CE512 Exam Paper

CE512 Concrete Technology and Design of Reinforced Concrete Members
Question 1
a) Explain why cement is essential for the development of conventional

concrete. List the major compounds of Portland cement and describe how
each component affects its behaviour.
(6 marks)
(Provide your answer in the box below)
Conventional concrete consists of sand, gravel, cement and water. When mixed with
water, cement binds the other components together, setting and hardening with time.
- Major compounds of cement

i) Tricalcium Silicate, 3CaO.SiO2
ii) Dicalcium Silicate, 2 CaO.SiO2
iii) Tricalcium Aluminate, 2CaO.Al2O3
iv) Tetracalcium Aluminoferrite, 4Cao.Al2O3.FeO3
Tricalcium Silicate and Dicalcium Silicate are the ones give strength while Tricalcium
Aluminate helps hardening and gain strength at the early setting stages and do react
with sulphates causing degradation. Tetracalcium Aluminoferrite is desirable in the
formation production to facilitate formation of desired silicate phases and has less
effect on cement behaviour.
b) Explain what the alkali-silica reaction in concrete is, how it can occur and
which of the cement component/s are responsible for this reaction.
(5 marks)
- Alkali-silica reaction
Is a chemical reaction which occurs between the alkaline cement paste and silicon
based compounds (such as silicon dioxide) commonly found in concrete
components. The highly alkaline compounds of cement include, K 2O and Na2O. This
reaction forms a gel – like substance which leads to development of cracks.
Page 1 of 22
Question 2
a) Describe what are the main differences between Geopolymer Concrete and
Conventional Portland Cement Concrete in terms of:
i. main materials required for their preparation;
ii. mixing process.

(6 marks)
- Materials for preparation
Geopolymer cement free concrete mainly consists of fly ash, ground granulated blast
furnace slag GGBS, Metakaolin; aggregate (sand, rock or gravel) and alkaline
liquids. While the conventional concrete consists of Portland cement - fly ash and
GGBFS, silica fumes, metakaolin; aggregate( sand, rock or gravel) and water.
- Mixing process
Preparation of geopolymer concrete consists of mixing of the binder ( fly ash and
GGBFS) – source of aluminosilicate while dry, then alkali activator, superplasticizer
are mixed in water for about 5 minutes before they are added into the solid. Then
sand and other aggregates are added and mixed for about 3 minutes.
The conventional Portland cement concrete is mixing of ingredients is simple, the
coarse aggregate, sand and cement are mixed in the correct portion, the materials
are mixed dry as water is added gradually. Mixing is done until a consistence product
is achieved.
b) Describe the main benefit and two limitations/issues with the use of
geopolymer concrete in construction.
(6 marks)
- Benefit of geopolymer concrete

High strength – when compared to ordinary concrete, geopolymer concrete has a
higher compressive strength. It has a shorter curing period and rapid strength gain.
Geopolymer concrete has a higher tensile strength, with reduced brittleness.
- Limitations
Page 2 of 22
1. Hard to create – as it requires specialized handling needs, hence creating it

is challenging. Some chemicals used including NaOH are dangerous to
human beings.
2. Pre-mixing Only – Due to the dangers associated with the pre-mix materials
used in making of concrete, it is sold as a pre-cast only.
c)
i. Explain how we can distinguish Fly Ash from GGBS particles using
Scanning Electronic Microscopy?
ii. Also explain how Scanning Electronic Microscopy can be used to

qualitatively evaluate the progress of the polymerization process in
geopolymer concrete.
(4 marks)
- Difference between Fly Ash and GGBS using SEM
Fly ash microstructure surface is dominated by spheres while GGBS microstructure

surface exhibits cubic appearance. The larger spheres are alumino-silicates while
the smaller ones are iron rich spheres. The particle density in the GGBC
microstructure is much less as compared to fly ash structure. Also its particles are
fibrous within the structure.
- SEM in polymerization process of geopolymer concrete
Polymerization is a process that involves microstructural changes, and a geopolymer

is a product of inorganic polymerization.
As the geopolymer concrete matures, its microstructure does change. The

microstructure of a material has a direct relationship to its mechanical properties.
This is true as concrete cures and sets, it gains strength over time, the changes in
the microstructure change explains gain in the strength of a geopolymer concrete.
Page 3 of 22
Question 3
Bending tests have been carried out to determine the characteristics of Steel Fibre
Reinforced Concrete and the Load – Crack Mouth Opening Displacement (CMOD)
results are presented in Figure 3.
Page 4 of 22
(units in mm)
Figure 3. Bending test of Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete Beam
a) Calculate if the fibre reinforcement can substitute (partially) conventional

reinforcement considering the following:
i. Load at the limit of proportionality FL = 30 + 5∙SN (kN)

ii. F1 = 20 + 3∙SN (kN)
iii. F2 = 15 + 3∙SN (kN)
iv. F3 = 5 + 3∙SN (kN)
where SN is the last digit of your student number. For example for student
number 16839813, SN = 3 (FL = 30 + 5∙3 = 45 kN etc.)
(detailed calculations must be provided)
(4 marks)
(Provide your answer in the box overleaf)
Page 5 of 22
b) Calculate the stress-crack opening constitutive law which can be deducted

