Special Concrete Assignment-II: R.V.College of Engineering R.V.Vidyaniketan Post Bangalore - 56
Special Concrete Assignment-II: R.V.College of Engineering R.V.Vidyaniketan Post Bangalore - 56
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
R.V.VIDYANIKETAN POST
BANGALORE - 56
Special Concrete
Assignment-II
(February 1999 Question paper)
From
Archana J Sanikanavar
Bachane Sangamesh
R V College of Engineering
First Semester MTech Examination February 1999
Structural Engineering
Special Concrete
Q1. a) What is influence of W/C ratio on the strength and durability of concrete?
Ans:
The influence of W/C ratio on the strength of concrete.
The strength of the concrete is primarily depends on the strength of cement paste
which in terms depends on the dilution of paste or the strength of paste decreases with
air & water and increases with cement content In 1918 Abram represented his
classical law in term,
S=A/Bx
Where x= water/cement ratio by volume and 28 days results, A and B are 14000
lbs/sq.in and 7 respectively. Abrams W/C ratio states that the strength of the concrete
is only dependent on the W/C ratio provided the mix is workable
Strictly speaking it was ferret that formulated in 1897 a general rule defining
the strength of the concrete paste & concrete in terms of volume fraction of the
constituents by the equation
S=K(c/c+e+a)2
Where
S= strength of concrete
K=a constant
c,e and a= vol of cement
In this expression volume of water and air respectively air is also included
because it is not only the W/C ratio but also the degree of compaction, which
indirectly means the volume of air filled voids in the concrete is taken into account for
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estimating the strength of concrete. The relationships between strength of concrete &
W/C as shown.
It can be observed that low W/C ratio could be used when concrete is vibrated
to achieve higher strength where as comparatively high W/C ratio is required when
concrete is hand compacted. In both the cases when W/C ratio is below the practical
limit the strength of the concrete falls rapidly due to the introduction of air voids.
The graph showing the relationship between strength and W/C ratio is
approximately hyperbolic. Some times it is very difficult to interpolate the
intermediate point if the graphs drawn between strength of concrete and C/W ratio is
more convenient and an approximately linear relationship will be obtained this is
more convenient than W/C ratio curve for interpolation. The graphs are shown the
relationship between strength C/W.
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these concretes are almost impervious to water. The chloride in diffusion in such
concrete is 10-15 times slower than the concrete with higher W/C ratio the lower W/C
ratio are less liable to chemical attack carbonation and other deter mental effects that
causes the lack of durability of concrete is low W/C ratio with adequate cover is best
way to protecting reinforcement steel against corrosion.
In most of the low W/C ratio concrete, there is not enough water is available
for fully hydrate the cement particles and there exists plenty of anhydrate cement
particles which plays a very important role the strength to be reserve. It for any
reason or environmental concrete gets cracked, the anhydrate particles begins
hydrating as soon as water starts penetrating through cracks. This is to say that
anhydrates cement particles after self-healing potential to improve the durability of
concrete.
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Anhydrous cement does not bind fine and coarse aggregate. It acquires adhesive
property only when mixed with water. The chemical reaction that takes place between
the cement and water is referred as hydration of cement.
The chemistry of concrete is essentially the chemistry of the reaction between
cement and water. On account of hydration certain products are formed. These
products are important because they have cementing or adhesive value. The quality,
quantity, continuity, stability and the rate of formation of the hydration products are
important.
Anhydrous cement compounds when mixed with water react with each other to
form hydrated compounds of very low solubility. The hydration of cement can be
visualized in two ways. The first one is “Through solution” mechanism. In this the
cement compounds dissolve to produce a super saturated solution from which
different hydrated products get precipitated. The second possibility us that water
attacks cement compounds in the solid state converting the compounds into hydrated
products staring from the surface and proceeding to the interior of the compounds
with time. It is probable that both “through solution” and the “solid state” type of
mechanism may occur during the coarse of reaction between cement and water. The
former mechanism may predominate in the early stages of hydration in view of large
quantities of water being available, and the later mechanism may operate during the
later stages of hydration.
Calcium silicate:
The chemical reaction that takes place between cement and water is called
hydration of cement. Both C3S and C2S make up nearly 75% of cement. The
hydration of these compounds results in the setting and hardening of cement.
