International Journal of Research and Innovation (IJRI)

International Journal of Research and Innovation (IJRI)

1401-1402

RESIDUAL COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF TERNARY BLENDED CONCRETE AT

ELEVATED TEMPERATURES

N.Somanath Reddy1, Venkata Ratnam 2,

1 Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Aurora Scientific Technological and Research Academy, Hyderabad, India.
2 Associate professor , Department of Civil Engineering, Aurora Scientific Technological and Research Academy, Hyderabad, India.

Abstract
The extensive use of concrete as a structural material for the high rise buildings, storage tanks, nuclear reactors and
pressure vessels increase the risk of concrete being exposed to high temperatures. This has led to a demand to improve
the understanding of the effect of temperature on concrete. The behavior of concrete exposed to high temperature is a
result of many factors including the exposed environment and constituent materials.
Concrete structures are exposed to fire when a fire accident occurs. Damage in concrete structures due to fire depends
to a great extent on the intensity and duration of fire. The distress in the concrete manifests in the form of cracking and
spalling of the concrete surface.
The objective with the study was to examine the Residual Compressive Strength of Ternary Blended Concrete when subjected to elevated temperatures. To investigate the effect of temperature and to evaluate structural safety an attempt has
been made to study the Compressive Strength of Ternary Blended Concrete when subjected to elevated temperatures.
The study concentrates mainly on studying the properties of Residual Compressive Strength of Ternary Blended Concrete for various w/b ratios at 2000C, 4000C and 6000C.
In the present investigations, the effect of high temperatures of Residual Compressive Strength of Ternary Blended
Concrete when subjected to elevated temperatures are studied. The main test parameters involved in this study are
Temperature ranges, the time of exposure.
The tests were conducted for a total of 180 cubes on various w/b ratios ternary blended concrete by exposing them at
different temperatures like Room Temperature, 2000C, 4000C and 6000C and 4 Hours, 8 Hours and 12 Hours duration.
The results indicate that the ternary blended concrete is effective in resisting the effect of temperature on the compressive strength.
*Corresponding Author:
N.Somanath Reddy ,
Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering,
Aurora Scientific Technological and Research Academy,
Hyderabad India.

Published: July 25, 2015

Review Type: peer reviewed
Volume: II, Issue : II

Citation:N.Somanath Reddy ,Research Scholar (2015) "RESIDUALCOMPRESSIVESTRENGTHOF TERNARY BLENDED CONCRETE AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES"

of concrete. The extensive use of concrete as a structural

material for the high-rise buildings, nuclear reactor pressure vessels, storage tanks for hot crude oil and hot water, coal gasification and liquefaction vessels increase the
risk of concrete being exposed to high temperature. This
has to a demand to improve the understanding of the effect of temperature on concrete. Hence the extensive use
of concrete as a structure material in all the above mentioned structures necessitated the need of the study of the
behavior of concrete at high temperature.

General

The main factors determine strength in concrete are the

amount of cement and mineral admixture used and the
water-cement ration. Numerous studies have been conducted on the strength development of fly ash concrete
and the following major conclusions are drawn. Many
variables influence the strength development of fly ash
concrete.

Concrete containing industrial by-product/mineral admixtures is used expensively throughout the world. Concrete is generally to be fire sustaining material at moderate temperatures. In most of the fire incidences, it has
been found that concrete structures remain intact with
minor damages. The reasons being attributed to low thermal conductivity of concrete, which limits the limits, the
depth of penetration of fire in a structure. During the fire,
no toxic fumes are emitted by concrete. Developments
during the last decade have seen a marked increase in
the number of structures involving the long time heating

The most important being the properties of fly ash, chemical composition, particle size, reactivity and temperature
and other curing conditions. Also a number of researchers in various countries have investigated the effect of elevated temperatures on the residual strength of concrete.
In most of these investigations the main variable as far
as the heating regime is concerned, has been maximum
level of temperature to which temperature on the residual
strength of concrete. The gravel aggregate being thermally
stable up to 250oC, the incompatibility is mainly because
of cement paste. The shrinkage of cement paste is due to

