Effect of Water/Cement ratio on strength properties of concrete

1. INTRODUCTION
Background
The compressive strength of concrete is one of the most important and useful properties of
concrete. In most structural applications concrete is employed primarily to resist compressive
stresses. In those cases where strength in tension or in shear is of primary importance, the
compressive strength is frequently used as a measure of these properties. Therefore, the
concrete making properties of various ingredients of mix are usually measured in terms of the
compressive strength. Compressive strength is also used as a qualitative measure for other
properties of hardened concrete. No exact quantitative relationship between compressive
strength and flexural strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, wear resistance, fire
resistance, or permeability have been established nor are they likely to be. However,
approximate or statistical relationships, in some cases, have been established and these give
much useful information to engineers. It should be emphasised that compressive strength
gives only an approximate value of these properties and that other tests specifically designed
to determine these properties should be useful if more precise results are required. For
instance, the indicated compressive strength increases as the specimen size decreases,
whereas the modulus of elasticity decreases. The modulus of elasticity in this case does not
follow the compressive strength.
The other case where the compressive strength does not indicate the useful property of
concrete is when the concrete is subjected to freezing and thawing. Concrete containing about
6 per cent of entrained air which is relatively weaker in strength is found to be more durable
than dense and strong concrete. The compressive strength of concrete is generally determined
by testing cubes or cylinders made in laboratory or field or cores drilled from hardened
concrete at site or from the non-destructive testing of the specimen or actual structures. The
testing of hardened concrete is discussed in the subsequent chapter. Strength of concrete is its
resistance to rupture. It may be measured in a number of ways, such as, strength in
compression, in tension, in shear or in flexure. All these indicate strength with reference to a
particular method of testing.
When concrete fails under a compressive load the failure is essentially a mixture of crushing
and shear failure. The mechanics of failure is a complex phenomenon. It can be assumed that
the concrete in resisting failure generates both cohesion and internal friction. The cohesion
and internal friction developed by concrete in resisting failure is related to more or less a
single parameter i.e., w/c ratio. The modern version of original water/cement ratio rule can be
given as follows: For a given cement and acceptable aggregates, the strength that may be
developed by workable, properly placed mixture of cement, aggregate and water (under the
same mixing, curing and testing conditions) is influenced by:
(a) Water cement ratio;
(b) Ratio of cement to aggregate;
(c) Grading, surface texture, shape, strength, and stiffness of aggregate particles;
(d) Maximum size of aggregate.

Effect of Water/Cement ratio on strength properties of concrete

In the above it can be further inferred that water/cement ratio primarily affects the strength,
whereas other factors indirectly affect the strength of concrete by affecting the water/ cement
ratio.
Strength of concrete primarily depends upon the strength of cement paste. We know that the
strength of the cement paste depends upon the dilution of paste or in other words, the strength
of paste increases with cement content and decreases with air and water content.
In 1918 Abrams presented his classic law in the form:
A
S= x
B

(1)
Where x =water/cement ratio by volume and for 28 days results the constants A and B are
14,000 lbs./sq. in. and 7 respectively.
Abrams water/cement ratio law states that the strength of concrete is only dependent upon
water/cement ratio provided the mix is workable. In the past many theories have been
propounded by many research workers. Some of them held valid for some time and then
underwent some changes while others did not stand the test of time and hence slowly
disappeared. But Abrams water/cement ratio law stood the test of time and is held valid even
today as a fundamental truth in concrete-making practices. No doubt some modifications
have been suggested but the truth of the statement could not be challenged. Strictly speaking,
it was Ferret, who formulated in as early as 1897, a general rule defining the strength of the
concrete paste and concrete in terms of volume fractions of the constituents by the equation:
S=K

c
c+ e+a

(2)

where, S = 28 days compressive strength of concrete, c, e and a = volume of cement, water

and air respectively and K = a constant.

2 Figure 1.1: The relation between strength and water/cement ratio of

concrete

Effect of Water/Cement ratio on strength properties of concrete

2. OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to check the effect of increase and decrease of water
cement ratio on the strength properties of concrete.
3. METHODOLOGY
A nominal mix of M20 (1:1.5:3) concrete is prepared and by changing the water cement ratio
the effect of the same is checked. The effect of water cement ratio is predominant on the
strength and durability characteristics of the concrete. But here only strength property is
found out by crushing the cubes, both at 7 day and at 28 day. W/C ratio 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, and
0.65 were used while keeping the mix proportions same. Cubes of 150 mm were casted and
vibrated properly, to expel any entrapped air bubble.
Preparation of nominal mixes
M20 with w/c 0.50
Sr. no. Materials
1
Cement
2
Sand
3
Coarse Aggregate
4
Water

Quantity in Kg/ m3
400
1142.4
2242.8
200

M20 with w/c 0.55

Sr. no. Materials
1
Cement
2
Sand
3
Coarse Aggregate
4
Water

Quantity in Kg/ m3
400
1142.4
2242.8
220

M20 with w/c 0.60

Sr. no. Materials
1
Cement
2
Sand
3
Coarse Aggregate
4
Water

Quantity in Kg/ m3
400
1142.4
2242.8
240

M20 with w/c 0.65

Sr. no. Materials
1
Cement
2
Sand
3
Coarse Aggregate
4
Water

Quantity in Kg/ m3
400
1142.4
2242.8
260

Effect of Water/Cement ratio on strength properties of concrete

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

30

MPa

25

24.59
23.36

20

20.78
18.66

15

w/c 0.50

13.66
12.01
9.88
8.79

10

w/c 0.55
w/c 0.60
w/c 0.65

5
0 0
0

10

15

20

25

30

No. of days

Figure 4.1: Compressive strength of cubes

30
25

24.59
23.36
20.78
18.66

20

Compressive strength, MPa

15
7 days
28 days

10
5
0
0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

W/C ratio

Figure 4.2: Variation of compressive strength with w/c ratio.

Effect of Water/Cement ratio on strength properties of concrete

With reference to figure 4.1 and 4.2 it can be seen that, with the increase of w/c ratio the
compressive strength decreases. This goes according to Abrams law as stated above. Also
this can be justified as the CSH gel formed is porous and the CaOH formed is water soluble.
The CaOH formed leaches out of the microstructure of the concrete, making it more porous.
5. Conclusion
With the increase in w/c ratio the compressive strength of the concrete decreases.