Basic Civil engineering

Construction Materials & Structural

Engineering
Important materials in construction

Cement
Concrete
Brick
Aggregat
es
Steel
 CEMENT
 Cement is a binding material
 It is produced from burning of calcareous (calcium) and argillaceous (clay) material at very
high temperature and then grinding the product (clinker) to a fine powder.
 The process of burning is known as Calcination.
 The calcined product is known as clinker
 It was first produced by Joseph Aspidin, a mason of England. Got it patented as “Portland
Cement” in 1842.
 This product resembled with a type of sand stone in Portland, for which it was named as
Portland cement.
CEMENT
 Use of CEMENT

Cement is the second most consumed

material after water

India is the second largest producer of cement in the world.

FLOW DIAGRAM OF CEMENT PRODUCTION
TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT:
1) Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
2) Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
3) Portland Slag Cement (PSC)
4) Acid Resistant cement
5) Sulphate Resistant Cement
6) High Alumina Cement
7) Low heat Cement
8) Rapid Hardening Cement
9) Quick Setting Cement
10) Expanding Cement
11) Hydrophobic Cement
12) Coloured Cement
13) White Cement
Out of above OPC, PPC and PSC are in common use.
 Portland cement :
Ordinary Portland cement (OPC):
There are three grades of this cement:
Grade 33 – IS 269-1989
Grade 43 – IS 8112-1989
Grade 53 – IS 12269-1987
The gradation is made on strength of cement. Grade 33, 43 and 53 give
compressive strength 33, 43 and 53 MPa at 28 days.
 Portland cement :
Portland Slag Cement (PSC)
 The governing IS code is IS 455-1989
 Slag is a waste product obtained from the blast furnace during the manufacturing
process of pig iron and contains the basic elements of cements like alumina, lime and
silica.
 Clinkers of cement are ground with 60-65% of slag.
 The early age strength of this cement is less, it requires longer curing period.
 It is economical due to waste utilization
 Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC):
Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC): Advantages of PPC:
There are two types of this cement:  It attains compressive strength with age

Fly ash - based – IS 1489 (Part-I)-  It can resists action of sulphates

 It evolves less heat during the setting
1991
 It imparts higher degree of water tightness
Calcined clay - based – 1489 (Part-
 It imparts plasticity and workability to
II)-1991
mortar and concrete
Pozzolana is a volcanic powder found
 It is cheap
in Italy.  It offers great resistance to expansion
It can also be processed from shales  It possesses higher tensile strength
and certain types of clays Disadvantages of PPC:
PPC contains 10-30% pozzolanic  Its compressive strength in early days is
material less than OPC
 Less resistance to corrosion and
weathering action
 CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT:

Oxides of Cement
Ordinary Portland cement contains two basic ingredients:
1. Argillaceous : Clay is the main constituent
2. Calcareous : Calcium carbonate is another constituent
Ingredients Content Range (%)
(%)
Lime CaO 62 60-67
Silica SiO2 22 17-25
Alumina Al2O3 5.5 3-8
Iron Oxide Fe2O3 3 0.5-5
Calcium CaSO4 3.5 3-4
Sulphate
Magnesia MgO 2 0.1-3
Sulphur SO3 1 1-3
 FUNCTIONS OF OXIDES

Ingredients Formula Function

Lime CaO Provide strength
Silica SiO2 Provide strength
Alumina Al2O3 Quick setting
Iron Oxide MgO Colour, hardness, strength
Magnesia MgO hardness, colour

Sulphur Trioxide SO3 Increase setting time

Alkalie K2O, Na2O Sulphate resistant

Calcium
CaSO4 Provide strength
Sulphate
 CONSTITUENT OF ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT:

 The raw materials containing above oxides when burnt in kiln (calcined), interact
with one another and form complex compound like:

Name of Formula Abbreviated Content

compound formula (%)
Tricalcium silicate 3CaO.SiO2 C 3S 40

Dicalcium silicate 2CaO.SiO2 C 2S 30

Tricalcium 3CaO.Al2O3 C 3A 11
aluminate
Tetracalcium 4CaO. C4AF 11
alumino ferrite Al2O3.Fe2O3
 HYDRATION OF ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT:
When water is added to cement, a chemical reaction takes place that is
known as hydration.
Cement starts loosing its plasticity because of hydration.
The hydration is a continuous process and continues over a year
As hydration takes place, the cement binds its own particles as well as
other inert material like aggregates around it.
Finally it sets into hard material like stone