INTRODUCTION

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dehydration of Cao/SiO2 H2O (C-S-H gel) at high temperature causing, the loss of its cement ability. This C-S-H gel
bond mainly depends on Cao/SiO2 (C/S ratio). Hence for
the above reason the class F fly ash having low c/s ratio is
used as high volumes to cement in this study. The project
gives the result of residual strength of high volume fly ash
concrete with fly ash as a partial replacement and additional material after exposing it to elevated temperature.
In both developed and developing countries recent researchers amide at the energy conservation in the cement and concrete industry, focused on the use of less
energy intensive materials such as Fly-ash, slag and natural pozzlolanas. Later some attention has been given to
the use of pozzolana, Micro silica as partial replacement
to Portland cement. Unlike natural pozzolanas and fly
ash, the silica reaction involving Micro silica is rapid and
therefore, a long curing period is not necessary.

Micro Silica
During the last three decades, some new Pozzolan materials have emerged in the building industry as an off shoot
of research aimed at energy conservation and strict enforcement of pollution control measures to stop dispersing the materials into the atmosphere. Micro Silica (other
names have been used are silica dust, condensed silica
fume) is one such Pozzolan, which has been used as a
partial replacement of Portland cement due to its versatile
properties. The availability of high range water-reducing
admixtures (superplasticizers) has opened up new ideas
for the use of Micro Silica as part of the cementing material in concrete to produce very high strength cement (>
100 MPa/15,000 psi).

Fly ash is divided into three classes depending on its calcium content, in recognition of the difference in behavior
between low and high lime fly ashes. These classes are as
follows:

Micro Silica is a by-product from the reduction of high

purity quartz with coal in electric arc furnaces in the
manufacture of silicon and ferrosilicon alloys. The Micro
Silica, which has a high content of amorphous SiO2 and
is consisted of very fine spherical particles, is collected
from the gases escaping from the furnaces. Micro Silica is
also collected as a by-product in the production of other
silicon alloys such as ferrochrome, ferromanganese and
ferrovanadium.

Type F, low calcium, 8% CaO

Type CI, intermediate calcium, 820% CaO
Type CH, high calcium, .20% CaO
Low CaO fly ashes generally provide good resistance to
alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and sulphate attack. However, strength development at early ages is typically slower
than that in conventional Portland cement content, especially at higher levels of replacement. High CaO fly ashes,
on the other hand, are less efficient in suppressing expansion due to ASR or sulphate action, but generally react
faster than low CaO fly ashes and have less negative impact on the early strength of concrete and are less sensitive to inadequate curing.

Micro Silica is predominantly silicon dioxide. Its prime

characteristic is particle size which would be as low as
0.2 micron, which is about 100 times smaller than Portland cement grains. The extremely small grain size of Micro Silica is responsible for its high reactivity with free
lime in the concrete to form a strong and non-permeable
paste. The other important properties which established
Micro silica as a formidable building material are its imperviousness to water, low permeability to chloride ion
and resistant to sulfate and acid attack. Because of high
surface area and high contents of amorphous silicon in
Micro silica, the latter acts as a highly active Pozzolan and
reacts more quickly than ordinary Pozzolans.

Most fly ashes, regardless of composition, tend to reduce

the water demand of concrete and increase its resistance
to fluid flow and the ionic diffusion. The beneficial effects
of fly ash on permeability and diffusivity tend to become
more apparent with time especially in the case of the more
slowly reacting low CaO fly ashes.

The Pozzolanic reaction may begin as early as 2 days after

cement hydration and the main Pozzolanic effect of Micro
Silica in concrete takes place between the ages of 3 and
28 days for curing at 20o C. The presence of Micro Silica
provides increased internal cohesion of fresh concrete.
As a result, local areas of weakness such as bleed water
channels and voids under coarse aggregate particles can
be eliminated. The transition zone between cement paste
and coarse aggregate particles is an especially critical region in most concrete. It is frequently the weakest part
because of bleed-water voids, so it is under the greatest
stress because of the elastic bond between the cement
paste and the relatively stiff aggregate material.

