High-strength concrete

It has a compressive strength greater than 40 MPa. High strength

concrete as concrete with a compressive strength class higher than M50/60.
High-strength concrete is made by lowering the water-cement (W/C) ratio to
0.35 or lower. Often silica fume is added to prevent the formation of free
calcium hydroxide crystals in the cement matrix, which might reduce the
strength at the cement-aggregate bond.

Low W/C ratios and the use of silica fume make concrete mixes significantly
less workable, which is particularly likely to be a problem in high-strength
concrete applications where dense rebar cages are likely to be used. To
compensate for the reduced workability, superplasticizers are commonly
added to high-strength mixtures. Aggregate must be selected carefully for
high-strength mixes, as weaker aggregates may not be strong enough to
resist the loads imposed on the concrete and cause failure to start in the
aggregate rather than in the matrix or at a void, as normally occurs in regular
concrete.

In some applications of high-strength concrete the design criterion is

the elastic modulus rather than the ultimate compressive strength.

 High-strength concrete (HSC) provides a high level of structural

performance, especially in strength and durability, compared to
traditional, normal-strength concrete (NSC).

 Previously employed in bridges, offshore structures and infrastructure

projects, HSC has seen increased use in high-rise buildings, especially
for columns.

 The higher compressive strength of HSC allows for the use of smaller-
diameter columns, which increases the amount of usable space in a
building.
HSC Materials

Aggregates

•9.5 -12.5 mm (3/8 -1/2 in.) nominal maximum size gives optimum strength.

•Combining single sizes for required grading allows for closer control and
reduced variability in concrete.

•For 70 MPa and greater, the FM of the sand should be 2.8 –3.2. (lower may
give lower strengths and sticky mixes).

Supplementary Cementing Materials

 Fly ash, silica fume, or slag often mandatory.

 Dosage rate 5% to 20% or higher by mass of cementing material

Admixtures

 Use of water reducers, retarders, HRWRs, or superplasticisers

mandatory in high-strength concrete.

 Air-entraining admixtures not necessary or desirable in protected high-

strength concrete.

 Air is mandatory, where durability in a freeze-thaw environment is

required (i.e.. bridges, piers, parking structures).

 Recent studies:

w/cm ≥ 0.30—air required.

w/cm < 0.25—no air needed.

MICROSTRUCTURE

 From the general principles behind the design of high-strength concrete

mixtures, it is apparent that high strengths are made possible by
reducing porosity, inhomogeneity, and microcracksin the hydrated
cement paste and the transition zone.

 The utilization of fine pozzolanicmaterials in high-strength concrete

leads to a reduction of the size of the crystalline compounds,
particularly, calcium hydroxide.
  Consequently, there is a reduction of the thickness of the interfacial
transition zone in high-strength concrete.

 The densification of the interfacial transition zone allows for efficient

load transfer between the cement mortar and the coarse aggregate,
contributing to the strength of the concrete.

 For very high-strength concrete where the matrix is extremely dense, a

weak aggregate may become the weak link in concrete strength.

SPECIAL METHODS OF MAKING HSC

 Seeding

 Revibration

 High speed slurry mixing

 Use of admixtures

 Sulphurimpregnation

 Inhibition of cracks.

MERITS OF HSC

 Reduced weight.

 Small support elements(architectural considerations).

 More load carrying capacity.

 Reduces the total amount of material.

 Economical (reduces the overall cost of the structure).

 High-strength concrete columns can hold more weight and therefore be

made slimmer than regular strength concrete columns, which allows for
more useable space, especially in the lower floors of buildings.

 High Strength Concrete are also used in other engineering structures

like bridges.
DEMERITS OF HSC

 Lower shear strength.

 Lower modulus of elasticity.

 Increased quality control is needed.

 Careful material selection is necessary.

 Since serviceabiltyconditions such as deflection can control design, so

increased capacity may not be fully utilized.

How to Design HSC Mix:

Optimum concrete mixture design results from selecting locally available

materials that make the fresh concrete placeable and finishable and that
ensure the strength development and other desired properties of hardened
concrete as specified by the designer. Some of the basic concepts that need
to be understood for high strength concrete are:

1. Aggregates should be strong and durable. They need not necessarily

be hard and of high strength but need to be compatible, in terms of
stiffness and strength, with the cement paste. Generally smaller
maximum size coarse aggregate is used for higher strength concretes.
The sand may have to be coarser than that permitted by ASTM C 33
(fineness modulus greater that 3.2) because of the high fines content
from the cementitious materials.

2. High strength concrete mixtures will have a high cementitious materials

content that increases the heat of hydration and possibly higher
shrinkage leading to the potential for cracking. Most mixtures contain
one or more supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash
(Class C or F), ground granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume,
metakaolin or natural pozzolanic materials.

3. High strength concrete mixtures generally need to have a low water-

cementitious materials ratio (w/ cm). W/cm ratios can be in the range of
0.23 to 0.35. These low w/cm ratios are only attainable with quite large
doses of high range water reducing admixtures (or superplasticizers)
 conforming to Type F or G by ASTM C 494. A Type A water reducer
may be used in combination.

4. The total cementitious material content will be typically around 415

kg/m3 but not more than about 650 kg/m3.

