Evaulating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces
Rick Yelton, Editor at Large

THE CONCRETE PRODUCER, CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION, MASONRY CONSTRUCTION, CONCRETE SURFACES
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Course Objectives
A review of the as-found condition of the surfaces of hardened, concrete slab-on-grades, contractors should be aware of prior to bidding a project. Resources from which contractors can learn more.

Definitions Concrete
Definitions Concrete a composite material that consists essentially of a binding medium within which are embedded particles or fragments of aggregate, usually a combination of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate; in portland-cement concrete, the binder is a mixture of portland cement and water, with or without admixtures. ACI-116

Definitions Concrete, hardened

Definitions Concrete, hardened
concrete that has developed sufficient strength to serve some purpose or resist breaking under stipulated loading.
ACI-116
Definitions Slab-on-grade
ACI-116

Hardened Concrete Surface Concerns
Integrity of the concrete slab
Definitions
Slab-on-grade a slab, continuously supported by ground, whose total loading when uniformly distributed would impart a pressure to the grade or soil that is less than 50% of the allowable bearing capacity thereof; the slab may be of uniform or variable thickness, and it may include stiffening elements such as ribs or beams; the slab may be plain, reinforced, or prestressed concrete; reinforcement or prestressing steel may be provided to accommodate the effects of shrinkage and temperature or structural loading. (Also referred to as slab-on-ground; slab-on-grade is the preferred term.) ACI-116
Polishing Contractors should be aware of three aspects of the project before bidding.
Integrity of the concrete slab Condition of the concrete surfaces texture Flatness and profile of the concrete surface.

Mixture proportions Aggregate Source 28-day Compressive strength Dryness

Definitions Mixture proportions

Definitions Mixture proportions the proportions of ingredients that make the most economical use of available materials to produce mortar or concrete of the required properties

Definitions Aggregate

Definitions Aggregate granular material, such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, crushed hydraulic-cement concrete, or iron blastfurnace slag, used with a hydraulic cementing medium to produce either concrete or mortar.

Aggregate ASTM C 33 07 Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates 1.1 This specification defines the requirements for grading and quality of fine and coarse aggregate (other than lightweight or heavyweight aggregate) for use in concrete.2

Aggregate Mohs scalearbitrary quantitative units, ranging from 1 through 10, by means of which the scratch hardness of a mineral is determined; each unit of hardness is represented by a mineral that can scratch any other mineral having a lower-ranking number; the minerals are ranked from: talc, or 1 (the softest); gypsum, or 2; calcite, or 3; fluorite, or 4; apatite, or 5; orthoclase, or 6; quartz, or 7; topaz, or 8; corundum, or 9; and diamond, or 10 (the hardest).

Aggregate Mohs scaletest unit

Aggregate resistance, abrasionability of a surface to resist being worn away by rubbing and friction.

Aggregate The Los Angeles (L.A.) abrasion test (Figure 1) is a common test method used to indicate aggregate toughness and abrasion characteristics. Aggregate abrasion characteristics are important because the constituent aggregate in HMA must resist crushing, degradation and disintegration in order to produce a high quality HMA.

Aggregate
L A Abrasion test machine

Aggregate Typical Values for L A Abrasion: General Values Hard, igneous rocks 10 Soft limestones and sandstones 60 Ranges for specific rocks Basalt 10 - 17 Dolomite 18 - 30 Gneiss 33 - 57 Granite 27 - 49 Limestone 19 - 30 Quartzite 20 - 35

Definitions Compressive strength the measured maximum resistance of a concrete or mortar specimen to axial compressive loading; expressed as force per unit crosssectional area; or the specified resistance used in design calculations.

Definitions Compressive strength hammer, reboundan apparatus that provides a relative indication of the strength or hardness of concrete based on the rebound distance of a spring-driven mass after it impacts a rod in contact with the concrete surface. hammer, Schmidtsee hammer, rebound (preferred term).

Definitions Compressive strength Non-destructive strength testing of concrete The new SilverSchmidt redefines concrete strength testing with the use of what is called a "Q" value as opposed to the classic use of an "R" value. The new SilverSchmidt provides a more accurate method of measuring impact and rebound, which eliminates the need for referencing a chart, based on orientation, to determine the strength of concrete.

Definitions Compressive strength

Dryness Vapor Retarders

Dryness
Testing method
. Tape tightly to the concrete surface an 18x18inch sheet of clear polyethylene film, about 4 mils thick, and allow it to remain in place for at least 16 hours. This is a standard test described in ASTM D 4263-83 If moisture collects under the plastic, the moisture content of the concrete is too high and the coating will fail.