Calcium silicate hydrate constitutes 50 to 60% of the solids in the paste. It is
amorphous and fibrous and hence has a large surface area. It is an important factor
for the strength development of cement paste. It is the essence that determines the
good properties of the concrete.
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The hydration of C3A produces a substance called “ettringite”
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Figure shows the submicroscopic models. They represented meta-stable crystalline
gel consisting of two sheet like crystals separated by a layer of water.
In mechanism (a) the liquid is compressed and squeezed out laterally. This is
accompanied by a reduction of the intercrystaline space. The rate of liquid movement
is slow and will decrease with narrowing of space which tends towards a limit equal
to a monomolecular compressed water layer (about 3Å). This squeezing away of
liquid against strong frictional forces is the principal cause of the time dependent and
irrecoverable changes in the cement gel.
In mechanism (b) viscoelastic elongation may be expected, at a faster rate than
in case of compression. This elongation is restrained, however by the solid matrix and
delayed, although the complete recovery may be expected along after unloading.
Under the complex systems of applied loading, below the elastic limit of the
material, various combinations of basic mechanisms of deformation may be expected.
On the basis of the available experimental evidence, it may be assumed that the long
term deformation mechanism in cement gel is that involving narrowing of the
intercrystaline spaces. This is reflected in the slow and decreasing rate of time
dependent of deformation, as well as in the irrecoverable component of the
deformation which increase with loading time.
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All processes are governed by movement or migration of various types of water
help. It can be further explained as follows,
Application of uniaxial compression which is the most usual type of loading,
results in an instantaneous elastic response of both solid and liquid systems. The
external load is distributed between these two phases. Under sustained load, the
compressed liquid begins to defuse and migrate from high to low stressed areas.
Under uniform pressure, migration takes place outwards from the body. This
mechanism is accompanied by a transfer of load from the liquid phase to the
surrounding solid, so that stress acting on the solid matrix increases gradually,
resulting in an increased elastic deformation.
There is reason to believe that, after several days under sustained load, the
pressure on the capillary water gradually disappears, being transferred to the
surrounding gel. Similarly, the pressure on the gel pore water disappears after some
weeks. The pressure on the inter and intracrystalline absorbed water continues to act
during the entire period of loading, although the magnitude decreases gradually. It
can be said that the ultimate deformation of the hardened cement paste, infact, is the
elastic response of the solid matrix, which behaves as if the spaces within were quite
empty.
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3. The addition of entrained air lowers slightly the density of the concrete which
offers an economic advantage since the materials ‘go further’.
4. The air entrainment permits the use of lower cement contents and leads
therefore to a lower temperature rise.
5. Air entrainment concrete is more resistant to weathering ,it reduces scaling
6. Resistant to serve frost and is impervious to the effects of chemicals used for
Melting snow & ice
Q 2. a) Discuss briefly the modulus of elasticity, stress at first crack and ultimate
strength of ferrocement
Ans:
Modulus of elasticity –
Modulus of elasticity of ferrocement will be high, because the basic idea behind
this material is that the concrete can undergo large strains in the neighborhood of
the reinforcement and the magnitude of strains depends on the distribution and
subdivision of reinforcement throughout the mass of concrete. Because of high
modulus of elasticity, it has high tensile strength, flexibility and resistance to
cracking.
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further increase of load smallest possible spacing of cracks are formed and Ferro
cement fails.
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1. Marine applications: Ferrocement is used for the construction of boats, fishing
vessels, barrages, docks, floating buoys, and water or fuel tanks. The
advantages of using ferrocement in marine structures are water tightness,
impact resistance, small thickness and light weight.
2. Water supply and sanitation applications: water tanks, sedimentation tanks,
well casing, septic tanks sanitary tanks and lining of swimming pools.
3. Agricultural Applications: Grain storage bins, silos, water tanks, pipes, linings
for underground pits and irrigation channels.
4. Housing Applications: Mosque domes, shelters, sheds, domed structures,
precast housing elements, wall panels, sandwich panels, corrugated roofing
sheets, hollow-core slabs, permanent formwork, water tanks and repair and
rehabilititation of existing houses.
