Properties of Concrete

Overview
 Freshly Mixed Concrete
 Hardened Concrete
Properties of Concrete
 Fresh properties  Hardened properties
 Consistency  Strength
 Stability  Durability
 Uniformity  Appearance
 Workability  Economy
 Finishability
Freshly Mixed Concrete
 Plastic or semi fluid---pliable and capable of being
molded
 General must:
 Be easily mixed and transported
 Be uniform
 Have good flow properties
 Be compactable
 Be segregation resistant
 Be finishable
 Workability
The ease of placing, consolidating, and
finishing freshly mixed concrete and the
degree to which it resists segregation is called
workability. Concrete should be workable, but
the ingredients should not separate during
transport and handling. Concrete properties
related to workability include the consistency
(flow) and stability (segregation resistance).
Further defined flow characteristics (used in
high-performance concrete mixtures) include:
unconfined flowability, called the filling ability;
and confined flowability, called the passing
ability. Dynamic stability is the ability to resist
separation during transport and placement.
Static stability is the ability to maintain a
uniform distribution of all mixture components
after the fluid concrete has stopped moving.
 Factors that influence the workability of concrete are:
 (1) the method and duration of transportation;
 (2) quantity and characteristics of cementitious materials;
 (3) concrete consistency (slump);
 (4) grading, shape, and surface texture of fine and coarse
aggregates;
 (5) entrained air;
 (6) water content;
 (7) concrete and ambient air temperatures; and
 (8) admixtures. A
Workability
Consistency
Consistency is considered a close indication
of workability. The slump test, ASTM C143,
Standard Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-
Cement Concrete (AASHTO T 119), is the
most generally accepted method used to
measure the consistency of concrete. The
primary benefit of the slump test is that it
measures the consistency from one batch of
concrete to the next. However, it does not
characterize the rheology or workability of a
concrete mixture quantitatively. If the
consistency is too dry and harsh, the
concrete will be difficult to place and
compact and larger aggregate particles may
separate from the mixture. However, it should
not be assumed that a wetter, more fluid
mixture is necessarily more workable.
Segregation, honeycombing, and reduced
hardened properties can occur if the mixture
is too wet.
Rheology
Rheology is the study of material deformation and
flow. Rheology allows researchers, practitioners,
mixture developers and others, a more scientific
approach to determine the flow and workability of
concrete was developed using the Bingham model.
The Bingham model describes two properties of the
material, the yield stress and the viscosity. In fresh
concrete, yield stress defines the threshold between
static and fluid behavior. The viscosity of the
concrete determines how fast it moves. The
Bingham model is a means to characterize concrete
by two measurable parameters determined with
established engineering principles. From a practical
standpoint, those two parameters give contractors
and producers a means to explicitly specify the
fresh property performance parameters best suited
for the placement application.
Bleeding and Settlement
 Bleeding is the development of a layer of water
at the top or surface of freshly placed concrete.
It is caused by settlement of solid particles and
the simultaneous upward migration of water,
shown in this image. Some bleeding is normal
and it should not diminish the quality of properly
placed, finished, and cured concrete.
Bleeding and Settlement
Bleeding and Settlement
Bleeding
The bleeding properties of fresh
concrete can be determined by two
methods described in ASTM C232,
Standard Test Methods for Bleeding
of Concrete (AASHTO T 158). The
bleeding rate and bleeding capacity
increases with initial water content,
concrete height, and pressure. The
accumulation of water at the surface
of a concrete mixture can occur
slowly by uniform seepage over the
entire surface or at localized
channels carrying water to the
surface.
Bleeding and Settlement
Uniform seepage is referred to as normal bleeding.
Water rising through the concrete in discrete paths,
sometimes carrying fine particles with it, is termed
channel bleeding. This usually occurs only in
concrete mixtures with very low cement contents,
high water contents, or concretes with very high
bleeding properties. As bleeding proceeds, the water
layer at the surface maintains the original height of
the concrete sample in a vessel, assuming that there
is no pronounced temperature change or
evaporation. The surface subsides as the solids
settle through the liquid. After evaporation of all
bleed water, the hardened surface will be slightly
lower than the freshly placed surface. This decrease
in height from time of placement to initial set is
called settlement shrinkage.
Bleeding
Reduced bleeding may be required for a variety
of reasons including facilitating finishing
operations, minimizing the formation of weak
concrete at the top of lifts, reducing sand
streaking in wall forms, or to stabilize the
hardened volume with respect to the plastic
volume of the concrete. The most effective
means of reducing bleeding in concrete include:
reduce the water content, water-cementitious
material ratio, and slump; increase the amount
of cement resulting in a reduced water-cement
ratio; use finer cementitious materials; increase
the amount of fines in the sand; use or increase
the amount of supplementary cementing
materials such as fly ash, slag cement, or silica
fume; use blended hydraulic cements; use
chemical admixtures that permit reduced water-
cementitious materials ratios or provide other
means capable of reducing the bleeding of
concrete; and use air-entrained concrete.
Air Content
Air Content
Air Content
Air Content
Air Content
Air Content
Air Content
Air Content
Air Content
Air Content
Air Content
Uniformity
Uniformity is a measure of the homogeneity of the concrete. This
measurement includes within-batch uniformity and between batching of
concrete mixtures. Samples of fresh concrete collected at the point of
discharge are tested on site to determine properties such as: slump,
temperature, air content, unit weight, and yield.
If the within-batch uniformity is low, this is indicative of inadequate or
inefficient mixing. Samples of concrete are taken at two locations within the
batch to represent the first and last portions on discharge. Uniformity of
concrete is typically achieved by consolidation. Vibration sets into motion
the particles in freshly mixed concrete, reducing friction between them and
giving the mixture the mobile qualities of a thick fluid. Consolidation of
coarser as well as stiffer mixtures results in improved quality and economy.
On the other hand, poor consolidation results in porous, weak concrete with
poor durability.
Uniformity
Hydration, Setting, and Hardening
Properties of Hardened Concrete

