AR 211 - B

BUILDING MATERIALS

CONCRETE
BUENA BEATINGO GONZALES SABANDO
CLASSIFICATION OF
PORTLAND CEMENT
 TYPE # 1. ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT:

THIS TYPE OF CEMENT IS SUITABLE FOR USE IN

GENE­RAL CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION WHEREVER
IT IS NOT EXPOSED TO SULPHATES IN THE SOIL
OR IN GRO­UND WATER.
 TYPE # 1. ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT:
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. FINENESS:
ITS SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA SHOULD NOT BE LESS THAN 3500 CM2/GRAM.
2. SOUNDNESS:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
WHEN TESTED BY THE LE CHATELIAR METHOD, UN-AERATED CEMENT SHOULD
NOT HAVE AN EXPAN­SION MORE THAN 10 MM.
3. SETTING TIME:
(A) INITIAL SETTING TIME NOT LESS THAN 30 MINUTES.
(B) FINAL SETTING TIME NOT MORE THAN 600 MINUTES.
 TYPE # 2. MODIFIED CEMENT:

THIS CEMENT CONTAINS ABOUT 6% C3A AND 46% C3S. THIS CEMENT GENERATES
HEAT AT SOMEWHAT HIGHER RATE THAN THAT OF LOW HEAT CEMENT WITH A
RATE OF GAIN OF STRENGTH SIMILAR TO THAT OF PORTLAND CEMENT. THIS
CEMENT IS RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN STRUCTURES WHERE A MODERATELY
LOW HEAT GENERATION IS DESIRABLE OR WHERE MODERATE SULPHUR ATTACK
MAY OCCUR.
 TYPE # 3. RAPID HARDENING CEMENT:
THE STRENGTH DEVELOPED BY THE RAPID HARDENING CEMENT AT THE AGE OF
24 HOURS IS OF THE ORDER AS THAT OF 3 DAYS STRENGTH OF ORDINARY
PORTLAND CEMENT AND 3 DAY STRENGTH OF RAPID HARDENING CEMENT IS OF
THE ORDER OF 7 DAY STRENGTH OF PORTLAND CEMENT WITH THE SAME WATER
CEMENT RATIO. THE INCREASED RATE OF GAIN OF STRENGTH OF THE RAPID
HARDENING CEMENT IS ACHIEVED BY A HIGHER C3S CONTENT OF THE ORDER
OF ABOUT 56%. SOME TIMES C3S CONTENT IN RAPID HARDENING CEMENT IS 70%.
IT IS FINER THAN ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT. ITS SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA IS
3250 CM2/GM OF CEMENT.

THE REQUIREMENT OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND SOUNDNESS FOR RAPID

HARDENING CEMENT ARE SAME AS THOSE FOR ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT.
THE DENSITY OF THIS CEMENT IS 1280 KG PER CUBIC METRE.
 TYPE # 3. RAPID HARDENING CEMENT:

USE OF RAPID HARDENING CEMENT:

THE USE OF RAPID HARDENING CEMENT IS RECOMMENDED IN THE FOLLOWING
SITUATIONS:
1. WHERE FORMWORK IS REQUIRED TO BE REMOVED EARLY FOR RE-USE
ELSEWHERE.
2. FOR ROAD, AIR STRIP AND BRIDGE REPAIRS ETC.
3. IN COLD WEATHER CONCRETING.
4. IN PREFABRICATED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION.
TYPE # 4. LOW HEAT PORTLAND CEMENT (IS 12600-1989):