5. Rural energy Applications: Biogas digesters, biogas holders, incinerators, and
panels for solar energy collectors
6. Permanent formwork: For reinforced or prestressed concrete columns, beams,
slabs etc.,
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6. Extensibility of ferrocement, that is, its elongation up to failure under tension,
or its deflection at maximum load increase with increase in the number of mesh
layers used. Its ductility increases with the volume fraction and specific surface
of reinforcement. Such behavior is different from reinforced concrete in
bending, where generally lower ductility is observed with an increase in tensile
reinforcement ratio.
7. Since the mesh in the ferrocement is galvanized and the crack width is
generally small, it shows good durability under various kinds of environmental
exposure.
8. Ferrocement has two dimensional reinforcement and better resistance towards
punching shear as well as resistance to impact compared to reinforced
concrete.
Ans:
Ferrocement elements being thin walled they derive their strength and stiffness due to
the shape and form of the element .The analysis of ferrocement elements in bending
can be performed using the conventional reinforced concrete theory. It is assumed
that the cross-section of the element, which is plane in normal to neutral axis before
bending, will remain plane and normal to the deformed neutral axis. The skeletal steel
is provided very close or at the centroid of the cross section, practically it will have
no contribution in bending and hence can be neglected with in the elastic range. The
cracking behavior like number of cracks and their widths depends of the specific
surface of the mesh reinforcement in the longitudinal direction. If skeletal steel is
provided for structural purpose, they will be located close to the tension face of the
element and their contribution to the flexural strength needs to be accounted.
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(E)m = 0.25 x 10⁵N/mm², (σ)fu = 360 N/mm², Load factor against
Cracking 1.20.
Solution:
Factored load = Pd = 1.2 X 27
= 32.4 kN
(σ)fa = 360 N/mm²
Assume volume fraction of fiber = 2.5%
Vf = 2.5 %
Cross section area required = 32.4 x 10³ / (360 X 2.5 %)
= 3600mm²
Assume D = 16mm
b = 3600/16
= 225mm
Number of layers (n):
Vf = π X d² X n / 4 X Sf X D
N = 4.024 ~ 6 numbers
Minimum thickness = (6 X 2 X 0.9) + 4
= 14.8 mm< 16mm (provided)
Hence OK
Q 4. a) How does fiber reinforced concrete differ from ordinary concrete and
ferrocement?
Ans:
Plain concrete possesses very low tensile strength, limited ductile and little
resistance to cracking. Internal micro cracks are inherently present in the
concrete and its poor tensile strength is due to the propagation of such micro
cracks, eventually leading to brittle fracture of concrete.
In the past, attempts have been made to impart improvement in tensile properties
of concrete members by way of using conventional reinforced steel bars and also
by applying restraining techniques. Although both these methods provide tensile
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strength to the concrete members, they however do not increase the inherent
tensile strength of concrete itself.
In plain concrete and similar brittle materials, structural cracks develop even
before loading, particularly due to drying shrinkage or other causes of volume
change. The width of these initial cracks seldom exceeds a few microns, but their
other two dimensions may be of higher magnitude.
When loaded, the micro crack propagates and opens up and owing to the effect of
stress concentration, additional cracks form in place of micro defects. The
structural crack proceeds slowly because they are retarded by various obstacles,
changes in direction in bypassing the more resistant grains in matrix. The
development of such micro cracks is the main cause for the inelastic deformation
of concrete.
It has been recognized that the addition of small, closely spaced and uniformly
dispersed fibers to concrete would act as crack arrester and would substantially
improve its static and dynamic properties.
Fiber reinforced concrete is defined as, a composite material consisting of
mixtures of cement, mortar or concrete and discontinuous discrete, uniformly
dispersed suitable fibers.
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Polypropylene and nylon fibers are found to be suitable to increase the impact
strength. They posses very high tensile strength, but their modulus of elasticity and
higher elongation do not contribute to the flexural strength.
Asbestos is a mineral fiber and has proved to be most successful of all fibers as it
can be mixed with Portland cement. Tensile strength of asbestos varies between
560 to 980 N/mm². The composite product called asbestos cement has
considerably higher flexural strength that the Portland cement paste. For
unimportant fiber concrete, organic fibers like coir, jute, cane splits are also used
Glass fiber is a recent introduction in making fiber concrete. It has very high
tensile strength 1020 to 4080 N /mm². Glass fiber which is originally used in
conjunction with cement was found to be effected by alkaline condition of cement.
