Kandahar University

Engineering Faculty
Civil Department

Construction Materials & Method

Lecture 4 [Concrete as Construction Material]

Athiqullah Hayat

April, 2022

Table of Contents

► Introduction
► Why Such a Popular Construction Material?
► Definitions
► Cement
► Aggregates
► Admixtures

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Introduction

▬ Concrete is a solid, hard

material produced by
combining cement, coarse
Aggregate, fine Aggregate
aggregates, and water in
proper proportions

▬ Some times, other materials

are also added to improve
certain properties.

Introduction (Cont’d.)

▬ The mix is composed of paste and aggregates

▬ Through a chemical reaction called hydration, the paste hardens

and gains strength to form a hard mass known as concrete.

▬ Its constituent ingredients are derived from a wide variety of

naturally occurring materials that are readily available

▬ Concrete can be made by simple hand-mixing methods or in

large quantities at a controlled batching plant

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Why Such a Popular Constr. Material?

1. Strength

2. Durability

3. Versatility

4. Economical

5. Environment-friendly (Using industrial wastes, High temperature

resistance, survive natural disasters, reusable, local sources)

6. Lower Maintenance Required

Definitions

▬ Aggregate: Granular material, such as Sand, Gravel, Crushed stone

used with Cementitious paste to produce concrete or mortar

▬ Sand or fine aggregates: Smaller than 4.75 mm but larger than 75µm

▬ Coarse aggregates: Greater than 4.75 mm

▬ Crushed stone: Produced from industrial plants

▬ Mortar: Product of water, cement and fine sand

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Definitions (Cont’d.)

▬ Grout: Product of cementitious material, fine aggregate and water to

have pouring consistency

▬ Shotcrete: Shotcrete is a method of applying concrete projected at

high velocity primarily on to a vertical or overhead surface

▬ Cement: A finely material which develops binding property due to

hydration

▬ Admixtures: A type of material added to concrete batch to improve

certain properties, such as, Rapid hardening, Retarders, Air-
Entrainment
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Cement (Introduction)

▬ A cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens

independently, and can bind other materials.

▬ Sources:

▬ SiO2 (silicon dioxide) - cap rock

▬ CaO (calcium oxide) - limestone

▬ Al2O3 (aluminum oxide) - clay

▬ Fe2O3 (ferric oxide)

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Cement (Manufacture of OPC)

Cement (Manufacture of OPC)

▬ Is Compound of:

▬ Lime, CaO 60-67%

▬ Silica, SiO2 12-25%

▬ Alumina, Al2O3 3-8%

▬ Iron Oxide, Fe2O3 0.5-6%

▬ Magnesium Oxide, MgO 0.1-4%

▬ Sulfur Trioxide, SO3 1.0-2.75%

▬ Alkaline 0.5-1%
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Cement (Manufacture of OPC)

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Cement (Manufacture of OPC)

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Cement (Types of Cement)

Type Name
Type I Normal
Type IA Normal, air-entraining
Type II Moderate sulfate resistance

Type IIA Moderate sulfate resistance, air-entraining

Type III High early strength

Type IIIA High early strength, air-entraining

Type IV Low heat of hydration

Type V High sulfate resistance
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Cement (Properties)

1. Fineness: as cement increases in fineness, the rate of hydration increases,

which accelerates the strength development of the concrete.

2. Consistency: Consistency is the relative mobility of a fresh mixture, in other

words, its ability to flow and its workability.

3. Setting Time: When cement is mixed with water, it hydrates and makes
cement paste. Within this time cement continues with reacting water and
slowly cement starts losing its plasticity and set harden. This complete cycle
is called Setting time of cement.

ü Initial setting time is the state of cement mortar or concrete when it starts to
become stiffen and unworkable.

ü Final setting time is the state when cement mortar or concrete has become fully
unworkable or hard. 14
Cement (Properties)

4. Soundness: The ability of cement to retain its volume after it gets

hardened is known as Soundness of Cement. That means the cement
should be at minimum volume change after it gets hardened.

5. Specific Gravity: Specific gravity of cement is a comparison of weight of

a cement volume to the weight of same volume of water

6. Strength Test: Cement has two types of strength – compressive strength

and tensile strength

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Cement (Preservation)

▬ Portland cement is moisture sensitive, so it must be protected

from dampness

▬ Warehouse storage must be watertight, and bags must not

touch the exterior walls

▬ Old cement to be tested before use

▬ Prevent erosion of bags

▬ Prevent additional chemicals to be mixed

▬ Prevent vertical storage of cement bags

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Aggregates (Introduction)

▬ Aggregates are inert granules such as crushed stone, gravels,

and minerals that are mixed with cement and sand to form
concrete

▬ Approximately 60 to 80 percent of the concrete mix is made

up of aggregates

▬ Aggregates must conform to ASTM specifications. they must

be

ü Clean, strong, free of absorbed chemicals, and devoid of

coatings of clay and other fine materials
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Aggregates (General Classification)

▬ Classified into three categories:

▬ Normal weight, lightweight, and heavyweight

▬ The approximate bulk density of aggregate commonly used in

normal weight concrete ranges from about

1. Normal weight - 1200 kg/m3 to 1750 kg/m3

2. Light weight - 560 kg/m3 to 1120 kg/m3

3. Heavyweight is typically over - 2100 kg/m3

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Aggregates (Characteristic)

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Admixtures

▬ According to ASTM C-125 ingredients other than:

Ø Cement

Ø Water

Ø Aggregates

▬ Added before or during mixing for:

Ø Modifying properties of fresh & hardened concrete

Ø Ensuring the quality of concrete during mixing, transporting, placing &

curing

Ø To produce desired effects more economically.

Ø To maintain the quality of concrete during the mixing stages. 20

Admixtures (Cont’d.)

▬ Factors effecting results of use:

Ø Type & amount of cement

Ø Chemistry effects due to Portland components

Ø Water content & Slump

Ø Flowability will effect how well admixtures are activated

Ø Mixing time

Ø Effects of admixtures are dependent on time allowed to react

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Admixtures (Cont’d.)

▬ According to ACI E4-03

Ø Workability Increase

Ø Initial setting time retardation or acceleration

Ø Shrinkage reduction

Ø Segregation and slump loss reduction

Ø Pump ability Improvement

Ø Increase of Bond in Concrete with steel

Ø Colored mortar or concrete production

Ø Durability Increase

Ø Early-Age strength development 22

Thank You !

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