Properties and Application of

High Strength Concrete

CE -6118

Lecture 2
(Considerations in Achieving HSC)

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Two major components – cement paste and

aggregates.
 HSC is a composite consisting of aggregates
enclosed in a matrix of cement paste with possible
pozzolans.
 In order to achieve high compressive strength, it is
important to understand the following factors:

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Considerations in Achieving HSC

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Is a function of its w/c ratio

 Reduction in w/c ratio, the cementitious
particles are initially closer together results in
less capillary porosity in the hardened paste
and hence a greater strength.
 Commercially available HSCs have free w/c
ratios as low as 0.22.
 Superplasticizers is used to make workable
concretes at very low w/c ratios.
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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 The effect of the porosity within the paste

 Reduced capillary porosity favors the
formation of fine-textured hydration products
that have a higher strength.
 The hydration of the cementitious particles
within the paste is sufficient to ‘glue’ together
the unhydrated cores of the particles and to
reduce the interstitial porosity between these
hydrated particles.

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 The capillary porosity can also be reduced to

increase the potential packing density.
 The particle size distribution of the crystalline
phases, and
 The presence of inhomogeneities within the
hydrated paste that must be considered in
detail.

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Concrete failed either with the paste or at the

interface between the paste and the CA particles.
 If the transition zone is weak, the strength of the
concrete will not increase.
 Reducing the w/p ratio and adding of silica fume
reduce width and improves strength of zone.
 Conversion of Ca(OH)2 to C-S-H by silica fume is
reduced bleeding within the paste also reduces
the potential for accumulation of water around
aggregate particles.
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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 When the transition zone between the paste

and the aggregate is improved the transfer of
stresses from the paste to the aggregate
particles becomes more effective.
 Fracture surfaces in HSC often pass through
aggregate particles rather than around them.
 Crushed rock aggregates are generally
preferred as the strength of the transition
zone is weakened by smooth aggregates.
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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 The greater mechanical bond can develop with

angular particles.
 Accentuated angularity is to be avoided
because of the attendant high water
requirement and reduced workability.
 The ideal CA for HSC should be clean, cubical,
angular, 100% crushed with a minimum of flat
and elongated particles.
 Gradation of CA within ASTM limits makes very
little difference in strength of HSC.
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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 It is common practice to use smaller particles

(10–14 mm nominal size) for HSC.
 During the crushing process, aggregate particles
may be severely micro-cracked and the number
of micro-cracks will be greater in larger particles.
 Small aggregate particles contain less internal
flaws and hence produce a higher strength.
 Strength increases by the reduction in average
bond stress due to the increased surface area of
the individual aggregate.
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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Smaller aggregate also produce higher concrete

strengths due to less severe concentrations of
stress around the particles.
 The selection of appropriate sources is much
more critical for HSC than conventional.
 The properties of the aggregate are decisive for
the compressive strength and MoE of HSC.

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Fine aggregates (FA) for HSC should be selected

to reduce the water demand.
 FA with a rounded particle shape and smooth
texture require less mixing water in concrete.
 The gradings curve of the fine aggregate should
be smooth and free of gap grading to optimize
the water demand.
 It is accepted practice to utilize slightly coarser
gradings of FA.

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Lower FM of FA can give a sticky consistency and less

workable concrete with greater water demand.
 Sand with a FM of about 3.0 is usually preferred for
HSC. The reasons are as follows:

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Strength development of concrete will depend on both

cement characteristic and cement content.
 OPC is preferable as some cements are particularly
coarsely ground which is unsuitable for HSC.
 Low-C3A cements generally produce concrete with
improved rheology.
 Necessary to study carefully the cement composition
and fineness and its compatibility with the chemical
admixtures.
 All cements should comply with appropriate national or
international standards.
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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Silica fume is almost ubiquitous in HSC which

facilitates the achievement of high strength
without excessive cement contents.
 To be effective it should always be used in
conjunction with a superplasticizer.
 It is usually incorporated into concrete at 5–15
per cent by weight of total binder.
 PFA and GGBS also used successfully together
with Portland cement and silica fume.

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 The reasons for use include improvements in

pumping performance and reducing in heat
evolution.
 The use of metakaolin (a highly reactive
pozzolan) has also been proposed for HSC
although not yet used very extensively.

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 The single most important variable in

achieving HSC is the water-cement ratio.
 Usually preferred range of 0.22 to 0.40, and
their 28 days compressive strength is about
60 to 130 MPa.

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 The role of admixtures is much more significant in

HSC as lower w/c ratio is used.
 Admixtures include air entraining agents and
chemical and mineral admixtures.
 The dosage rates of the superplasticizers can be
very high (up to 3 per cent by weight of cement)
in order to achieve the required workability.
 Generally a saturation dosage of superplasticizers
above which no further increase in workability will
occur.
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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Chemical admixtures (high–range water reducer)

increase concrete strength by reducing the mixing
water requirement for a constant slump
 Dispersing cement particles, with or without a change
in mixing water content, permitting more efficient
hydration.
 Finely divided mineral admixtures, consisting mainly
of fly ash and silica fume (SF), and slag cement has
been widely used in HSC.

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 When adding fly ash during concrete production, the

workability is normally improved due to the
‘lubricating’ effect of the spherical particles.
 SF is a by-product of the melting process used to
produce silicon metal and ferrosilicon alloys.
 The main characteristics of SF are its high content of
amorphous SiO2 ranging from 85 to 98%, mean
particle size of 0.1 – 0.2 micron (approximately 100
times smaller than the average cement particle) and
its spherical shape.
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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Because of its extreme fineness and high silica

content, SF is a highly effective pozzolanic material.
 The SF reacts pozzolanically with the lime during the
hydration of cement to form the stable cementitious
compound calcium silicate hydrate (CSH).
 Normal SF content ranges from 5 to 15 percent of
Portland cement

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 Considerations in Achieving HSC

 Usually, water for concrete is specified to be of

potable quality.
 Test concrete should be made with the water and
compared with concrete made with distilled water, or
it may be more convenient to make ASTM C 109
mortar cubes.
 Specimens should be tested in compression at 7 and
28 days. If those made with the water in question are
at least equal to 90 percent of the compressive
strength of the specimens made with distilled water,
the water then can be considered acceptable.
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Considerations in Achieving HSC

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Considerations in Achieving HSC

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