I.

ALTERNATIVES TO CONVENTIONAL CONCRETE

A. Lightweight Concrete
 28-day compressive strength of 17 MPa (2500 psi) and an air-dried unit weight of less
than 1850 kg/m3
 Decision to use is based on economics of structure - tradeoff between extra cost for
lightweight concrete and reduced dead weight
 Lightweight aggregates are used.
o Non-structural applications include Styrofoam "aggregates" used for insulation

 PROS:
 Increased strength due to internal curing
 Improved durability
 Decreased shrinkage cracking due to greater moisture retention
 Reduced weight on structural elements
 Superior fire resistance
 Reduced time and cost of labor
 Easier transportation

 CONS:
 The main disadvantage is a slower drying time, which means that contractors of
flooring systems have to wait longer to proceed with flooring installation.
 Highly absorptive and can make determination of a water-cement ratio
problematical
 Tend to segregate by floating to the surface. Therefore a minimum slump mix,
with air entraining, is used to mitigate this effect

B. Heavyweight Concrete
 Uses: Radiation shielding in nuclear power plants, medical units, and atomic research
test facilities
 Produced by the use of heavy aggregates
o Natural or man-made
o Examples include barite, magnetite, hematite, geothite, illmenite, and
ferrophophorus
o Specific gravity ranges from 3.4 to 6.5

Use of a higher proportion of sand can help.

Problem can also be avoided by pre-placing aggregate, then filling the voids with cement
grout.

 PROS:
 Minimize sounds and vibrations
 It is a high density concrete
 Free from cracks and honey combing
 Free from air voids
 The shrinkage is low
 CONS:
 Workability can be problematic due to heavier mass.
  Allowance must be made in the curing method for the high heat development
due to large mass of the structure.

C. High-strength Concrete
 Contains normal-weight aggregate, fc' > 6,000 psi, up to 12,000 psi
 Produced by using low w/c ratio.
Superplasticizers is used to regain workability

 Primary use: skyscrapers

 Costs in general, is determined by the amount of cement used in the mix

 PROS:
 Reduced member size give more space and less weight
 Compressive strength have been documented at 12,000 psi and greater
 CONS:
 increased quality control is needed in order to maintain the special properties
desired. High-strength concrete must meet high-performance standards
consistently in order for it to be effective.
 low water to cementitious materials ratios require special curing requirements.
 allowable stress design discourages the use of high-strength concrete.
 minimum cover over reinforcement or minimum thickness of members may
restrict the realization of maximum benefits.

D. Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
Use of Reinforcing Fibers
 Secondary reinforcement of PC concrete
 Steel reinforcing fibers were predominantly used since the 80's
o Nylon
o Polypropylene
o Other materials
Polypropylene predominant today due to it is resistant to corrosion

 CONS:
 Reduce cracking due to intrinsic stress
 Reduce permeability
 Greater impact, abrasion, shatter, and fatigue resistance
 Provide support and cohesiveness on inclines
 Tested and approved by regulatory agencies
 CONS:
 Tested and approved by regulatory agencies
 The cost of GFRC is higher than traditional concrete. Due to the fiberglass being
inside the concrete and the addition of additives and acrylic co-polymer the
price is steeper.
 There is no ductility. Ductility is a solid material’s ability to deform under stress.
 GFRC is difficult to self-mix. Generally, a contractor will mix and pour or spray this
type of concrete.
 While the mix can be pretty versatile it can fall apart if not properly applied or
poured. The use of materials such as wire along the foundations, walls and
ceilings will help the concrete adhere and have a stronger finish.
E. Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC)
Properties:
 Developed based on the unique requirements for mass concrete used for dam
construction
 No slump concrete
 Relaxed gradation requirements
 Water content selected for construction considerations rather than strength

Handling and uses:

 Hauled by dump trucks, spread by bulldozers, and compacted with vibration
compactors
 Dams and large paved areas

 PROS:
 Economical (low cement content)
 Minimal form work (layer construction method)
 Reduced need for external cooling of the structure (low cement factor limits the
heat of hydration)
 Lower placement costs (high capacity equipment and rapid placement rates)
 Shorter construction period
 Material costs are 1/3 that of conventional concrete

 CONS:
 The production of large quantities of RCC requires specialized equipment
 While a transit mix truck can mix RCC the mixing time is significantly longer than
conventional concrete and the amount of RCC than can be mixed in the truck is
reduced because the dryness of the RCC mix.
 The surface of RCC may not be suitable for high speed traffic without diamond
grinding.

5 CONCRETE ADMIXTURE
A. SHRINGKAGE REDUCING ADMIXTURE
Shrinkage-reducing admixtures added during batching can significantly decrease both
the early and long-term drying shrinkage.
Materials:
Polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, Propylene glycol
i. Uses
1. It has potential uses in bridge decks, critical floor slabs, and buildings
where cracks and curling must be minimized for durability or aesthetic
reasons.
2. Shrinkage-reducing admixtures can be used where shrinkage cracking
could lead to durability problems or where large numbers of shrinkage
joints are undesirable.
ii. Effect on concrete properties
 1. Shrinkage-reducing admixtures do not adversely affect long-term
durability and may improve it by reducing cracks and joints that can
cause failure in floors and other structures.
2. Shrinkage-reducing admixtures can lower the risk of cracking in what can
be a highly restrained environment.
iii. Limitations
1. At recommended dosages, a maximum strength loss of 12 to 15% at 28
days could be expected.
2. These admixtures can sometimes reduce both early and late strength
development.

