CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIAL VCB 2013

Admixture

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Learning outcome

To evaluate the properties of

concrete constituent materials.

Admixture s

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Material which is added to concrete during

mixing in order to modify particular properties of concrete

1. Accelerators (CaCl2) NaCl, formate triethenolamine 2. Retarders Gypsum, sugars, lignosulphates 3. Air entrainers Wood resins/soaps, fats and oils 4. Water reducers (plasticisers) 5. Others e.g. Corrosion Inhibiting Admixtures

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Admixture s
Why use admixtures? To give special properties to fresh or hardened concrete enhance durability, workability or strength characteristics of mixture to overcome difficult situation - hot/cold weather concreting, pumping requirements, early strength requirements, or very low w/c ratio specifications to ensure quality of concrete during mixing, transporting, placing and curing successful usage depends on appropriate

methods during batching and concreting

Admixture s
quantities (2%) of mix Two types:
Chemical Mineral
WaterAirreducing entraining
Accelerator

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Chemical admixtures usually used in small

Set Retarders

Fly ash
(Pozzolan)

Slag (GGBS)

Silica Fume

Admixture s

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Mineral admixture: added in larger amount to enhance workability of fresh concrete to improve resistance of concrete thermal cracking,alkali-aggregate expansion and sulphate attack to enable reduction in cement content Chemical admixture: added in very small

amount for

entrainment of air reduction of water or cement content plasticization fresh concrete mixtures control of setting time

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Accelerator (ASTM Type C&E)

Accelerate the hardening or development of early

strength concrete need not have any effect on the setting (stiffening) time (BS 5075:Part 1:1982) the admixture is usually dissolved in water the most common : Calcium Chloride (<2% cement weight)

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Accelerator (ASTM Type C&E)

Benefit: increase the resistance of concrete to

erosion and abrasion improves strength development CaCl2 reduces resistance to sulphate attack, increases shrinkage and creep application : low temp placing, urgent repair works

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Set Retarders (ASTM Type B&D)

Delay the initial setting time of concrete

(BS5075:Part 1: 1982) by an hour or more also delay hardening time - architectural finish of exposed aggregate offsets the effects of hot weather - allow more time for placing and finishing

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Set Retarders (ASTM Type B&D)

Increase plastic shrinkage (extend plastic stage)

but drying shrinkage is unaffected. compared with normal mix, the early strength is reduced, later strength increased - so long-term strength maintained

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Plasticizers - Water Reducers (ASTM Type A)

Purpose:
Produce a concrete with lower w/c ratio, greater

plasticity and higher strengths with minimal impact on setting time to obtain higher slump using the same water content (10% reduction)
consist of low range, mid-range and high-

range(super-Plasticizers) types

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Plasticizers - Water Reducers (ASTM Type A)

Used to increase slump for pumping concrete and

in hot weather concreting to offset the increased water demand superplastisizers reduce water content 12-25% which increases strength increase slump to produce flowing concrete

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Plasticizers - Water Reducers (ASTM Type A)

Principal active components: surface active

agents dispersing ability of the admixture gives greater surface area of cement exposed to hydration hence an increase in early strength long-term strength improved from uniform distribution of the dispersed cement throughout concrete effective with all types of cement

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Air-entraining Admixtures
to purposely produce microscopic air bubbles in

concrete objective:
improve the durability and resistance to damage

from freezing and thawing and de-icing salts improve workability, reduce bleeding and segregation

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Air-entraining Admixtures
application: exterior flatwork (parking lots,

driveways, sidewalks, pool decks, patios) only to structures exposed to freezing - assist in expansion and shrinking of structures due to thermal changes

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Specifications of Various Type of Admixtures (BS5075:Part 1:1982)

Type of Water Compacting Factor admixture Reduction,

per cent
Accelerati ng

8 8 8 8 -

Retarding

Normalwater reducing

Accelerati ng Water Reducing

Retarding Water Reducing

Stiffening Time Time from completion of mixing to reach a resistance to penetration* of 0.5Mpa (70psi) 3.5Mpa (500psi) Not more than More than 1h At least 1h less than 0.02 below control the control mix mix Not more than At least 1h 0.02 below control longer than mix control mix At least 0.03 above control mix Not more than Within 1h of Within 1h of control 0.02 below control control mix mix mix At least 0.03 below control mix Not more than More than 1h At least 1h less than 0.02 below control control mix mix At least 0.03 below control mix

Compressive Strength Percentage of Age control mix (minimum) 125 24h 95 28 days 90 95 90 90 110 110 125 90 125 110 90 90 7 days 28 days 7 days 28 days 7 days 28 days 24h 28 days 24h 28 days 7 days 28 days

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Admixtures & Functions

Type Air entraining Superplasticizers Retarding Accelerating Mineral admixtures Pigment Function Improves durability, workability, reduces bleeding, reduces freezing/thawing problems (e.g. special detergents) Increase strength by decreasing water needed for workable concrete (e.g. special polymers) Delays setting time, more long term strength, offsets adverse high temperature weather (e.g. sugar) Speeds setting time, more early strength, offsets low temperature weather (e.g. calcium chloride) Improves workability, plasticity, strength (e.g. fly ash) Add colour (e.g. metal oxides)