Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Construction Materials
Course Instructor
Prof. Chi-sun Poon
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Course Layout
Concrete (10 weeks)
Module I. Introduction and Basic Concepts
Definition
Advantages of concrete as a construction material
Comparison between structural concrete and steel
Types of structural concrete (Plain concrete, Reinforced cement concrete,
Prestressed concrete)
Constituent materials of concrete – a brief introduction (cement,
aggregates, water and admixtures)
Production of concrete – a brief review
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Module II. Cement (contd.)
Hydration of cement
Types of Portland cement
Tests to evaluate physical and mechanical properties of cement
2
Module VI. Testing of Hardened Concrete
Compressive strength tests
- Destructive tests (Cube test, Cylinder test, Core test)
- Non-destructive tests (Rebound hammer, Penetration resistance,
Pull- out, Ultrasonic Pulse velocity)
Tensile strength test
Flexural test (modulus of rupture)
Bond strength test
3
Module X. Durability of Concrete
Permeability of concrete
Sulphate attack
Attack by sea water
Acid attack
Alkali-aggregate reaction
Corrosion of reinforcement
Text Book
A.M. Neville and J.J. Brooks. 1990. “Concrete Technology”. Longman and
Hall, London.
Reference Books
A.M. Neville. 1995. “Properties of Concrete”. Longman and Hall, London.
J.F. Young; S. Mindless; R.J. Gray; and A. Bentur. 1998. “The Science and
Technology of Civil Engineering Materials”. Prentice-Hall International Inc.,
New York.
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Steel (3 weeks)
Module I. Introduction and Basic Concepts
Definition
Advantages of steel construction
Chemical composition of steel
Steel production mechanism
Types of structural steel
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Text Book
G.W. Owens; P.R. Knowles; and P.J. Dowling. 1992. “Steel Designers
Manual (5th Edition)”. Blackwell Scientific Publications, London.
Reference Books
C.G. Salmon and J.E. Johnson. 1980. “Steel Structures (2nd Edition)”. Harper
& Row, Publishers, New York.
J.F. Young; S. Mindless; R.J. Gray; and A. Bentur. 1998. “The Science and
Technology of Civil Engineering Materials”. Prentice-Hall International Inc.,
Newyork.
Assessment Method
• 70% Examination
• 30% Coursework
Course Work
• Laboratory report/project 20%
• E‐learning quizzes 10%
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Course Handouts http://www.cse.polyu.edu.hk/~cecspoon/
Downloading Handouts
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Handouts
Login: cspoon
Password: con786
7
Concrete
Concrete is a stone-like composite material prepared by careful
proportioning of cement, aggregates and water mixed in a suitable
manner to give the required physical and mechanical properties.
Cement
Aggregates Concrete
Water
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Advantages of Concrete as a Construction Material
• Cheapest and most readily available constituent materials.
• Easiness to give any structural shape and size.
• Easy and cheap maintenance.
• Excellent resistance to water which makes it suitable for the
construction of water retaining structures like dams,
aqueducts, pipe lines etc.
• Excellent fire resistance properties.
• Less requirement of skilled labor.
• Energy saving and environment friendly.
NERGY-SAVING
NGINEERING PROPERTIES
CONOMICAL
COLOGICAL
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Comparison of the Properties of Structural Materials
Materials Density Ultimate Strength Modulus of Elasticity Failure
(kg/m3) (MPa) (GPa)
• Fire Resistance
• Resistance to Cyclic Loading
The fatigue strength of steel structures is greatly influenced by local
stress fields in welded joints, corrosion pittings and sudden changes
in geometry while concrete structures have no such problems.
Till 1996, the fatigue failure of concrete structures was only 10% of
the steel structures.
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Advantages of Concrete over Steel Structures
• Vibration Damping
Better damping resistance due to greater self weight.
• Control of Deflections
For the same span, deflection in concrete structures are less due to rigid
shape and greater moment of inertia by forming deep hollow sections.
• Ease of Production
Constituent materials easily available. No need of any complex plant.
Energy Considerations
Production of 1 ton of
concrete saves 82%
energy as compared
to similar capacity
steel structure.
