TABLE OF CONTENTS

DISCLAIMER ......................................................................................................... III

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................ IV

ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................. V

TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................... VI

LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................ XIII

LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................ XVIII

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 1

1.1 Background............................................................................................ 1
1.2 Problem Statement................................................................................. 3
1.3 Objectives .............................................................................................. 4
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................. 7

2.1 Introduction............................................................................................ 7
2.2 Shape...................................................................................................... 7
2.3 Texture ................................................................................................. 13
2.4 Effect Of Aggregate Characteristics .................................................... 13
2.4.1 Effect of Shape and Texture ....................................................... 14
2.4.2 Effect of Grading ........................................................................ 21
2.4.3 Effect of Absorption ................................................................... 23
2.4.4 Effect of Mineralogy and Coatings............................................. 23
2.4.5 Effect of Strength and Stiffness .................................................. 24
2.4.6 Effect of Maximum Size............................................................. 25
2.4.7 Effect of Relative Density (Specific Gravity)............................. 26
2.4.8 Effect of Soundness and Toughness ........................................... 26
2.5 Manufactured Sands............................................................................. 27

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2.6 Tests For Aggregate Characterization ................................................. 30

2.6.1 Shape and Texture of Fine Aggregate ........................................ 30

2.6.2 Deleterious Materials - Methylene Blue Test ............................. 33
2.6.3 Shape and Texture of Coarse Aggregate .................................... 33
2.6.4 Grading of Coarse and Fine Aggregate ...................................... 35
2.7 Workability .......................................................................................... 36
2.8 Rheology.............................................................................................. 40
2.8.1 The Bingham Model ................................................................... 40
2.8.2 The Herschel-Bulkley Model...................................................... 41
2.9 Packing Density ................................................................................... 43
2.10 Concrete Optimization......................................................................... 46
2.11 Proportioning Methods ........................................................................ 49
2.11.1 ACI 211 – ASTM C 33............................................................ 49
2.11.2 “18-8” Specification................................................................. 50
2.11.3 Shilstone Method ..................................................................... 51
2.11.4 Europack .................................................................................. 54
2.11.5 The Compressible Packing Model (CPM)............................... 56
2.11.6 Theory of Particle Mixtures (TPM) ......................................... 59
CHAPTER 3 EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM............................................................. 60

3.1 Introduction.......................................................................................... 60
3.1.1 Admixtures Study I..................................................................... 60
3.1.2 Admixtures Study II.................................................................... 60
3.1.3 Packing and Shape and Texture Study........................................ 61
3.1.4 Proportioning Methods Study..................................................... 61
3.1.5 Optimization Study ..................................................................... 62
3.2 Materials .............................................................................................. 62
3.2.1 Aggregates .................................................................................. 62
3.2.2 Microfines................................................................................... 70

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3.2.2 Cement ........................................................................................ 73

3.2.3 Water Reducers and Air-Entraining Agent................................. 74

3.2.4 Mineral Admixtures.................................................................... 76
3.3 Procedures............................................................................................ 76
3.3.1 Mortar Mixtures.......................................................................... 76
3.3.2 Concrete Mixtures....................................................................... 80
CHAPTER 4 ADMIXTURES STUDY I..................................................................... 84

4.1 Introduction.......................................................................................... 84
4.2 Materials .............................................................................................. 84
4.2.1 Aggregates .................................................................................. 84
4.2.2 Cement ........................................................................................ 87
4.2.3 Water Reducers........................................................................... 87
4.3 Mortar .................................................................................................. 87
4.3.1 Mixture Proportions.................................................................... 88
4.3.2 Mixing Schedule ......................................................................... 90
4.3.3 Mixing and Testing Procedure.................................................... 91
4.3.4 Results......................................................................................... 94
4.3 Concrete Study A............................................................................... 103
4.4.1 Mixture Proportions.................................................................. 103
4.4.2 Mixing Schedule ....................................................................... 105
4.4.3 Mixing Procedure...................................................................... 106
4.4.4 Results....................................................................................... 106
4.5 Concrete Study B ............................................................................... 113
4.5.1 Materials ................................................................................... 114
4.5.2 Procedures................................................................................. 115
4.5.3 Results....................................................................................... 117

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CHAPTER 5 ADMIXTURES STUDY II......................................................... 123