The time taken in between addition of water and cement starts losing its
plasticity is known as initial setting time
The time taken in between addition of water and cement completely loses
its plasticity is known as final setting time
 HYDRATION OF ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT:
• During hydration a lot of heat is generated known as heat of hydration
• When water is added, C3A reacts first with generation of heat
• C3S hydrates early and imparts early age strength
• C2S hydrates slowly and imparts late age strength
• Tetracalcium alumino ferrite (C4AF) is a comparatively inactive compound
• Two important products of hydration are:
 Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H gel)- It imparts strength
 Calcium Hydroxide- It is an unimportant product, water soluble and
leaches out.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CEMENT
 TESTS FOR CEMENT
1. Field test
2. Laboratory test

Field test
a) Open the bag and take a good look at the cement. There should not be
any visible lumps.
b) The colour of the cement should normally be greenish grey.
c) Thrust your hand into the cement bag. It must give you a cool feeling.
There should not be any lump inside.
d) Take a pinch of cement and feel-between the fingers. It should give a
smooth and not a gritty feeling.
e) Take a handful of cement and throw it on a bucket full of water, the
particles should float for some time before they sink.
 TESTS FOR CEMENT

Laboratory tests for

cement:
Fineness test
Normal
consistency
Setting time
Soundness
Compressive
strength
Tensile strength
CONCRETE
CONCRETE
CONCRETE
 CONCRETE
Concrete is a mixture of binding material(cement), coarse aggregate (crushed
stones), fine aggregates (sand) and water.
When these above materials are mixed together, a homogenous plastic mix is
obtained and on hardening it becomes as like as stone.
Ingredients of concrete:
Cement
Fine aggregate (sand)
Coarse aggregate (crushed stone)
Water
 CEMENT
CONCRETE
A good quality concrete is essentially a homogeneous mixture of
cement, coarse and fine aggregates and water which consolidates into a
hard mass due to chemical action between the cement and water.
Each of the four constituents has a specific function.

 The coarser aggregate acts as a filler.

 The fine aggregate fills up the voids between the paste and the
coarse aggregate.
 The cement in conjunction with water acts as a binder.
 The mobility of the mixture is aided by the cement paste, fines and
nowadays, increasingly by the use of admixtures.
 CONCRETE

Favourable properties of concrete:

It is very strong in compression

It is durable
It can be moulded to any form
Its coefficient of thermal expansion matches with steel
It prevents corrosion of steel
It is economical
It can be prepared with locally available materials
It can be prepared to desired quality and strength.
 CONCRETE
Unfavourable properties of concrete:
It is week in tension
It undergoes shrinkage
Requires careful attention during preparation, placement,
compaction and curing of concrete
Concrete members like beams and columns are heavier than steel
 GRADE OF CONCRETE

M5, M7.5, M10, M15, M20: for PCC

M20, M25, M30, M35, M35, M40, M45 and so on:

for RCC

28-day Characteristic
MI M compressive strength
X
25
 MIX PROPORTIONING

Nominal Mix Design

Mix
 MIX PROPORTIONING

Selection of types of concrete mix depends on the requirement of strength and

nature of work.
The mix proportions like (1:1:2), [1:1.5:3], {1:2:4}, (1:3:6), [1:4:8] etc. are
adopted in nominal mix of concrete without any scientific base, only on the
basis on past empirical studies.
The nominal mix is preferred to simpler, relatively unimportant, repair and
small concrete works.
Design mix is preferred to nominal mix and at these days use of nominal mix
is discouraged
 NOMINAL MIX DESIGN
Prescribed concrete Mix ratios for all grades of concrete are
given below
GRADE MIX RATIO

M5 1 : 5 : 10

M 7.5 1:4:8

M 10 1:3:6

M 15 1:2:4

M 20 1 : 1.5 : 3
Mix proportioning:
 MIX PROPORTIONING
Design Mix
WATER CEMENT RATIO :
 WATER CEMENT RATIO :

The ratio of weight of mixing water to the weight of cement used

in the concrete is known as water – cement ratio.
The strength of the concrete depends on W/C. The more the
water content, the lesser is the strength.
In order to achieve good strength and workability at the same
time, as a normal practice W/C is used 0.40 – 0.50 for machine
mixing and 0.50- 0.60 for hand mixing
About W/C of 0.24 is required for hydration and balance water
for workability
 Workability:
The term workability is used to describe ease or difficulty with which the
concrete is handled, transported, placed, compacted and finished.