from the bending tests considering linear model with softening and Maximum
acceptable crack opening (wu) = 1 + 0.1∙SN mm.
Calculate the tensile stress values and make a sketch with the distribution of
tensile stresses and compressive force in the cross section.
number 16839813, SN = 3 (wu = 1 + 0.1∙3 = 1.3 mm)
(4 marks)
Page 6 of 22
Question 4
The simply supported slab of Figure 4 is loaded with self-weight of (6-0.2∙SN) kN/m2,
distributed variable action of (2.5-0.1∙SN) kN/m2, and is classified as exposure class
XC2 (minimum cover 35 mm).
where SN is the last digit of your student number. For example, for student
number 16839813, SN = 3.
a) Calculate the total required tension reinforcement cross sectional area (A s)

and the spacing of the steel bars (considering 12 mm diameter longitudinal
reinforcement) in order to support the given loads considering slabs effective
depth (d) equal to 180 mm. Check if the requirements for minimum &
maximum reinforcement limits, and maximum spacing limit are satisfied.
Check if compression reinforcement is needed.
(25marks)
b) Check if shear reinforcement is needed in the slab of Question 4a.

(10 marks)
Materials: Characteristic strengths of concrete and steel are f ck = 25 N/mm2

and fyk = 500 N/mm2 respectively.
Provide your solution in separate pages at the end of the exam paper and
make sure that detailed calculations are also provided.
Figure 4. Simply supported slab
Page 7 of 22
Question 5
A cantilever column with (1.5 + 0.1∙SN) m height and cross-sectional dimensions

0.40 m x 0.40 m is reinforced with 4 bars of (10+2∙SN) mm diameter (Figure 5)
number 16839813, SN = 3.
Calculate the maximum horizontal load value (H) the column can resist considering
that the axial load (A) can take any value in the range of 800 kN to 1800 kN.
Materials: Characteristic strengths of concrete and steel are f ck = 25 N/mm2 and fyk =
500 N/mm2 respectively.
(20 marks)
Figure 5. Cantilever column geometry and cross section
number 16839813, SN = 3.
Page 8 of 22
Question 6
Calculate the shear link spacing (s) of the following cross section (Figure 6)
considering:
volumetric ratio of confinement (ωwd) equal to 0.15;
concrete cover equal to 30 mm;
stirrups diameter equal to 6 mm; and
longitudinal reinforcement diameter equal to 20 mm.
Materials: characteristic strengths of concrete and steel are f ck = 25 N/mm2 and fyk =
500 N/mm2 respectively.
(10 marks)
Figure 6. Column’s cross section with stirrups
number 16839813, SN = 3.
Page 9 of 22
Aide-Memoire
Beams/slabs
compressive reinforcement
tension reinforcement
(fck in MPa)
(fck in MPa)
Page 10 of 22
Aide-Memoire
Shear resistance of slabs without shear reinforcement ( ) (N/mm2)
Shear in slabs:
Punching shear in slabs:
Maximum permissible shear force:
Page 11 of 22
Aide-Memoire
Page 12 of 22
Aide-Memoire
Column design charts
Page 13 of 22
Aide-Memoire
Column design charts
Page 14 of 22
Aide-Memoire
Confinement
Page 15 of 22
a  a s  an
 s   s 
a s  1    1  
 2  bo   2  ho 
b i
2
an  1  n
6  b0  h0
f yd
 wd  2 min ( b ,  h )
f cd
Fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010
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CE512 Concrete Technology and Design of Reinforced Concrete Members

a) Explain why cement is essential for the development of conventional

- Major compounds of cement

i. main materials required for their preparation;

ii. mixing process.

- Materials for preparation

- Benefit of geopolymer concrete

1. Hard to create – as it requires specialized handling needs, hence creating it

ii. Also explain how Scanning Electronic Microscopy can be used to

- Difference between Fly Ash and GGBS using SEM

Fly ash microstructure surface is dominated by spheres while GGBS microstructure

- SEM in polymerization process of geopolymer concrete

Polymerization is a process that involves microstructural changes, and a geopolymer

As the geopolymer concrete matures, its microstructure does change. The

Figure 3. Bending test of Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete Beam

a) Calculate if the fibre reinforcement can substitute (partially) conventional

i. Load at the limit of proportionality FL = 30 + 5∙SN (kN)

(detailed calculations must be provided)

b) Calculate the stress-crack opening constitutive law which can be deducted

a) Calculate the total required tension reinforcement cross sectional area (A s)

b) Check if shear reinforcement is needed in the slab of Question 4a.

Materials: Characteristic strengths of concrete and steel are f ck = 25 N/mm2

Figure 4. Simply supported slab

A cantilever column with (1.5 + 0.1∙SN) m height and cross-sectional dimensions

Figure 5. Cantilever column geometry and cross section

Figure 6. Column’s cross section with stirrups

Punching shear in slabs:

Maximum permissible shear force:

Fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010

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