CLASSIFICATION OF CEMENT

1. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

Ordinary Portland cement is the most widely used type of cement which is suitable for all
general concrete construction. It is most widely produced and used type of cement around the
world with annual global production of around 3.8 million cubic meters per year. This cement is
suitable for all type of concrete construction.

2. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)

Portland pozzolana cement is prepared by grinding pozzolanic clinker with Portland cement. It is
also produced by adding pozzolana with the addition of gypsum or calcium sulfate or by
intimately and uniformly blending portland cement and fine pozzolana.

This cement has high resistance to various chemical attacks on concrete compared with ordinary
portland cement and thus it is widely used. It is used in marine structures, sewage works, sewage
works and for laying concrete under water such as bridges, piers, dams and mass concrete works
etc.

3. Rapid Hardening Cement

Rapid hardening cement attains high strength in early days it is used in concrete where
formworks are removed at an early stage and is similar to ordinary portland cement (OPC). This
cement has increased lime content and contains higher c3s content and finer grinding which
gives greater strength development than OPC at an early stage.

The strength of rapid hardening cement at the 3 days is similar to 7 days strength of OPC with
the same water-cement ratio. Thus, advantage of this cement is that formwork can be removed
earlier which increases the rate of construction and decreases cost of construction by saving
formwork cost. Rapid hardening cement is used in prefabricated concrete construction, road
works, etc.

4. Quick setting cement

The difference between the quick setting cement and rapid hardening cement is that quick setting
cement sets earlier while rate of gain of strength is similar to Ordinary Portland Cement, while
rapid hardening cement gains strength quickly. Formworks in both cases can be removed earlier.
Quick setting cement is used where works is to be completed in very short period and for
concreting in static or running water.

5. Low Heat Cement

Low heat cement is prepared by maintaining the percentage of tricalcium aluminate below 6% by
increasing the proportion of C2S. This makes the concrete to produce low heat of hydration and
thus is used in mass concrete construction like gravity dams, as the low heat of hydration
prevents the cracking of concrete due to heat.
This cement has increased power against sulphates and is less reactive and initial setting time is
greater than OPC.
6. Sulphates Resisting Cement
Sulfate resisting cement is used to reduce the risk of sulphate attack on concrete and thus is used
in construction of foundations where soil has high sulphate content. This cement has reduced
contents of C3A and C4AF.
Sulfate resisting cement is used in construction exposed to severe sulphate action by water and
soil in places like canals linings, culverts, retaining walls, siphons etc.

7. Blast Furnace Slag Cement

Blast furnace slag cement is obtained by grinding the clinkers with about 60% slag and
resembles more or less in properties of Portland cement. It can be used for works economic
considerations is predominant.

8. High Alumina Cement

High alumina cement is obtained by melting mixture of bauxite and lime and grinding with the
clinker. It is a rapid hardening cement with initial and final setting time of about 3.5 and 5 hours
respectively. The compressive strength of this cement is very high and more workable than
ordinary portland cement and is used in works where concrete is subjected to high temperatures,
frost, and acidic action.

9. White Cement
It is prepared from raw materials free from Iron oxide and is a type of ordinary portland cement
which is white in color. It is costlier and is used for architectural purposes such as precast curtain
wall and facing panels, terrazzo surface etc. and for interior and exterior decorative work like
external renderings of buildings, facing slabs, floorings, ornamental concrete products, paths of
gardens, swimming pools etc.

10. Colored cement

It is produced by mixing 5- 10% mineral pigments with ordinary cement. They are widely used
for decorative works in floors.

11. Air Entraining Cement

Air entraining cement is produced by adding indigenous air entraining agents such as resins,
glues, sodium salts of sulphates etc. during the grinding of clinker.
This type of cement is especially suited to improve the workability with smaller water cement
ratio and to improve frost resistance of concrete.

12. Expansive Cement

Expansive cement expands slightly with time and does not shrink during and after the time of
hardening . This cement is mainly used for grouting anchor bolts and prestressed concrete ducts.

13. Hydrographic cement

Hydrographic cement is prepared by mixing water repelling chemicals and has high workability
and strength. It has the property of repelling water and is unaffected during monsoon or rains.
Hydrophobic cement is mainly used for the construction of water structures such dams, water
tanks, spillways, water retaining structures etc
 Applications of Different Types of Cement for Concrete Construction

Selection of cement based on suitability for different concrete construction is important for
durability considerations of structures. Thus, making wise choice of cement type for particular
construction site, prevents structure from deteriorating and saves much repair and rehabilitation
cost later.

Following are the suitability of various cements for different environmental conditions:

Applications of 33 Grade Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

It is used for normal grade of concrete upto M-20, plastering, flooring, grouting of cable ducts in
PSC works etc. The fineness should be between 225 and 280.

Application of 43 Grade Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

o It is the most widely used general purpose cement. For concrete grades upto M-30, precast
elements.

o For marine structures but C3A should be between 5 – 8%.

Application of 53 Grade OPC Cement

o For concrete grade higher than M-30, prestressed concrete works, bridge, roads, multi-storied
buildings etc.

o For use in cold weather concreting.

o For marine structures but C3A should be between 5 – 8%.

Applications of Portland Slag Cement (PSC)
It is OPC + granulated slag cement. It gives low heat of hydration. The slag should be more than
50%and upto 70%. It is used for;
o Marine and off shore structures- very high chloride and sulphate resistant.

o Sewage disposal treatments works

o Water treatment plants

o Constructions which are expected to be attacked by dissolved chlorides and sulphate ions.

o Should be mainly used for all future structures.

