‘CONCRETE AND OTHER CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS

THE CONSTITUENT MATERIALS OF CONCRETE ARE:

1. CEMENT
2. AGGREGATES
3. WATER
THESE INGREDIENTS ARE MIXED TOGETHER AND MOLDED INTO DESIRED SIZE AND SHAPE WHILE THE MIXTURE IS
STILL WET. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF MIXING, THE CEMENT AND WATER BEGIN TO UNDERGO A CHEMICAL
REACTION REFERRED TO AS HYDRATION. THIS REACTION, WHICH CONTINUES WITH TIME, PRODUCES A HARD,
STRONG, AND DURABLE MATERIAL CALLED HARDENED CONCRETE OR MERELY CONCRETE.

TYPES OF CEMENT.
I. HYDRAULIC CEMENT- IS ANY CEMENT THAT TURNS INTO SOLID PRODUCT IN THE PRESENCE OF WATER
( AS WELL AS AIR), RESULTING IN A MATERIAL THAT DOES NOT DISINTEGRATE IN WATER.

a. NATURAL CEMENT- IS OBTAINED BY BURNING ARGILLACEOUS(CLAYEY) OR MAGNESIUM

LIMESTONE (CALLED CEMENT ROCK) HAVING THE PROPER CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND
WITHOUT THE ADDITION OF ANY OTHER MATERIAL, AND GRINDING THE RESULTING CLINKER.
- SLOW HARDENING CEMENT
b. BLENDED CEMENT- CONSIST OF INTERGROUND BLENDS OF PORTLAND CEMENT CLINKERS AND FLY
ASH, NATURAL OR CALCINED POZZOLAN, OR SLAG, WITHIN THE CONSTITUENT LIMITS SPECIFIED.
- HAVE A HIGHER RESISTANCE AGAINST ALKALIS, REACTIVE AGGREAGTES,
AND SEAWATER.
- THEY HYDRATE SLOWLY AND THE RATE OF GAIN IN STRENGTH IS LOWER
THAN THAT OF ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT.

c. PORTLAND POZZOLAN AND POZZOLAN CEMENT

POZZOLAN – IS A NATURAL OR ARTIFICAIL PRODUCT COMPOSED CHIEFLY OF LIME, SILICA,
OR ALUMINA.IN A FINELY DIVIDED FORM IT REACTS WITH LIME IN THE CEMENT PASTE TO
FORM A HYDRAULIC PRODUCT.
PORTLAND POZZOLAN CEMENT- IS PRODUCED BY INTIMATELY BLENDING PORTLAND
CEMENT WITH A POZZOLAN.
• HAS A LOWER HEAT HYDRATION AND LOWER THERMAL SHRINKAGE THAN ORDINARY
CEMENT.
• IT IS BEST SUITED FOR MASSIVE STRUCTURES LIKE DAMS, PIERS, AND FOOTINGS.
 • CONCRETE MADE WITH THIS CEMENT HAS BETTER WATERTIGHTNESS
AND IMPROVED RESISTANCE TO SULFATE ATTACK.

ASTM C 595 IDENTIFIES TWO TYPES OF PORTLAND POZZOLAN CEMENT:

TYPE IP---FOR USE IN GENERAL CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
TYPE P---FOR USE WHERE HIGH STRENGTH AT EARLY AGE IS NOT
REQUIRED.

d. PORTLAND BLAST-FURNACE SLAG CEMENT

- CONSISTS OF INTIMATE AND UNIFORM BLEND OF
PORTLAND CEMENT AND FINE GRANULATED BLAST-
FURNACE SLAG.
- BLAST-FURNACE SLAG-IS A NONMETTALIC PRODUCT,
CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF SILICATES AND
ALUMINOSILICATES OF CALCIUM AND OTHER BASES,
WHICH IS DEVELOPED, IN A MOLTEN CONDITION,
SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH IRON IN A BLAST FURNACE.
- THE AMOUNT OF SLAG---25% - 70% OF THE TOTAL WEIGHT
OF THE CEMENT.
e. SLAG CEMENT – CONSISTING MOSTLY OF AN INTIMATE AND UNIFORM BLEND OF
GRANULATED BLAST-FURNACE SLAG WITH PORTLAND CEMENT OR HYDRAULIC
LIME OR BOTH. THE AMOUNT OF SLAG IS AT LEAST 70% OF THE WEIGHT OF THE
SLAG CEMENT.

f. WHITE CEMENT – IS A CEMENT SUITABLE FOR EXPOSED AGGREGATE FINISHES AND

FOR MAKING COLORED CEMENTS WITH PIGMENT ADDITION. THE WHITE COLOR IS
ACHIEVED BY NEARLY ELIMINATING THE IRON CONTENT FROM ORDINARY
PORTLAND CEMENT.
 g. MASONRY CEMENT- CONTAINS A FINELY DIVIDED MATERIAL SUCH AS LIME OR
GROUND LIMESTONE AND AIR-ENTRAINING AGENT, MIXED WITH PORTLAND
CEMENT.

