BUILDING MATERIALS & CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

SUBJECT: BUILDING MATERIALS & CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

II YEAR B.TECH, CIVIL ENGINEERING

BY

DR V.MADHUSUDHAN RAO, FRSC

 BUILDING MATERIALS & CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

UNIT-IV
HARDENED CONCRETE

Contents: --- Water / Cement ratio – Abram’s law, Gel space

ratio, Nature of strength of concrete – Maturity concept,
Strength in tension and compression – Properties of
Hardened Concrete (Elasticity, Creep, Shrinkage, Poisson’s
ratio, Water absorption, Permeability, etc.), Relating
between compression and tensile strength, Curing
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I.Abrams' law
Abrams' water-cement ratio law is a
concept in civil engineering. The law states
the strength of a concrete mix is inversely
related to the mass ratio of water to
cement. As the water content increases, the
strength of concrete decreases.
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Abrams' law
Abram’s Law is a special case of general rule
formulated by FERET with his experience and
experiments.

S = Compressive Strength of concrete

A & B are empirical constants
(w/c) is water-cement ratio
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Abrams' law
1.If the water is increased by 10% above the
optimum water content the strength of
concrete reduces by 15%,
2. Increase in 50% water content reduces
the strength of concrete by 50%.
Cement requires about 1/5 to 1/4 of its
weight of water to hydrate completely
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Abrams' law
1.Water is measured by its volume and it is
specified as no of litres per bag of cement.
2.The further increase or decrease in water to
be mixed, depends on the quantity of water
present in sand and coarse aggregates, due to
Hygroscopic action or any other reason
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Strength at any water cement ratio depends on the

following criteria:
1.Degree of hydration of cement
2.Chemical and physical properties of concrete
3.Temperature at which the hydration of cement is
done
4.Bleeding and shrinkage in concrete
5.Air content; if it is entrained concrete
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II.Gel -Space Ratio
Gel space ratio is the ratio of the volume of cement gel to
sum of the volume of cement gel and that of the capillary
pores.
Vol. of cement gel
Gel/Space Ratio = ---------------------
Vol.of cem gel + vol. of capillaries

The gel space ratio takes into account the pores in the
concrete. Hence, it can be used as an alternative to porosity
 x = gel space ratio
240 = intrinsic strength of gel in MPa for particular cement type

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Relation Between Gel-Space ratio and Compressive

Strength
S to establish a relation
Powerr and Brownyard worked
between gel space ratio and compressive strength.

fc = 240 X3
fc = strength of concrete in MPa
x = gel space ratio
240 = intrinsic strength of gel in MPa for
particular cement type
 x = gel space ratio
240 = intrinsic strength of gel in MPa for particular cement type

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Relation Between Gel/space ratio and Compressive

Strength
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III.Concrete maturity
1.It is an index value that represents the
progression of concrete curing.
2.It is based on an equation that takes into
account concrete temperature, time, and
strength gain.
3. Concrete maturity is an accurate way to
determine real-time strength values of curing
concrete
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Concrete maturity
1.The maturity method is a convenient approach to
predict the early age strength gain of concrete
2.ASTM C1074, Standard Practice for Estimating
Concrete Strength by the Maturity Method
Maturity =  time x temperature
The maturity value is governed by the fundamental
assumption that a given concrete mix design poured
during course of a specific project has the same
compressive strength when it has the same “maturity
index
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Concrete maturity
1.The main concept about concrete maturity is that a
specific value of maturity can be obtained with many
different combinations of time and temperature.
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Concrete maturity
Temperature affects how fast the maturity develops.
1. If the temperature is high, it will take less time to
reach a certain maturity, compared to if the
temperature is low.

2.Temperature has a large influence on the time it

takes for a concrete structure to cure. The lower
the temperature, the longer it takes – and the
higher the temperature, the quicker it goes.
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Concrete maturity
1.Concrete may reach the same compressive strength
after 7 days of curing at 10 °C when it is cured at 25 °C
for 3 days.
2.the strength development in concrete is a linear
function of hydration temperature.
.M(t)=[(Ta-T0)xt],
M(t) is the maturity index at age t, Ta is the average
temperature during time interval t, T0 is the datum
temperature(0 to -10)
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Concrete maturity
This method can potentially address many
immediate challenges facing the concrete
industry,
1. predicting appropriate time for formwork
stripping
2. post-tensioning, especially at low
temperatures while the strength development of
concrete is hindered;
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Concrete maturity
3. optimizing concrete mix formula and concrete
curing conditions (e.g. concrete heating at low
temperatures or surface protection in hot-dry
weathers)
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Benefits of Using the Maturity Method