Dryness
Testing methods
. To measure the rate of moisture-vapor emission, place a measured amount of calcium chloride in a dish inside a transparent plastic cover that's sealed to the floor. After 60 to 72 hours, weigh the calcium chloride to determine the amount of water absorbed. The moisturevapor emission rate is calculated in pounds of water per 1000 square feet, per 24-hour period. Compare the measured rate of moisture-vapor emission to acceptable values the coating manufacturer provides.

Dryness
Testing devices
Developed in partnership with CTL-Group, the rugged, low-cost RapidRH combines a sensor, power supply, and display for testing the relative humidity of a slab from the inside, a method more accurate and effective than surface testing. Install it in new concrete or in existing slabs by drilling a hole. Leave the sensor in the concrete and read with the removable RapidRH reader. The sensor's rugged construction guards against damage during construction or normal use. Wagner Electronics. 800-585-7609. www.rapidrh.com.

Dryness
Testing devices
IntelliRock loggers measure, log, and monitor moisture conditions in a slab. Drill a hole, place a plastic sleeve, and insert the logger to read the relative humidity of concrete, or monitor moisture levels over time. Operators log humidity information with the software or export to other applications for reporting. Engius Inc. 866-636-4487. www.engius.com.

Dryness Testing devices Used to test hardened or hardening concrete, the Accuscan radio frequency meter emits radio waves that penetrate in. into a surface. Features include durable electrode pads, built-in battery and calibration checks, and easy-to-read analog display. Delmhorst Instrument Co. 877335-6467. www.delmhorst.com.

Dryness Testing devices The Proti-meter MMS Plus combines hygrometry, pin, and pinless measurements for rapid, accurate evaluation of a slab's moisture level. Operators can conduct rapid surface tests before more in-depth evaluation, or use the replaceable Hygrostick probes. GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies. 800-321-4878. www.protimeter.c

Condition of the concrete surfaces texture


Concrete Polishers need to focus of two surface concerns Cracks Surface Defects

Know and understand the project specifications for surface preparation and required roughness. Roughness is sometimes called anchor profile and is achieved by mechanically abrading or acid etching the concrete surface. Project specifications should say how clean and rough the surface must be before you apply a coating

If the specifications give a minimum surface strength to endure concrete soundness, use the field test procedure outlined in Appendix A of ACI 503R-93. This test requires e-poxying a standard 1-inch-diameter pipe cap to the concrete and measuring the force needed to pull the cap from the surface. You also can use the test to evaluate the need for and adequacy of surface preparation and relative differences in surface strength over the area to be coated. Typically, specifications require a minimum surface, or pull-off, strength of 175 psi to 300 psi (ASTM C 811-96).

International Concrete Repair Institute Guide to Using In-Situ Tensile Pull-Off Tests to Evaluate Bond of Concrete Surface Materials Guideline No. 0373

Conduct a Preliminary Survey
Examine the surface to be prepared for the presence of debris, dust, dirt, oil, grease,
laitance, mortar splatter, efflorescence, curing agents, sealers, and other contaminants. Test slabs for laitance by scraping the surface with a knife. Laitance is a weak layer of cement and fines brought to the surface by bleed water. If a powdery material can be scraped from the surface, excessive laitance is present and the coating won't bond properly. If you anticipate using water to clean the surface, conduct a moisture test of the existing surface to establish a baseline floor-moisture condition. Several common moisture tests are included later in this checklist.

Common Surface Problems:
Blistering Bugholes Crazing Curling Dusting Honeycombing Plastic shrinkage cracking Scaling Uncontrolled shrinkage cracking Uneven color Wavy surface
ACI 224.1
Determination of location and extent of concrete cracking

Location and extent of cracking as well as information on the general condition of concrete in a structure can be determined by both direct and indirect observations, Nondestructive testing, and destructive tests such as test cores taken from the floor structure.
ACI 224.1

Direct observations
ACI 224.1

Direct observations
To measure a fresh crack, measure the dimension X at the surface of the concrete. To measure a weathered crack, measure the dimension Z if its not more than 18 inch deep. Dimension Y on a weathered crack exaggerates crack width. ACI 224.1

Direct observations
Use an optical comparator to measure crack widths. They are available at most hobby stores

Direct observations
To use an optical comparator, first focus it by looking at a bright light. Next, place it tightly against the concrete crack you want to measure.

Direct observations
Card used to measure crack width (courtesy of Construction Technology Laboratories).

