IITM IITB-ICI Workshop on Achieving Durable Concrete Construction Through Performance Testing (Feb.

2014)

Concrete Durability: Industry Perspective*

Vijay Kulkarni

Principal Consultant, Ready-Mixed Concrete Manufacturers Association (RMCMA) Former President, Indian Concrete Institute (ICI) Former Editor, The Indian Concrete Journal (ICJ)
* Views expressed are not necessarily those of RMCMA or ICI

Broad Outline
Concrete Industry Scenario Role of Production Control System influencing durability Recent up-gradation of Production Control Criteria Properties of ingredients affecting durability Some Live examples of customer-specified mixes Use of SCMs: Code-specified Limitations Recent changes in IRST and IRC Standard specifications Laboratory Data on RCPT & Strength Conclusion Future

Vestige of Recent Past

Courtesy: Mahesh Tendulkar

Typical Modern RMC Plant

Cement/SCM Silos Aggregate Conveyor

Twin-Shaft Mixer Aggregate Bins

1st Phase of Development

Establishment of RMC facilities in metropolitan centres
Kolkata Mumbai Hyderabad Bangalore Chennai

Delhi

2nd Phase of Development

56 Major Cities
1 Amritsar 2 Ahmedabad 3 Baddi-HP 4 Bangalore 5 Bhubneswar 6 Chennai 7 Coimbatore 8 Derabasi 9 Durgapur 10 Faridabad 11 Giaspura 12 Ghaziabad 13 Gurgaon 14 Gauhati 15 Goa 16 Hyderabad 17 Hubli 18 Indore 19 Jalandhar 20 Jaipur 21 Kochi 22 Kolkata 23 Kolhapur 24 Lalkuan 25 Lucknow 26 Ludhiana 27 Madura 28 Manipal 29 Mangalore 30 Mohali 31 Mumbai 32 Mysore 33 Nashik 34 Nagpur 35 Navi Mumbai 36 NOIDA 37 Panchkula 38 Pune 39 Ranchi 40 Raipur 41 Rajkot 42 Rudrapur 43 Sahibabad 45 Sonepat 46 Surat 47 Surajpur 48 Thane 49 Trichy 50 Tuticorin 51 Trivandram 52 Thrissur 53 Vapi 54 Vijaywada 55 Visakhapattanam 56 Vadodara

Size of Organized Concrete Industry (including RMC Industry) (Rough Estimates)

Year Cement Consumption through RMC Route App. Concrete Production

2012-13 2017-18

7.5% 10%

87 million m3 147 million m3

Assumptions Production figures include concrete produced from all sources using modern batching and mixing plants (commercial and captive plants) Concrete production figure is calculated by assuming that the average cement consumption is 300 kg/m3

Large Concrete Producing Countries

Statistics 2007 and (2012) Country USA China Spain Italy Turkey India* Concrete production, million m3 345 149 87.6 77.4 46.3 45* (225)
(N.A.) 87 mm3 ( 2012)
147 mm3 ( 2017)

(21.6) (40) (93) ??

Source: ERMCO * Not authentic; contains organized concrete industry data collected from private sources.

RMC: A Mockery?

RMC: A Pretense or Farce?

Why Production Control Criteria?

Unlike steel, aluminium, glass, etc. concrete is processed but unfinished material at delivery time Factors affecting quality (including durability) :
Controls exercised in process control measures during production Variability in the properties of ingredients aggregates, cement, SCMs, etc. Variations in mix proportioning Concretes ultimate quality - compressive strength or durability - cannot be verified at the time of sale Negligence or misinterpretation of standard methods of testing Practices followed during transportation, placement, consolidation and curing/protection of concrete
Intermixing of Aggregates
No

Protection During Placing!

Intermixing of Aggregates

Calibration
Accuracy and sensitivity of weighing devices
Tolerances specified in IS 4926
Cement & SCMs:
2 percent of the quantity of constituents being measured

Aggregates, chemical admixture and water:

3 percent of the quantity of constituents being measured

Mixer Blade Worn Out

Built-up on Mixer Blade/Arm

Why Production Control Criteria?

