ANALYSIS AND OPTIMISATION OF STRENGTH

CHARACTERISTICS OF CONCRETE USING

SUPERPLASTICIZERS
Independent Study and Research Report

Submitted by
Anmol Singh Bhatia Chetan Chauhan
“B.Tech(CE) “ “B.Tech(CE) “
“5TH Semester“ “5TH Semester“
“A2315815007“ “A2315815016“

“Under the Supervision of“

Mr. Ujjwal Bharadwaj

“Assistant Professor
Department. of Civil Engineering“

“AmitySchool of Engineering & Technology

Amity University Uttar Pradesh
Noida Campus
November 2017“
1
 DECLARATION

It is“hereby declare that the Independent Study And Research report titled as
“Analysis and Optimisation of Strength Characteristics of concrete using
Superplasticizers” in partial fulfillment of requirement for the award of the degree of
Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering and submitted by Anmol Singh Bhatia
and Chetan Chauhan students of B.Tech (CE) to Department of Amity School of
Engineering & Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, is an authentic
record of our own work carried out during the period from July, 2017 to November,
2017 under the supervision of Mr. Ujjwal Bharadwaj, Assistant Professor, Civil
Engineering Department, Amity School of Engineering & Technology“Noida, Uttar
Pradesh.

The“matter presented in the report has not been submitted by us for the award of any
other degree of this or any other“institute.

Signature of the Candidate

“This is to certify that the above statement made by the candidate is correct to the best
of my“knowledge.

“Date: Signature of Supervisor“

2
 ABSTRACT

The information from prior inquires about have demonstrated that the expansion of
concoction admixtures in a solid blend upgrades the properties of"concrete in both
crisp and solidified state. This paper “depicts a test examination that measures the
impacts of Superplasticizer on different properties of cement. The Superplasticizer
(SP) also called as high extent water reducers are special of admixtures (chemical)
which are mainly used to reduce particle’s segregation and also help in boosting the
concrete performance. In this study has been produced to study the effect of varying
Superplasticizer dosages of 0.50-2.00 percentages in four parts on performance of
concrete. The data from the experimental test results for various properties of concrete
for carefully prepared four concrete mixes of M40 grade have been considered what's
more, the outcomes are assessed and contrasted and typical arranged vibrated
concrete. The tests utilized for examination are Slump test, Compressive Strength
Test. The information investigation demonstrates that the quality of cement is
enhanced by Superplasticizer dose when contrasted with typical vibrated concrete.

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 “ACKNOWLEDGEMENT“

“We would like to take this golden opportunity to express our kind gratitude and
sincere thanks” to our HOD Dr. R. K. Tomar and advisor Mr. Ujjwal Bharadwaj,
for their kind support and necessary counseling in the success of this research report.
It is our hard work and sincere efforts and mutual co-operation that bring the success
of this research. Last but not the least we are grateful to our Parents for being the
infinite source of motivation, strength and steadiness.

Dated

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

SR. NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.

1. Introduction 7

2. Methodology & 8
Experimental Work

3. Materials Used and 9

their Properties

4. CONCRETE MIX 10
DESIGN FOR M40
GRADE

5. EXPERIMENTAL 11-13
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSIONS

6. CONCLUSION & FUTURE 14

SCOPE

7. REFERENCES 15

5
 LIST OF TABLES

SR.NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.

4.1 Mix Proportion of M-40 10

Grade Concrete

5.1.1 Workability Test (i.e. Slump 11

Test) Values of M-40 Grade
Concrete

5.2.1 Compressive Strength Test 12

of M-40 Grade Concrete

LIST OF FIGURES

SR.NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.

FIG 5.1.2 Effect of Variations of 11

Dosages of Super
Plasticizer on workability
(i.e. Slump value) of M-40
Grade Concrete.

FIG 5.2.2 Fig.5.2.2: Effect of 12

Variation of Dosages of
Super Plasticizer on
Compressive Strength
after 7 days of M-40 Grade
Concrete.