Direct observations
Measure crack widths at several locations. The measurements should be fairly uniform, within a range of 10% from the average width. Spalling can distort this width measurement. Measure widths of spalled cracks too, but note that the data are for spalled areas.

Direct observations
Will the crack cause problems? If the crack size is stable and there isnt excessive deflection or other indication of reduced load-carrying capacity, the only other threat could be rebar corrosion.

Direct observations
If the crack is larger than the width in Table 1 or if its exposure condition isnt listed, ask a qualified professional for advice. The professional may recommend leaving the crack as is, repairing it, watching it for changes over time, or obtaining more information using other techniques. Deciding on which of these options to choose depends on the importance of the structure and the potential for problems from choosing the wrong option. Structural configuration and amount of exposure to aggressive elements also will affect the choice. However, the needed first step is accurately measuring crack width.

Direct observations
Exposure Tolerable crack condition width, in. Dry Air or protective Membrane Humidity, moist air, soil Deicing chemicals Seawater and seawater spray wetting and drying Water retaining structures*
0.016 0.012 0.007 0.006 0.004

Blistering
Blistering in Heated Enclosure We supplied concrete for a garage floor and the flatwork contractor had trouble finishing it in the vicinity of the heater. He said concrete near the heater felt like bread dough during finishing, and afterward he found blisters in that area. The area was only about 2 feet square.
It's likely that the blisters were caused by the gas heater. Moderately rapid
evaporation of bleedwater makes the surface ready to be troweled while the underlying concrete is still bleeding or still plastic and releasing air. Troweling seals the surface so that bleedwater or air from below can't get through. Blisters form sometime after the first troweling. Cold concrete or a cold subgrade would aggravate the problem. Low temperatures retard setting and increase the bleeding period of concrete beneath the warmed surface. Air-entrained concrete with a high cement content or made with fine sand is most likely to blister. Thick slabs and slabs placed on a polyethylene vapor barrier also are more likely to blister. There's an excellent discussion of blistering available from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. It's called Concrete Blisters: What, Why, and How. To order copies write to NRMCA, 900 Spring Street, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910.
ACI 224.1

Blistering Definition the irregular raising of a thin layer at the surface of placed mortar or concrete during or soon after completion of the finishing operation, or in the case of pipe after spinning; also bulging of the finish plaster coat as it separates and draws away from the base coat.
ACI 224.1

Blistering
What causes fresh concrete floor surfaces to blister?
Blistering occurs when a fresh concrete surface is sealed airtight at a
time when air voids are migrating to the surface. The air collects under the airtight surface and creates blisters. Several conditions may contribute to their formation. One is wind blowing over the concrete surface, reducing its moisture content. Another is a subgrade that is cooler than the concrete so that the top surface sets faster than the bottom. A sticky mixture containing excessive fines also contributes to sealing of the surface and blistering. Lean mixes can add to the problem because they may have to be worked excessively to produce the desired finish and the extra work may seal the surface. Finishing too early and the misuse of tools also can lead to blistering. Examples of such misuse are making an excessive number of passes with a vibrating screed, excessive use of the jitterbug, excessive use of the bull float or using a power float with the blade not flat. ACI 224.1

Blistering
Concrete men hold a wide rangeof opinions about what causes especially during the cooler seasons. Blistering occurs when air gets trapped in the concrete and cant break out of the seal that may be created during finishing operations or be caused by a rapidly setting surface. The air collects in spots under this airtight surface seal and creates blisters. Why? One or a combination of these factors may be responsible: Winds blowing over concrete surface and reducing surface moisture. A subgrade thats cooler than the concrete. A sticky mixture with excessive fines that seal the surface quickly. Lean mixtures that have to be worked excessively to produce desired finishes. Concrete thats finished too early, by hand or machine Improper use of tools.
ACI 224.1

Craze Cracking
ACI 224.1

Craze Cracking
cracks, crazefine random cracks or fissures in a surface of plaster, cement paste, mortar, or concrete crazingthe development of craze cracks; the pattern of craze cracks existing in a surface. ACI 116.1

Craze Cracking
Craze cracks are small pattern cracks occurring in a slab surface. They are associated with early surface drying or cooling, causing the immediate surface to shrink differently than the underlying concrete. Crazing cracks are typically less than 1/8- to -inch deep and are generally not structurally significant.

Craze Cracking
Crack patterns typically form grids of approximate 2 in. diameters. The cracks themselves have no real width or depth, and outside of appearance, don't affect the performance of a slab. Photo: Joe Nasvik

Craze Cracking
Concrete contractors can work to minimize craze cracks but can't eliminate or prevent them. The natural process of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air combining with calcium hydroxide and other cement compounds to produce calcium carbonate causes a small amount of shrinkage on the slab surface.