Inside cleaned mixer

No Protection During Placing!

RMCMA Quality Scheme

Best Practices : Advanced Countries

USA
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, (N RMCA)

U.K.

Quality Scheme for Ready Mixed Concrete (QSRMC)

Canada

RMC Association of Ontario State, (RMCAO)

Turkey

Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association,

1. 2.

Plant Certification Scheme Quality Management System for RMC Company

Quality & Product Conformity Regulations

1. 2.

RMCAO Seal of Concrete Quality RMCAO Seal of Special Concrete Quality

Third Party Quality Scheme KGS

RMCMA Quality Scheme

Indigenous in character Based on two strong pillars
Best practices from advanced countries Strict adherence to various BIS codes of practice

RMCMA Quality Manuals

No. of audited plants

M

10

15

20

25

30

0
18 25 28 15 9 3 4 2 1 12 2 1 19 1 4 4

(March 2012)

224 Plants 50-plus locations

3 8 2 3 1 3 1

u B a mb n a De ga i lh lo re i H y (NC de R) ra b K o ad lk at a Co G im o ba a to N a re gp N a ur sh ik M Pu an ne ga l M o re an i C h pal en na Hu i C o b li ch in S Va u r A h d od at m ar ed a ab a M d ys or Ja e ip u Tr r i L u chy ck no Ra w nc Ra hi ip ur

City-wise Certified Plants

Efforts in Enhancing Production Control Criteria Multi-stakeholder Ownership Auditing: Completely Independent character RMCMA signs MoU with QCI on Dec. 11, 2011 to develop a New Quality Scheme

What is QCI ?

Established under Cabinet decision in 1996, formed in January 1997 Registered as a non-profit autonomous society Joint initiative of the Government of India, and the Indian Industry, represented by :

Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)

QCI: Objectives
Establish and maintain an accreditation structure in the country Provide right and unbiased information on quality related standards Facilitate upgradation of equipments and techniques related to quality Spread quality movement in the country through National Quality Campaign Represent Indias Interest in International forums Help establish brand equity of Indian products and service

Structure of New QCI Scheme

Quality Council of India
Steering Committee

Technical Committee

Certification Committee Certification Bodies accredited by NABCB of QCI

Multi Stake Holder Committees

Participations from: Central Government Ministries, e.g. Housing, MORT&H, etc. Key Specifier: Central Public Works Department (CPWD) Central PSUs e.g. NHAI, AAI, etc. User bodies, e.g. BAI, CFI, etc. Professional bodies, e.g. ICI, ICCE Consultants, e.g. Mahendra Raj, TCPL, etc. Manufacturers, e.g. RMCMA, CMA Certifying bodies, e.g. BVCI, ICMQ

Quality Scheme: New Manuals

Criteria for Production Control of RMC

Certification Process for RMCPCS

Provisional Approval for CBs for RMCPCS

Download from http://qcin.org/CAS/RMCPC/

Two Schemes Ready-Mixed Concrete Plant Certification Scheme (RMCPCS) RMC Capability Certification: A Must

RMC 9000+ Certification: Optional

Scope of QCI Scheme

Applicable for:
RMC Plants supplying concrete commercially RMC plants supplying concrete for specific project RMC Plants supplying concrete partly on commercial basis and partly for captive consumption

Scheme excludes operations of placing, compaction, finishing and curing of concrete

Conforming Standards Provisions of QCI Scheme conform to:

Bureau of Indian Standards
IS 4926, IS 456, IS 8112, IS 12269, IS 383, IS 3812, IS 9103, IS 516, IS 1199, IS 2386, IS 15388, etc.

Indian Roads Congress

IRC 112, IRC 58, MORT&H Specifications

Indian Railway Standards

IRS Bridge code, IRST 89, IRST 45, etc.

Who are Qualified to Certify RMC Plants? Bureau Veritas Certification (I) Pvt Ltd (BVCI) ICMQ India Tata Projects Ltd.