Fully cured, hardened concrete must be strong enough to

withstand the structural and service loads which will be applied
to it and must be durable enough to withstand the
environmental exposure for which it is designed. If concrete is
made with high-quality materials and is properly proportioned,
mixed, handled, placed and finished, it will be the strongest
and durable building material.

· Strength
· Creep
· Durability
· Shrinkage
· Modulus of Elasticity
· Water Tightness
STRENGTH
When we refer to concrete strength, we
generally talk about compressive strength of
concrete. Because, concrete is strong in
compression but relatively weak
in tension and bending. Concrete
compressive strength is measured in pounds
per square inch (psi). Compressive strength
mostly depends upon amount and type of
cement used in concrete mix. It is also
affected by the water-cement ratio, mixing
method, placing and curing.
Concrete tensile strength ranges from 7% to
12% of compressive strength. Both tensile
strength and bending strength can be
increased by adding reinforcement.
i. Type of Cement:
ii.Nature of Aggregates.
iii. Water-Cement Ratio.
iv. Curing Conditions.
v. Weather Conditions.
vi. Admixtures. compressive test of concrete
vii. Method of Preparation.
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.

i. Frost Action.
ii. Chemical Attack.
iii. Alkali-Aggregate Reaction

Effect of Alkali-Aggregate Reaction on Concrete

SHRINKAGE:
Shrinkage of concrete is caused by the settlement of solids and the
loss of free water from the plastic concrete (plastic shrinkage), by the
chemical combination of cement with water (autogenous shrinkage)
and by the drying concrete (drying shrinkage).

Hardened Concrete undergoes in three types of shrinkage

that are important with respect to its dimensional stability:

Plastic shrinkage.
Drying shrinkage.
Autogenous shrinkage.

CRACKING: Where movement of the concrete is restrained,

shrinkage will produce tensile stress within the concrete, which may
cause cracking.
PLASTIC SHRINKAGE
Plastic shrinkage is most common in
slab construction and is characterized
by the appearance of surface cracks
which can extend quite deeply into
the concrete.
Preventive measures: Reduce water loss by
any curing methods (cover concrete with
wet polythene sheets or by spraying a
membrane curing compound).
PLASTIC SHRINKAGE of Concrete

AUTOGENOUS SHRINKAGE
As hydration continues in an
environment where the water content
is constant, such as inside a large mass
of concrete, this decrease in volume of
the cement paste results in shrinkage of
the concrete.
(self produced by the hydration of cement)
AUTOGENOUS SHRINKAGE
DRYING SHRINKAGE