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Advantages of Concrete over Steel Structures
Ecological Considerations
Brittle
Ductile
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Types of Concrete
Based upon Weight
• Normal Weight Concrete
Density = 2400 kg/m3
Prepared by natural sand and gravel or crushed-rock aggregates.
Types of Concrete
Based upon Strength
• Normal Strength Concrete
Compressive Strength = 20 - 40 MPa
Used in all sorts of ordinary construction works.
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Types of Concrete
Based upon Structural Action
• Plain Cement Concrete (P.C.C.)
Essentially consists of cement, aggregates, water and/or admixtures.
Used for non-structural applications like base for foundations and
pavements, shotcreting etc.
P.C.C
Types of Concrete
Based upon Structural Action
• Reinforced Cement Concrete (R.C.C.)
A concrete usually containing steel bars and is designed on the
assumption that the two materials act together in resisting forces.
Used in all structural applications like beams, columns, piles etc.
R.C.C
steel
steel
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Types of Concrete
Based upon Structural Action
• Prestressed Concrete (P.C.)
A concrete in which by tensioning steel tendons, prestress of such
magnitude and distribution is introduced that the tensile stresses resulting
from the service loads are counteracted to a desired degree.
Used for girders of long span bridges, large roof slab where large
deflections are a problem.
Steel tendon
P.C.
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Fabrication of Prestressed Concrete
Post-tensioning
In post-tensioning, the pre-stressing is done after the casting the beam.
During the casting, a hollow conduit is placed at the specific position to
contain pre-stressing strands. Once the beam has acquired sufficient
strength, the pre-stressing tendon is passed through the conduit.
Usually, one end of the pre-stressing tendon is anchored, and all the
force is applied at the other end. After attainment of the desired amount
of pre-stress force, the tendon is wedged against the concrete and the
jacking equipment is removed.
Pull the steels after adding concrete
Constituent
Materials
of Concrete
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Conventional Concrete
Cement
Aggregates Concrete
Water
Moder n Concrete
Cement
Aggregates
Concrete
Admixtures
Water
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Cement
A powdered mixture of calcareous (lime) and argillaceous (clay)
minerals, burned at a clinckering temperature and finely grinded upon
cooling.
Aggregates
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Classification of Aggregates
• Coarse Aggregates
All those particles which are larger than 4.75 mm (retained on No. 4
sieve). The size usually varies between 4.75-50 mm. They form
around 55%-70% of the total aggregate mass.
• Fine Aggregates
Particles smaller than 4.75 mm (passed through No. 4 sieve). Their
size usually varies between 4.75 mm - 75m (No. 200 sieve). They
form around 30%-45% of the total aggregate mass.
Fine Coarse
Admixtures
Admixtures are mineral or organic substances which are added to
change or improve all/some of the properties of concrete in fresh
or hardened state. They are usually added during concrete mixing
and can be distinguished from Additives which are added at the
cement manufacturing stage.
Types of Admixtures
• Accelerators
• Set-retarders
• Water-reducers or Superplasticizers
• Mineral Admixtures or Pozzolans
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Accelerators
They are added to accelerate the hardening or the development of
early strength of concrete. Accelerators are commonly used in
emergency repairs or in under-water concrete works.
Set-retarders
These are admixtures which delay the setting of concrete.
Retarders are useful when concreting in hot weather, when the
normal setting time is shortened by the higher temperature, and in
preventing the formation of cold joints between successive lifts.
Superplasticizers
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Mineral Admixtures/Pozzolans
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Water
• The quality of mixing water is very important as impurities in it
may interfere with the setting of the cement, may adversely
affect the strength of the concrete or cause staining of its
surface, and may also lead to corrosion of the reinforcement.
• The water fit for drinking is considered to be suitable for
concrete making and curing.
• In mixing water, the amount of dissolved solids should not be
more than 2000 ppm (preferably less than 1000 ppm) and it
should not have any color or odor.
• Sea water or any other water containing large amount of
chlorides or other alkalis should be avoided.
Production of Concrete
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Weighing of Materials Removal of Formworks
Ready-mixed concrete
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In-situ Concrete Production
Disadvantages
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Ready Mixed Concrete Production
Disadvantages
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Questions/Queries ???
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