CHEMICAL REACTIVITY

Both for fine and coarse aggregates, hydration of

cement with water leads to the creation of pore solutions
in to which several ions from the cement go in to solution.
Notable among these ions are calcium hydroxide,
sodium, potassium, etc.
They are usually considered chemically inert and do not
react with pore solution.
However, presence of certain minerals (crystallized salt,
sulphate, cherts, expanded clay or shale and fossils )

in the parent

rocks makes the coarse or the fine aggregate reactive.

Other Important Considerations

Bulking of sand

Increase in the volume of sand caused by the films of water

pushing the particles apart.
In volume batching, this distorts the mix proportions and
decreases the yield of concrete.

Unsoundness
Low density particles can decrease strength.
Mica, and gypsum and other sulphates could react with the
hydration products leading to harmful effects.

Alkali-silica reactivity
Reactive forms of silica present in the aggregates are
attacked by the alkaline hydroxides in pore water. The
resulting gel swells, and can cause expansion and cracking.

Alkali-carbonate reactivity
Some dolomitic limestones and the alkalis in cement react to
form an expansive gel.

Concrete Technology

STRENGTH OF COARSE AGGREGATE

It is determined using one or more following method
Crushing value
Impact value
Abrasion value
It is also know as mechanical properties of coarse
aggregate

STRENGTH CHARACTERIZATION
Compressive value of aggregate is a measure which relatively gives an idea of its
resistance to crushing under a compressive load applied gradually. Lower the crushing
value, stronger is the aggregate against crushing. Therefore for good quality concrete:
aggregate having comparatively lower crushing value is to be preferred
Toughness is the property of materials which indicates its capacity to withstand impact
or sudden shock. Tougher the aggregate: more suitable it is for use in concrete, especially
for Wearing surfaces such as road surface which is often subjected to load impacts. Impact
value is a measure of toughness of aggregate. Lower the impact value, stronger the
aggregate, against impact. Therefore for good quality concrete, aggregate with lower
aggregate impact value preferred
The aggregates must be tested with respect to its resistance to wear when used in
construct6n of roads, pavements, and ware house floors. covers two methods for finding
out the abrasion value of coarse aggregate namely Deval and Los Angels abrasion testing
machine. However, use of Los Angels abrasion testing machine gives a better realistic
picture of the abrasion resistance of the aggregate

 The measurement involved in all the three, in principle is measure

the tendency or susceptibility of an aggregate to powdering
More the powder generated lesser is the strength and vice versa
Quantification of powder generated : A specific (sieve) size is
decided and particle finer than that are classified as [powder)
For example, as per Indian standards (IS 2386), following sizes
apply
Once the amounts of powder generated are know, the values can
calculated in terms of given percentage of the original sample
used.

Concrete Technology

TEST

Sieve used

Crushing

2.36

Impact

2.36

Abrasion

1.70

Aggregate Impact Value

<20%
10 20%
20-30%
>35%

45% -NW, 30%-W

50%-W, 30%-NW

Classification
Exceptionally Strong
Strong
Satisfactory for road surfacing
Weak for road surface

Moisture condition

In Portland Cement Concrete the specific gravity of the

aggregate is used in calculating the percentage of voids
and the solid volume of aggregates in computations of
yield. The absorption is important in determining the net
water-cement ratio in the concrete mix. Knowing the
specific gravity of aggregates is also critical to the
construction

of

water

filtration

systems,

slope

stabilization projects, railway bedding and many other

applications.

Density
Density : Aggregates have inherent porosity and therefore
the concept of density has to be carefully understood.
Dry specific gravity the absolute density of dry aggregate.
SSD specific gravity : The specific gravity of saturated
surface dry (SSD) aggregate when pores of the aggregate
are saturated with water but there is no excess moisture
sticking to the aggregate surface.

Bulk Specific Gravity (also known as Bulk Dry Specific Gravity): The ratio of the
weight in air of a unit volume of aggregate at a stated temperature to the weight in air of
an equal volume of gas-free distilled water at the stated temperature.
Bulk SSD Specific Gravity: The ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of aggregate,
including the weight of water within the voids filled to the extent achieved by submerging
in water for approximately 15 hours, to the weight in air of an equal volume of gas-free
distilled water at the stated temperature.
Apparent Specific Gravity: The ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of the
impermeable portion of aggregate (does not include the permeable pores in aggregate) to
the weight in air of an equal volume of gas-free distilled water at the stated temperature.

Bulk density
:Bulk

specific gravity of aggregates

w a t e r : Unit mass of water
v:voids

ratio in aggregates

Bulk Density=
Bulk density depends on packing and is not very reliable.

Bond
The shape and texture of the aggregates
Can

affect

the

bond

between

the

aggregate
and the paste

Rougher aggregates provide higher

bonds

Porous aggregates give better bonds affects

flexural
strength of concrete

A visual inspection of aggregates in broken

concrete can indicate bond

WATER
Its least expensive material for concrete to use, but quality and
quantity can lead poor mix of concrete . The purpose of water in
concrete can be found in threefold
1. It makes evenly distribution of materials in concrete
2. It helps to produce CSH gel
3. It provides the workability

QUANTITY OF WATER
Duff Abraham proposed a law for water and developed strength in concrete , famously
known as Abrhams Law.
Actually the strength of concrete is inversely proportional to w/c ratio, its expressed

S 748 7 x
S strength
x water cement ratio

QUALITY OF WATER
Impurities in water chemical, biological and
physical
IMPURITIES

EFFECT

Chloride

Corrosion

Sulphate

Leaching, volumetric
expansion, unsoundness

Organic matter (algae, fungi)

Affect setting, hardening

properties

Sugar

Retard the setting time

Silt or suspended particle

Increase fineness in concrete

More alkali

Alkali-aggregate reaction

More acidic

Strength deterioration

IS Guidelines to limiting impurities in mixing water