CEE 485 - LECTURE 3

CONCRETE PROPERTIES
Reading assignment prior to class:
Text Chapters 1, 2 and section 3.1 - 3.5, 3.7 3.11
Reading Quiz
Complete Quiz 1 on the reading material at the start of class. Review quiz answers during class.

The three most common construction materials are wood, steel and reinforced (including
prestressed) concrete. Reinforced concrete is unique in that two materials are combined, ie
reinforcing steel and concrete. This material is used in virtually every structure, from
foundations, retaining walls, tunnels, tanks, bridges and buildings.
Reinforced concrete is a logical union of two materials: plain concrete, which possesses high
compressive strength but little tensile strength, and steel reinforcing bars embedded in the
concrete, which can provide the needed strength in tension. For example, in a concrete beam,
compression at the top of the section is carried by the concrete, while the tension at the bottom
would fail the concrete and lead to a low strength for the member. By adding steel reinforcing in
the tension zone, we can improve the performance of the member substantially. Steel can also
accept compression, and so steel is sometimes also used in the compression zone of beams, as
well as in columns for compressive load carrying purposes.
There are several reasons why steel and concrete work well together:
1. They bond together, preventing slip of the bars relative to the concrete.
2. The concrete covering the steel protects it from heat during fires.
3. Proper concrete mix properties will prevent water intrusion and corrosion of the bars.
4. The rates of thermal expansion are very similar, so that negligible forces between the steel
and concrete are developed under atmospheric changes in temperature. The coefficient of
thermal expansion for concrete varies from 0.000004 to 0.000007 per degree Fahrenheit, while
the coefficient for steel is 0.0000065 per degree Fahrenheit. Corresponding values per degree
Celsius are 0.000010 to 0.000013 for concrete and 0.000012 for steel.
5. In most applications, the surface of the concrete is very durable and does not need any
coatings or paint to protect it from the environment.

ADVANTAGES OF REINFORCED CONCRETE AS A STRUCTURAL MATERIAL

1. Considerable compressive strength.
2. Great resistance to fire and water attack.
3. R.C. structures are generally more rigid than others.
4. It is a low maintenance material
5. Very long service life. Concrete actually increases in strength with time.
6. Usually the only economical material for footings, basement wall, piers and similar
applications against earth.

7. Can be cast into almost any shape with relative ease.

8. In most cases, it takes advantage of relatively inexpensive local materials, with little quantities
of cement and reinforcing.

9. Less skilled labor required for erection than steel.

DISADVANTAGES OF REINFORCED CONCRETE AS A STRUCTURAL MATERIAL
1. Low tensile strength
2. Forms are required to hold it in place until it hardens. Expensive, costing from 1/3 to 2/3 of the
cost of a RC structure.

3. Low strength to unit weight leads to heavy members. Important in long span conditions and
high rise applications.

4. Low strength to unit volume means bigger members, again important to long span and tall
structures.

5. Properties can vary widely, even on one project. The control of curing etc. is not as rigorous as
for steel and laminated wood.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Romans used slaked lime mixed with volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius to form pozzolana, a
type of cement. The art only really developed in the latter part of the 19th century, particularly in
Europe and England
First use of concrete in the US is attributed to William Ward in 1875. Thaddeus Hyatt was
probably the first person to correctly analyze the stresses in a reinforced concrete beam.
E. L. Ransome of San Francisco developed twisted bars for use in concrete in 1884.

DECIDING BETWEEN REINFORCED CONCRETE AND STEEL FOR A STRUCTURE.

A number of factors affect this decision:
1. Availability of materials, relative cost
2. Size of structure and span lengths
3. Fire rating required
4. Speed of construction
5. Client preference
6. Foundation material, weight of structure
7. Deflection and vibration control
8. Earthquake resistance
9. Potential for corrosion

Most structures are in fact a combination of both steel and concrete. They may also include
components made of wood, CMU (concrete masonry units) and aluminum. It is important for a
structural engineer to know how to design and detail all of these materials.