Craze Cracking
Ron Sturm, a senior petrographer for CTLGroup, Skokie, Ill., says craze cracks are very small and are found in the top surface regions of a slab. They are typically 1/10th of a millimeter (or 0.004 inches) or less in thickness and 1 millimeter (approximately 1/32-inch) in depth. Also there aren't surface delaminations between the cracks. Many craze cracks aren't even visible until the surface of a floor gets wet and starts to dry.

Craze Cracking
Q: Is crazing considered to be plastic shrinkage cracking or drying shrinkage cracking? A: Crazing cracks fall in between these two broad categories. By definition, plastic shrinkage cracking occurs early while the concrete is still plastic and typically while the slab is still being finished. Drying shrinkage cracking (and temperature contraction cracking) occurs after the slab has hardened and is shrinking due to the loss of moisture or a drop in temperature. Crazing occurs at a very early age due to a rapid loss of moisture similar to plastic shrinkage cracks. But crazing generally occurs after the surface has hardened and penetrates to a very shallow depth, while both plastic shrinkage cracks and drying shrinkage cracks are significantly deeper than surface crazing.

Craze Cracking
Q: Is there anything that should be done to repair crazing once it occurs? A: You typically do not repair crazing. As most crazing does not deteriorate over time, a repair is not necessary. In some cases, you can apply sealers and surface hardeners, but these products often accentuate the appearance of the crazing. As appearance is generally the main criticism, these products may not address the owner's concern.

Dusting
Definition The development of a powdered material at the surface of hardened concrete. .
ACI 116

Dusting
There are two potential causes. .
ACI 224.1

Dusting
There are two potential causes. .
ACI 224.1

Dusting
Cause #1
A thin layer of weak probably occurred when the concrete contractor who placed the slab finished it too early. The finishing operation brought fines to the top, which hardened to a rather weak concrete of very low abrasion resistance.
ACI 224.1

Dusting
Cause #2
The other potential cause for dusting is a chemical reaction. When there's carbon dioxide in the ambient air, it combines with the calcium silicate hydrate and calcium hydroxide in hydrated cement paste to form calcium carbonate. According to ACI, when this reaction occurs, the concrete undergoes irreversible carbonation shrinkage, which can be the cause of the surface crazing. Also, when freshly placed concrete surfaces are exposed to carbon dioxide from improperly vented combustion heaters (used to keep concrete warm during the winter) during the first 24 hours
ACI 224.1

Dusting
Solution
Test for dust by wiping the surface with a dark cloth. If a powder is on the cloth, then the area is too dusty and you must re-clean it.
ACI 224.1

Dusting
Solution
Another is extending the life of the concrete slab by using surface treatments containing certain chemicals, including sodium silicate and magnesium flu silicate. Remember that sealing products will not convert a poor slab into a quality floor. They simply are a means of upgrading a dusty floor while improving its wear resistance.
ACI 224.1

Dusting
If you plan to apply either of these surface treatments on new concrete floors, moist-cure the floor for at least seven days and allow it to air dry according to the product manufacturer's recommendations. Remove liquid membrane-forming curing compounds before applying the surface treatment, as the membrane could prevent penetration of the liquid. The lone exception would be using compatible curing and sealing products from a single manufacturer.
ACI 224.1

Dusting
Products in this group are not specifically formulated for curing applications and do not meet the requirements of either ASTM C 309 or ASTM C 1315 for liquid membrane forming compounds. While they may offer some desirable benefits when you apply them after curing, do not apply them on fresh concrete.
ACI 224.1

Dusting
When using these products, remember that the depth of penetration into the concrete slab will vary with the porosity of the concrete surface and concrete moisture content at the time of application. .
ACI 224.1

Scaling
. Is there any way to tell if scaling was caused by deicing salts and freeze-thaw cycles or poor finishing methods?
Having a petrographer check air void characteristics of the hardened concrete will tell you if there's a problem with the air void system. An inadequate air void system can cause scaling of concrete exposed to freezing and thawing and deicers even if the concrete is finished correctly. e effect of air entrainment on the durability of concrete after 21 years of t applications for snow and ice removal is dramatically illustrated in this ture. The lane at the left, built with non-air-entrained concrete, shows rious deterioration, while the lane built with air-entrained concrete, at ht, is in excellent condition.