Production Control Criteria: Broad Contents

Section A Resource Management
Plant and equipment Laboratory Key personnel

Control on quality of incoming materials Concrete design Production and delivery Control on process control equipments and maintenance Complaints Feedback Section B Check List (182 Item ) Tables Table No 1 to 11

Resource Management
Resource Management

Plant, Equipme nt & Other Utilities

Material Storage & handling Ticketing System

Laboratory

Key Personnel
Operational Skills

Batching Equipment

Central Mixer

Educational Level Tests on Aggregates

Specific Knowledge

Test on Concrete

Minimum Specified Lab Test

Aggregates Sampling (IS 2430) Moisture content (IS 2386Part III) Bulk density (IS 2386-Part III) Sieve analysis (IS 2386Part-I) Concrete Slump (IS 1199) Unit weight (IS 1199) Strength (IS 516)

Minimum Test Equipment & Calibration Frequency

Relevant test Slump test Compressive strength of concrete Preparing concrete test specimens Sieve analysis of fine and coarse aggregates Agg. Sampling (sieve shaker/sample divider) Unit weight of concrete Aggregates Bulk density Silt content of sand Specific gravity of aggregates Other accessories
Electronic weighing balance Laboratory mixer(min 50 lit) Electric microwave oven Table / needle vibrator, tamping rods Curing tank with temperature control Shovels, trowels, flexible spatulas, meter,
(IS 11332) BIS Standard IS 1199-1959 IS 516 IS 1199 IS 2386- Part I IS 2430 IS 1199 Minimum units 2 sets One no. 30 nos. one set for C.A. and F.A. One one no.

IS 2386- Part III one each for C.A. and F.A. one no. one no.

One One One One One Sufficient nos.

Quality of Incoming Materials

Material IS Conformity Physical and Testing at NABL-accredited Lab Requirements Chemical Testing
Cement IS 8812 (OPC) Manufacturers IS 12269 (OPC) certificate for each IS 1489 (PPC) consignment IS 455 (PSC) IS 3812 (Part 1 Manufacturers and 2) certificate for each consignment IS 12089 and BS 6699 Manufacturers certificate for each consignment Manufacturers certificate for each consignment First consignment of each brand Once in a year for used brands or change of source BIS conformity tests once in six month or when source changed BIS/BS conformity tests once in six month or when source changed

Fly ash

GGBS

Silica fume

IS 15388

BIS conformity tests once in six month or when source changed

Quality of Incoming Materials (cond)

Material IS Conformity Physical and Requirements Chemical Testing Testing at NABL-accredited Lab

Chemical IS 9103 Admixtures

Manufacturers certificate for each consignment

Water

IS 456 and IS 4926

Coarse and IS 383 Fine Aggregates

All code-specified tests before finalization of source BIS conformity tests once in six month or when source changed Non-mains water: Initially every week for first 6 weeks and then at 3-monthly internal Mains water: Annual basis once all tests for source are satisfactory All IS-specified tests during selection of source or change of source Minimum tests in plant lab Other tests at NABL-accredited lab at IS-specified frequencies

Concrete Mix Design

Organization should have the capability to design concrete mixes by adopting any rational method Organization should also have the ability to convert prescribed and designed mixes into batches of production Organization to keep records of trial mixes and modifications done for the scrutiny of auditors

Production & Delivery

Company to prove evidence that materials and quantities batched are in accordance with order placed and approved mix design Auditors shall choose and verify any five customer orders during past three months, verifying following basic parameters
Properties Grade of concrete Slump, mm Minimum/maximum cementitious content and Cement Type, if specified Maximum water-binder ratio, if specified Chemical admixture dosage, if specified As ordered As delivered

Control of Final Product

Fresh Concrete
a) Sampling (IS a) Sampling: At least one sample for 4926 procedure) every 50 m3 of production or every 50 batches whichever is of greater frequency b) At least one sample for every 50 m3 b) Slump test of production or every 50 batches c) Density of fresh whichever is of greater frequency concrete c) At least once in a day d) Placing d) At least one sample for every 50 m3 Temperature of of production or every 50 batches # the concrete whichever is of greater frequency a) IS 4926

b) IS 1199

c) IS 1199 d) IS 1199

Hardened concrete
a) Compressive strength * a) At least one sample for every 50 m3 of production or every 50 batches whichever is of greater frequency * IS 516

# optional test (if specified) * One sample involves casting of 3 specimens of 150x150x150mm size, to be tested at 28 days.