FLY ASH

Advantages of fly Ash in concrete

The technical benefits of using fly ash in concrete are numerous. The various advantages found by different investigators in India are summarized bellow
1. Superior pozzalonic action
2. Reduced water demand (for fly ash low carbon content
and high fineness)
3. Improved workability
4. More effective action of water reducing admixtures
5. Reduced segregation and bleeding
6. increases setting time but remains within limits
7. Less heat of hydration
8. Less drying shrinkage
9. Higher ultimate compressive strength, tensile, flexural
and bond strength
11. Higher ultimate modulus of elasticity.
12. Reduced alkali-aggregate reaction
13. Improved freezing and thawing

The presence of Micro Silica brings reduction of bleeding in fresh concrete and in consequences, significant
improvements in the density of the transition zone and
in the mechanical behavior of hardened concrete. The
strength of the transition zone can be further enhanced
by a Pozzolanic reaction.
Triple-Blends (Ternary cement system)
It means Micro Silica or other cement replacement additives are to be used with OPC only. That is not strictly
true and ternary mixtures comprise efficient -systems.
The primary incentive of adding limited amount Micro
Silica for example 5 percent with Fly-ash cement mixes
was to ensure high early strength research has however,
shown that Ternary mixtures of OPC, Micro Silica and
Fly-ash result in synergic action to improve the micro
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International Journal of Research and Innovation (IJRI)

structure and performance of concrete. When both silica

fume and fly-ash are used, the resultant enhancement
of strength or pozzolanic activity was greater than super
position of contributions of each, for the respective proportions. Such synergic effect results from strengthening
the weak transition zone in aggregate cement interface, as
well as segmentation and blocking of pores.
Depending upon the service environment in which it is
to operate, the concrete structure may have to encounter
different load and exposure regimes. In order to satisfy
the performance requirements, different ternary compounds required. Such as cement, fly-ash, silica fume.
Greater varieties are introduced by the corporation of additives like pozzolana, granulated slag are inert fillers this
leads to different specifications of cements in national or
international.

EXPERMENTAL INVESTIGATION
Introduction
The present investigations are aimed at to study residual
compressive strength of Ternary Blended Concrete, having 5% Silica fume and 15% Fly Ash by weight of cement
with different W/B ratios 0.55, 0.45and 0.35 in the laboratory after the age of 28 Days.
MATERIALS
Cement

Effects of Ternary cement system

Locally available 53 grade of Ordinary Portland Cement

(Ultra Tech Brand.) confirming to IS: 12269 was used in
the investigations. Table 4.1 gives the physical properties
of OPC used in the present investigation and they conform to IS specifications.

The combination of Micro Silica and Fly ash in a Ternary

cement system (i.e., Portland cement being the third component) should result in a number of synergistic effects,
some of which are obvious or intuitive, as follows:
Micro Silica compensates for low early strength of concrete with low CaO fly ash.
Fly ash increases long-term strength development of Micro Silica concrete.
Fly ash offsets increased water demand of silica fume.
Micro Silica reduces the normally high levels of high
CaO fly ash required for sulphate resistance and ASR prevention.
Very high resistance to chloride ion penetration can be
obtained with ternary blends.
Fly ash due to presence of spherical particles that easily
rollovers one another reducing inter partial friction (call
bearing effects) leads to improved workability and reduction in water demand.

Photomicrograph of Portland cement (Curtsy Micro Silica Manual)

AIM OF PRESENT STUDY

Fly Ash

The main aim of the present experiment investigation is

to study and examine the Residual Compressive Strength
of Ternary Blended Concrete when subjected to Elevated
Temperature.

The fly ash obtained from Hyderabad Industries, Andhra

Pradesh is used in the present experimental work.The
chemical composition of fly ash is rich in silica content
which react with calcium hydroxide to form C-S-H gel.
This gel is responsible for the strength mortar or concrete.
The fly ash used to the specification of grade 1 fly ash.