Scaling
Definition . scalinglocal flaking or peeling away of the near-surface portion of hardened concrete or mortar
ACI 224.1

Scaling
Definition .
Light scaling of concrete does not expose coarse aggregate; Medium scaling involves loss of surface mortar to 5 to 10 mm in depth and exposure of coarse aggregate; Severe scaling involves loss of surface mortar to 5 to 10 mm in depth with some loss of mortar surrounding aggregate particles 10 to 20 mm in depth; very severe scaling involves loss of coarse aggregate particles as well as mortar generally to a depth greater than 20 mm. ACI 116

Scaling
There are two main types of scaling. Sheet Deicing .
ACI 224.1

Scaling
Deicer scaling commonly occurs on exterior flatwork that's exposed to freeze-thaw cycles and applications of deicing agents. The finished surface flakes or peels off, usually in small patches that may later merge to expose larger areas. During freezing and thawing, hydraulic pressures that develop within the concrete may be sufficient to cause scaling. Deicing agents accelerate scaling, probably because applying the agents increases the number of freeze-thaw cycles and helps keep the concrete moisture content above a critical level at which scaling occurs. Deicers also dissolve in the concrete pore water, creating osmotic pressures that add to hydraulic pressures .

Scaling
Even if exterior flatwork isn't exposed to freeze-thaw cycles or deicers, it can exhibit sheet scaling. The surface peels off in areas ranging in size from several square inches to many square feet. Sheet scaling occurs after a layer of water and air collects beneath a dense-troweled surface. Troweling seals the surface while the underlying concrete is still bleeding or able to release air. Because air entrainment slows bleeding, finishers are more likely to trowel too soon, especially on hot, dry, windy days. Placing concrete on a cold surface also contributes to the problem because the concrete sets more slowly and thus bleeds longer. To avoid sheet scaling: .

Scaling
. Is there any way to tell if scaling was caused by deicing salts and freeze-thaw cycles or poor finishing methods? Examine pieces of the mortar that have scaled off. Mauro Scali, senior petrographer for W. R. Grace & Co., says that if the scaling is caused by premature finishing the top of the piece will generally be darker and the bottom of the piece will be lighter in color. When scaling is caused by low air content, the top and bottom of the pieces are usually the same shade of color.

Scaling
. Is there any way to tell if scaling was caused by deicing salts and freeze-thaw cycles or poor finishing methods? Having a petrographer check air void characteristics of the hardened concrete will tell you if there's a problem with the air void system. An inadequate air void system can cause scaling of concrete exposed to freezing and thawing and deicers even if the concrete is finished correctly.

Scaling
Even if concrete has a satisfactory interior air content, overfinishing can cause an unsatisfactory surface air content.

Curling
How do you prevent curling of floor slabs on grade, or how do you cause them to curl back down flat? A curled floor may be made to go back down flat by thorough wetting by ponding for example. As soon as it is down it can be made to remain flat by sawing into smaller panels.
ACI 224.1

Curling
Floor consultant Armand Gustaferro told us he surveyed 900,000 square feet of floor by using a 4-foot-long carpenter's level. At about 140 random joint locations, he used the level two different ways (see photos). At some locations he centered the level so it was perpendicular to the joint chosen. Then he pushed one end down, measured the distance from the other end to the floor, and halved it. At other locations he centered the level at the intersection of two joints but placed it at a 45-degree angle to the joints. Then he pushed one end down, measured the distance from the other end to the floor, and halved it. Average curling height measured at the joint intersections was about one-third greater than the average height measured across the joints. ACI 224.1

Color slab surface may exhibit trowel patterns or trowel marks. Refer to ASCC Position Statement #4 that describes a trowel pattern (Figure 11) as a surface feature that can be seen but not felt, and a trowel mark (Figure 12) as a surface feature that can be seen and felt. ASCC concrete contractors will remove trowel patterns by rubbing, grinding, or other appropriate methods. To the extent possible, troweling of SOG should be with a machine trowel. If hand troweling of relatively small areas is necessary, adjacent machinetroweled SOG may have a different color.
ACI 224.1

Color Use of burlap or plastic impregnated burlap can cause discoloration. Some discoloration can also be expected if curing is by means of 100% synthetic waterproof sheets. To reduce surface discoloration, these waterproof sheets should be relatively thick so they can lay flat on the SOG. If a liquid is sprayed or rolled on the slab surface for curing, bond breaking, sealing, densifying, or to improve appearance, it may not dissipate or wear uniformly and, to reduce discoloration, it may require removal, particularly if impregnated with dirt during the construction process.
ACI 224.1

Color
Variation in color and texture is generally a cosmetic consideration rather than a structural or performance issue Color variation: adjacent pours with same concrete mixture.
ACI 224.1