Key Personnel
Key personnel to be competent, adequately qualified and trained Basic knowledge in concrete technology essential QC in-charge to have degree/diploma in civil engineering with min. 3 years of experience Lab Technicians to have knowledge and skills in sampling and testing Identification of gaps in knowledge and efforts in training personnel

Chronology of RMC Quality Schemes : A Comparison

USA
1913: Beginning of RMC production 1935: ASTM C 94 adopted first time 1965: Certification System commenced 1930: beginning of RMC production 1950: BRMCA formed 1968: Authorisation Scheme 1984: QSRMC launched 1994: Beginning of commercial RMC 2002: RMCMA established 2008: Quality Scheme commenced 2013: QCI certification launched
30 years

U. K.

18 years 16 years

India

6 years 5 years

Specifying Concrete as per BS EN 8500 & ISO 22965

Methods of Specifying Concrete Designated concretes Production control certification essential Designed concretes Prescribed concretes Standardized Prescribed concretes Proprietary concretes
Production control certification essential Production control certification not essential Production control certification not essential Production control certification essential

Properties of Ingredient Influencing Durability

Properties of Ingredient Influencing Durability: Cement

Variation in Compressive Strength of a Cement brand during a Month
28-day comp. strength, MPa
65 60 55 50 45 40 61.52 58.82 53.47 53.1 57.48

Variation in Compressive Strength of different Cement Brands

80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 51 58 51 60 61 71 55 56 61 60 59 55

49 03 days 07 days 28 days

Properties of Ingredient Influencing Durability: Cement

No provision on Uniformity Requirement in compressive strength of Cement in Indian Codes! International standards ASTM C 917 requirement on uniformity include such provision 80.0 Some Indian 28-day SD= 1.01 MPa 70.0 manufacturer provide 60.0 50.0 uniformity data on 40.0 30.0 request 20.0 1-day SD= 1.04 MPa 10.0 Urgent need to modify 0.0 Indian Standards on cement to include this Uniformity Chart of a major Indian brand provision.
Strength, MPa

Properties of Ingredient Influencing Durability: Aggregates

Dredging restrictions on sand from natural sources Industry constrained to use Crushed Stone Sand (CSS) What constitutes CSS?
IS 383 definition of CSS

IS 383 draft revision (2014) introduced one more term - Blended sand

Fine aggregate produced by crushing hard stone

Fine aggregate produced by blending natural sand and crushed stone sand or crushed gravel sand in suitable proportions

Glimpses of Natural Sand Quality

Silt content, % volume
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
ep -S 1 1 ep -S 3 1 ep -S 5 1 ep -S 7 1 ep -S 9 1 ep -S 1 2 ep -S 3 2 ep -S 5 2 ep -S 7 2

Without washing) After washing)

Properties of Ingredient Influencing Durability: Aggregates

120 100 80 60 40 20 0 10 4.75 2.36 1.18 0.6 0.3 120

Nellore, Tamil nadu

100 80 60

Paradeep, Orrisa

Min.

40 20

Min.

0.15

Max.

0 10 4.75 2.36 1.18 0.6 0.3

0.15

Max.

R. SAND R. SAND
120 100 80 60 40 20 0 10 4.75

Min. Min.

Max. Max.

CSS CSS
120 100

R. SAND

Min.

Max.

CSS

Boisar (near Mumbai)

Hospet, Karnataka
Max. Min.

80 60 40 20 0 10 4.75 2.36 1.18 0.6 0.3

Min.