1. Maturity method has proven to be one of the most reliable
methods to estimate early in-place concrete strength.
2.The method is simple and highly adaptable for different
projects and needs
3.Strength estimation in real-time
a). The use of the maturity method allows us to track the
strength development of concrete in real-time.
b) .This will give you valuable information about how the
concrete is curing.
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Benefits of Using the Maturity Method

4.Better project planning 
a). Changes in weather or temperature can make it challenging
to predict when the concrete is strong enough to proceed to the
next step.
b).The risk of starting too early or too late is limited to a
minimum, avoiding unnecessary delays and reducing product
waste.
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Benefits of Using the Maturity Method

5.Automatic documentation
a). Many of the workers’ hours are wasted every day on manual
data collection and documentation.
b). The strength estimation can be done much smarter by using
maturity systems like Maturix.
c). This will make all the calculations and create the
documentation automatically, saving time and cutting costs on
these labour intensive tasks.
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Properties of Hardened Concrete

The properties which determine the quality of
the hardened concrete broadly fall into the following
three groups :
1.Strength.
2.Durability.
3.Dimensional stability.
4. Modulus of Elasticity
5. Creep
6. Shrinkage of Concrete
7.Permaibility
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Compressive and Tensile Strength of Concrete

Compressive Strength:
Concrete has enormous compressive strength, the
ability to withstand heavy weights or forces on it. It
also gains strength as it ages. Concrete will solidify in a
few hours and harden or set in a few days, but
continues to gain strength for at least 28 days. Some
very thick concrete structures, like dams, will continue
to gain strength for months or years
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Compressive and Tensile Strength of Concrete

Compressive Strength:
For normal concretes in uni-axial compression, the
relation between stress, σ , and strain, ε, is almost
linear at small values of σ, but at stresses higher than
about 40 percent of the concrete compressive strength
the stress-strain relation becomes increasingly affected
by the formation and development of the micro cracks
at the interfaces between mortar and aggregate that
result in a smaller stiffness
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Tensile Strength of Concrete :

Concrete has almost no tensile strength, the ability to
withstand pressing or stretching. Put a board between
two supports and press down on the centre. It will
bend. The top of the board is under compression, the
bottom which bends is under tension. Concrete can
resist the compression, but will break under the
tension. Concrete cracks in roads and slabs are largely
due to tension; different weights in different areas
produce tensile forces.
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Compressive and Tensile Strength of Concrete

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Tensile Strength of Concrete

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Concrete Behaviour in Tension

Principal tensile strength

(MPa):     f’t = 0.4 √f’c

Principal flexural tensile

strength (MPa):     f’t =
0.6 √f’c
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 Fracture energy
1.It is defined as the energy required to open a
crack with a unit area in concrete.
2.It is a function of displacement across crack,
not strain; hence it is not dependent on the
concrete specimen size
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 Fracture energy
The area underneath the stress-
displacement curve is the
fracture energy which normally
varies between 50 N/m to 150
N/m for normal strength
concrete
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Relation between Compressive and Tensile

Strength of Concrete
1. The theoretical compressive strength of concrete is
eight times larger than its tensile strength.

2. This implies a fixed relation between the

compressive and tensile strength of concrete.

3. the rate of increase of tensile strength is of

decreasing order.
.
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Relation between Compressive and Tensile

Strength of Concrete
The tensile and compressive strengths of concrete are
not proportional, and an increase in compressive
strength is accompanied by an appreciably smaller
percentage increase in tensile strength.
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Relation between Compressive and Tensile

Strength of Concrete
higher the compressive strength, higher the tensile
strength, but the rate of increase of tensile strength is of
decreasing order. The tensile strength of concrete is more
sensitive to improper curing than the compressive strength.
This may be due to the following two reasons:
(a) Formation of inferior quality gel due to improper curing.
(b) Development of more shrinkage cracks due to improper
curing.
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Properties of Hardened Concrete

Some of the most important factors that influence
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
1.Type of Cement
2.Nature of Aggregates
3.Water-Cement Ratio
4.Curing Conditions
5.Weather Conditions
6.Addition of Admixtures
7.Method of Preparation
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factors that influence COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

1.Type of Cement
1.Cement with higher proportions of tri-calcium silicate produce
concrete that show higher strengths, at least in earlier stages.
2.Similarly, finer the particle size of the cement, higher is the
ultimate compressive strengthii.
2.Nature of Aggregates.
Sand and coarse aggregates form the other two essential
components of concrete. A good bond between cement and the
aggregates is possible only when the aggregates have sharp
edges, clean surfaces, and rough texture. aggregates used in the
concrete making should have in themselves good compressive
strength.
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factors that influence COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

