Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Concrete
Concrete
Concrete
Cement content
Mix must be designed to ensure cohesion and prevent segregation and bleeding. If
cement is reduced, then at fixed w/c ratio the workability will be reduced leading to
inadequate compaction.
Compaction
Curing
It is very important to permit proper strength development aid moisture retention and
to ensure hydration process occur completely
Cover
Permeability
It is considered the most important factor for durability. It can be noticed that higher
permeability is usually caused by higher porosity. Therefore, a proper curing,
sufficient cement, proper compaction and suitable concrete cover could provide a
low permeability concrete
A3
Photo Credit: Jenike
Chloride and Steel: Chlorides in de-icing chemicals can make its way down to the
reinforcing steel. Chemical reactions between the chlorides and the steel initiates the
corrosion process which can create significant damage to structural concrete. Deck
overlays, surface treatments, and especially coating reinforcing steel can help protect
bridge concrete from corrosion due to chlorides.
Sulfates: Sulfates in water and soil can attack concrete and cause damage. Sulfates
react to compounds in hardened concrete which can create pressure eventually leading
to disintegration. Concrete used in heavy sulfate environments must be specially
formulated to resist their effects.
a5
A6
ASR is caused by a reaction between the hydroxyl ions in the alkaline cement pore solution
in the concrete and reactive forms of silica in the aggregate (eg: chert, quartzite, opal, strained
quartz crystals).
A gel is produced, which increases in volume by taking up water and so exerts an expansive
pressure, resulting in failure of the concrete. In unrestrained concrete (that is, without any
reinforcement), ASR causes characteristic 'map cracking' or 'Isle of Man cracking'.
Write down the various methods used to prevent concrete structure from ASR
damage.
There are three essential elements needed for ASR to occur: alkali,
reactive aggregates and water. Efforts to prevent or mitigate ASR
have nearly always focused on measures to reduce or eliminate the
first two. Special low-alkali cements have been used. Partially
replacing cement with pozzolins such as fly-ash and slag have also
been demonstrated to help. Of course, avoiding the use of reactive
aggregates would definitely prevent ASR. But these various
measures are not always available or economical.
The idea of eliminating water has been largely ignored. This is likely
because water is generally accepted to be ever present. While
normal concrete is porous and will absorb water, there are multiple
ways to reduce or prevent the penetration of water into the concrete.
The incorporation of Krystol Internal Membrane (KIM) to a well-
proportioned mixture can aid in the prevention of water into concrete
and protection against the harmful expansion forces of ASR. When it
comes to creating durable and sustainable structures, it’s important
to consider the benefits of keeping water out of concrete.
A7
Freeze/thaw damage occurs in concrete when the water molecules in concrete freeze and
expand beyond the volume constraints of the concrete.