Color
Variation in color and texture is generally a cosmetic consideration rather than a structural or performance issue Color variation: darker pour incorporates calcium chloride.
ACI 224.1

Color
Texture variation promoted by concrete with spotty or delayed set caused by a combination of waterreducing admixtures. ACI 224.1

Color
Some color variation should be expected, particularly if an interior floor slab cannot be installed in a relatively controlled environment or if the floor consists of several pours over a period of time

Plastic Shrinkage Cracking When moisture evaporates from the surface of freshly placed concrete faster than it is replaced by bleed water, the surface concrete shrinks. Due to the restraint provided by the concrete below the drying surface layer, tensile stresses develop in the weak, stiffening plastic concrete. This results in shallow cracks of varying depths that may form a random, polygonal pattern, or be essentially parallel to one another (Fig. 1.1). These cracks may be fairly wide (as much as 1/8 in. [3 mm]) at the surface. They range from a few inches to many feet in length, and are spaced from a few inches (millimeters) to as much as 10 ft (3 m) apart. Plastic shrinkage cracks begin as shallow cracks, but can become fulldepth cracks later in the life of the concrete.
ACI 224.1

Curling Flatness and profile of the concrete surface.

Curling
ACI 224.1

Curling
Definition
the distortion of an originally essentially linear or planar member into a curved shape, such as the warping of a slab to differences in temperature or moisture content in the zones adjacent to its opposite faces.
ACI 224.1

Curling
Curling occurs when the top surface shrinks from drying or carbonation while the bottom remains close to its original dimension. The floor may rise at junctions with columns or walls or at joints.
ACI 224.1

Curling
What's the easiest way to measure the extent and magnitude of floor curling on a very large warehouse floor? Is there a standard method for measuring curling? We know of no standard method. We've heard of several approaches, but the numerical values obtained will be different for each approach. You can use a device intended to measure F-numbers, and a graph showing elevation vs. distance will reveal points at which curling has occurred. We've also heard of using a leveled 10-foot-long beam centered on the curled section and measuring to the floor surface at each end. You could also use an optical or laser level and take shots at joints and the floor surface a few feet from the joint at random locations. ACI 224.1

Curling
Are there any standards for an acceptable amount of curling for a concrete floor slab? We know of no standards. The acceptable amount of curling will be related to the use of the floor and the requirements of the floorcovering installer if the floor will be covered. For uncovered industrial floors exposed to traffic from heavy forklifts, curling may cause the floor slab to crack near the joint where the curling occurs. Lighter loads might cause little or no cracking, and cracking may be acceptable if it doesn't cause spalling at the crack location. If the floor will be covered with tile, wood flooring, or a material that reflects surface discontinuities, as little as 1/8 inch of curl may be objectionable. If this is the case, the designer should plan to reduce curling by reducing concrete shrinkage and perhaps ACI 224.1 reinforcing the floor with more than just temperature steel.

Floor flatness
First used on a large-scale commercial project in 1983, the Fnumber system for measuring floor flatness and levelness has been perhaps the most significant factor in enabling the construction of flatter and more level concrete floors. However, because the dimensionless F-numbers are derived by processing the data from a large number of measurements, it can be difficult to grasp exactly what the numbers tell us.
ACI 224.1

Floor flatness
Testing for flatness and levelness Thanks to its rigorous statistical approach and the highly accurate instruments typically used to collect the data, the Fnumber system's effectiveness has been widely accepted, and since 1989, has been ACI 117's preferred method for floor profile control.
ACI 224.1

Floor flatness
ASTM E1155, Standard Test Method for Determining FF Floor Flatness and FL Floor Levelness Numbers, specifies both the data collection procedure and how to convert the raw data into the floor's FF and FL numbers. It provides methodology for selecting an appropriate number of random samples from various sizes and configurations of floors to meet the minimum sampling requirements for statistical significance. The standard is available on the ASTM Web site www.astm.org.
ACI 224.1

Levelness
Helpful guidelines also are offered by manufacturers and others that explain how to set up and run an F-number test. One example is the 1155 Floor Layout Helper offered on The Face Companies' Web site, www.faceco.com. It provides examples and step-by-step instructions to help you lay out the ASTM E1155 test on almost any floor.
ACI 224.1
Embedded inclinometers and sophisticated onboard programming make today's F-number measurements fast and precise.PHOTO: THE ALLEN FACE COMPANIES Allen Face developed the method and authored the ASTM standard while he was president of the Norfolk, Va.-based Edward W. Face Co., which later became The Face Companies. His company's site, www.allenface.com, offers downloadable, fill-in-the-blank sample specifications and universal, Excel-based reporting forms.
ACI 224.1