 3.Water-Cement Ratio.
The compressive strength decreases, in general, with increasing 
water cement ratio s
4.Curing Conditions.
Great importance is attached to proper curing of concrete after
it’s laying for obtaining maximum compressive strength.
Incomplete curing and intermittent drying of concrete during the
curing period may cause a loss in the compressive strength to the
extent of 40 percent or even more

.
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factors that influence COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

5. Weather Conditions.
The same concrete placed in different climates -extremely cold
and dry hot, may develop different strength values.
The cause is related to incomplete hydration of the cement in the
concrete
6. Admixtures.
Certain admixtures are added to the concrete at the mixing stage
for achieving some specific purposes.
It has been observed that certain admixtures especially calcium
chloride, increase the compressive strength.
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factors that influence COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

7. Method of Preparation.
Improper mixing of the concrete and careless transport and
s
placing may result in poor (in strength) quality, despite the best 
cement and aggregates used in it.
.
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II. Tensile Strength:

Plain concrete (without steel reinforcement) is quite weak in
tensile strength which may vary from 1/8th to 1/20th of the
ultimate compressive strength.
It is primarily for this reason that steel bars (reinforcement) are
introduced into the concrete at the laying stage to get a block of 
reinforced cement concrete which is very Strong in compression
as well as in tension.
In plain concrete, tensile strength depends largely on the same
factors as of the compressive strength
.
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Properties of Hardened Concrete

.
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Properties of Hardened Concrete

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Properties of Hardened Concrete

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Properties of Hardened Concrete

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CREEP Creep can be defined as the “time-dependent” part of the strain

resulting from stress
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Properties of Hardened Concrete

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Properties of Hardened Concrete

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Properties of Hardened Concrete

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CREEP
1.When concrete is loaded, the structure undergoes elastic and
inelastic deformations.

2.Elastic deformations occur immediately after the concrete is

subjected to a given load, according to Hooke’s Law.

3.Inelastic deformations increase with time as the concrete

experiences a sustained load.

4.Inelastic deformation, also known as creep, increases at a

decreasing rate during the loading period
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Modulus of elasticity
1.The modulus of elasticity of concrete is a measure of the
stiffness of the concrete or how much the concrete will deflect
under load. It is used to analyze the concrete’s behavior under
load, including.

2.It should be noted that higher modulus of elasticity of the

concrete is often not really desirable in a concrete member as
higher stiffness materials will attract greater stress
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Modulus of elasticity
Modulus of elasticity (also known as elastic modulus,
the coefficient of elasticity) of a material is a number that is
defined by the ratio of the applied stress to the corresponding
strain within the elastic limit.
E = Stress/ Strain
1. It demonstrate the ability of concrete to withstand
deformation due to applied stress but also its stiffness.
2.In other words, it reflects the ability of concrete to deflect
elastically.
3.Modulus of elasticity of concrete is sensitive to aggregate and
mixture proportions of concrete.
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Modulus of Elasticity
.
.
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Modulus of Elasticity
1. .Initial tangent modulus: since no part of the stress-strain graph
.
is straight, the modulus of elasticity is found out with reference to
the tangent drawn to the curve at the origin. The modulus found
from this tangent is referred as initial tangent modulus. This gives
satisfactory results only at low stress value.
2.Tangent modulus: Tangent can also be drawn at any other point
on the stress-strain curve. The modulus of elasticity calculated
with reference to this tangent is then called tangent modulus. This
does not give a realistic value of modulus of elasticity for the
stress level much above or below the point at which the tangent is
drawn
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Modulus of Elasticity
3. .Secant modulus: A line can be drawn connecting a specified
. on the stress-strain curve to the origin of the curve. If the
point
modulus of elasticity is calculated with reference to the slope of
this line, the modulus of elasticity is referred as secant modulus

Indian Standard According to IS:456 the modulus

of concrete is given as
 Ec = 5000√ (fck), MPa,
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III. Durability:
Durability is the second most important quality of hardened
concrete. It may be defined as the capacity of hardened concrete
to withstand all the forces of deterioration that are likely to act
on it, after setting, in a given environment.
Durability depends on the following :
1.Frost action.
2.Abrasive forces.
3.Chemical action.
4.Alkali-aggregate reaction.
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•Workmanship
•Compaction of Concrete
•Criticality of Curing
s
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III. Durability:

Consequences of Improper Quality and Inadequate Durability.