Therefore, alkali-resistant glass fiber by trade name”CEM-FIL”has been
developed and used.
Carbon fiber perhaps posses very high tensile strength 2110 to 2815 N/mm² and
young’s modulus. It has been reported that cement composite made with carbon
fiber as reinforcement will have very high modulus of elasticity and flexural
strength.
Q 5.a) What is RMC? Compare ready mix concrete with site mixed concrete and
mention merits & demerits?
Ans:
The concrete delivered at site or into vehicles in a plastic condition and requires no
further treatment before being in position in which tat has to set and hardened is
called Ready Mixed concrete. It is supplied in ready to use condition. It became
popular in 1990 in India.
The comparison of site mixed concrete and ready mixed concrete is as below
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2. No controls over water cement Water cement ratio can be
ratio. controlled
3. Variation of mixing time. Controlled mixing.
4. Requires large labour force. Requires lower labor force.
5. Site mixed concrete produces Ready mixed concrete produces
6. Dust pollution, noise pollution etc. Pollution free environment.
7. It is economical. It is uneconomical.
8. Legal complications are not there. Legal complications are there.
9. Suitable for small quantity of Not suitable for small quantity of
concrete. Concrete.
Merits of RMC:
1. Production is by weigh Batching
2. Controlled Mixing
3. Water –Cement ratio can be controlled easily
4. Lower labour force and less supervisory costs.
5. No need of ordinary cement and aggregate.
6. Reduces inventory expenses
7. Multi – Transporting of materials is eliminated.
8. Assured uniform quality of concrete.
9. Pollution free environment can be achieved
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in mould and then vibrated to take special shape. The specimens so prepared are then
polymerized by any of the three methods.
i. Thermal catalytic reaction
ii. Catalyst promoter reaction
iii. Radiations
Applications
1. For surfacing steel bridge or ship decks.
2. For factory floors, particularly where chemicals or oils are liable to be split
3. For loading ramps where the abrasive wear of concrete is high
4. For repair of old or damaged concrete
5. For cementing ceramic tiles to concrete
6. For concrete subjected to large doses of de-ioning salt
Polymer-impregnated concrete
In which ordinary hydrated Portland cement concrete is impregnated concrete
with a monomer and is subsequently polymerized. The partial or surface
impregnation enhances the durability and chemical resistance of concrete. After
monomer has penetrated into concrete, polymerization can be initiated using ionizing
radiation such as gamma rays. After complete polymerization polymers become solids
in nature.
Applications
1. Bridge deck can be impregnated on surface by PIC which makes them
impervious to the intrusion of moisture, chloride ions and deicing chemicals.
2. Polymer impregnated concrete is ideal for pre-cast structural members and
can be suitably used in the industrialization of building elements. This is
possible because of this higher strength smaller and lighter sections which
makes it handling and errections etc easier.
3. Cavitation and erosion in hydraulic structures can be treated by polymer-
impregnated treatment that may be cost effective.
4. Since polymer-impregnated concrete can achieve it is possible to use in
prestressed concrete structures.
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Latex-modified concrete
It is a type of polymer modified concrete in which latex modifier is added. These
are obtained by the incorporation of polymeric materials into cement concrete.
Composites during mixing stage. However the polymer so added should not interfere
with the hydration process. The mix is then cast and cured in a monomer almost
similar to cement and polymer film formed due to the curing of polymeric materials
constitute an interpenetrating network that binds the aggregates.
Applications
1. Used for rehabilitation because they are cement based and therefore give
homogeneity to the system and the repair materials and are more compatible
with concrete.
2. Widely used for patching and overlying of electrocuted bridge decks due to
excellent bond strength, freeze-thaw resistance, resistance to penetration of
chlorides and carbon-di-oxide and ease of application
3. Used for the construction of overlays for bridge decks and pavements.
4. Are used for overlays work in repairs and rehabilitation of a parking garage.
The requirements of the concrete that can be used for radiation shielding are :
Cement:
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In addition to use Portland cement special cements such as magnesium
oxy chloride cements have been used mainly to realize as residual water content as
feasible. This is intended to satisfy the desirable features of hydrogen and oxygen in
neutron shielding.
Aggregates:
Since over 75% of concrete is made up of coarse aggregates it is
logical to expect tat choice of aggregate having higher specific gravity enables in an
appreciable measure to realize high densities.