Levelness
Flatness Flatness is a measure of how bumpy the floor's finished surface is. To quantify floor flatness using F-numbers, you begin by measuring the elevation differences, d, between points on the floor that are 1 foot apart along a straight line. The differences, q, between all adjacent d values are then calculated, and the mean and standard deviation of these q values are the two statistics finally used to compute the FF number. It's common to collate one set of data with another by comparing their means and standard deviations. The mean tells you what the average difference from the design value ishow far off target you areand the standard deviation characterizes how much variation there is among the measurements in a set of data. ACI 224.1
Flatness In developing the F-number system, Face wanted to come up with values that would be easier to compare directly. He began by adding the magnitude of the average variation in q values (the absolute value of the mean) to three times the standard deviation of the q values. The reason for adding three standard deviations is that it represents very nearly the maximum half-width of the normal probability distribution curve, also known as a bell curve. In other words, using three times the standard deviation accounts for the diversity of the data and what the maximum difference is between the design value and any measured value.
ACI 224.1

Levelness
Flatness In considering floor flatness, both of these things matter. The greater the average difference, the greater the typical dip or hump there is in the surface. A small standard deviation means the transition into and out of such a dip or hump is smoother than if the standard deviation is large. Taken to the extreme, a large standard deviation may indicate a washboard effect. However, the small scale of the q measurements, commonly hundredths or thousandths of an inch, would require comparing very small numbers taken out to an inconvenient number of decimal places. ACI 224.1
Flatness In developing the F-number system, Face wanted to come up with values that would be easier to compare directly. He began by adding the magnitude of the average variation in q values (the absolute value of the mean) to three times the standard deviation of the q values. The reason for adding three standard deviations is that it represents very nearly the maximum half-width of the normal probability distribution curve, also known as a bell curve. In other words, using three times the standard deviation accounts for the diversity of the data and what the maximum difference is between the design value and any measured value. ACI 224.1

Levelness
Levelness is a measure of the inclination of the floor compared to its design inclination, which may not be horizontal. A floor's levelness is measured in much the same way as its flatness, but by using the differences, z, in elevation between two points 10 feet apart. A mean and standard deviation are calculated for the z data, again using statistical methods for normally distributed data.
ACI 224.1

Levelness
The FL calculation begins by adding the absolute value of the z-based mean to three times its standard deviation. This number is then inverted, following the same logic as previously explained. However, in order to easily differentiate between FF and FL values, and to keep users from mistakenly trying to compare these dissimilar measurements, Face set 30 as the target FL for a relatively level floor and developed the multiplier of 12.50 to make that work. Several options exist for collecting the data, ranging from a 10-foot straightedge and a rule to more high-tech instruments such as the Dipstick and D-Meter. ACI 224.1

Floor flatness
Ways to measure a floor Several options exist for collecting the data, ranging from a 10foot straightedge and a rule to more high-tech instruments. The first of these high-tech devices, the Dipstick, was developed by Face to measure floor elevation differences at 1-foot intervals. Similar devices like the D-Meter also have come along to perform this task. These instruments use an inclinometer to obtain very accurate measurements.

Floor flatness
Ways to measure a floor Inclinometers rely on gravity to generate an artificial horizon and measure angular tilt with respect to this horizon. They can be very sensitive, providing accuracy to within 0.001 degree. As the sensing component embedded in floor slab measuring devices like the Dipstick and D-Meter, they measure d, the relative elevation between two points 1 foot apart, directly. The manufacturers of these highly accurate tools claim accuracies within 0.0005 inch. Developed in the very early days of portable computing, the original Dipstick design provided only a digital display of each reading, which the operator had to copy into a notebook. The data were later processed to come up with the floors FF and FL numbers.

Floor flatness
In the 1980s a programmable calculator mounted on the instrument added the capability of automatically recording measurement data. That increased both accuracy and productivity. Today onboard, embedded computing capabilities in these instruments routinely offer the ability to instantly display FF and FL readings as well as store large numbers of readings. The information can be retrieved in the field or downloaded to a personal computer. Some instruments also include programming that allows you to enter information about the floor and then provides a data collection plan that meets the standard test requirements.The industry has made significant advances in construction

The future????
Leica ScanStation 2 is an as-built and topographic surveying tool kit. Leica ScanStation 2 features powerful laptop control and the ability to conduct fulldome scans using its oscillating mirror with front and top-window design. A high-resolution, internal digital camera aids with targeting and texture mapping of scan data.

