Highway Research & Training Center

1
Introduction to concrete materials, cement,
aggregates and admixtures

Dr. Wasim Khaliq

 Portland Cement

Functions and Requirements

 Provides Cementing Action

 In Plastic Form
– provides Workability
 In hardened Form
– provides Strength to Concrete
 Manufacture

• Quarried Stone
• Primary Crusher
• Conveyer
• Second Crusher
• Mix and Heat in the Kiln
– melts all components
– drives the water out
– fuses the ingredients
 Portland Cement
Chemical Composition
 Dark Gray Powder
– Calcium Carbonate
– Silica
– Alumina
– Iron Oxide
– Gypsum (Calcium Sulphate)
Typical Oxide Composition
Portland Cement
Typical Composition
Portland Cement
Portland Cement
Portland Cement
 Portland Cement

 Type I General Purpose

 Type II Moderate Sulphate Resistance
 Type III High Early Strength
 Type IV Low Heat of Hydration
 Type V Sulphate Resistance
 Portland Cement
Type I General Purpose
Type II Moderate Sulphate Resistance
Type III High Early Strength
Type IV Low Heat of Hydration
Type V Sulphate Resistance
Portland Cement
 Cement

Hydration

 Hydration of cement is the key to concrete’s performance

in terms of durability and strength
– Hydration of Calcium Silicates
– Hydration of Calcium Aluminates
– Nature of Hydration Products
– Factors (Gypsum, Temperature, Admixtures….)
Portland Cement
Portland Cement
 Portland Cement

On Mixing 6 hours

After 7 Days After 1 Year

Portland Cement

1 micron = 1000th of mm
1 Angstroms (Å) = 10-10m
Portland Cement
Portland Cement
 Portland Cement

• Cement = 100g
• S.G of Cement = 3.15
• w/c = 0.42

• Non evap water = 23%

• Char porosity = 28%
 Portland Cement

Threshold w/c = 0.38

Aggregates
 Aggregate - Functions and Requirements

• Coarse Aggregate
– Inert Filler (Economy)
– Provide Volume Stability
– Reduce Volume Changes
– Provide Abrasion Resistance
• Fine Aggregate
– also assists in Workability
 Types of Aggregate

• Coarse Retained on Sieve No. 4 (4.75mm)

Passing Sieve No. 4 (4.75mm) and Retained on

• Fine
No. 200 (0.075mm)

Importance: Porosity, Grading and size distribution, moisture

absorption, shape and surface texture, crushing strength,
elastic modulus and type of deleterious substance present
Gs >2.8 Gs = 2.6 Gs < 2.4
 Aggregate from Rock

• Any single rock type could be

– porous or dense
– strong or weak
– hard or soft
– decayed or unweathered
– durable or unsound
– fine or coarse-grained
• Type of Rock does not determine the type of required
aggregate
Granite
Basalt
Limestone
Dolomite
Sandstone
Conglomerate
Breccia
Shale
Marble
Slate
Quartzite
Schist
Gneiss
 Aggregate Requirements
Contradictory Requirements for
• Strength
– its own strength
– bond with cement
• Workability
– What to do ?
– Which is Preferable ?

• “Workability”
• “Good Compaction without Segregation”
Gaps are filled with Sand + Cement
Shape of Aggregate
 Shape of Aggregate
• Importance
– Workability
• Fine aggregate has greater role
– Strength ?
– Economy
• Rules
– equi-dimensional (cubical, rounded) aggregate are
desirable, ball bearing effect!!
– flaky and elongated are never desirable, maximum
permissible limits if unavoidable
– Angularity Number (0-10), 0 for perfect sphere, 5 for
typical gravel, and 10 for crushed aggregate
Shape of Aggregate
Angularity of Aggregate
Porosity, Sp. Gr. & Water Abs.
Admixtures
Admixtures
Mineral Admixtures
By Products
Pozzolanic Reaction
Blast Furnace Slag
Pozzolans – Effect on Strength
Chemical Admixtures
Admixtures Effect
Use of Chemical Admixtures
Air Entrainment