WEEK 4 OBE- [CO1- PO2]

2.4 WATER USED IN

CONCRETE MIX

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CONTENTS COUSE OUTCOME & PROGRAM OUTCOME

LEARNING OUTCOME

PROPERTIES OF WATER

IMPURITIES IN WATER

SUITABILITY OF WATER

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 Course Outcomes

CO1 : Predict basic engineering material problems based on its

performance in civil engineering application. (C5)

CO2 : Demonstrate appropriate techniques and modern engineering

tools to civil engineering material problems. (P5)

CO3 : Perform knowledge and understanding of well-established

materials affectively. (A5)

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 PROGRAMME Outcomes
PO Programme Outcome Description
PO2 Identify and analyse well-defined engineering problems
reaching substantiated conclusions using codified methods of
analysis specific to their field of activity.

PO5 Apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern

engineering and IT tools to well-defined engineering problems,
with an awareness of the limitations.

PO11 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of engineering

management principles and apply these to one’s own work, as
a member or leader in a technical team and to manage projects
in multidisciplinary environments

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 Learning Outcomes
Understand & able to explain properties of water

Identify the impurities in water (quality or

condition of being impure)

Able to explain Suitability of water in concrete

mix.

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 INTRODUCTION
 Water is Important ingredient for concrete - to cause
hydration.
 The function of water in concrete mix:

To dampen the aggregate To lubricate the mixture of

from absorbing additional gravel, sand and cement
water. for placing.

Enable the chemical To make the mix workable

reaction that caused and easy to placed.
setting and hardening.

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IF THE WATER IS:
a) NOT ENOUGH

for hydration thus cement too dry and difficult to place.

b) TOO MUCH

cement weakened, less strength and durability.

i. more voids as the water evaporates, less density.
ii. will form a chalk powder layer on the surface of
concrete mix. Thus prevent proper bonding of the
next layer of concrete and creates a plane of
weakness.
iii. cement grout leak out from work–carry away cement
leaving sand and agg–cause ‘honeycomb’ in
concrete.
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HONEYCOMB IN CONCRETE
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 PROPERTIES OF WATER
Properties of water for concrete use are:
i. It should be free from oil.
ii. Free from acid, alkalis, or other organic
impurities.
iii. The pH value generally not less than 6.
iv. Free from iron, vegetable matter or any
other substance.
v. Salt water is not recommended because of
present of harmful salt.

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 IMPURITIES IN WATER
Salts in sea Silt or suspended
water particles
Industrial waste
water

Table 1.0 shows the adverse effect on compressive strength of

concrete due to various dissolved salts

% Salt in Water % Reduction of

Compressive strength
0.5 SO4 4
1.5 SO4 10
5.0 NaCl 30
- CO2 20
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 SALTS IN SEA WATER

Sea water containing 3.5% dissolved salt (78% of sodium

chloride, 15% chloride and magnesium sulphate) –
suitable for use as mixing water for unreinforcement
concrete.

 Concrete mix with sea water have higher early

strength but in later ages may be lower.
 Seawater is not suitable for concrete work due to:
salt will cause corrosion of reinforcement. Corroded
reinforcement expand causing more reinforcement
exposed to salt attack i.e. further of steel and
deterioration of concrete.

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 Salts reduce the ultimate
strength of concrete. Usually
10 – 20% in strength of
concrete at 28 days.
 Use of sea water will cause
dampness and surface
efflorescence.
 Sea water should not be used
for pre-stressed concrete work
– the effects of corrosion on
small cross section of wires are
more serious.

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 Industrial Wastewater

 The industrial waste water containing acids or alkalis.

 A typical sewage contains roughly 400 ppm( part per
million) (0.04%) of organic matter. After treatment
reduced to 20 ppm (0.002%) or less.

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 Silt or Suspended Particles

About 2000 ppm (0.2%) of suspended clay or fine rock

particles in mixing water.
 Algae can cause:
a) reduction in strength of concrete by:
i. Combine with cement to reduce bond
ii. Cause a large amount of air to be entrained
b) weakness of bond between aggregate and cement
paste.
c) large quantities of air entrained in the concrete, thus
lowering the strength of the concrete.

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 Sugar in amount:

i. <0.05% - generally no adverse effect.

ii. 0.03 – 0.15% - retard the setting of cement.
ii. 0.20% - setting is accelerated.
iii. >0.25% - rapid setting may result and a
marked reduction in 28 days strength.

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 Limits of Permissible Impurities.

Types of impurities Permissible % of solids

by weight of water

Organic 0.02

Inorganic 0.30

Sulphates 0.05

Alkali Chlorides
a. Plain concrete 0.20
b. Reinforced concrete 0.10

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 SUITABILITY OF WATER
 Specification test on water for making concrete
obtained in BS 3148:1959 or MS7.3:1971
 Suitability of water for making concrete
can be categorized into :
a) Treated water.
b) Water from natural sources.
 Natural water carries suspended matter (clay silt,
leaves, wood or oil).
 Common types of testing water for concrete are:-
a) Initial Setting Time Test.
b) Compressive Strength Test.

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 Setting Time for Different Type of Cement

Cement British Min. Initial For this test

Standard setting time Initial Setting
(min) time (min)
Ordinary Portland BS 12 45 75
cement (OPC)
Low Heat Portland BS 1370 60 90
Cement (LHPC)
Blast Furnace slag BS 146 45 75
Portland cement
(BFPC)
High Alumina BS 915 120 150
cement (HAPC)

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