Resources: Guide for Surface Finish of Concrete Slabs on Ground is published by the American Society of Concrete Contractors and will be available soon. You can reserve your copy by calling 866-788-2722.
Welcome to the ACI Online CEU Program
ACI MEMBER BENEFIT: ACI members receive 8 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) tokens during each membership year. Tokens can be used to earn up to 0.8 CEUs, equivalent to 8 Professional Development Hours (8 PDHs). Earned CEUs can be presented to state licensing agencies to meet part of each state's continuing education re-licensing requirements for PDHs. ACI retains a permanent record of each participant's course activities. If ACI members desire to take more than eight (8) courses during their membership year, individual courses may be purchased. The online CEU program is also available to non-members for a fee of $25.00 per 1-hour course. How does the program work? Select the desired topic (see list at the right) and sign in to access the material. Download the reference materials for FREE. Read and study the reference materials. Take and pass the 10-question exam. Browser Compatibility: ACI on-line CEU exams can be completed using Firefox and Internet Explorer. LOG INIf you know your ACI User ID and Password REGISTERIf you don't have an ACI account or forgot your Username or Password Exam Information All exams relating to this program are developed, reviewed, and approved by the EAC. Each topic includes FREE downloadable resource material and a 10-question exam to test each participant's technical knowledge of the material. A minimum passing score of 70% is required before a Certificate of Completion is conferred for a course. Participants are notified by e-mail whether they have passed or failed the exam. Participants can retake the exam until a passing score is achieved, after which a Certificate of Completion will be e-mailed to the participant. ACI Online CEU Programs NEW! ACI 212.3R-10 Report on Chemical Admixtures for Concrete: Chapter 15 Permeability-Reducing Admixtures NEW! ACI 347-04 Guide to Formwork for Concrete: Chapter 2 Design NEW! ACI 306R-10 Guide to Cold Weather Concreting: Chapter 8 - Protection for Structural Concrete NEW! ACI 544.5R-10 Report on the Physical Properties and Durability of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (Chapter 3) NEW! Contractor's Guide: Chapter 10 - (Placement and Finishing) NEW! Contractor's Guide: Chapter 8 - (Joints and Reinforcement for Slabs-on-Ground) NEW! RAP12 - Concrete Repair by Shotcrete Application and CCS-4 Shotcrete for the Craftsman NEW! RAP13 Methacrylate Flood Coat NEW! RAP14 Concrete Removal Using

Resources: 1Hard Trowel Finish on Air-entrained Concrete2Location of Rolled WeldedWire Fabric in Concrete3Coatings that Affect Bond to Reinforcement4Trowel Marks on Concrete Floors5Specifications for Crack Repair6Division 3 versus Division 9 Floor Flatness Tolerances7Birdbaths on Concrete Slab8Bugholes in Formed Concrete9Slab Thickness Tolerances10Moisture-Sensitive Floor Coverings on Concrete Slabs11Appearance Requirements for Concrete Slabs12Responsibility for Buying Concrete13Use of ACI Committee Reports and Guides in Project Specifications14Anchor Bolt Tolerances15Setting Time Expectations for Hard-Trowel Finishing16Referee Test for Flexural Strength Acceptance17Free Fall of Concrete18Concrete Tolerance Coordination Complete Bundle of Statements (#'s 1-26, 1 complete set)19Balcony Drainage20Testing Fresh Concrete at Point of Delivery21Contractor Value Engineering22Reverse Auction Bidding23Contraction Joints in Elevated Slabs24Tolerances for Suspended Concrete Slabs25Floor Finishing Specifications26Misuses of the Moisture-Vapor Emission Test

Resources: Decorative Concrete Decorative Concrete Position Statements Appearance Requirements for Colored Concrete Slabs Base Preparation for Slabs on Grade Preconstruction Meeting for Acid Stained Floors Curing Decorative Concrete Jointing and Crack Control in Decorative Concrete Applications Efflorescence and Colored Concrete Responsibility for Moisture Testing Concrete Floors

Evaulating Concrete Surfaces

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Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

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Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Mixture proportions Aggregate Source 28-day Compressive strength Dryness

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Definitions Mixture proportions

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Aggregate Mohs scaletest unit

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

L A Abrasion test machine

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Definitions Compressive strength

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Dryness Vapor Retarders

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Condition of the concrete surfaces texture

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Condition of the concrete surfaces texture

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Condition of the concrete surfaces texture

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Condition of the concrete surfaces texture

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Condition of the concrete surfaces texture

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Condition of the concrete surfaces texture

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces

Determination of location and extent of concrete cracking

Evaluating Concrete Surfaces