Introduction to
Concrete Petrography
Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla
DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
UP National Institute of Geological Sciences
Current Administration to spend approximately $180 Billion for
infrastructure development
Introduction: Philippine Construction
Proposed Clark Freeport Zone New Bohol (Panglao) Airport –Aug 2018
http://www.build.gov.ph/ http://tribune.net.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/new-bohol-intl-airport-fr-top.jpg
New construction projects = Demand for construction materials
Need for effective QA/QC of construction projects
Concrete Deterioration
Introduction: Philippine Geologic Setting
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Introduction: Philippine Geologic Setting
24 Active Volcanoes
(PHIVOLCS, 2016)
Hit by Earthquakes regularly Source: Skynews
Annual typhoons cause
extreme wind, torrential
rainfall, and coastal hazards
West Valley Fault
146 km long and cuts across
the capital (Manila)
May potentially cause a 7.2
magnitude earthquake
Loss of life estimated to be
33,500
Ripe for movement
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west-valley-fault-map-april-11-2017.jpg
Philippine Geologic
Setting
Aggregates constitute a large portion
of concrete.
Concrete strength influenced by the
Physical and Chemical properties of
aggregates affected by:
Geologic origin of aggregates
Physical processing by
aggregate producer
Potentially Deleterious Components in
Aggregates
• Amorphous silica may lead to
Alkali-Silica Reaction
Existing Test Methods in the PH
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test%255BEngineersdaily.com%255D.jpg
Indirect Tensile Strength test Compressive strength test
Existing test methods for hardened concrete in the PH:
Limited to physical strength tests
NO TEXTURAL INFORMATION
(alkali silica reaction, delayed ettringite
formation, saltwater attack, fire damage, etc.
can only be detected through textural analysis)
Microscopic Examination of Concrete
“Strength and durability are the two most important concerns of
concrete engineers.
Microscopic examination can provide sufficient evidence to
accurately identify the reasons behind low strength or poor
durability.”
(Jana and Sarkar, 2015)
Petrography
Petrography
• Using Petrography, geologists are able to not only identify
rocks and minerals, but also the processes during the
formation of the rock.
Concrete is a man-made rock
Concrete Petrography
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Concrete Petrography CONCRETE PETROGRAPHY LAB, UPNIGS
Widely used in Singapore,
U.S.A and Europe
Can complement existing
test methods in the
Philippines
TRAINING, EXOVA-ADMATERIALS SINGAPORE
LABORATORY CERTIFICATION, UP NIGS
Concrete Petrography
What it Can Do
Comparison of Test Methods (Poole & Sims, 2016)
Petrographic Physical
Phases/Components to be Identified/Verified
Methods Methods
Coarse Aggregate P P
Fine Aggregate P P
Concrete Aggregate Recycled/secondary Coarse Aggregate P P
Materials Artificial Coarse Aggregate P P
Expanded Coarse Aggregate P P
Fillers P P
Unground cement clinkers P
Portland cements P
Unhydrated Special cements P
cementitious materials
High-alumina cement/calcium aluminate cement P
Non-Portland-type cements P
Ground-granulated blastfurnace slag P
Unhydrated cement- Pulverized fly ash P
admixtures and Natural pozzolans P
replacements Silica fume P
Chemical admixtures P
Silica Fume
Belite
Alite
AGGREGATES CEMENT CLINKER ADDITIVES
Phase Identification
Deterioration Phases/Properties to be Identified/Assessed Petrographic Physical
Methods Methods
Cement Type P
Aggregate Types P
Air Voids P
Textures/fabric P
Hardened Pulverised fly ash admixtures P
Concrete and Ground-granulated blastfurnace slag
Cement Paste
Properties
admixtures
Water/Cement ratio
P
P
Comparison of
Natural pozzolanas
Silica fume admixtures
P
P
Test Methods
Chemical admixtures
Mix proportions
P
P
(Poole & Sims,
Chemical attack
Delayed Ettringite Formation
P
P
2016)
Aggregate shrinkage P
Salt Attack P
Carbonation P
Possible causes Reinforcement Corrosion P
of deterioration Sulphate attack P
Alkali-silica reaction/ Alkali-carbonate
reaction P
Frost Damage P
Fire Damage P
Workmanship P
CARBONATION
Plane Polarized Light Cross Polarized Light
carbonated paste carbonated paste
uncarbonated paste uncarbonated paste
Cement Paste Condition
Water-Cement Ratio Determination
carbonated paste carbonated paste
Silica Fume
0.35 0.45 0.60
Images taken from Admaterials, 2017
Deterioration of Concrete
Cracking Fire Damage Saltwater Attack
Micro-cracks
crack Oxidized Flint
PPL XPL
PPL PPL
ASR Gel
Cement Paste
Delayed Ettringite Formation Alkali Silica Reaction
Concrete Petrography
• A cost and time-effective method of analyzing concrete quality
• May complement existing test methods by providing textural
information
• Reasons for low strength or poor durability may be traced back
to microscopic features