• Loss of strength of concrete
• Concrete liable to be easily affected by
deterrents
• Corrosion of reinforcement
• Loss of serviceability
• Unpleasant appearance
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III. Durability:
Factors Affecting Durability Durability
Durability depends on two main factors
a)The concrete system :
•Quality and quantity of materials used and
•Processes involved in manufacture of concrete.
b)The service environment
•Physical actions and
•Chemical actions on concrete.
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Impact of W/C Ratio On Durability

•Permeability is the contributory factor for volume
change and higher W/C ratio is the fundamental
s
cause of higher permeability .
• Use of higher W/C ratio – permeability – volume
change – cracks – disintegration – failure of
concrete is a cyclic process in concrete.
• For a durable concrete, use of lowest possible
W/C ratio is the fundamental requirement to
produce dense and impermeable concrete
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Shrinkage of Concrete:
Shrinkage is the contraction that occurs in concrete when it dries
and hardens due to moisture content evaporation
1Shrinkage is the change in volume over time in a way it
decreases the dimensions of the concrete.
2.The total shrinkage of concrete is determined by the
ingredients of concrete, the size of the member, and the
environmental conditions.
3.For a specified humidity and temperature, the amount of water
present in the concrete at the moment of mixing has the greatest
impact on overall shrinkage
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Causes of concrete shrinkage:

• High cementitious materials content,
• Water evaporation
• Addition of excessive water in concrete
• Contraction of the hydration products
• The surface-area-to-volume ratio of concrete
• Environmental factors
• Cement hydration
• High air temperature
• Low humidity
• Shape of Aggregates
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types of shrinkage :
1.Plastic shrinkage. 2.Drying shrinkage. 3.Autogenous shrinkage
Plastic shrinkage
Plastic shrinkage develops on the surface of the fresh concrete.
It is a consequence of water evaporation from the surface of
fresh concrete or absorption in the concrete form or bedding
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2.Drying shrinkage. 3.Thermal shrinkage
1.Most of the building materials having pores in their structure
in the form of intermolecular space, expand on absorbing
moisture from the atmosphere and shrink on drying.
2.These movements are reversible, causing cracks in buildings
in the form of Drying shrinkage.
3. Drying shrinkage occurs when water starts evaporating from
the exposed surface and the moisture differential along the
depth of the slab causes strain which induces tensile stresses
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2.Drying shrinkage.
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3.Autogenous shrinkage:
Autogenous shrinkage occurs after the initial setting of concrete
due to hydration, since this process requires water and therefore
reduces the internal free water. It is caused because of a self-
desiccation process in the pores of cement stone, it is the use of
water in the cement hydration processes.
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.
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.
Permeability of concrete
Permeability is defined as the property that controls
the rate of flow of fluids into a porous solid. It largely
depends on the size of pores, connectivity of pores, and
how tortuous the path is for the permeating fluid.
Factors affecting permeability of concrete:
1) Curing of concrete: curing of concrete utterly boosts
permeability of concrete or decreases permeability in concrete
2) Water to cement ratio: The lower the w/c ratio the lower the
permeability in concrete.
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.
Permeability of concrete

3. Compaction of Concrete
s
When concrete is adequately compacted, air-voids and
trapped bleed water in concrete are eliminated. As a
result, pores and more importantly interconnected
pores are avoided and eventually concrete permeability
is declined
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.
Poisson’s Ratio of Concrete
When a concrete specimen is subjected to axial loads
the ratio of transverse strain to the longitudinal strain
s
in concrete is termed Poisson’s ratio
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Poisson’s
. Ratio of concrete:
When a concrete specimen is subjected to axial loads the ratio of transverse strain
to the longitudinal strain in concrete is termed Poisson’s ratio

s
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.
Poisson’s Ratio of Concrete of concrete
1 Axial Strain or Longitudinal Strain or Linear Strain=
(Change in Length/Original Length)=(l-lo)/lo.
s
2.Lateral Strain or Transverse Strain=(Change in
Diameter/Original base Diameter)=(d-do)/do.

3. the equation of Poisson’s Ratio

Poisson’s Ratio=Lateral Strain/Longitudinal Strain={(d-do)/do}/((l-
lo)/lo}= lo(d-do)/do(l-lo)
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Poisson’s Ratio
1.Comparatively, Poisson’s ratio of concrete under static loads is
lower than that of concrete upon which dynamic loads .
s
2.The concrete Poisson’s ratio under dynamic loads varies mostly
 
3.Poisson’s ratio of concrete is a constant for determining the
stress and deflection properties of structures such as beams,
plates, and shells

4. Poisson's ratio is significantly affected by the concentration of

solution and water-cement ratio