Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting

Operations
 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2. Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4hr)
2.1 Water-Cement ratio
2.2 Workability and its test (slump test, compaction factor test ,
Vee-Bee consistency test, flow table test)
2.3 Segregation, bleeding and their effects
2.4 Concreting operations (Batching, mixing , handling, placing,
compaction, finishing ,curing and formwork removal)
2.5 Concreting in extreme temperatures and its mitigation
2.6 Mass Concreting issues and their mitigation

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.1 Water Cement Ratio

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
Abram’s classic law:
Strength of concrete, A
S = w /c
B

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.1 Water Cement Ratio

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.1 Water Cement Ratio
• The strength of concrete at given age and cured at prescribed temperatures depends upon two factors.
1. water cement ratio.
2. degree of compaction.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.1 Water Cement Ratio
Gel/Space Ratio
Ratio of volume of hydrated cement paste to sum of
volumes of the hydrated cement and the capillary pores.
By Power’s experiment,
Strength of concrete = 240 x3
x = gel/space ratio
0.657𝐶
=
0.319𝐶α+𝑊𝑜

C = Weight of cement in gm
Wo = Volume of mixing water in ml
240 = intrinsic strength of gel in MPa
for the type of cement and
specimen used
α = fraction of cement that has hydrated
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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests
Workability:-is a property of freshly mixed concrete or mortar which determines the edge and
homogeneity with which it can be mixed, placed, compacted and finished.
Factors affecting workability :-
Materials and mix proportion.
W/c ratio /water content.
Size and shape of aggregate.
Varies with time and temperature.
Surface texture of aggregate.
Grading of agg.
Use of admixtures
Test:
1) Slump test – widely used, easy, medium to high workability (slump 25 to 125 mm)
2) Compacting factor test – low to medium workability, (CF 0.9 to 0.8). lab condition,
not suitable for CF ≤ 0.7.
3)Vee-Bee consistency test - low to very low workability (stiff concrete). Not suitable for slump ≥
75mm.
4) Flow table test – medium to high workability
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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests
1.Slump test
Apparatus required
Slump cone : Base diameter 20 cm , top diameter 10 cm, and 30 cm high.
• Tamping rod 16 mm diameter and 60 cm length.
• Scale for measurement.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests
1.Slump test

▪ Free from vibration & shock

▪Within a period of 2.5 min after
sampling
▪ Valid for max 38 mm agg.
▪ Measure at one min after
removing cone.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests
1.Slump test
Procedure
• Place the mould on the non porous base.
• Fill the mould with fresh concrete in 3-4 layers; each layers is tampered 25 times
with tamping rod.
• Make the upper surface level and immediately remove the mould vertically with care to allow
concrete to subside.
• The subsided height measured gives the slump value.

Slump for various works

a) Plain concrete (floor slab etc) = 25 – 40 mm
b) Reinforced concrete (beam, slab etc) = 50 – 100 mm
c) Mass concrete = 25 – 50 mm
d) Column, retaining wall and thin vertical sections = 75 – 125 mm
e) Highway pavement = 25 – 50 mm
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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests
2.Compaction factor test :
This test works on the principle of determining the degree of compaction achieved by a
standard amount of workdone by allowing concrete to fall through a standard height.
Wt. of partially compacted concrete
Compaction factor =
Wt. of fully compacted concrete
Apparatus:

Dimensions
Hopper A : Top internal diameter 25.4 cm
Bottom internal diameter 12.7 cm
Internal height 27.9 cm
Cylinder: Internal diameter 15.2 cm
. Internal height 30.5 cm

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests
2.Compaction factor test :
Procedure
• Take full of concrete in hopper A.
• Open the trap door of A to fall concrete in hopper B.
• Open the trap door of B to fall concrete in cylinder C.
• Level the cylinder, clean the outside of cylinder then take the weight of concrete in cylinder,
which is called weight of partially compacted concrete.
• Empty the cylinder then refill it with concrete from the sample sample in 5 layers each with
heavy vibration or ramming for full compaction .Then take weight which is called weight of
fully compacted concrete.
• Compaction factor = Wt. of partially compacted concrete
Wt. of fully compacted concrete

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests
3.Vebe Consistency Test:
Developed by Swedish engineer, V. Bahrner Determines consistancy.
Nominal max size of agg limited to 38 mm.
Apparatus:

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests
3.Vebe Consistency Test:
Procedure
• Cone filling and Compaction
• 3/4 layer compaction and 25 times tampering
• Glass Disc Placement and Measurement
• Initial measurement of cone height by glass disc(h1)
• Cone Removal and Additional Measurement
• Measurement of slump height after slump cone is removed(h2)
• Slump Calculation
• h1-h2
• Vibration and Speed
• 50-60 hz frequency of rotation and max acceleration of 3g to 4g
• Time and Measurement
• It is assumed that energy required for compaction is the measure of workability of the
mix and this is expressed as time in seconds, called Vebe time, required for remolding
to be complete.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests
4.Flow table Test:
Determines the fluidity
Nominal max size of agg limited to 38 mm.
Apparatus:
• Mould of smooth metal in the form of
frustum of cone. (base diameter 25 cm,
upper diameter 17 cm and height 12 cm).
• Table of 76 cm diameter over which
concentric circles are marked.
• Tamping rod daimeter 16 mm and length 60
cm

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests
4.Flow table Test:
Procedure
• Place the mould on the centre of table and fill it on two layers
each is tamped 25 times.
• Level the mould and lift the mould vertically upward and
remove from the table.
• Raise and drop to (12.5 mm height) table for 15 times in 15 sec
with the help of handle.
• Concrete spreads and diameter of spread concrete is measured
in 6 directions nearest to 5mm and average spread is found.
• Flow % = spread diameter in cm −25 x 100
25
It varies from 0 to 150% . As flow increase workability increases.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.2 Workability and its tests

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.3 Segregation, bleeding and their effects
Segregation
Segregation of concrete is the separation of cement paste and aggregates of
concrete from each other during handling, placing and compaction.
In segregation cement paste comes to the top and aggregates settles at the
bottom. Sometimes would be opposite.
Reasons for segregation:
• Carrying concrete mixes for long distance.
• Imperfectly proportioned mix where adequate
matrix does not exist to unite the aggregates.
• Dropping concrete from height.
• Vibrating concrete for long time.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.3 Segregation, bleeding and their effects
Segregation
Segregation is of two types:-
Initially (in too dry mixes), the coarse aggregate is segregated or settling down
from the rest of the matrix,

secondly ( in too wet mixes ), the paste or matrix is detached away from coarse
aggregate.

In case of segregation, remixing for a short time may transform concrete again
homogeneous.

The following precautions should be taken to get rid of concrete segregation:-

The concrete mix should be perfectly designed with best possible
quantity of water i.e. not too wet nor too dry.
The proportion of the mix should be correct.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.3 Segregation, bleeding and their effects
Segregation
• Ensure the concrete is mixed perfectly at the proper speed in a transit
mixture for minimum two minutes.
• Concrete should not become excessively wet or dry.
• Refrain from arranging concrete from long height.
• There should be proper transportation of concrete through
shortest route.
• Select coarse and fine aggregate with approach specific
gravity.
• The vibrator should be used for exact time period (not too long or
short).
• Don’t permit concrete to flow.
• The formwork should be firm and should not be vibrated.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.3 Segregation, bleeding and their effects
Bleeding
Bleeding in concrete is a phenomenon in which free water in the mix rises
up to the surface and forms a paste of cement on the surface known as
“laitance”.

Bleeding is a form of segregation in which water present in the concrete

mix is pushed upwards due to the settlement of cement and aggregate.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.3 Segregation, bleeding and their effects
Bleeding
• Bleeding occurs in concrete when course aggregates tends to settle down and
free water rises up to the surface.
• The specific gravity of water is low, due to this water tends to move upwards.
• Bleeding ordinarily occurs in the wet mix of concrete.
• The Prime factor for bleeding in concrete is the higher water cement ratio.
• The bleeding in concrete is not harmful if the rate of evaporation of water
is equal to the rate of bleeding.
• Normal bleeding is quite good, and it enhances the workability of concrete.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.3 Segregation, bleeding and their effects
Bleeding
Control of Bleeding
• By adding minimum water content in the concrete mix.

• Encouraging the use of air en-training admixtures.

• By adding more cement or mineral admixture in the mix.

• By adding more sand.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.4 Concreting operations
Batching
The process of measuring ingredients or materials to prepare concrete mix is
known as batching. Two types of batching:
1. Volume Batching
• Materials are measured on the basis of
volume.
• Measurement boxes or gauge boxes of
known volume are used to measure
materials
• Volume of gauge box used is made equal to volume of one bag of cement
(50 kg taken as 35 liters)

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.4 Concreting operations
Batching
2. Weight Batching
• Materials are measured on the basis of weight.
• Weight batcher or other types of weighing equipment are used to
measure weight of materials.

Difference in weight and volume batching??

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.4 Concreting operations
Mixing
1. Hand Mixing of Concrete (Mixing concrete manually without a mixer machine)
2. Machine Mixing of Concrete (Mixing concrete with a mixer machine)
3. Ready Mix Concrete (Mixing in automatic or semi-automatic
.batching plant)

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.4 Concreting operations
Handling and Placing
Proper handling of concrete during placement should minimize
segregation of coarse aggregates.
Basically, concrete should be placed by a vertical drop, however, the material
should not be allowed to free fall for long distances.
Concrete should be allowed to flow slowly into the forms at a vertical angle.
If placement on a slope is desired the concrete should be constrained to fall
vertically by some sort of chute or baffle.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.4 Concreting operations
Compaction
Compaction is the process which expels entrapped air from
f.reshly placed concrete and packs the aggregate particles
together so as to increase the density of concrete.
It increases significantly the ultimate strength of concrete and enhances the
bond with reinforcement.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.4 Concreting operations
Curing
Curing of Concrete is a method by which the concrete
is protected against loss of moisture required for hydration and kept within the
recommended temperature range.
Curing will increase the strength and decrease the permeability of hardened
concrete.
.Curing is also helps in mitigating thermal and plastic
cracks, which can severely impact durability of structures.
A curing practice involves keeping the concrete damp or moist until the hydration
of concrete is complete and strength is attained.
Curing of concrete should begin soon after initial setting time of concrete.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.4 Concreting operations
Formwork removal
• Formwork removal or deshuttering is
one where the mold is removed .
• This is done when concrete reaches
maturity and is highly dependent to
ambient temperature.
• This process requires certain
precautions, and specific knowledge
is necessary to ensure the removal
process is flawless and up to
standards

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.5 Concreting in extreme temperatures and its mitigation
Hot weather concreting
Any operation of concreting done at atmospheric temperature .above 40°C (other
than steam curing) is hot weather concreting.

Concrete is not recommended to be placed at a temperature above 40°C without

proper precautions.
The effects of hot weather are most critical during periods of rising temperature and
falling relative humidity or both.
Effect of hot weather on concreting:-
• Accelerated setting
• Reduction in strength (higher early strength & lower final strength)
• Increased tendency to crack (plastic shrinkage and cracking, tensile stresses)
• Rapid evaporation of water during curing
• Difficulty in control of air content in air-entrained concrete
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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.5 Concreting in extreme temperatures and its mitigation
Hot weather concreting
Recommended Practice and Precautions:-
• Temperature control of concrete ingredients
• Use of minimum and lower heat of hydration cements
• Use of water-reducing and/or set retarding admixtures
• Use of cold water for mixing and curing.
• Formwork protection and shading.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.5 Concreting in extreme temperatures and its mitigation
Cold weather concreting
Any concreting operation done at a temperature below 5°C is termed as cold
weather concreting.
Effect of Cold Weather Concreting:-
Delayed setting
Reduction in strength (up to 50 %)
Stress due to temperature difference
Recommended Practice and Precautions:-

• Temperature control of concrete ingredients

• Use of maximum quantity of OPC or rapid hardening cements

• Use of accelerating admixture.

• Use of hot water for mixing and curing.
• Use of insulating formwork and delay of removal of formwork
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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.6 Mass Concreting issues and their mitigation
Mass Concreting is a specialized form of concrete construction that involves using
large amounts of concrete in a single pour.
As per ACI “ Any volume of concrete with dimensions large enough to require that
measures be taken to cope with the generation of heat from hydration of cement
and attendant volume change to minimize cracking
Problems
• Undesirable thermal stresses
• Cracking
• Deleterious Chemical reactions(formation of
(Delayed ettringite formation(DEF))
• Reduction in long term strength as a result of
elevated concrete temp due to heat of
hydration.

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 Concrete Technology
2.0 Properties of Fresh Concrete and Concreting
Operations(4 hrs)
2.6 Mass Concreting issues and their mitigation
Mitigation measures
• Precooling systems
• Post cooling systems
• Surface Insulation

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