FIG 5.2.3 Fig.5.2.3: Effect of 13

Variation of Dosages of
Super Plasticizer on
Compressive Strength
after 28 days of M-40
Grade Concrete.

6
 1. INTRODUCTION

“Concrete performance has an essential part in the improvement and strength of

frameworks. By and by, it is used not just for normal stacked structures yet
additionally for completely stacked heavy structures. Concrete is a complex material,
composed of cement mainly Portland cement (or any other type of cementitious
materials like fly ash and slag cement etc), coarse aggregates (mainly crushed stone,
gravel), fine aggregates (mainly sand), water. But today to improve the workability,
durability and strength of concrete various supplementary substances are added
known as admixtures.
An admixture, according to the data from Indian Standard Provisions, is a complex
material different from the normal components i.e. water, fine and course aggregates
or cement that is used as a main component in concrete and is added to the cement
appropriate set immediately before or during mixing“
One of the most important chemical admixtures used to increase the performance of
concrete is Superplasticizer. These are improved version of plasticizer and belong to a
new category of admixtures. These differ in chemical properties from normal
plasticizers because the usage of super plasticizers reduces the quantity water to an
extent up to 20-30% without reducing the workability as compared to reduction of
water quantity up to 10-15% in case of plasticizers.

Generally, these are classified in the following four major groups:

 Sulphonated Naphthalene Formaldehyde Condensate.
 Sulphonated Melamine Formaldehyde Condensate.
 Modified Lignosulphonates.
 Others.

As per information examination it is realized that adequacy of Superplasticizer

increments with diminish in water bond proportion [3]. The use of Superplasticizer
will effect sly affect crisp and solidified properties of cement. In new state, it will
build the workability of cement and in solidified state it will upgrade the quality
properties by expanding the adequacy of compaction to create substantial thick
concrete.

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 2. METHODOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL WORK

 For this research paper we prepared concrete cube blocks of M40 grade with
specific Superplasticizer added in varying dosages and a normal concrete
block of same grade.

 For Ratio of M 40 concrete cube block, concrete mix design IS 10262 has
been considered.

 Then specific admixture was added for changing its Properties.

 Superplasticizer was added to the Concrete blocks of M 40 grade immediately

before or during mixing.

 Tests were performed on concrete blocks to which superplasticer is added in

different doses and performance was compared reflecting the influence of
Superplasticizer to normal concrete.

 Slump Test, Compressive Strength tests were performed on concrete cubes

having different dosages of Superplasticizer and normal vibrated concrete.

 Admixtures were added to concrete cube blocks to change its composition and
observe the effect on the properties i.e. primarily compressive strength
,Workability of M 40 Concrete cube block and on the basis of the results
obtained comparison has been done.

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 3. MATERIALS USED AND THEIR PROPERTIES.

3.1 “CEMENT“

“Cement has been a standout amongst the most imperative constituent of solid which
ties different fixings together. An Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) of 43 review
affirming to IS: 8112-1989 has been utilized as a part of the trial program . A portion
of the physical properties of the concrete were discovered such as initial setting time=
67 min, last setting time= 260 min, particular gravity= 3.15, compressive quality at 7
days= 23.76 N/mm2 and compressive strength at 28 days= 49.22 N/mm2."

3.2 FINE AND COURSE AGGREGATES

Locally available sand with specific gravity 2.68 and fineness modulus of 2.5 has
been used. Locally available 20 mm and 10mm downgraded crushed stones of
specific gravity 2.74 and fineness modulus 2.6 is used as course aggregates. Both fine
and coarse aggregates confirmed to data in Indian Standard Specification IS: 393-
1970 are used.

3.3 SUPERPLASTICIZER (SP)

When cement particles get mixed with water, they have a usual behavior of
flocculating large amount of free water which leads to production of inter particle
attractive forces because of the electric charge generated on particle surface which
affects the homogeneity of concrete. The water reducing admixtures such as super
plasticizer reduce the inter particle friction among solid particle in concrete thus
achieving high filling ability. The addition of super “plasticizer not only reduces the
attractive forces but also maintain the fluidity and viscosity of concrete mix. The
locally available”super plasticizer Rheobuild 561M has been used as a super
plasticizer with dosages varying from 0-2%.

