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Dosing Methods For Conventional and Mass Concrete: Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
Dosing Methods For Conventional and Mass Concrete: Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
Dosing Methods For Conventional and Mass Concrete: Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
CONCRETE
*
SOUZA, G.T*, GOUVEIA F. P, BITTENCOURT, R.M
*
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Barragem e Gestão Ambiental (PEBGA)
Rodovia BR-422, Km 13, Vila Permanente, Tucuruí / PA.
e-mail: grazielle_tigre@hotmail.com, webpage: pebga.propesp.ufpa.br
1 INTRODUCTION
According to a definition recommended by Tutikian and Helene [1], the dosage study
of Portland cement concretes refers to the procedures necessary to obtain the best
proportion among the constituent materials of the concrete, also known as “trace”.
Wherein, dosage study should be carried out in order to obtain the optimum and
economical mixture in a given region and with the materials available to meet a series of
requirements.
In the historical context, the first consensual normative document on concrete dosage
was published in the United States in 1944, since until then only individual proposals
were made by researchers regarding their experimental observations and theoretical
attempts to generalize. This is the text prepared by Committee 613, established in 1936
under the coordination of Robert F. Blanks of the Bureau of Reclamation USA, published
by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) after eight years of intensive discussions [2 ].
It should be noted that, although the dosing methods differ, certain activities are
common to all methods, such as the calculation of the mean strength of the dosage, the
correlation of the compressive strength with the water / cement ratio for a determ ined
type and class of cement, provided that a dosage study aims at obtaining a specified
resistance, without neglecting the economy and sustainability that should always guide a
contemporary dosage study [1].
It is important to point out that in Brazil, there is still no consensus method or
technical standard of dosage study procedure. As a consequence, several researchers
propose their own dosing methods, and among the existing methods, the most common
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Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
ones for conventional concrete may be cited as follows: Portland Concrete Association
Method (ABCP); Method of the American Concrete Institute (ACI); Vitervo O'Reilly
method; Method IPT (Technological Research Institute) / IBRACON.
In relation to the special concretes, it is observed the existence of specific methods by
virtue of the type of concrete to be produced, such as: the Method of Gomes et. al (2002)
[3] and the Tutikian and Dal Molin Method (2007) [3] (concrete self-supported); the
Method of the Fineness Module [4] (mass concrete) and the Method of Mehta & Aitcin [5]
(high strength concrete).
The dosage methods to be emphasized in this research are the method standardized by
IPT / IBRACON and the Method of the Fineness Module, considering the specificities and
applications of each methodology. Thus, it is intended to cover the details of the two
methods, pointing out their main variables and parameters, based on the technical
bibliographies and experiences accumulated by the authors of this paper.
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Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
Figure 1: Flowchart of the IPT / EPUS / IBRACON dosing method. Adapted from Tutikian e Helene, 2011
[1].
Figure 2- Graphic expressing Abrams' Law. Adapted from Viero, 2010 [12].
Ley de Lyse (1932): "Fixed cement and aggregates, the consistency of fresh
concrete depends preponderantly on the amount of water per m³ of concrete"
and can be simplified. Figure 3 shows the typical graph that expresses the Lyse
Law containing the equation expressed by this classical law.
Figure 3- Graphic that expresses the Law of Inge Lyse. Adapted from Viero, 2010 [12].
Priszkulnik & Kirilos's Law (1974): "Cement consumption per cubic meter of
concrete varies inversely with the ratio of dry mass of aggregates / cement
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Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
(m)", according to the equation expressed in Figure 4 which shows the typical
graph that expresses the Law of Molinari.
Figure 4- Graphic that expresses Molinari's Law. Fonte: Adapted from Viero, 2010 [12].
After the proper calculations, laboratory tests and results, the dosing diagram is
generated, according to Figure 5, in which the first quadrant in the clockwise direction
relates resistance to water cement (Abrams' law), the second one confronts the water ratio
cement with the total dry mass of aggregate per kg of cement and finally the third gives
us, based on the total mass of aggregate, the consumption of the cement.
Figure 5 - Dosing diagram of Portland cement concrete (Tutikian e Helene, 2011) [1].
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Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
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Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
Obtaining the other relations 1: m keeping the same value of k = % of optimum sand
(1+ % optimum sand x m) / (1+m)
Figure 6. Flowchart of the MMF Concrete Dosing Method. Adapted from Andrade et al. (1981) [3].
In this aspect it is worth highlighting the following terms presented in the flowchart of
Figure 6: Ceq = equivalent cement, MFi = Ideal Fineness Module and MFo = Great
Fineness Module, which through it determines the percentage of optimum sand. The
optimum dry mortar content (k) corresponding to the % optimum sand for the relation 1:
m.
For the beginning of the dosing procedures the aggregates chosen for the study need to
be properly characterized. After the characterization step, the dosage aggregates are
prepared, which must be used in the condition of being saturated with the dry surface,
because they will not contribute or absorb water of the dosage, without distorting the
workability.
The materials need to be packed in a way that preserves the state of moisture. In this
sense, immediately after weighing, these must be placed in the concrete mixer which
must be protected with a damp cloth to avoid evaporation.
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Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
As for the procedures of the dosage study, a mass-cement ratio was established: total
aggregate (1: m), aiming to meet the requirements of resistance and workability
(adequate mortar slump and quantity).