The Residual Compressive Strength of Ternary Blended

Concrete specimens made with locally available fine aggregates i.e., river sand and crushed angular granite of 20
mm size as coarse aggregate, Fly ash and Micro silica for
various water/ binder ratios.
In the Present investigation tests were conducted on Ternary Blended Concrete by exposing them at different temperature like 200oC, 400oC, 600oC at 4 hours, 8 hours,
and 12 hours duration after 28 curing. The specimens
are tested for compressive strength, percentage weight
loss and non destructive test to measure velocity of concrete.
The result reveal that Ternary Blended Concrete is more
effective in resisting the adverse effect of temperature on
the compressive strength, Based on the study, conclusion
were made that fly ash and Micro silica can be used as an
additional cementing material to obtain enhanced properties of Ternary Blended Concrete especially for structural
elements subjected to elevated temperature.

SEM micrograph showing: Fly Ash (Courtesy ACI Journal)

Micro Silica
The Micro Silica obtained from Oriental Trexim Pvt Ltd
. Micro Silica conforming to a standard approved by the
deciding authority may be used as part replacement of
cement provided uniform blending with the cement is ensured. The Micro Silica (very fine non-crystalline silicon
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International Journal of Research and Innovation (IJRI)

dioxide) is a by-product of the manufacture of silicon, ferrosilicon or the like, from quartz and carbon in electric
arc furnace.

For W/C ratio 0.45 Ordinary Concrete mix proportion is

1.00:1.78:2.73:0.45
For W/B ratio 0.45 Ternary Concrete mix proportion is
1.00:1.78:2.73:0.45
For W/C ratio 0.35 Ordinary Concrete mix proportion is
1.00:1.26:2.11:3.55
For W/B ratio 0.35 Ternary Concrete mix proportion is
1.00:1.26:2.11:3.55
PREPARATION OF TEST SPECIMENS
Mixing
Mixing of ingredients is done in a rotating drum. Thorough mixing by hand, using trowels is adopted.

Micrograph showing: Micro Silica (Courtesy by Micro Silica Manual)

The cementitious materials are thoroughly blended with

hand and then the aggregate is added and mixed followed
by gradual addition of water and mixing. Wet mixing is
done until a mixture of uniform color and consistency
are achieved which is then ready for casting. Before casting the specimens, workability of the mixes was found by
compaction factor test.

Mix Proportion in the Laboratory

The proportion used in preparation of mix is calculated as
per BIS Method.

The concrete mix design using the data obtained from the
test on its ingredients. The mix proportions with different
W/B ratios are shown in the table 4.6.1, 4.6.2 and 4.6.3
for Ordinary Concrete and Ternary Blended Concrete. The
adopted method is BIS method.
Testing of Specimen

The ratio between F.A and C.A is p: (1-p)

A time schedule for testing of specimens is maintained to

ensure their proper testing on the due date and time. The
cast specimens are tested as per standard procedures,
immediately after they are removed from curing pond and
wiped off the surface water. The test results are tabulated
carefully

Illustrative Example for Mix Design

Mix Design for W/C ratio = 0.55
i.Text data for materials
Specific gravity of cement
Specific gravity of Coarse Aggregate
Specific gravity of Fine Aggregate

=2.95
=2.70
=2.53

TESTS CONDUCTED
Compressive Strength of Concrete Specimen

ii. Selecting W/B ratio

=0.55
iii. Determination of cement content

Water
=178 Ltr.

Cement
=323.6 Kg.

The compressive strength of Ordinary Concrete (ordinary

concrete) and Ternary concrete contain 5% Micro Silica
and 15% Fly ash concrete specimens having W/B 0.55,
W/B 0.45 and W/B 0.35 were tested.

iv.Determination of F.A and C.A

In the preparation of standard cement mortar cubes to

assess the cement strength a fixed w/c ratio is followed
as per the codal procedure. However, when cement is replaced with Micro Silica by 5% and Fly ash by 15 % this
procedure may yield adverse results because of the water
content in the mix may not be sufficient to combine with
all particles of Micro silica and Fly ash which are very
fine. Hence to know the influence of Micro Silica and Fly
ash replacement on cement strength various W/B ratios
have been adopted and strengths at various ages have
been found.