Measurement:
 Slump test
 Compaction factor test
 Vee-Bee Consisto meter test

Out of above slump test is common in use

Workability:
Slump test:
 Slump test is carried out by a slump cone.
 It is a vessel in the form of frustum of a cone
 The cone placed on levelled surface, filled in 4 layers and compacted with 25 blows
using a 1mm dia tampering rod.
 Then its top surface is levelled and the cone is pulled up.
 The decrease in height is called slump and its value is the measure of workability.
Workability:
 STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE :
Following properties are important:
 Compressive strength
 Splitting tensile strength
 Flexural strength

Compressive strength is the ability of material or structure to

carry the loads on its surface without any crack or deflection.
 STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE :
Procedure for Compressive strength test:-
 For cube test two types of specimens either cubes of 15cm X 15cm X 15cm or 10cm X 10cm x
10cm depending upon the size of aggregate are used.
 For most of the works cubical moulds of size 15cm x 15cm x 15cm are commonly used.
 This concrete is poured in the mould and appropriately tempered so as not to have any voids.
After 24 hours, moulds are removed, and test specimens are put in water for curing.
 These specimens are tested by compression testing machine after seven days curing or 28 days
curing. Ensure that concrete specimen must be surface dried before placing it on the UTM
 Weight of samples is noted in order to proceed with testing and it must not be less than 8.1Kg.
 The loading must be applied axially on specimen without any shock and increased at the rate of
140kg/sq cm/min. till the specimen collapse.
 Due to the constant application of load, the specimen starts cracking at a point & final breakdown
of the specimen must be noted.
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE :
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE :
 Splitting Tensile Strength Test

Equipment Procedure of Splitting Tensile Test:

 After curing, wipe out water from the surface of
Compression testing machine
specimen
Two packing strips of plywood 30  Using a marker, draw diametrical lines on the two ends
cm long and 12 mm wide of the specimen to verify that they are on the same axial
place.
 Measure the dimensions of the specimen.
 Keep the plywood strip on the lower plate and place the
specimen.
 Align the specimen so that the lines marked on the ends
are vertical and cantered over the bottom plate.
 Place the other plywood strip above the specimen and
bring down the upper plate to touch the plywood strip.
Calculation of Tensile Strength
 Apply the load continuously without shock at a rate of
The splitting tensile strength, Tsp = 2P / π DL
Where P is the applied load, D is the diameter of approximately 14-21 kg/cm2/minute (Which corresponds
the specimen and L is length of the specimen to a total load of 9.9 ton/minute to 14.85 ton/minute)
 Write the breaking load (P)
 MIXING OF CONCRETE

Site Mix Concrete

Ready-mix concrete (RMC)
SITE MIX CONCRETE
 READY MIX CONCRETE (RMC)
Ready-mix concrete (RMC) is a type of concrete which is manufactured in a cement
factory, or specifically known as the batching plant, according to a given set of
proportions, and then delivered to a work site, by truck mounted with mixers.
This results in a precise mixture, allowing specialty concrete mixtures to be developed
and implemented on construction sites.
 Batching Plant

A concrete batching plant is a facility where the ingredients of concrete are mixed
and blended skillfully.
It combines various ingredients to form concrete. Some of these inputs include
water, admixtures, sand, aggregate, fly ash, silica fume, slag, and cement.
 Transit Mixture

 A transit mixer is a truck with a rotating drum which mixes and blends the concrete while
on transit.
 The transit mixer is very much beneficial for the construction sites which require prompt
delivery of freshly mixed concrete.
Handling and Transporting Concrete
Concrete may be handled and transported by several methods:

Truck Mixer
Concrete Dumper
Concrete Pumps
Buckets handled by cranes
Chutes
Belt Conveyors
Concrete Dumper Concrete Truck Mixer
Concrete Pumps
Bucket Handled by Cranes
Chutes Belt Conveyor
Thank you !!