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 4. CONCRETE MIX DESIGN FOR M40 GRADE

For the best performance, four specimens of M40 grade concrete with fixed water
cement ratio 0.40 in addition to different doses of Superplasticizer of 0.50, 1.00, 1.50
and 2.00 percentage are prepared. One specimen of “normal vibrated concrete is
prepared. These specimens are casted in standard cement concrete cube size and
tested” and various properties are compared with normal vibrated concrete. The sizes
of the cubes were 150mm * 150mm * 150mm. The four specimens of the
Superplasticizer added concrete cubes are abbreviated as S1, S2, S3, S4 and normal
concrete cube as N. The design proportion of all the above specimens is obtained
from the data given in Indian Standard Specification IS: 10262-2000.

Table 4.1- Mix Proportion of M-40 Grade Concrete

S. Concret Superplasticize Cement Fine Coarse Aggregates W/C
No e Mix r dosages by Aggregate 20mm 10mm Rati
. wt. of cement s o
(%) (Kg/m3 (Kg/m3 (Kg/m3) (Kg/m3 (Kg/m3
) ) ) )
1. N 0.00 0.00 493 591 688 459 0.40
2. S1 0.50 1.95 439 625 728 485 0.40
3. S2 1.00 3.84 434 627 730 486 0.40
4. S3 1.50 5.69 429 628 732 488 0.40
5. S4 2.00 7.49 424 630 734 489 0.40

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 5. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

This study has undertaken slump test for workability and compressive strength test at
7th and 28th days on the above designed mix. The whole mixing has been done
physically (hand-operated) using clean water and for casting of normal prepared
concrete table vibrator has been used. After casting the mix in the form of cube mould
in specified given dimensions for 24hours, it was cured in curing tank containing
normal water at room temperature.

5.1 Workability Test

The workability test consists of slump test which has been performed as per
Guidelines to produce a more uniform and workable mix. Data analysis from the
table-II shows that slump value is 75mm for normally prepared concrete mix where as
for mix containing 2% of Superplasticizer, the slump value is 100mm which is quite
high. The result of the test shows that fluidity or workability of concrete increases
with increase in percentage of super plasticizer for same water-cement ratio of 0.4.

Table 5.1.1- Workability Test (i.e. Slump Test) Values of M-40 Grade Concrete

Concrete Mix Dosages of Superplasticizer (%) Slump Value (mm)

by weight of cement
N 0.00 75
S-1 0.50 85
S-2 “1.00” 90
S-3 1.50 95
S-4 2.00 100

11
 120
S4
S3
100 S2
S1
Slump Value(mm) N
80

60
Slump Value(mm)
40

20

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Dosages of Super Plasticizer(%)

Fig.5.1.2: Effect of Variations of Dosages of Super Plasticizer on workability (i.e. Slump value)
of M-40 Grade Concrete.

5.2 Compressive strength test

This test has been performed to assess the compressive quality of solid 3D squares
with various measurements of super plasticizer following 7 and 28 days of curing.
Information investigation has demonstrated ceaseless picking up of quality of cement
with the expansion in measurements of Superplasticizer. Because of usage of
Superplasticizer more water will be accessible for concrete mixing; this will irritate
the hydration procedure since hydration process will get upgraded by the additional
water accessible from deflocculation of bond particles. Consequently, increment in
measurement of Superplasticizer will build the measure of captured water and will
improve hydration of concrete. In spite of the fact that expansion in measurements
will enhance the compressive strength quality of cement yet at the same time there has
been an ideal cutoff set for the utilization of this admixture. At the point when the
dosage increments past this set cutoff, it will decrease the compressive quality as
finished dose will cause bleeding and isolation, which will influence the workability
and homogeneity of concrete mix.

