Chapter 1: Introduction Advantages of Concrete:

• Ability to be Cast

Concrete - cement (11%), fine aggregates (26%), coarse • Fire resistant

aggregates (41%) and water (16%) and air (6%). • On-site fabrication
• Aesthetic properties.

Concrete - most commonly used man made construction • Low maintenance.

material.
• Can be reused or recycled.

Process - responsible for quality of concrete.

Limitations of Concrete:
• Low tensile strength
Cement - most important and costliest ingredient of concrete
• Low ductility
• Volume instability
Aggregate - give volume to the concrete
• Low strength-to-weight ratio

Fine aggregate - 30-35% of the mixture

Progress in Concrete Technology:
Coarse aggregate - 40-45% of the mixture
• Lightweight Concrete
• High-Strength Concrete
Water - indispensable because it is required for hydration.
• High Work-ability or Flowing Concrete
Admixture - optional ingredient which is used for specific
purpose. • Shrinkage Compensating Concrete
• Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Two distinct activity on production of concrete: • Concrete Containing polymers

 Material • Heavyweight Concrete

 Selection • Mass Concrete

 Proportioning • Roller-Compacted Concrete

 process
 Mixing 1824 - Joseph Aspdin of England invented Portland cement.

 Transportation
 Placement Chapter 2: Portland Cement

 Compaction
 Curing Cement - material used to bind aggregates.
Cement paste - act as glue which makes a cohesive mass
with all aggregates.
Basic ingredients of concrete:
Hydraulic Cement - Modern day cement.
Cement
Clinkers - 20-30% of material fuses together spherical balls
Aggregate due to intense heat.
Water Heat of hydration - heat generated when cement and water
react.
Admixture
Composition of modern day cement:
Calcareous Material : Limestone of chalk Application of Aggregates:
Argillaceous Material : Clay/Shale • Portland cement concrete
Siliceous Material : Silica • Asphalt concrete
• Base materials for roads
Chemical Properties of Portland Cement: • Ballast for railroads
Chemical analysis • Foundations
• Compound composition • Plaster, mortar, grout, filter materials, etc.
• Chemical limits

The relative quantities of each of these phases affects: Classification of Aggregates:

• setting time  According to origin of aggregates
• rate of strength development  Natural Mineral Aggregates
• overall strength  Synthetic Aggregates
• durability  Recycled Aggregates
• color

 According to weight of aggregates

Physical Properties of Portland Cement:  Normal Weight
• Fineness  Light Weight
• Soundness  Heavy Weight
• Consistency 
• Setting time Properties of Aggregates:
• False set and flash set  Inherited Properties:
• Compressive strength  Chemical and mineral composition
• Heat of hydration  Specific Gravity
• Loss on ignition  Hardness
• Density  Strength
• Bulk density  Colour
• Sulfate expansion  Acquired Properties
 Aggregate Shape
Setting time tests:  Rounded
Initial setting time - is the time from moment water is added  Angular
until the paste ceases to be fluid and plastic.
 Elongated
 Flaky
Final setting time - is the time from moment water is added
for the paste to acquire a certain degree of hardness.  Irregular
 Aggregate Size

Chapter 3: Aggregates for Concrete  Surface Texture

  Smooth texture  Physical durability – exposure to freezing and thawing,
wetting and drying, physical wear.
 Rough texture
 Soundness: if volume changes accompanied
 Water Absorption with environmental changes lead to the
 Bone dry deterioration of concrete –unsoundness.

 Air dry
 Saturated surface dry  Volume changes: alternate freezing and
thawing, repeated wetting and drying –
 Moist internal stresses –volume increase.

Phases of Concrete:  Wear resistance: resistance to surface

abrasion and wear.
Paste Phase
Aggregate Phase
 Chemical Durability - results from a reaction between
reactive silica in aggregates and alkali
compounds contained in the cement.
Significance of Gradation
Economy
Tests on Aggregates
Consistency
Bulk Density (ASTM C 29)
Strength
Relative Density (Specific Gravity)
Shrinkage
Absorption and Surface Moisture
Finish ability

Maximum Aggregate Size (MSA) - It is the smallest sieve

opening through which the entire sample passes.

Bulking of sand - property of sand by virtue of which its

apparent volume increases when some water
is added to it.

Quality of Aggregates:
Deleterious Material
Salt contamination
Alkali reaction

Durability of Aggregates

Causes of Durability: