THERMAL PROPERTIES

OF AGGREGATES
The 3 thermal properties of aggregate are:

o Co-efficient of thermal expansion

o Specific heat
o Thermal conductivity

Co-efficient of thermal expansion is considered when using aggregate for any

ordinary concrete structure. This thermal property of aggregate relates closely to the
co-efficient of thermal expansion of cement paste in the concrete.

Hence, it’s sufficient to know about this property of aggregate while using them to
make concrete for common works.

Specific heat and thermal conductivity are to be aware of when doing,

o Mass concreting where tight control of temperature is necessary

o Lightweight concreting for purpose of insulation

The 3 thermal properties of aggregate are all described below.

Co-Efficient of Thermal Expansion

Co-efficient of thermal expansion of aggregate is the property of aggregate to
expand in presence of temperature rise.

It is dependent on the parent rock the aggregate comes from.

The co-efficient of thermal expansion of concrete depends on the below

factors,

o Type and quality of aggregate

 o Mix proportions
o Degree of saturation, etc.
The average co-efficient of thermal expansion of concrete is around 9.9 × 10 -6 per ℃.
But depending on the quality and co-efficient of thermal expansion of aggregate, it
can range anywhere between 5.8 × 10-6 per ℃ to 14 × 10-6 per ℃.

Average co-efficient of thermal expansion 9.9 × 10-6 per ℃

of concrete
Range of co-efficient of thermal expansion 5.8 × 10-6 per ℃ to 14 × 10-6 per ℃
of concrete

The co-efficient of thermal expansion of concrete increases with that of the

aggregate.

 For the majority of aggregate co-efficient of thermal expansion is in between 5.4 ×

10-6 per ℃ to 12.6 × 10-6 per ℃.

The co-efficient of thermal expansion can be determined by Verbeck’s dilatometer.

Material Range of co-efficient of thermal expansion

Hydrated Portland cement paste 10.8 × 10-6 per ℃ to 16.2 × 10-6 per ℃

Mortar 7.9 × 10-6 per ℃ to 12.6 × 10-6 per ℃

Common rock 0.9 × 10-6 per ℃ to 16.0 × 10-6 per ℃

Granite 1.8 × 10-6 per ℃ to 11.9 × 10-6 per ℃

Diorite, andesite 4.1 × 10-6 per ℃ to 10.3 × 10-6 per ℃

Gabbro, basalt, diabase 3.6 × 10-6 per ℃ to 9.7 × 10-6 per ℃

Sandstone 4.3 × 10-6 per ℃ to 13.9 × 10-6 per ℃

Dolomite 6.7 × 10-6 per ℃ to 8.6 × 10-6 per ℃

Limestone 0.9 × 10-6 per ℃ to 12.2 × 10-6 per ℃

Chert 7.4× 10-6 per ℃ to 13.1 × 10-6 per ℃

Marble 1.1 × 10-6 per ℃ to 16.0 × 10-6 per ℃

Range of Co-efficient of Thermal Expansion
for Common Construction Materials and
Different Rock Types
Thermal compatibility exists between aggregate and concrete or aggregate and
pastes at a higher range. At the lower range, thermal incompatibility exists between
them.

This thermal incompatibility can cause severe stresses, which may end up damaging
the durability and integrity of the concrete structures.

General Scenario in Research Field

Much research has been conducted on the interaction of aggregate having different
co-efficient of thermal expansion with that of concrete.

The results obtained give no clear cut picture of the effects expected. Some aspects
are also controversial.

But it is generally agreed upon that the co-efficient of thermal expansion has an
effect on the durability of concrete.

Especially under the below two conditions,

o Severe exposure condition

o Rapid temperature changes
It is also important to study the co-efficient of thermal expansion of aggregate in
regard to the fire resistance of concrete.

Anisotropic Behaviour
Anisotropic behaviour is a property in which expansion is more in one direction or
parallel to one crystallographic axis than another.

Calcite is the most prominent example of this behaviour as the linear co-efficient of
thermal expansion of it is 25.8 × 10-6 per ℃ parallel to axis and – 4.7 × 10-6 per ℃
perpendicular to axis.
A group of minerals known as potash feldspars is another example of anisotropic
behaviour.

To determine and calculate the cubical expansion of concrete this aspect of the
anisotropic behaviour of some of the aggregate also should be taken into
consideration.

Criteria for Selecting Aggregates

When selecting aggregate for construction purposes, the co-efficient of thermal
expansion should be considered as to not have a negative effect on the durability of
the resulting concrete.

If there is a large difference between co-efficient of thermal expansion of coarse

aggregate and that of mortar, the durability of concrete can be considerably lower
than the one predicted from the results of the usual acceptance test.

If the difference between co-efficient of thermal expansion of aggregate and mortar

is exceeding 5.4 × 10-6 per ℃ then caution should be taken while selecting
aggregate for highly durable concrete.

If the difference exceeds 5.5 × 10-6 per ℃, durability of concrete subjected to

freezing and thawing is detrimentally affected.

Effect of Co-Efficient Of Thermal Expansion of

Aggregate on Concrete
If aggregate with a large difference in co-efficient of thermal expansion is used to
make concrete, the durability and other qualities of concrete are affected.

The effect of co-efficient of thermal expansion in two different conditions are

described below,

1. Under normal variation of atmospheric temperature

In this condition, the thermal incompatibility between aggregate and paste or

between aggregate and matrix might not cause serious differential movements.

As such serious differential movements can result in bond breaking at the interface
of aggregate and matrix or aggregate and paste.

Without the introduction of serious differential movement, no bond breaking

happens.
2. High range of temperature difference

With Large changes in temperature, the adverse effects will become acute. This
affects the durability and other quality of concrete.

For example, if quarts are used as aggregate for concrete subjected to high
temperatures, the concrete goes under disruption. At around a temperature of
572.7℃, quarts expand 0.85 per cent and changes state.

Smaller differences between co-efficient of thermal expansion of aggregate and

mortar are probably not detrimental within the temperature range of 4 to 60 ℃
because of modifying effects of shrinkage and creep.

Specific Heat
Specific heat of aggregate is a measure of heat capacity of aggregate.

Specific heat of aggregate also affects the specific heat of concrete.

Thermal Conductivity
The ability of an aggregate to conduct heat is called the thermal conductivity of
aggregate.

The thermal conductivity of aggregate also affects the thermal conductivity of

concrete.

The above two thermal properties of aggregate are quite important in the case of mass
concreting and insulation works.

Importance of Study of Thermal Properties

Thermal properties of aggregate are important to study because of the following:

o To estimate cubical expansion of concrete

o To deal with fire resistance of concrete
o All three thermal properties of aggregate are to be considered in case of light
weight concrete used for thermal insulation purpose
o Freezing and thawing action effect may become prominent if difference
between co-efficient of thermal expansion of aggregate and mortar exceeds
5.5 × 10-6 per ℃