0.15

Max.

2.36

1.18

0.6

0.3

0.15

R. SAND

Min.

Max.

CSS

Properties of Ingredient Influencing Durability: Aggregates

SL. NO. DELETERIOUS SUBSTANCE

Limits of deleterious materials (IS 383)

METHOD OF TEST

(1) (2) i) Coal and Lignite ii) iii) iv) v) vi) Clay lumps Materials finer than 75- IS Sieve Soft fragments Shale Total of percentages of all deleterious materials (Except mica) including Sl. No. (i) to (v) for Col 4,6,7 and Sl. No. (i) and (ii) for Col 5 only.

(3) IS: 2386 (Part II) IS: 2386 (Part II) IS: 2386 (Part I) IS: 2386 (Part II) IS: 2386 (Part II) ----

FINE AGGREGATE PERCENTAGE BY WEIGHT, Max Uncrushed Crushed (4) (5) 1.00 1.00 1.00 3.00 ---1.00 5.00 1.00 15.00 ------2.00

COARSE AGGREGATE PERCENTAGE BY WEIGHT, Max Uncrushed Crushed (6) (7) 1.00 1.00 1.00 3.00 3.00 ---5.00 1.00 3.00 ------5.00

NOTE 1 -The presence of mica in the fine aggregate has been found to reduce considerably the durability and compressive strength of concrete and further investigations are underway to determine the extent of the deleterious effect of mica. It is advisable, therefore, to investigate the mica content of fine aggregate and make suitable allowances for the possible reduction in the strength of concrete or mortar. NOTE 2- The aggregate shall not contain harmful organic impurities [tested in accordance with IS:2386 ( Part II )- I963 ] in sufficient quantities to affect adversely the strength or durability of concrete. A fine aggregate which fails in the test organic impurities may be used, provided that, when tested for the effect of organic impurities on the strength of mortar, the relative strength at 7 and 28 days, reported accordance with 7 of IS : 2386 (Part VI )-1963 is not less than 95 percent.

Microfine Content
Research Report ICAR 102-1F Good quality concrete can be made with

amounts of microfines (particles passing 75 sieve) as high as 15%. In fact, most of the concrete made with MFA in both projects surpassed the concrete made with natural sand in terms of strength, resistance to chloride ion penetration, and abrasion*

New Zealand experience

For low to medium compressive strengths, the optimum % of microfines can be as high as 18%#
Concrete Mixtures with High Microfines by Pedro N. Quiroga, Namshik Ahn, and David W. Fowler, ACI Materials Journal, Aug 2006 # Manufactured sands in Portland cement concrete The New Zealand Experience, by S. Goldsworthy

Suggested Grading Limits of Manufactured Sand

General Grading Limits
Sieve size 4.75 mm 0.6 mm 0.075 mm Cumulative amount passg, % 90-100 15-80 0-20

Limits of Deviations
Sieve size, mm 9.5 4.75 2.36 1.18 0.6 0.3 0.15 0.075 Maximum deviation, % 5 10 15 15 10 5 3

Properties of Ingredient Influencing Durability: Fly Ash

Uniformity Requirement of Fly Ash
Blaine's fineness Particles retained on 45 sieve Lime reactivity 28-day Compressive strength 320 m2/kg (min) 34% (max) 4.5 MPa (min) Not less than 80% of control

IS 3812 requirement
% retained on 45 micron sieve

Variation in Fly Ash Quality

50 40 30 20 10 0

Dominant Grades of Concrete supplied by major RMC Players

30

30 25 20 15 10 5 0
20 20

25

25

25

25

Customer Specified Mixes: Some Examples

Customer-Specified Mixes: Some Examples (Grade M25)

Region Exposure class
Not specified Not specified NCR Goa Coastal Karnataka Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified

w/b ratio

OPC, kg
380 300 380 290 380 400 315

Fly ash, kg
100 (25%) 90 (24%) 65 (17%)