Applications of Portland Pozzolana Cement
IS:1489(part-I ) -1991 (using flyash). It gives low heat of hydration and reduces the leaching of
calcium hydroxide. This cement should be used only after proper evaluation. This should be
tested as per IS:1489 (Pt I) – 1991. It is used for:
o hydraulic structures-dams, retaining walls

o Marine structures

o Mass concrete works- like bridge footings

o under aggressive conditions

o Masonry mortar and plastering.

Applications of Sulphate Resisting Cement
(C3A < 3%) Sulphate Resisting Portland Cement is a type of Portland Cement in which the
amount of tricalcium aluminate (C3A) is restricted to lower than 5% and 2C 3A +C4AF lower
than 25%. The SRC can be used for structural concrete wherever OPC or PPC or Slag Cement
are usable under normal conditions.

The use of SRC is particularly beneficial in such conditions where the concrete is exposed to the
risk of deterioration due to sulphate attack, for example, in contact with soils and ground waters
containing excessive amounts of sulphates as well as for concrete in sea water or exposed
directly to sea coast.

The use of Sulphate Resisting Cement is recommended for following applications:

o Foundations, piles

o Basement and underground structures

o Sewage and water treatment plants

o Chemical factories

o Suitable for underground works where Sulphate is present in the Soil and water.
Sulphate Resisting Cement is Not Suitable for:
o Sulphate resisting cement is not suitable where there is danger of chloride attack. This will cause
corrosion of rebar.

o If both Chlorides and Sulphates are present, Ordinary Portland Cement with C3A between 5 & 8
should be used.
Applications of Low heat portland cement
Low Heat Portland Cement is particularly suited for making concrete for dams and many other
types of water retaining structures, bridge abutments, massive retaining walls, piers and slabs etc.
In mass concreting, there is often considerable rise in temperature because of the heat produced
as the cement sets and hardens.
The shrinkage which occurs on subsequent cooling sets up tensile stresses in the concrete, may
result in cracking. The use of low heat cement is advantageous since it evolves less heat than
OPC. This cement is not available in the market on regular basis and has to be obtained on
specific orders.

Applications of Rapid hardening cement

The Rapid Hardening Cement is used for repair and rehabilitation works and where speed of
construction and early completion is required due to limitations of time, space or other reasons.
The cement is to be used in cold weather concreting i.e. temperature < 5oC.
Rapid hardening cement is basically OPC but its fineness is 3250 cm2/g against 2250 cm2/g in
case of OPC. The compressive strength after 1 day is 16 N/mm2 and that of 3 days 27 N/mm2.
These days higher grade OPC are available in the country to meet these requirements and
therefore, this cement is not being manufactured and marketed on regular basis. The
characteristics of this cement can be effectively met by only good quality 53 grade OPC.

Applications of Hydrophobic portland cement

Hydrophobic Portland Cement is manufactured on special requirement for high rainfall areas to
improve the shelf life of the cement. The cement particles are given a chemical coating during
manufacturing which provides water repelling property and the cement is not affected due to
high humidity and can be stored for a longer period . This has to be obtained on special order
from the cement manufactures.
 CLASSIFICATION OF GRAVEL

Gravel /ˈɡrævəl/ is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel is classified by particle

size range and includes size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. In the Udden-
Wentworth scale gravel is categorized into granular gravel (2 to 4 mm or 0.079 to 0.157 in)
and pebble gravel (4 to 64 mm or 0.2 to 2.5 in). ISO 14688 grades gravels as fine, medium, and
coarse with ranges 2 mm to 6.3 mm to 20 mm to 63 mm. One cubic metre of gravel typically
weighs about 1,800 kg (or a cubic yard weighs about 3,000 pounds).
Gravel is an important commercial product, with a number of applications.
Many roadways are surfaced with gravel, especially in ruralareas where there is little traffic.
Globally, far more roads are surfaced with gravel than with concrete or asphalt; Russia alone has
over 400,000 km (250,000 mi) of gravel roads.[1] Both sand and small gravel are also important
for the manufacture of concrete.
Types of gravel include:

 Bank gravel: naturally deposited gravel intermixed with sand or clay found in and next to
rivers and streams. Also known as "bank run" or "river run".
 Bench gravel: a bed of gravel located on the side of a valley above the present stream
bottom, indicating the former location of the stream bed when it was at a higher level.
 Creek rock or river rock: this is generally rounded, semi-polished stones, potentially of a
wide range of types, that are dredged or scooped from stream beds. It is also often used as
concrete aggregate and less often as a paving surface.
 Crushed stone: rock crushed and graded by screens and then mixed to a blend of stones and
fines. It is widely used as a surfacing for roads and driveways, sometimes with tar applied
over it. Crushed stone may be made from granite, limestone, dolomite, and other rocks. Also
known as "crusher run", DGA (dense grade aggregate) QP (quarry process), and shoulder
stone.[8]
 Fine gravel: gravel consisting of particles with a diameter of 2 to 8 mm.
 Stone dust: fine, crushed, gravel from the final stage of screen separation, such that the
gravel is not separated out from fine dust particles.
 Lag gravel: a surface accumulation of coarse gravel produced by the removal of finer
particles.
 Pay gravel: also known as "pay dirt"; a nickname for gravel with a high concentration of
gold and other precious metals. The metals are recovered through gold panning.
 Pea gravel: also known as "pea shingle" is gravel that consists of small, rounded stones used
in concrete surfaces. Also used for walkways, driveways and as a substrate in home
aquariums.
 Piedmont gravel: a coarse gravel carried down from high places by mountain streams and
deposited on relatively flat ground, where the water runs more slowly.
 Plateau gravel: a layer of gravel on a plateau or other region above the height at which
stream-terrace gravel is usually found.