Table 5.2.1- Compressive Strength Test of M-40 Grade Concrete

Concrete Mix Dosages of “Compressive Strength (Mpa)”

Superplasticizer (%) 7 Days 28 Days
by weight of cement
N 0.00 40.45 49.40
S1 0.50 41.70 50.45
S2 1.00 43.50 51.80
S3 1.50 45.80 53.70
S4 2.00 45.45 52.90

12
 47
S3

Compressive strength after 7 days(Mpa)

46 S4

45
44
43
S1 S2
42
N Compressive strength
41
after 7 days(Mpa)
40
39
38
37
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Dosages of Super Plasticizer(%)

Fig.5.2.2: Effect of Variation of Dosages of Super Plasticizer on “Compressive Strength after

7 days of M-40“Grade Concrete.
55
Compressive strength after 28 days(Mpa)

S3
54
S4
53
S2
52

51 S1
Compressive strength
50 N after 28 days(Mpa)

49

48

47
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Dosages of Super Plasticizer(%)

Fig.5.2.3: Effect of Variation of Dosages of Super Plasticizer on“Compressive Strength after

28 days“of M-40 Grade Concrete.

13
 6. CONCLUSION & FUTURE SCOPE

“The main objective of this research“is to examine the workability and compressive
strength of concrete mix with“different dosages of super plasticizer. From the data
obtained from test results, following conclusions can be“drawn:-

6.1 Workability of concrete

 The workability of concrete (i.e. Slump value) of all grades of concrete

increases with the addition of Superplasticizer with varying doses ranging
from 0.5% to 2% by weight of cement.
 “But very high dosages of Superplasticizer usually disturb the cohesiveness“
of concrete.
 “It has been observed that slump loss reduces by using Superplasticizer in
concrete mix. Also, “effectiveness is higher for Superplasticizer concrete than
normal concrete.

6.2 Compressive strength

 The compressive strength of concrete of all grades of concrete increases with

the” addition of Superplasticizer with varying doses ranging from 0.5% to 2%
by weight of cement at 7 and 28 days.
 Data analysis shows that the addition of dosage of 1.5% of super plasticizer
led to an increment in the compressive strength by 13.22% when compared to
strength of normal vibrated concrete after 7 days.
 Data analysis shows that the addition of dosage of 1.5% of super plasticizer
led to an increment in the compressive strength by 8.70% when compared to
strength of normal vibrated concrete after 28 days.
 On further increasing the dosage of super plasticizer over an optimum limit led
to a “decrease in compressive strength of concrete after 7 and 28 days“
respectively.

The future scope is that further studies may also be carried out using locally available
aggregates (Coarse and Fine) in the concrete mixes in place of natural aggregates and
effect of Superplasticizer may be investigated on higher grades of concrete without
changing cement contents and other contents of concrete.

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 7. REFERENCES

1. Dr. Salahaldein Alsadey, Influence of Superplasticizer on Strength of Concrete,

IJRET, Volumw-01, No.9, 2012.

2. Ariel Darvasi and Sagiv Shifman, The beauty of Admixtures, Volume 37, No.2, Feb
2005.

3. J.M. Khati, Performance of Self-Compacting Concrete containing Fly ash,

Construction and Building Materials, 2, No.9, 2008, 1963-1971.

4. IS 8112, Ordinary Portland cement 43 Grade, 1989, May 2006.

5. IS 383, Indian Standard Specification for course and fine aggregates from natural
sources for concrete (second revision), Bureau of Indian Standards, Manak Bhawan,
9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110002, 1970.

6. IS 10262, (Reaffirmed 1999) , Recommended Guidelines for concrete mix design ,

Bureau of Indian Standards, Manak Bhawan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New
Delhi 110002, 1982.

7. IS 9103: 1999- Concrete Admixtures- Specification.

8. S.M. Dumne, Effect of Superplasticizer on Fresh and Hardened Properties of Self-

Compacting Concrete containing Fly ash, AJER, Volume-03, pp-205-211.

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PLAGUE REPORT

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