The aggregate used for this purpose are both natural and manufactured. Natural
aggregates include materials such as magnetite, barites and limonite. Steel shots
sheared bars, scrap iron steel punching and lead fall under second category. Rusted
steel coarse aggregates are desirable. Steel should be preferably degreased prior to
use to promote rusting. Sometimes both natural and coarse aggregates may vary only
in the range of 3.6 to 4.7 for steel shot punching it is the range of 7.5 to 7.4.
Water content:
One of the objectives in designing a neutron shield is to provide
sufficient water and other light elements so not to impair its effectiveness foe slowing
down fast neutrons. Water content of hardened concrete below 4% by weight causes
marked reduction in shield efficiency. The fixed water content concrete can be
increased by using aggregates such as limonite which contain crystallized water.
At higher temperature working conditions beyond 2000 C the amount of free
evaporable water contained in the shield can be increased by using porous aggregate
sulphaydite keeping concrete cool and sealing the surface of concrete with
impermeable membrane or replenishing free water.
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0.58 the density is about 3680kg/m^3. The modulus of elasticity and passions ratio of
barites concrete are approximately same as for ordinary concrete, but shrinkage is
reduced by about 0.25 to 0.33
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According to RILEM lightweight concrete have classified the types of lightweight
concrete accordingly as:
1. Fully Compacted concrete
2. Partially Compacted concrete
3. No-fines
4. Aerated concrete by chemical processes(gas concrete)
5. Aerated concrete by physical processes(foam concrete)
6. Micro cellular concretes
No fines concrete:
It refers to concrete composed of cement and coarse aggregate (19-
9mm) only. Concrete thus formed have an opportunity to have many uniformly
distributed voids through out its volume.
The density of no fines concrete depends primarily on the grading of aggregate
since well graded aggregates packs to a higher bulk density than when the
particles are all of one size.
It exhibits high thermal insulation, lower shrinkage and lower unit weight.
1. Thermal insulation
2. Density and strength
3. Acoustic Properties
4. Water absorption
Ans:
1. Thermal Insulation –
Lightweight aggregate concrete has excellent insulating properties. The
Co-efficient of thermal expansion of light aggregate concrete is less than that of
normal weight concrete and is primarily a function of the component materials.
Thermal Conductivity is a measure of the rate at which heat energy passes
through a unit area of material of unit thickness per degree temperature gradient.
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2. Density and Strength –
The most obvious characteristic of light weight concrete is its density, which at times
could be only be a fraction of that of ordinary concrete. Light weight concrete brings
in a distinct advantage of having appreciable reduction of dead loads, lo9wer
haulage and handling costs. Based on density and strength following are types of light
weight concrete;
Light weight concrete of low strength and exceptionally good thermal
insulation having densities in the range of 250 to 800 kg / m³
Light weight concrte of medium strength and adequate thermal insulating
properties having densities range of 800 to 1400 kg / m³
Light weight concrete of structural strength (not less than 17.5 M pa) and
limited theramal insulating property having density in the range of 1400 to
2100 kg / m³
3. Acoustic Properties -
Noise nuisance may be avoided by suppression of the sound as its source or by
isolating it from the zone where it is generated. Light weight concrete have not been
considered to have any special sound insulating value. Compared to slightly higher
sound insulation than might be expected from mass law, light weight concretes show
moderately good built in sound absorption coefficients of value ranging from 0.2 to
125 cps to 0.5 at 4000 cps frequencies.
4. Water Absorption –
Light weight concretes particularly those used in blocks, being porous in nature,
have a higher tendency to absorb water than dense concrete. Since light weight
concretes in practice are not generally used without water proofing to prevent rain
penetration, this is not considered to be of significance in practice.
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required is medium to high. Available aggregates are foamed slag, Lytag, Aglite
and leca. Design the most economical mix and set out dry batch weights and find
the field mix quantities as per cubic meter of concrete, if the fine and coarse
aggregate contain 3 to 2 % of moisture by dry weight respectively. Use relevant
charts.
Solution:
Mean Compressive Strength= 32/0.75=42.6N/mm2
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MIX Design Weight
Cement 460Kg
Water 275.31Kg
Coarse Aggregates 480.896K
g
Fine Aggregate 483.794K
g
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