B. ACCELERATING ADMIXTURES
Materials:
Calcium chloride (ASTM D 98 and AASHTO M 144) Triethanolamine, sodium
thiocyanate, calcium formate, calcium nitrite, calcium nitrate
i. Effect on concrete properties
1. It accelerates the rate of hydration and strength development of
concrete
2. Calcium chloride (ASTM D 98 and AASHTO M 144) (ASTM C 494 and
development Triethanolamine, sodium thiocyanate, calcium formate,
AASHTO M 194, Type C) calcium nitrite, calcium nitrate
ii. Limitations
1. If added to the concrete in dry flake form, all of the dry particles may not
be completely dissolved during mixing. Undissolved lumps in the mix can
cause popouts or dark spots in hardened concrete.
2. An overdose can result in placement problems and can be detrimental to
concrete. It may cause: rapid stiffening, a large increase in drying
shrinkage, corrosion of reinforcement, and loss of strength at later ages

C. CORROSION INHIBITORS
Ferrous oxide, though stable in concrete’s alkaline environment, reacts with
chlorides to form complexes that move away from the steel to form rust. The chloride
ions continue to attack the steel until the passivating oxide layer is destroyed. Corrosion-
inhibiting admixtures chemically arrest the corrosion reaction.
Materials:
Calcium Nitrite, Sodium Nitrite, Dimethyl Ethanolamine, Amines, Phosphates, And
Ester Amines
i. Uses
1. Corrosion inhibitors are used in concrete for parking structures, marine
structures, and bridges where chloride salts are present.
ii. Effect on concrete properties
1. They are added to concrete during production and are referred to as
‘integral’ corrosion-inhibitors.
2. Corrosion-inhibiting admixtures have little effect on strength at either early
or later ages.
 3. he function of this type of admixture is to enhance the long term durability
of reinforced concrete by enhancing passivation to the cathodic and/or
anodic areas of embedded steel.
iii. Limitations
1. Although corrosion-inhibitors can raise the corrosion threshold, they are
not an alternative to impermeable durable concrete.

D. AIR ENTRAINMENT
Air entraining admixture is added directly to the concrete materials either before or
during mixing.
Materials:
Salts of wood resins (Vinsol resin), some synthetic detergents, salts of sulfonated
lignin, salts of petroleum acids, salts of proteinaceous material, fatty and resinous
acids and their salts, alkylbenzene sulfonates, salts of sulfonated hydrocarbons
i. Effect on concrete properties
1. It is used to to purposely introduce and stabilize microscopic air bubbles in
concrete
2. It can dramatically improve the durability of concrete exposed to cycles
of freezing and thawing
3. Impoves concrete’s resistance to surface scaling caused by chemical
deicers
4. Increased cohesion and improved compaction in low-workability mixes
ii. Limitations
1. Air entrainment reduces the density of the mix and increases yield. This
needs to be taken into account when batching and mixing.
2. After mixing, air can be lost during transport and pumping. Allowance
should be made for this so that the correct level of air is obtained in the
hardened concrete. This may mean testing at the point of discharge
rather than at the batching plant.
3. For every 1% of additional air entrained, concrete strength will fall by
around 5%. At normal air entrainment levels, most other properties of the
concrete including drying shrinkage and creep are not significantly
affected.

WATER-REDUCING ADMIXTURES
Materials:
Sulfonated melamine formaldehyde, Sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde
condensates Lignosulfonates Polycarboxylates
iii. Uses
1. To reduce the quantity of mixing water required to produce concrete of a
certain slump
 2. Reduce water-cement ratio
iv. Effect on concrete properties
1. An increase in strength is generally obtained with water-reducing
admixtures as the water-cement ratio is reduced.
2. Increase the workability or slump of the concrete providing for easier
placement
v. Limitations
1. Typical water reducers reduce the water content by approximately 5% to
10%. Adding a water-reducing admixture to concrete without reducing
the water content can produce a mixture with a higher slump.
2. Despite reduction in water content, water-reducing admixtures may
cause increases in drying shrinkage.

II. REFERENCES

https://nearsay.com/c/184644/124562/3-benefits-of-lightweight-concrete

https://www.sika.com/content/corp/main/en/solutions_products/construction-markets/sika-concrete-
technology/concrete-handbook-2013/concrete-types/heavyweight-concrete.html

https://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/courses/ce584/concrete/library/concreteprop/highstrengthconcrete/Advantages.html

http://civilengineersforum.com/fiberglass-reinforced-concrete-uses-advantages-disadvantages/

http://civilengineersite.com/roller-compacted-concrete-rcc/

https://www.cement.org/docs/default-source/th-paving-pdfs/rcc/roller-compacted-concrete-pca-logo.pdf?sfvrsn=4

http://ezinearticles.com/?Benefits,-Limitations-and-Uses-of-Roller-Compacted-Concrete---RCC&id=6118913

http://www.ce.memphis.edu/1101/notes/concrete/PCA_manual/Chap06.pdf

https://www.ijser.org/researchpaper/Alternatives-to-Cement-in-Concrete-A-Review.pdf

http://www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips-document.asp?id=474

http://www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips-nuggets.asp?cmd=display&id=482

http://www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips-nuggets.asp?cmd=display&id=477