surface to reduce evaporation rates at the surface
Cure the concrete immediately and thoroughly.
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Retarding admixture can help:


Reduce water requirement
Decreased rate of set
Improves workability
Increases strengths both compressive and

flexural
Reduce peak heat of hydration

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Curing and protection


After placement and finishing operations are

completed, procedures must continue to


protect the concrete from high temperatures,
direct sun, low humidity, and winds.

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COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

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Concreting in cold weather requires special

knowledge and skills to ensure accelerated


hardening and high quality in plain- and
reinforced-concrete structures.
Cold Weather Concreting familiarizes
concrete specialists with the characteristic
features of concrete in cold weather, including
the effects of frost, methods for hardening in
subzero temperatures, and other challenges
in cold-weather concreting
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Contd
Cold weather precautions should be taken

when the temperature drops below 4oC.


Concrete can be placed safely throughout the
winter months if certain precautions are
taken. The concrete mixture and its
temperature should be adapted to the
construction procedure and the ambient
weather conditions.

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Listed below are a few common sense


tips for concreting in cold weather.
Discuss with your ready mix producer the possibilities

of using hot water, increasing the cement content, or


adding an accelerating admixture.
Order air entrainment if the concrete is exposed to
freeze-thaw conditions during or after construction.
Plan ahead. Have insulation and heaters ready and
available when temperatures are below freezing.
Do not place concrete on frozen sub-grade; thaw the
sub-grade with steam or protect with insulation.

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Listed below are a few common sense tips for


concreting in cold weather. (contd)
Adding approximately a gallon of water per

cubic yard of concrete can increase set time


up to one-half hour; adding approximately two
gallons can increase set time up to an hour.
Provide triple insulation thickness at corners
and edges of walls and slabs.
Concrete gains very little strength at low
temperatures. Fresh concrete must be
protected against the disruptive effects of
freezing until the concrete attains a
compressive strength of about 500 psi.
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Listed below are a few common sense tips for


concreting in cold weather. (contd)
Do not expose concrete surfaces to a sudden

temperature drop; gradually reduce insulation or


enclosure temperature to control concrete cooling
(not more than a 50 degree Fahrenheit drop in 24
hours).
Avoid using unvented heaters, carbon dioxide from
the heaters can cause soft, dusting floors.
Keep heaters attended at all times
leave forms in place as long as possible. Even within
heated enclosures, forms serve to distribute heat
more evenly and help prevent drying and local
overheating.
All formwork must be free from snow and ice
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Assignment 1
Describe how the cold weather will affect

concrete on these particular conditions:

Delay in setting and hardening


Freezing of concrete at early age
Freezing and thawing
low temperature but above 0C
Low temperature at the time of concreting but
below 0C after concreting
Temperature below 0C at the time of concreting
and during hardening period
Hardened concrete subjected to alternate freezing
and thawing
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