CEMENT GENERATES HEAT DURING HYDRATION. HEAT GENERATED DURING

HYD­RATION RAISES THE TEMPERATURE IN THE INTERIOR OF A LARGE
CONCRETE MASS. IN CASE THE HEAT GENERATED IS NOT LOST QUICKLY, IT WILL
CAUSES SERIOUS CRACKS IN THE CONCRETE MASS AS THE OUTER LAYERS WILL
COOL AND CONTRACT, WHILE THE INNER MASS IS STILL AT HIGHER
TEMPERATURE. THIS CEMENT IS UNSUITABLE FOR ORDINARY WORK AS IT WILL
REQUIRE PROLONGED CURING AND KEEPING THE FORM WORKS IN POSITION.
HOWEVER IT IS VERY USEFUL FOR MASS CONCRETE WORK AS DAMS, BRIDGES
ETC.
TYPE # 5. PORTLAND BLAST-FURNACE CEMENT OR SLAG
CEMENT (IS 455-1989):
THIS TYPE OF CEMENT IS MADE BY INTER-GRINDING THE PORTLAND CEMENT
CLINKER AND GRANULATED SLAG. THE QUANTITY OF SLAG SHOULD NOT
EXCEED 65% OF THE WEIGHT OF THE MIXTURE. IT MAY VARY FROM 25 TO 65%.
THE SLAG IS A MIXTURE OF LIME, SILICA AND ALUMINA, THAT IS, IT CONTAINS
SAME OXIDES THAT MAKE UP PORTLAND CEMENT, BUT NOT IN THE SAME
PROPORTIONS. BLAST FURNACE SLAG VARIES GREATLY IN COMPOSITION AND
PHYSICAL STRUCTURE DEPENDING ON THE PROCESS USED AND ON THE
METHOD OF COOLING OF THE SLAG. SLAG TO BE USED IN THE CEMENT HAS TO
BE QUENCHED (RAPID COOLING BY WATER) IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT SOLIDIFIES
AS A GLASSY GRANULATED SLAG AND ITS CRYSTALLIZATION IS PREVENTED. THE
RAPID COOLING BY WATER RESULTS ALSO IN THE FRAGMEN­TATION OF THE
MATERIAL INTO THE GRANULATED FORM.
 TYPE # 6. SULPHATE RESISTING CEMENT (IS 12330-1988):
THE REACTION OF C3A WITH GYPSUM (CASO42H2O) FORMS CALCIUM SULPHO-
ALUMINATE AND CAUSES EXPANSION OR SOUNDNESS IN CEMENT. THIS IS MORE
PROMINENT DURING SETTING PROCESS OF CEMENT. SIMILARLY IN HARDENED
CONCRETE, CALCIUM ALUMINATE HYDRATE CAN REACT WITH A SULPHATE SALT
FROM OUTSIDE THE CONCRETE IN A SIMILAR MANNER AS ABOVE, FORMING
CALCIUM SULPHO-ALUMINATE. IN THIS CASE THE INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF
SOLID PHASE IS 227%, HENCE DISINTEGRATION OF CONCRETE TAKES PLACE.
THIS REACTION OR EXPANSION IN VOLUME OF CONCRETE IS KNOWN AS
SULPHATE ATTACK.
 TYPE # 6. SULPHATE RESISTING CEMENT (IS 12330-1988):

THE USE OF SULPHATE RESISTING CEMENT IS RECOMMENDED UNDER THE

FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
1. CONCRETE TO BE USED IN MARINE CONDITIONS.
2. CONCRETE TO BE USED IN FOUNDATIONS AND BASEMENTS, WHERE SOIL IS
INFESTED WITH SULPHATES.
3. CONCRETE TO BE USED IN SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS CONSTRUCTIONS.
4. CONCRETE TO BE USED FOR THE FABRICATION OF PIPES TO BE USED UNDER
SULPHATE BEARING SOILS OR IN MAR­SHY REGIONS.
CONCRETE MIXTURE
PROPORTION
 TYPES OF CONCRETE MIX RATIO - MIX DESIGNS
NOMINAL CONCRETE MIX RATIOS

IN THE PAST THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONCRETE PRESCRIBED THE

PROPORTIONS OF CEMENT, FINE AND COARSE AGGREGATES. THESE MIXES OF
FIXED CEMENT-AGGREGATE RATIO WHICH ENSURES ADEQUATE STRENGTH ARE
TERMED NOMINAL MIXES. NOMINAL MIXES OFFER SIMPLICITY AND UNDER
NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HAVE A MARGIN OF STRENGTH ABOVE THAT
SPECIFIED. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE VARIABILITY OF MIX INGREDIENTS THE
NOMINAL CONCRETE FOR A GIVEN WORKABILITY VARIES WIDELY IN STRENGTH.
NOMINAL MIX RATIOS FOR CONCRETE ARE 1:2:4 FOR M15, 1:1.5:3 FOR M20 ETC.
 STANDARD MIXES OR RATIO
THE NOMINAL MIXES OF FIXED CEMENT-AGGREGATE RATIO (BY VOLUME) VARY
WIDELY IN STRENGTH AND MAY RESULT IN UNDER OR OVER-RICH MIXES. FOR
THIS REASON, THE MINIMUM COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN
MANY SPECIFICATIONS. THESE MIXES ARE TERMED STANDARD MIXES. IS 456-
2000 HAS DESIGNATED THE CONCRETE MIXES INTO A NUMBER OF GRADES AS
M10, M15, M20, M25, M30, M35 AND M40. IN THIS DESIGNATION THE LETTER M
REFERS TO THE MIX AND THE NUMBER TO THE SPECIFIED 28 DAY CUBE
STRENGTH OF MIX IN N/MM2. THE MIXES OF GRADES M10, M15, M20 AND M25
CORRESPOND APPROXIMATELY TO THE MIX PROPORTIONS (1:3:6), (1:2:4), (1:1.5:3)
AND (1:1:2) RESPECTIVELY.
 DESIGNED MIX RATIO OF CONCRETE
IN THESE MIXES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CONCRETE IS SPECIFIED BY THE
DESIGNER BUT THE MIX PROPORTIONS ARE DETERMINED BY THE PRODUCER OF
CONCRETE, EXCEPT THAT THE MINIMUM CEMENT CONTENT CAN BE LAID DOWN.
THIS IS MOST RATIONAL APPROACH TO THE SELECTION OF MIX PROPORTIONS
WITH SPECIFIC MATERIALS IN MIND POSSESSING MORE OR LESS UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS. THE APPROACH RESULTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
CONCRETE WITH THE APPROPRIATE PROPERTIES MOST ECONOMICALLY.
HOWEVER, THE DESIGNED MIX DOES NOT SERVE AS A GUIDE SINCE THIS DOES
NOT GUARANTEE THE CORRECT MIX PROPORTIONS FOR THE PRESCRIBED
PERFORMANCE.
 DESIGNED MIX RATIO OF CONCRETE