The study should start with an intermediate 1: m ratio and varying arbitrated
percentage of sand, so that the graph that correlates sand percentage and water / cement
equivalent ratio goes through a minimum, which will correspond to a maximum
resistance. The percentage of sand that corresponds to the minimum of the graph The
ideal percentage of minimum sand is obtained by curve fitting on the results that
correlate the percentage of sand with the w/c resulting from the experimental dosages
studied, which results in a lower water / (a / c) and best aspect in relation to
homogeneity, being called the ideal percentage of sand of the ideal mixture for the 1: m
ratio studied.
On the points of the correlation curve between the results of sand percentage and w/c
ratio, a trend curve is adjusted, which minimum will correspond to the lowest water
cement w / c ratio and higher resistance, after obtaining the results of the study.
Dosages calculated on the basis of the ideal percentage of sand are influenced by the
workability due to granulometric variations and for this reason, concrete is used a little
more mortar to support small size changes.
This procedure is performed by calculating the optimum fineness modulus of the
aggregate mixture (MFo) by reducing the modulus value of the aggregates of the mixture
with the ideal percentage (MFi) by 0.2.
The optimum percentage of sand is calculated based on the value of the optimum
fineness modulus (MFo) and, based on this percentage, the dry mortar content is
calculated, whose value is kept constant for the other ratios cement:total aggregate (1:
m), in order to standardize the cohesion of all study dosages.
Based on the constant content of dry mortar, the optimum percentages of sand are
determined for each ratio 1: m of the study and the experimental dosages are performed
in order to obtain concretes that meet the requirements of consistency and air entrainment
for the fresh concretes and molded specimens for evaluation of hardened concrete.
After the mixtures were set, the composition of the dosages corresponding to each 1:
m ratio was calculated, using the classical formulas, similar to those of IPT method
(cement consumption, theoretical specific mass of the concrete, unit weight and
theoretically incorporated air).
By means of determined parameters with the fresh and hardened concretes, the dosi ng
unit water curves are obtained which provide the theoretical dosage traces to meet the
design specifications. Figure 7 shows an example of the dosage charts obtained through a
particular study conducted by the authors.
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Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
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Figure 7 - Dosage charts obtained from the experimental dosing study (MMF).
It is worth mentioning that currently this method is widely used in large dams, and
Bittencourt et al. [10] highlights that more than 22 million m³ of concrete have already
been produced using this dosing methodology. However, it is verified that the MMF is
little divulged among the academic environment, and its greater domain is observed in
laboratories specialized in concrete dosages for dams.
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Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
Campiteli's complementation to the IPT / EPUSP dosing method offers an easy way to
define the initial parameters for a trace that meets the requirements of the work and
allows easy correction of cohesion and consistency of the dosages studied during the
experimental phase.
In relation to the fineness modulus method, the methodology is applicable to mass
concretes with specific characteristics, since according to [2] it allows the best use of the
resources in the production process and the reach of the characteristic parameters of a
given type of concrete, decreasing the porosity and increasing mechanical strength.
The advantage of the method is the search for concrete compositions containing
optimized granulometry, which fineness modules (ideal and optimal fineness modulus)
are determined for all relations studied (1: m), making possible the production of
concretes that meet the design specifications in an economic way.
Even when applying MMF, this method uses the characteristics of the available
materials and not tabulated data that represent wrappers of characteristics of various
materials.
Due to the characteristics of the method, this one not fully applicable to dosages of
concrete that require higher strengths, therefore, it is necessary to study adequations to
meet this parameter.
5 CONCLUSIONS
When considering the peculiarities of both methods studied in this research, it can be
stated that the IPT / EPUSP dosing method is characterized by simple execution,
becoming quite adequate in conventional concrete applications. This is the method most
widely used by researchers and laboratories in Brazil.
It is also concluded that the results generated by the IPT / EPUSP method
(notwithstanding the Campiteli considerations) are indicated not for large studies of
concrete dosages but for individualized dosages that meet specific requirements of
established works.
In relation to the Method of the Fineness Module is highlighted that is directed to
mass concrete dosages, since it aims to work the characteristics of the granulometric
compositions of the materials and their packaging, resulting in a lower consumption of
cement. This method is interesting for broader studies, "sweeping" a range of
applications into more complex structures that require certain specific properties, such as
hydration heat control.
In this sense, the study and execution of the MMF are more observed in restricted
environments, such as specialized concrete laboratories, not being a broader domain
method, such as the IPT / EPUSP method. Also, due to the characteristics of the method,
it is not fully applicable in concrete dosages that require higher strengths; therefore, a
study of adequacies to meet this parameter is necessary.
REFERENCES
[1] TUTIKIAN, B. F.; HELENE, P. Dosagem dos concretos de cimento Portland. In:
Ibracon. (Org.). Concreto: Ciência e Tecnologia - Ed. Geraldo Isaia. 1ed. São Paulo:
Ibracon, 2011, v. I, p. 415-452
[2] HELENE, P.; TERZIAN, P. Manual de dosagem e controle do concreto. São Paulo:
PINI, 1992.
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Souza, G.T, Gouveia F. P, Bittencourt, R.M
[5] BERNARDO, K.S.; PINTO, R.S.; CUNHA, W.A. SOUZA, G.T.; BERNARDO, E.S.;
SOUZA, P.S.L. Analise Experimental de Concreto de Alta Resistência (CAR) com
Agregados Graúdos Disponíveis NA REGIÃO DE TUCURUÍ-PA. Anais do 59º
Congresso Brasileiro do Concreto. Bento Gonçalves, 2017.
[11] FURNAS. Concretos Massa, Estrutural, Projetado e Compactado com Rolo: Ensaios
e Propriedades. Editora PINI. São Paulo, 1997.
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