Aggregate

The aggregates used for ordinary concrete can be divided into two types by their sizes. The one whose
diameter is more than 4.75mm is called coarse aggregate, and the one whose diameter is less than
4.75mm is called fine aggregate. The fine aggregates used in ordinary concrete generally are the natural
sand which comes into being when the natural rock (excluding soft rock and weathered rock) has
experienced natural weathering, water transportation, sorting, and stacking and other kinds of natural
conditions; the machine-made sand (is made by grinding and sorting by machine, and the diameter of
the rock particles is less than 4.75mm, except the particles of soft rock and weathered rock.) through
de-dust treatment and the mixed sand (made by mixing machine-made sand and natural sand) are
collectively call manufactured sand. According to different sources, natural sand can be divided into
river sand, sea sand, mountain sand and desalted sea sand.

Mud and Clod Content

The mud content refers to the total amount of the dust, silt and clay whose diameters are smaller than
0.075mm in aggregates. The clod content refers to the content of particles whose diameters are more
than 1.18mm and become less than 0.60mm after being washed by water and pinched by hand in the
fine aggregates; or the content of the particles whose diameters are more than 4.75mm and become
less than 2.36mm after being washed by water and pinched by hand in coarse aggregates. The stone
dust content means the content of the particles with diameters less than 0.075mm. The mud particles in
aggregates are very fine that can adhere to the surface of aggregates, which will impact the bond force
between cement paste and Sand Stone Sand Stone. And clays will become the vulnerable parts in
concrete, which will have a big impact on the quality of concrete.

The harmful substances in aggregate mainly refer to sulfides, sulfate, organic matter, mica, chloride,
clay, light substances, and so on. Clay and light substances (coal and slag, etc.) will adhere to the surface
of aggregate, which impacts the cohesiveness between aggregate and cement and reduces the frostresistance and impermeability; sulfides, sulfate and organic matter will be corrosive to cement, which
will decreases the strength and durability of cement; chloride will corrode steel, which accelerates the
damage of reinforced concrete.

Gradation and Coarseness

The aggregate gradation refers to the collocation distribution of particles with different diameters. Good
gradation will not only reduce the amount of cement but also improve density, intensity and other
properties of concrete.

Water for Concrete

The basic quality requirements for the water used in concrete should: not contain any harmful
impurities impacting the normal setting and hardening of cement; not destroy the development of
strength and durability of concrete; not speed up steel corrosion; not cause brittle fracture of prestressed steel bars; and assure that the surface of concrete cannot be polluted.