MATERIALS REQUIRED TO MAKE CONCRETE

Concrete mix design and the individual materials required to manufacture concrete were covered
in detail in CEE 375, Construction Materials. Testing of concrete for compression and possibly
tension strength were also covered in CEE 370 and CEE 375. We will cover these issues only
briefly in this course, but instead will focus on those material properties we need to know so as to
be able to design reinforced concrete members.
CONCRETE MATERIALS
Plain concrete consists of cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, water and frequently
admixtures. When reinforcing steel is embedded in the concrete, then the hardened product is
termed reinforced concrete. If the steel is tensioned before or after concrete placement, thereby
putting the concrete into compression, the material is referred to as prestressed concrete.
DESIRABLE CONCRETE PROPERTIES
The following are some properties that we generally desire of concrete:
1. Must be strong in compression
2. Must be workable, able to get into forms and around reinforcement (Water reducing
admixtures, High range water reducers, Superplasticizers)

3. Must not set too quickly (retarders)

4. Must harden in reasonable amount of time (accelerators)
5. Must resist penetration of water (dense matrix, Pozzolans, waterproofing admixtures)
6. Must be durable in extreme weather conditions (air entrainment)
CEMENT
Cement is a material that has both adhesive and cohesive properties. We are particularly
interested in those that harden in the presence of water; the so-called hydraulic cements. These
consist primarily of silicates and aluminates of lime made from limestone and shale ground and
blended, fused in a kiln, and crushed to a powder. When combined with water, such cements
hydrate to form a hardened mass. The usual hydraulic cement used for reinforced concrete is
known as Portland cement because of its resemblance when hardened to Portland stone found
near Dorset, England. The name comes from a patent by Joseph Aspdin in 1824.
Concrete made with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) usually sets in 3 to 5 hours. Vertical
forms on walls and columns can be removed after 1 day. Soffit forms for beams and slabs
usually require between 7 and 14 days for the concrete to attain adequate strength to support the

concrete self-weight and other dead loads. The concrete design strength is usually achieved in 28
days. This portland cement is identified by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)
C150 as Type I.
Other types of cement are shown below:
Type
I
II
III
IV
V

Uses
Ordinary construction
Moderate sulfate resistance or moderate heat of hydration is desired
When high early strength is desired
When low heat of hydration is desired
When high sulfate resistance is desired

Air-entraining Portland cement contains a chemical admixture finely ground with cement to
produce air bubbles on the order of 0.02 in. (0.5mm) diameter uniformly distributed throughout
the concrete. This gives the concrete improved durability against frost action as well as better
workability. These air-entraining cements are referred to as Types IA, IIA, IIIA. There are also
chemical admixtures that serve the same function which can be added during mixing of the
concrete.

AGGREGATES
Aggregates usually occupy about 75% of the total volume of concrete. Their properties
therefore have a definite influence on the behavior of hardened concrete. In general, for
maximum strength, durability, and best economy, the aggregate should be packed and cemented
as densely as possible. Hence aggregates are usually graded by size and a proper mix specifies
percentages of both fine and course aggregates.
Fine aggregate (sand) is any material passing a No. 4 sieve (ie. less than about 3/16 in or 5 mm
diameter). Coarse aggregate (gravel) is any material of larger size. The maximum size of
aggregate permitted by the code is governed by one of the following
a. 1/5 the narrowest dimension between the sides of forms
b. 1/3 the depth of slabs,
c. 3/4 the minimum clear spacing between reinforcing bars
Natural stone aggregates conforming to ASTM C33 are used in the majority of concrete giving a
unit weight of about 145 pcf. When steel reinforcing is added, the unit weight of normal
weight reinforced concrete (NWC) is taken as 150pcf.
Structural lightweight concretes are usually made from aggregates conforming to ASTM C330
which are produced artificially in a kiln, such as expanded clays and shales, normally as
byproducts of another manufacturing process. The unit weight of such concretes typically ranges
from 70 to 115 pcf. When light weight aggregates are used for both coarse and fine aggregates,
the concrete is known as all-lightweight concrete. When only the coarse aggregate is
lightweight, the concrete is referred to as sand-lightweight concrete.

ADMIXTURES
In addition to cement, coarse and fine aggregates, and water, other materials known as
admixtures may be added to the concrete mix immediately before or during the mixing.
Admixtures may be used to modify the properties of the concrete to make it better serve its
intended use or for better economy.
Some of the important purposes of admixtures are as follows:
1. Air-entraining admixtures: To increase resistance to deterioration from freeze-thaw
cycles and the use of ice-removal salts.

2. High-range water reducing admixtures or superplasticizers: To increase workability

without increasing water content.

3. Accelerators: To accelerate the rate of strength development at early ages.

4. Retarders: To retard the setting and thereby reduce the heat of hydration.

5. Pozzolans such as fly ash and silica fume: To increase the strength and density, and
reduce water permeability.
6. Corrosion inhibiting admixtures: protect the steel from corrosion.

7. Shrinkage compensating admixtures: Cause the concrete to expand slightly to offset

the effects of shrinkage.

8. Viscosity Modifiers: To prevent segregation in Self-Consolidating Concrete, SCC.