Fine Aggregate
0.98= [178+ (323.6/2.95) + (1/0.42)*(F.A/2.53)]*1/100
=736 Kg
Coarse Aggregate
0.98=[178+(323.6/2.95)+(1/1-0.42)*(C.A/1-2.2.7)]*1/100
= 1084 Kg.
v.Mix Proportion = 1.00:2.27:3.34:0.55
Similarly Mix proportions for other W/B are obtained and
are as follows:
For W/B ratio 0.55 Ternary Concrete mix proportion is
1.00:2.27:3.34:0.55

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EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Mix Design

Sieve analysis: Sample 1000 gm

Percentages Mineral Ingredients of Ordinary Concrete

and Ternary Concrete Mixes

S.No.

I.S Sieve
Size

Wt. Retained
(gm.)

Cumulative
Wt. Retained
(gm.)

Cumulative %
of wt.
Retained

% Passing

4.75
mm

0.61

0.61

0.061

99.939

2.36
mm

2.6

1.18
mm

40

43.21

4.32

95.68

600

463

506.21

50.62

49.38

1
2

3.21

0.321

99.679

300

432

938.21

93.82

6.18

150

59.8

998.01

99.8

0.2

<150

1000

100

Total

1000

--

248.94

--

Fineness Modulus

Mix Type

W/C

% of Cement

% of
Micro
Silica

% of
Fly ash

Ordinary
Concrete
Mixes

0.55

100

0.45

100

0.35

100

Ternary
Concrete
Mixes
(5%Micro
Silica-15%
Fly ash)

0.55

80

15

0.45

80

15

0.35

80

15

LIST OF GRAPHS

= 248.94/100 = 2.48

Coarse Aggregate:
Physical Properties
S.No

Property

Test Results

Fineness modulus

7.17

Specific gravity

2.70

Bulk density
a).Loose

1390 kg/m3

b). Dense

1560 kg/m3

Flakiness index

2.41%

Elongation index

12.80%

Sieve analysis of 20mm: Sample 5000 gm.

S.No.

I.S Sieve
Size

Wt. Retained
(gm.)

Cumulative
Wt. Retained
(gm.)

Cumulative %
of wt.
Retained

% Passing

40 mm

100

20 mm

915

915

18.30

100

10 mm

3994

4909

99.09

81.70

4.75mm

45

4954

100

0.92

2.36
mm

5000

100

1.18
mm

5000

100

600

5000

100

300

5000

100

150

5000

100

Total

5000

Fineness modulus of Coarse aggregate

717.38

= 717.8/100
= 7.17

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EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHS

DISCUSSION OF TEST RESULTS

Compressive Strength of Ternary Blended and
Ordinary Concrete exposure at 200oC

CURED AND NUMBERED SPECIMEN

Graphs 1-3 shows the compressive strength of Ternary

Blended and Ordinary Concrete for 0.55, 0.45, 0.35 w/b
ratios after exposure to 4,8 and 12 hours duration for
2000C. The compressive strength of Ternary Blended and
Ordinary Concrete for 12 hours exposure are 28.7, 38.1
and 59.9 MPa and 2 4.8, 30.5 and 46.2 MPa respectively.
5.7 Compressive Strength of Ternary Blended and Ordinary Concrete exposure at 400oC
Graphs 1-3 shows the compressive strength of Ternary
Blended and Ordinary Concrete for 0.55, 0.45, 0.35 w/b
ratios after exposure to 4,8 and 12 hours duration for
4000C. The compressive strength of Ternary Blended and
Ordinary Concrete for 12 hours exposure are 22.5, 31.5
and 52.1 MPa and 19.4, 25.0 and 38.2MPa respectively.
Compressive Strength of Ternary Blended and
Ordinary Concrete exposure at 600oC

WEIGHING OF SPECIMEN

Graphs 1-3 shows the compressive strength of Ternary

Blended and Ordinary Concrete for 0.55, 0.45, 0.35 w/b
ratios after exposure to 4,8 and 12 hours duration for
6000C. The compressive strength of Ternary Blended and
Ordinary Concrete for 12 hours exposure are 17.8, 26.5
and 42.8 MPa and 15.0, 19.6and 30.6 MPa respectively.
Percentage decrease of Compressive Strength of Ternary Blended and Ordinary Concrete exposure at
200oC
graphs 4-6 shows the compressive strength of Ternary
Blended and Ordinary Concrete for 0.55, 0.45, 0.35 w/b
ratios after exposure to 4,8 and 12 hours duration for
2000C. The compressive strength of Ternary Blended and
Ordinary Concrete for 12 hours exposure are 27.3, 24.4
and 20.1 MPa and 30.2, 27.9and 23.7 MPa respectively.

