Properties of Plastic Concrete

1. What is the most common plastic property test and what does it measure?

2. List three factors that can affect the workability of concrete.

3. What effect do SCM’s have on the concrete strength?

4. What is the ‘w/c’?

5. List two properties of concrete affected by the w/c.

6. What is the difference between workability and consistency?

7. Define cohesiveness.

8. List two factors that affect the cohesiveness of concrete.

 Properties of Hardened Concrete
1. Name two of the major strength properties of concrete.
2. List four factors that can affect the compressive strength of
concrete.
3. What effect do SCM’s have on the concrete strength?
4. Is there any defined relationship between flexural strength and
compressive strength?
5. List two methods of reducing the drying shrinkage of concrete.
6. List two things that can be done to prevent damage from freeze-
thaw conditions.
 Testing of Concrete
1. Give two reasons for undertaking testing of concrete.
2. What are the two most common concrete tests carried out and
why are they done?
3. Explain how a slump test is carried out.
4. What is the reason for allowing a tolerance on the measurement
of slump?
5. List two tests that can be used to determine the tensile strength
of concrete.
6. Why are standard conditions adopted for assessment of
concrete properties?
7. Explain what 600 microstrain drying shrinkage means.
 Testing of Concrete
8. How are concrete test cylinders compacted?
9. Give two methods that can be used for capping and creating
plane ends on concrete test cylinders.
10. How is the compressive strength of the concrete calculated
from the test cylinder results?
11. What are the three tests in AS 1012 for consistency of
concrete?
12. How is a bleed test carried out on concrete?
13. Why can the slump test not be used for super-workable
concrete?
14. What is the accuracy that can be expected from a drying
shrinkage test on concrete?
 Water Absorption
Review Section 4.4.7 (p.70) of Concrete Course Notes on Water
Absorption.

It is extremely important to consider the water content of aggregates as it may affect

the w/c in a concrete mix, which in turn impact on the slump and strength of the
concrete.
Absorption is defined as the moisture content in the SSD condition. Moist aggregates
have moisture content in excess of the SSD condition. Free moisture is the moisture
content in the aggregate in excess of the moisture content in the SSD condition.

Total moisture content = Absorption + Free water

The percent moisture content is calculated as

 Water Absorption
Sample Problem

A sample of sand has the following properties:

Moist mass = 625.2 g
Dry mass = 589.9 g
Absorption = 1.6%

Determine (a) total moisture content and (b) free moisture content.

Solution
a. Mass of water = 625.2 - 589.9 = 35.3 g
Total moisture content = 35.3/589.9 * 100 = 6.0%
b. Free moisture = 6.0 - 1.6 = 4.4%
 Properties of Concrete
Problem 1

The design of a concrete mix requires 1173 kg/m3 of gravel in dry

condition, 582 kg/m3 of sand in dry condition, and 157 kg/m3 of
free water. The gravel available at the job site has a moisture
content of 0.8% and absorption of 1.5%, and the available sand has
a moisture content of 1.1% and absorption of 1.3%. What are the
masses of gravel, sand, and water per cubic meter that should be
used at the job site?

Review Section 4.4.7 of Concrete Course Notes on Water

Absorption.
 Properties of Concrete
Problem 1
Solution
 Properties of Concrete
Problem 2
Three concrete mixes with the same ingredients, except the amount
of mixing water, and their slump values were obtained. Three 100
mm * 200 mm concrete cylinders were prepared for each mix. The
cylinders were cured for 7 days and then tested for compressive
strength. The test results are as shown in the table below. Assume
that the aggregate was at the saturated surface-dry condition before
adding mixing water.
 Properties of Concrete
Problem 2
It is required to do the following:
a. Plot the relationship between slump and amount of mixing water
for all mixes. Comment on the effect of increasing the amount of
water on workability.
b. Determine the compressive strength of each cylinder after 7 days.
c. Determine the average compressive strength of each mix after 7
days.
d. Using the graph in the previous slide, estimate the compressive
strength after 28 days (f′C) for each mix.
e. Determine the w/c ratio for each mix. Plot the average f′C values
versus w/c ratios for all mixes. Comment on the effect of increasing
the w/c ratio on the compressive strength.
 Properties of Concrete
Problem 2 (Solution)
Estimated
Compressive Average Compressive
Weight of Weight Strength Compressive Strength after
Mix Cement of Water w/c Slump Cylinder Maximum after 7 days Strength after 28 Days
No (kg) (kg) ratio (mm) No. Load (kN) (MPa) 7 days (MPa) (MPa)
1 138.2 17.6
1 10 5 0.5 40 2 175.9 22.4 19.1 24.6
3 136.9 17.4
1 100.7 12.8
2 10 5.5 0.55 55 2 115.2 14.7 14 18.0
3 113.6 14.5
1 73.3 9.3
3 10 6 0.6 75 2 78.4 10.0 9.7 12.5
3 76.0 9.7

Cylinders 100mm diameter

A= 7853.98163 mm2
 Properties of Concrete
Problem 2 (Solution)
80
70
60
50
Slump (mm)

40
30
20
10
0
4.8 5 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8 6 6.2
Mixing water mass (kg) Average compressive strength 28 days
30
Average compressive strength (MPa)

25

20

15

10

0
0.48 0.5 0.52 0.54 0.56 0.58 0.6 0.62
w/c ratio