h. PLASTIC CEMENT- IS A MIXTURE OF APPROXIMATELY 96% PORTLAND CEMENT AND

PLASTICIZING AND AIR-ENTRAINING AGENTS. IT IS USED PRIMARILY FOR EXTERIOR
PLASTER AND SATISFIES THE DURABILITY AND HARDNESS REQUIREMENTS FOR
EXPOSED SURFACES.

i. HIGH-ALUMINA CEMENT – ALSO CALLED CALCIUM ALUMINATE CEMENT.

- IS PRODUCED BY BURNING LIMESTONE AND BAUXITE, AND

CONTAINS SINTERED CALCIUM ALUMINATE
(MONOCALCIUM ALUMINATE, CA)
- THE AMOUNT OF ALUMINA (Al2O3)--- 40%.
- HIGH ALUMINA CEMENT GAINS STRENGHT VERY QUICKLY
AND HAS REFRACTORY PROPERTIES.
- CONCRETE MADE THIS CEMENT SHOULD BE KEPT COOL
DURING THE INITIAL PERIOD AFTER MIXING TO LIMIT THE
HEAT OF HYDRATION.
- STRENGTH LOSS CAN BE DECREASED BY USING LOW
WATER TO CEMENT RATIO.
II. NONHYDRAULIC CEMENT
a. LIME – GENERALLY REFERS TO QUICKLIME OR CALCIUM OXIDE, IS OBTAINED BY
BURNING LIMESTONE, OR CALCIUM CARBONATE, AT A TEMPERATURE IN EXCESS
OF 900 DEGREES CELSIUS.
b. GYPSUM – ASLO CALLED CALCIUM SULFATE DIHYDRATE.
VARIOUS CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS.

Coarse aggregate

Fine aggregates

Cement

Grout
Mortar
Concrete
Shotcrete

Water

Admixture

Lime

USES OF CONCRETE:
IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE:
A. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
B. DURABILITY AND FREEZE-THAW RESISTANCE
C. WEAR RESISTANCE
D. IMPERMEABILITY
E. ABRASION RESISTANCE
F. RESISTANCE TO ENVIRONMENTAL ATTACKS (FROM SEAWATER, SULFATES IN SOIL,
AND SO ON).
BUT NOT ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE IMPORTANT FOR EVERY APPLICATION, BUT MOST ARE.
FOR EXAMPLE:
I. BUILDING A LIQUID-RETAINING STRUCTURE LIKE STORAGE TANK OR DAM
• PRIMARY REQUIREMENTS:
IMPERMEABILITY, RESISTANCE TO CHEMICAL ATTACKS FROM LIQUIDS AND
WEATHER RESISTANCE.
II. NONSTRUCTURAL APPLICATIION-BUILDING FACADES, AND SIGN WALLS
• REQUIREMENTS:
ADEQUATE THERMAL RESISTANCE, LIGHT WEIGHT, AND PLEASING
APPEARANCE.
WOOD AND STEEL – which deteriorate through contact with moisture.
CONCRETE ---POSSESSES EXCELLENT RESISTANCE TO WATER.

PORTLAND CEMENT:
3 PRIMARY CONSTITUENTS OF THE RAW MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PORTLAND CEMENT:
1. LIME (CaO)
2. SILICA (SiO2)
3. ALUMINA (Al2O3)

LIME – IS DERIVED FROM LIMESTONE OR CHALK; SILICA AND ALUMINA FROM CLAY, SHALE, OR BAUXITE.
MOST RAW MATERIALS CONTAIN SMALL AMOUNTS OF IRON OXIDE (from iron ore or clay), MAGNESIA,
SULFUR TRIOXIDE, ALKALIS, AND CARBON DIOXIDDE.
IRON ORE- ALSO FUNCTIONS AS A FLUX, LOWERING THE CLINKERING TEMPERATURE.
FINENESS
---- RELATES TO THE SIZE OF THE CEMENT GRAINS. IT IS CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE ON THE BEHAVIOR OF
CEMENT DURING HYDRATION, AND CAN BE MEASURED FROM THE PERCENTAGE OF PARTICLES THAT PASS
A NO. 200 SIEVE (75µm).
----IS COMMONLY ESTABLISHED BY MEASURING THE SPECIFIC SURFACE, OR SURFACE AREA PER UNIT MASS
(m2/kg).
REFERENCE: ASTM C115 AND ASTM C204
--- AFFECTS PRIMARILY THE HYDRATION OF CEMENT. THE RATE OF HYDRATION INCREASES WITH
INCREASING FINENESS, WHICH INCREASES THE RATE OF STRENGTH DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION OF
HEAT.
--- FINER CEMENTS SHOW HIGHER EARLY AGE STRENGTH AND INCREASED WORKABILITY (IN LOW CEMENT-
CONTENT MIXTURES), THEY CONTRIBUTE TO EXCESSIVE CRACKING AND LOWER THE RESISTANCE TO
FREEZING AND THAWING.
--- INCREASES IN FINENESS DECREASES THE AMOUNT OF BLEEDING, BUT INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF
WATER REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF WORKABILITY.