OVEN

Pulse velocity (m/sec) of Ternary Blended and Ordinary Concrete exposure at 600oC
Graphs 10 -12 shows the compressive strength of Ternary Blended and Ordinary Concrete for 0.55, 0.45, 0.35
w/b ratios after exposure to 4,8 and 12 hours duration
for 6000C. The compressive strength of Ternary Blended
and Ordinary Concrete for 12 hours exposure are 1970,
2360 and 2620 (m/sec) and 1890, 2265 and 2490 (m/
sec) respectively.
HEATED AND COOLED SPECIMEN

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International Journal of Research and Innovation (IJRI)

REFERENCES
1. Mohamedbhal, g.T.G., The residual strength of concrete subjected to elevated temperature, concrete, vol.17,
No.12, 1983, Pp 22-27.
2. S.C. Chakrabarti, k.N.Sharma and abha mittal., Residual strength in concrete after exposure to elevated temperature. December 1994*. The indian concrete journal.
Pp 713-717.
3. K.Sreenivasa rao, m.Potha raju and p.S.N.Raju, effect
of age of hsc on residual compressive strength under elevated temperatures. Proceedings of icacc 2004, 16-18
december 2004, hyderabad, india.
4. Crushing strength of concrete at various temperatures
by mr.H.L.Malhotra.

TESTING OF SPECIMEN

CONCLUSION
1. The percentage decrease of compressive strength is
higher for higher exposure time for ordinary concrete at
all temperature.
2. The rate of percentage decrease of compressive strength
is less for ternary blended concrete at all temperature for
all exposure of time.
3. A gradual reduction in strength was found in ternary
blended concrete and ordinary concrete with increase in
temperature and increase in exposure time.
4. The ternary blended concrete has shown improved resistance for higher temperatures for all w/b ratios compared to ordinary concrete.

5. Phan, long t (2002) effects of test conditions and mixture proportions on behaviors of high strength concrete
exposed to high temperatures, aci materials journal, and
january- february 1996.
6. Sarshar r, khaury g a (1993), material and environmental factors influencing the compressive strength of
unsealed cement paste and concrete at high temperatures, magazine of concrete research, vol 45, no.162,
1993, 51-61.
7. Janotka, nurnbergurora t (199(), thermo-mechanical
properties of penly reactor envelop at temperatures up
to 200oc, materials and structures vol.32, December
1999,pp 719-726.
8. Prof.P.Srinivasa rao and p.K.Aravindan behavior of
concrete under extreme temperature, iit madras.

Author

5. The percentage decrease of weight loss is higher for

higher time for ternary blended concrete compared to ordinary concrete.
6. The percentage decrease of weight loss is lower for ternary blended concrete for lower w/b ratio compared to
ordinary concrete.
7. The pulse velocity of ternary blended concrete is lower
for higher exposure time compared to ordinary concrete.
8. Ternary blended concrete exhibited maximum decrease
of compressive strength of nearly 40 to 45% at 600oC for
12 hours duration, whereas ordinary concrete exhibited
maximum decrease of nearly 55% at 600oC for 12 hours
duration.
9. Ternary blended concrete exhibited maximum percentage weight loss of 5 at 600 oC for 12 hours duration,
whereas ordinary concrete exhibited maximum percentage weight loss of 7 at 600oC for 12 hours duration.

N.Somanath Reddy
Research Scholar,
Department of Civil Engineering,
Aurora Scientific Technological and Research Academy,
Hyderabad India.

Venkata Ratnam
Associate professor
Department of Civil Engineering,
Aurora Scientific Technological and Research Academy,
Hyderabad India.

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