FOR THE CONCRETE WITH UNDEMANDING PERFORMANCE NOMINAL OR

STANDARD MIXES (PRESCRIBED IN THE CODES BY QUANTITIES OF DRY
INGREDIENTS PER CUBIC METER AND BY SLUMP) MAY BE USED ONLY FOR VERY
SMALL JOBS, WHEN THE 28-DAY STRENGTH OF CONCRETE DOES NOT EXCEED 30
N/MM2. NO CONTROL TESTING IS NECESSARY RELIANCE BEING PLACED ON THE
MASSES OF THE INGREDIENTS. FOLLOWING TABLE PROVIDES DETAILS OF
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONCRETE MIX RATIOS AND THEIR STRENGTHS.
MORTAR & PLASTER
MIXTURE
PROPORTION
 PLASTERING IS DONE ON THE WALLS TO REMOVE SURFACE
IMPERFECTIONS, MAINTAIN LINE LEVEL AND ALIGNMENT. IN
ADDITION TO THAT IT ALSO ACTS AS A PROTECTIVE SURFACE FOR
EXTERNAL WALLS. CEMENT PLASTER, GYPSUM PLASTER AND LIME
PLASTER ARE THE COMMONLY USED PLASTERING MATERIALS FOR
HOUSE CONSTRUCTIONS.

CEMENT PLASTER IS MADE BY MIXING CEMENT AND SAND IN THE

PROPORTIONS REQUIRED. CEMENT PLASTER IS APPLIED TO BOTH
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR WALLS TO GIVE THEM A SMOOTH
SURFACE.
RECOMMENDED CEMENT MORTAR RATIO FOR PLASTERING
CURING PERIOD FOR
EVERY PARTS OF A
BUILDING
 BEAMS AND COLUMNS

BEAMS AND COLUMNS TYPICALLY UNDERGO A CURING PERIOD OF AT LEAST 7

DAYS, BUT OFTEN EXTEND TO 14 OR 28 DAYS. DURING THIS TIME, THE CONCRETE
IS KEPT MOIST AND PROTECTED FROM RAPID DRYING TO ENSURE PROPER
HYDRATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF STRENGTH.

SLABS

SLABS, WHETHER SUSPENDED OR ON THE GROUND, REQUIRE A SIMILAR

CURING REGIMEN. THE STANDARD CURING PERIOD FOR SLABS RANGES FROM 7
TO 14 DAYS. MOIST CURING METHODS SUCH AS WET BURLAP, CURING
COMPOUNDS, OR CONTINUOUS SPRINKLING ARE EMPLOYED TO MAINTAIN THE
NECESSARY MOISTURE LEVELS.
 OTHER CONCRETE ELEMENTS LIKE WALLS, FOOTINGS, AND STRUCTURAL
MEMBERS FOLLOW COMPARABLE CURING PERIODS. THE SPECIFIC DURATION
MAY VARY BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, CONCRETE MIX DESIGN,
AND PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS.

THE PROCESS OF PROTECTING THE MOISTURE OF CONCRETE SURFACE AND

ENHANCING THE HYDRATION OF CEMENT IS KNOWN AS CURING. THE PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE TOTALLY DEPEND ON THE HYDRATION OF CEMENT.
IF CURING IS NOT DONE PROPERLY CONCRETE WILL BE FAILED TO ACQUIRE ITS
FULL STRENGTH. IMPROPER CURING MAY ALSO LEAD THE CONCRETE TO CRACK.
 PURPOSE OF CURING

I) TO COMPLETE THE HYDRATION PROCESS BETWEEN CEMENT AND WATER.

II) TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM STRENGTH OF CONCRETE.

III) TO PREVENT THE CONCRETE STRUCTURE FROM CRACKING.

SLUMP TEST
 CONCRETE SLUMP TEST OR SLUMP CONE TEST IS TO DETERMINE THE
WORKABILITY OR CONSISTENCY OF CONCRETE MIX PREPARED AT THE
LABORATORY OR THE CONSTRUCTION SITE DURING THE PROGRESS OF
THE WORK. CONCRETE SLUMP TEST IS CARRIED OUT FROM BATCH TO
BATCH TO CHECK THE UNIFORM QUALITY OF CONCRETE DURING
CONSTRUCTION. THE SLUMP TEST IS THE MOST SIMPLE WORKABILITY
TEST FOR CONCRETE, INVOLVES LOW COST AND PROVIDES IMMEDIATE
RESULTS.