STRENGHT OF CEMENT
REFERENCE: ASTM C109
THE HIGHER STRENGTH CEMENT ENHANCES THE OVERALL STRENTH OF THE CONCRETE.
TYPE 3 DAYS 7 DAYS
TYPE I 1800 psi (12.4MPa) 2800 psi (19.3 MPa)
TYPE II 1500 psi (10.3 MPa) 2500 psi (17.2 MPa)
TYPE III 3500 psi (24.1MPa)

TYPE I PORTLAND CEMENT MANUFACTURED IN THE US.

3500 psi (24.1MPa) --------- 3 DAYS
4500 psi (31.1MPa) -------- 7 DAYS
5300 psi (36.6MPa) ------- 28 DAYS

NORMAL CONSISTENCY OF CEMENT

REFERENCE: ASTM C187
---- IS A PROPERTY USED TO ESTABLISH THE SETTING PROPERTIES OF CEMENT.
A PASTE IS SAID TO HAVE NORMAL CONSISTENCY WHEN THE PLUNGER PENETRATES 10±1 mm BELOW
THE ORIGINAL SURFACE IN 30.0 s. THE AMOUNT OF WATER REQUIRED, EXPRESSED AS A PERCENT OF THE
DRY WEIGHT OF CEMENT, IS THE WATER CEMENT RATIO OF NORMAL CONSISTENCY, AND RANGES
BETWEEN 24% – 33 % FOR MOST BRAND OF CEMENT.
HYDRATION
• DRY PORTLAND CEMENT DOES NOT POSSESS THE CEMENTING OR BINDING
PROPERTY, FOR IT IS A HYDRAULIC MATERIAL.
• IS THE KEY FOR STRENGTH DEVELOPMENT IN CONCRETE
• THE STRENGTH DEVELOPMENT OF CEMENT IS A FUNCTION OF TIME AND
TEMPERATURE.
• SETTING
• When cement is mixed with sufficient water the resulting paste its plasticity
and then slowly forms into a hard rock.
• In a favorable environment, within one or two hours after the mixing of
cement and water the sticky paste loses its fluidity; within a few hours after
mixing, noticeable stiffening commences.
Two stages:
1. Initial set – when the paste is beginning to stiffen
2. Final set – when it is beginning to harden and able to sustain some loads.
Initial setting time- the time lapse from the addition of water to the mix to the initial set.
Final Setting time – time required for the cement paste to withstand a certain arbitrary pressure.
The needle penetrates the surface.
TYPE I CEMENT – THE INITIAL AND FINAL SETTING TIMES ARE ABOUT 2 – 4 H AND 5 -8 H RESPECTIVELY.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT SETTING TIME:
1. FINENESS OF CEMENT
2. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
3. STORAGE CONDITIONS
4. AMOUNT OF WATER
5. AMBIENT CONDITIONS – HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE
THE FINER THE CEMENT, THE FASTER THE RATE OF SETTING AND ALSO HYDRATION.
FLASH SET – IS DEFINED AS THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF PERMANENT RIGIDITY OF THE CEMENT PASTE-
ALONG WITH HIGH HEAT.
FALSE SET – THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF RIGIDITY WITHOUT THE EVOLUTION OF HEAT.
 • HARDENING
• IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRENGTH OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME –
IS NOT COMPLETED FOR MONTHS OR YEARS.
• HARDENING OF CONCRETE IS THE NET OUTCOME OF HYDRATION.
• THE RATE OF HYDRATION OF CEMENT DEPENDS ON :
o RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF SILICATES AND ALUMINATES
o FINENESS
o AMBIENT CONDITIONS
HEAT OF HYDRATION
• HYDRATION OF PORTLAND CEMENT IS AN EXOTHERMIC REACTION. THE
AMOUNT OF HEAT GENERATED, OR THE HEAT OF HYDRATION (BRINGS ABOUT
RISE IN CONCRETE TEMPERATURE- REACHES A MAXIMUM AT 2 TO 4 DAYS
AFTER CASTING AND STAYS RELATIVELY LOW BEYOND SOME 14 DAYS),
DEPENDS ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSTION OF THE CEMENT, FINENESS AND
THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.