Total cementitious, kg
380* 400* 380* 380* 380* 400* 380*

Mumbai

Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified 0.48 Not specified

* IS 456 specifies minimum cementitious content of 300 kg and w/b= 0.50

Customer-Specified Mixes: Some Examples (Grade M30)

Region Exposure class
Not specified Not specified NCR Goa Coastal Karnataka Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified

w/b ratio

OPC, kg

Fly ash, kg
40 (9%) 95 (23%) 50 (11%)

Total cementitious, kg
350* 400* 400* 390* 400* 420* 430*

Mumbai

Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified 0.44 Not specified

350 400 400 310 400 420 380

* IS 456 specifies minimum cementitious content of 320 kg and w/b= 0.45

Customer-Specified Mixes: Some Examples (Grade M35)

Region Exposure class
Not specified Not specified NCR Goa Coastal Karnataka Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified

w/b ratio

OPC, kg

Fly ash, kg
90 (19%) 95 (19%) 73 (17%) 90 (19%) -

Total cementitious, kg
450* 480* 490* 438* 420* 480* -

Mumbai

Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified

450 390 395 365 420 390 -

* IS 456 specifies minimum cementitious content of 340 kg and w/b= 0.45

Mix Optimization Currently, little freedom given to RMC players to optimize mixes even for strength - leave apart durability Result: Uneconomical mixes devoid of durability and sustainability Shrinkage cracking owing to higher cement and water contents Usual blame goes to RMC producer

Two strong restraints in production

Min. cement content Max. fly ash content

Why cracks in my concrete ?

Customer

RMC Producer

Need of the Hour

Try to give the producer as much choice as possible. Clause 5.2.1 of ISO 22965Part I Provide freedom to RMC producer to design his own mix under designed mix category as permitted under IS 4926 Encourage optimization of mixes for strength and durability

Improving Durability through Enhanced utilization of SCMs Code-specified Upper Limit on SCMs
Pozzolanic materials like fly ash (conforming to IS 3812) 35%

Ground Granulated Blast- 70% furnace Slag (conforming to IS 12089)

Typical HVFAC mix

Grade of OPC, Fly Total w/b Concrete kg Ash, Cementitious ratio kg materials, kg M20
40 30 20 10 7-day 28-day 56-day 90-day 13.63 23.72 26.48

Slump, mm 160

170

170
32.31

340
140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

0.44

57 7 day

100

112

136

28 day

56 day

90 day

Compressive strength

Other Examples of HVFAC

Grade M30 M40 OPC, kg 160 180 FA, kg 160 180 Total Cementitious, kg 320 360 w/b ratio 0.45 0.43 Slump, mm 150 170

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 7-day 28-day 56-day 21.34 18.92 26.27 34.65 39.99 37.63

44.64 42.26

200 160 120 80 40 0 7 day 28 day 56 day 90 day 72 61 100 100 115 143 169 122

90-day

Typical Triple Blend Concrete

Grade of Concrete M20 OPC, kg 125 Fly Ash, kg 100 GGBS, Kg 75 Total w/b ratio Cementitious material, kg 300 0.55 Slump, mm 110

160 120 80 40 0 7 day 28 day 56 day 90 day 57 100 122 156

Recent Changes in Durability Specifications of IRST and IRC

IRST Concrete Bridge Code (1997)

Exposure classes similar to those in IS 456 Provisions of maximum w/b ratio and min. cementitious contents

Permeability test shall be mandatory for all RCC/PSC bridges under severe, very severe and extreme environment The depth of penetration shall not exceed 25mm

IRST Guidelines for HPC

Cementitious content
not less than 380 kg/m3 and not more than 450 kg/m3 W/c ratio not less than 0.33 and not more than 0.40

RCPT value shall be less than 800 coulombs. Additional durability tests, such as, Water Permeability test as per DIN: 1048 Part 5-1991 or Initial Surface Absorption test as per BS:1881 Part 5 can also be specified. The permissible values in such tests shall be decided taking into account the severity of the exposure conditions.