5.1 Introduction........................................................................................ 123

5.2 Part I – Water Reducers ..................................................................... 123
5.2.1 Procedures................................................................................. 123
5.2.2 Results....................................................................................... 126
5.3 Part II-A Supplementary Cementing Materials - Mortar................... 132
5.3.1 Procedures................................................................................. 132
5.3.2 Results....................................................................................... 133
5.4 Part II-B – Supplementary Cementing Materials - Concrete............. 138
5.4.1 Procedures................................................................................. 138
5.4.2 Results....................................................................................... 139
5.5 Part III - Air Entraining Agents ......................................................... 142
5.5.1 Procedures................................................................................. 142
5.5.2 Results....................................................................................... 145
5.6 Part IV - Drying Shrinkage................................................................ 147
5.6.1 Procedures................................................................................. 147
5.6.2 Results....................................................................................... 151
5.7 Conclusions........................................................................................ 158
CHAPTER 6 PACKING DENSITY - SHAPE AND TEXTURE
STUDY ....................................................................................................... 160
6.1 Introduction........................................................................................ 160
6.2 Objectives .......................................................................................... 161
6.3 Part I – Packing Density .................................................................... 162
6.3.1 Packing Models......................................................................... 162
6.3.2 Procedures................................................................................. 168
6.3.3 Conclusions............................................................................... 183

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6.4 Part II - Shape and Texture ................................................................ 184

6.4.1 The Aggregate Imaging System (AIMS) Masad [2002]........... 184

6.4.2 Laser-based Aggregate Scanning System (LASS) ................... 186
6.4.3 X-ray Computed Tomography.................................................. 186
6.4.4 Results....................................................................................... 187
6.4.5 Conclusions............................................................................... 196
6.5 Part III – Packing vs. Shape and Texture Indexes ............................. 196
6.5.1 Fine Aggregate.......................................................................... 197
6.5.2 Coarse Aggregate...................................................................... 201
6.5.3 Conclusions............................................................................... 203
CHAPTER 7 PROPORTIONING METHODS STUDY ................................ 204

7.1 Proportioning Methods ...................................................................... 204

7.1.1 ACI 211..................................................................................... 204
7.1.2 Europack, “18-8,” Shilstone ..................................................... 205
7.1.3 The Compressible Packing Model (CPM)................................ 205
7.1.4 The Theory of Particle Mixtures (TPM)................................... 207
7.2 Part I - Proportioning with ACI, Europack and “18-8” ..................... 208
7.2.1 Procedures................................................................................. 209
7.2.2 Mixture Proportions.................................................................. 209
7.2.3 Mixing and Testing Procedure.................................................. 210
7.2.4 Results....................................................................................... 210
7.2.5 Analysis with Shilstone Method ............................................... 221
7.2.6 Analysis with CPM................................................................... 225
7.3 Part II – Proportioning with TPM...................................................... 229
7.4 Part III – Proportioning with CPM .................................................... 231
7.5 Conclusions........................................................................................ 238

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CHAPTER 8. OPTIMIZATION STUDY ........................................................ 240

8.1 Introduction........................................................................................ 240

8.2 Mortar ................................................................................................ 241
8.2.1 Effect of shape, texture and microfines .................................... 241
8.2.2 Effect of Grading ...................................................................... 251
8.2.3 Effect of Mean Size and Packing Density
(Shape and Texture).................................................................. 253
8.3 Concrete ............................................................................................. 256
8.3.1 Effect of Shape, Texture and Microfines.................................. 256
8.3.2 Effect of Grading ...................................................................... 268
8.3.3 Effect of mean size and packing density (shape and texture)... 283
8.3.4 The Fineness Modulus Issue..................................................... 285
8.3.5 The Coarseness Chart, the 0.45 Power Chart, Shape
and Texture ............................................................................... 289
8.4 Conclusions........................................................................................ 297
CHAPTER 9. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMENDATIONS ............................................................................. 300
9.1 Summary............................................................................................ 300
9.2 Conclusions........................................................................................ 303
9.2.1 Aggregate characteristics.......................................................... 303
9.2.2 Chemical Admixtures ............................................................... 305
9.2.3 Supplementary Cementing Materials........................................ 306
9.2.4 Shape and texture, and image analysis ..................................... 307
9.2.5 Packing of aggregates ............................................................... 308
9.2.6 Microfines Characterization...................................................... 309
9.2.7 Proportioning and Optimization of Aggregates........................ 310