5. The use of air entrainment in high strength concrete will greatly reduce
the strength potential.

6. In this study high strength concrete was designed based on ACI 211-
4R 93 guidelines by using excel sheet. The reference table and the mix
design calculations are given in appendix.
 Appendix
ACI Mix Design
A Data Collection:

S.I units MKS

1 Specific Gravity of Cement : 3.15
2 Specific Gravity of Fine Aggregate : 2.40
3 Fineness modulus of Fine Aggregate : 3.00
4 Bulk Density of Fine Aggregate : 1643 Kg/m3 103 lb/ft3
8 Water absorption of Fine Aggregate : 0.45 %
5 Specific Gravity of Coarse Aggregate : 2.74
6 Fineness modulus of Coarse Aggregate : 3.67
7 Bulk Density of Coarse Aggregate : 1589 Kg/m3 99 lb/ft3
8 Water absorption of Coarse Aggregate : 0.42 %
9 Slump : 25-50 mm with HRWR
10 Specific Gravity of Silica Fume : 2.25

B Mean Design Strength:

f
cr = (fc + 1400)/0.90
fc - reqd. conc strength size of C.A = (8702+1400)/0.90
< 9000 0.75 - 1.00 = 11224.44 Psi
> 9000 0.75 - 0.50 = 76.3 N/mm2

C Select Optimum Coarse Aggregate Content:

Weight of coarse aggregate = (% x DRUW) * (% x 27)

= 0.65*99.2*27
Nominal Sizeof C.A 0.38 0.50 0.75 1.00 = 1740.96 lb
Frac. Vol. of ODRCA 0.65 0.68 0.72 0.75 = 789.68 kg

D Estimate the mixing water and air content:

Mixing Water Void Content% = (1 - (ODRUW/(Sp.Gr*62.4)))*100

Slump, in Max size of C.A = (1-(102.57/(2.4*62.4)))*100
0.38 0.50 0.75 1.00 = 31.51 %
1 to 2 310 295 285 280
2 to 3 320 310 295 290 Mixing water
3 to 4 330 320 305 300 adjustment = (V - 35)*8
Entr. Air 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 = (31.51-35)*8
Content 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 = -27.92 lbs/yd3
= -16.47 kg/m3

The total mixing water required per yd3 of concrete is 282.08 or 282.08 lb

This required mixing water includes the retarding admixture, but does not include water in HRWR.

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 Development of mix design for high strength Concrete with admixtures

E Select w/c+P ratio:

Recommended max. w/c+P ratio for concrete made with HRWR

w/c +p
Field Strength Max size coarse aggregate
0.38 0.50 0.75 1.00
28day 0.50 0.48 0.45 0.43
7000
56 day 0.55 0.52 0.48 0.46 10000 - 10102 = 0.33 - x
28day 0.44 0.42 0.40 0.38 10000 - 11000 = 0.33 - 0.30
8000
56 day 0.48 0.45 0.42 0.40
28day 0.38 0.36 0.35 0.34 w/c+p = 0.327
9000
56 day 0.42 0.39 0.37 0.36
28day 0.33 0.32 0.31 0.30
10000
56 day 0.37 0.35 0.33 0.32
28day 0.30 0.29 0.27 0.27
11000
56 day 0.33 0.31 0.29 0.29
28day 0.27 0.26 0.25 0.25
12000
56 day 0.30 0.28 0.27 0.26

F Step and calculate content of cementitious material:

282.08
= 863.00 lb
0.327

The specifications do not set a minimum for cementitious material content, so 863 lb/yd3 of
concrete will be used.

G Proportion basic mixture with cement only

1 Cement content per yd3 = 863.00 lb

2 The volumes per yd3 of all materials except sand are as follows:

Cement = (863)/(3.15*62.4) = 4.39 ft3

Coarse Aggregate = (1740.96)/(2.74*62.4) = 10.18 ft3
Water = (282.08)/(62.4) = 4.52 ft3
Air = (0.02)*(27) = 1.25 ft3
Total Volume = 20.34 ft3

Therefore, the required volume of sand per yd3 of concrete is (27-20.34) = 6.66 ft3

Converting this to weight of sand, per yd3 of concrete, the required weight of sand is

(6.66)*(62.4)*(2.4) = 997.40 lb

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 Development of mix design for high strength Concrete with admixtures

H Mix Design Ratio

Cement = 863.00 lb 391.45 kg 1.00

Sand = 997.40 lb 452.41 kg 1.16
Coarse aggregate = 1740.96 lb 789.69 kg 2.02
Water with HRWR = 282.08 lb 127.95 kg 0.33

I Adjustments:
Moisture in %
Cement = 391.45 Kg 0.0000 391.45 Kg 1.00
Sand = 452.41 Kg 0.0045 454.45 Kg 1.16
Coarse aggregate = 789.69 Kg 0.0042 793.00 Kg 2.03
Water with HRWR = 127.95 Kg 0.0087 126.84 Kg 0.32

J For 1.0 Cu.M

Cement = 512.00 Kg 1.00
Sand = 594.40 Kg 1.16
Coarse aggregate = 1037.22 Kg 2.03
Water with HRWR = 165.90 Kg 0.32

Companion mixture #1 6 Percent

Companion mixture #2 7 Percent
Companion mixture #3 8 Percent
Companion mixture #4 9.0 Percent
Companion mixture #5 8.5 Percent

Companion mixture Cement Silica Fume Total Unit

#1 481.28 30.72 512.00 KG
#2 476.16 35.84 512.00 KG
#3 471.04 40.96 512.00 KG
#4 465.92 46.08 512.00 KG

HRWR mixture #1 Companian Mixture #1 0.60 Percent

HRWR mixture #2 Companian Mixture #2 0.70 Percent
HRWR mixture #3 Companian Mixture #3 0.80 Percent
HRWR mixture #4 Companian Mixture #4 0.90 Percent

K Usage of HRWR:

Trial Mix Cement Silica Fumes Fine Agg Coarse Agg HRWR Water
Comp #1 481.28 30.72 594.40 1037.22 3.07 162.82
Comp #2 476.16 35.84 594.40 1037.22 3.58 162.31
Comp #3 471.04 40.96 594.40 1037.22 4.10 161.80
Comp #4 465.92 46.08 594.40 1037.22 4.61 161.29

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