IRC 112: Durability Recommendations for 100 Year Service Life

Exposure Condition Max. watercement ratio 0.45 0.45 0.40 0.35 Min. cement content, kg/m3 340 360 380 400 Minimum grade of concrete M25 M30 M40 M45 Minimum cover, mm

Moderate Severe Very Severe Extreme

40 45 50 75

Source: Code of Practice for Concrete Road Bridges, IRC 112-2011

IRC 112: Durability Tests

Suggested upper limits for 56-day RCPT value
Exposure Class Severe Very severe Extreme RCPT @ 56 days 1500 1200 800
No permissible values suggested

Additionally suggested tests

Water permeability (DIN 1048) ISAT (BS1881-Part 5)

Acceptance criteria
To be arrived at prior to testing

Metro Rail Specifications

Mumbai Metro: Durability Specifications
Water Penetration Test (DIN 1048) RCPT value Not greater than 25mm @ 28 day Not greater than: 2500 Columbs for M-30 and 1500 Columbs for M-45 and higher

Chennai Metro: Durability Specifications

Water Penetration Test (DIN 1048) Drying Shrinkage Moisture Movement RCPT Value Not greater than 10mm @ 28-35day Not greater than 0.05% @ 28day Not greater than 0.03% @ 28day Not greater than 600 Coloumbs @ 90day

Lab Data on RCPT & Compressive Strength

Rapid Chloride Ion Permeability Test (RCPT)

Why RCPT is popular in spite of shortcomings?
RCPT is a rapid test It provides a good indication of the degree of penetrability of concrete. It is a measure of conductivity governed by the volume, size and connectivity of pores Good co-relationship between RCPT data and ponding test

In spite of other developments, it is likely that this test (RCPT) will remain as an index test for permeability for many years to come*
* Hearn, N, Hooton, R. J, and Nokken, M. Pore structure, permeability and penetration resistance characteristics of concrete.. Significance of tests and properties of concrete and concrete making materials, ASTM STP 169D, ASTM International, 2006, pp. 237-252.

RCPT and Strength Data

(OPC 350 kg/m3 and w/c ratio = 0.50)
6000 5000 5510 50 45 40 3572 35 3451 3198 3000 2489 2000 1000 0 0 35 40 45 50 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

RCPT Value, Coloumb

4000

% Replacement of OPC by Fly Ash

28-day RCPT 28-day Comp. strength

28-day RCPT Values and Compressive strength for different replacement levels of OPC by Fly Ash

RCPT and Strength Data

(OPC 400 kg/m3 and w/c ratio = 0.44)
60 3630 4000 3500 3000

50

COmpressive strength, MPa

40

2275

2500 2000 1627 1480

30 1495 1420 1340

20

1500 1000

10

500 0 0 35 40 45 50 60 70

% Replacement of OPC by Fly Ash

28-day Comp. strength 28-day RCPT

28-day RCPT Values and Compressive strength for different replacement levels of OPC by Fly Ash

Conclusion
When ordering concrete, it will be appropriate to specify:
Third-party production control criteria and certification Exposure conditions Higher % utilization of SCMs Allow freedom to RMC supplier to optimize concrete mixes to achieve desired strengths and durability Provide incentives for producers optimizing mixes for strength and durability Specify durability tests and permissible limits

Future
Evolve Guidelines Document for specifying durability (on lines of ISO 22965 Part I and II*)
New definition of exposure classes Properties of concrete constituents including their uniformity requirements Encourage increased utilization of SCMs for enhancing durability and sustainability Upgraded production control criteria Durability requirements including conformity criteria for different tests Encourage service life design and specify service life requirements
* ISO 22965-1, Concrete Part 1: Methods of specifying and guidance for the specifier * ISO 22965-2, Concrete Part 2: Specification of constituent materials, production of concrete and conformity of concrete

Thank You!

 RCPT Shortcomings
Current passed is related to all ions Measurement made before any steady state migration is achieved High voltage may increase temperature Presence of fibers, calcium nitrite increases the value of coulombs