When a hardened concrete, cured in

water, is allowed to dry it first loses
water from its voids and capillary pores
and only starts to shrink during further
drying when water is drawn, out of its
cement gel. This is known as drying
shrinkage.
Drying shrinkage is directly proportional
to the water-cement ratio and
inversely proportional to the
aggregate-cement ratio.
Because of the interaction of the
effects of aggregate-cement and
water-cement ratios, it is possible to
have a rich mix with a low water-
cement ratio giving higher shrinkage
than a leaner mix with a higher water-
cement ratio.
Influence of water/cement ratio and aggregate content on
shrinkage
EXPANSION:
Concrete may expand on hardening due to the
following two reasons:
Thermal Expansion: In massive concrete works,
when the upper layers are laid before the lower
layers have completely set, there can arise a
phenomenon of thermal expansion in the lower
layers. This is because the heat of hydration gets
accumulated in those layers and may attain
magnitudes beyond acceptable limits.
Chemical Reactions: Alkali-aggregate reactions are
known to cause definite expansion in the concrete.
The reaction between amorphous silica of
aggregates and oxides of potassium and sodium –
from the cement used in aggregate yield crystalline
structures of bigger volumes. This change becomes
harmful because these gel-structures are not as
stable and strong as those formed by reaction
between calcium oxide and silica. They become
the cause of cracking and quicker deterioration of
hardened concrete.
Expansion of Concrete
CONCRETE SURFACE DEFECTS

BLISTERS
The appearance of blisters on the surface of
a concrete slab during finishing operations is
annoying. These bumps, of varying size,
appear at a time when bubbles of
entrapped air or water rising through the
plastic concrete get trapped under an
already sealed, airtight surface.
Blisters are surface bumps that may range in
size from 5 mm to 100 mm

To avoid blisters, the following should be considered:

1. Do not use concrete with a high slump, excessively high air content, or excess fines.
2. Use appropriate cement contents in the range of 305 to 335 kg/m3 (515 to 565 lb/yd3 ).
3. Warm the subgrade before placing concrete on it during cold weather.
4. Avoid placing a slab directly on polyethylene film or other vapor barriers.
5. Avoid overworking the concrete, especially with vibrating screeds, jitterbugs, or bullfloats.
6. Do not attempt to seal (finish) the surface too soon.
7. Use proper finishing techniques and proper timing during and between finishing
operations.
8. Reduce evaporation over the slab by using a fog spray or slab cover.
9. Avoid using air contents over 3% for interior slabs.
CRACKS

Cracking in concrete can be reduced significantly or eliminated by observing the

following practices:
1. Use proper subgrade preparation, including uniform support and proper subbase
material at adequate moisture content.
2. Minimize the mix water content by maximizing the size and amount of coarse
aggregate and use low-shrinkage aggregate.
3. Use the lowest amount of mix water required for workability
4. Avoid calcium chloride admixtures.
5. Prevent rapid loss of surface moisture while the concrete is still plastic through use
of spray-applied finishing aids or plastic sheets to avoid plastic-shrinkage cracks.
6. Provide contraction joints at reasonable intervals, 30 times the slab thickness.
7. Provide isolation joints to prevent restraint from adjoining elements of a structure.
8. Prevent extreme changes in temperature.
9. To minimize cracking on top of vapor barriers, use a 100-mmthick (4-in.) layer of
slightly damp, compactible, drainable fill choked off with fine-grade material.
10. Properly place, consolidate, finish, and cure the concrete.
11. Avoid using excessive amounts of cementitious materials.
12. Consider using a shrinkage-reducing admixture to reduce drying shrinkage
13. Consider using synthetic fibers to help control plastic shrinkage cracks.
CRAZING

Crazing, a network pattern of fine

cracks that do not penetrate much
below the surface, is caused by minor
surface shrinkage

To prevent crazing, curing procedures

should begin early, within minutes after final
finishing when weather conditions warrant.
When the temperature is high and the sun is
Crazing is a network of fine surface cracks
out, some method of curing with water
should be used, since this will stop rapid
drying and lower the surface temperature.
The concrete should be protected against
rapid changes in temperature and moisture
wherever feasible.
CURLING

Curling is the distortion (rising up) of a

slab’s corners and edges due to
differences in moisture content or
temperature between the top and
bottom of a slab.

Curling can be reduced by:

1. Using a low-shrinkage concrete mix.
2. Using proper control-joint spacing (see
Cracking).
3. Creating uniform moisture content and
temperature of the slab from top to bottom.
4. Using large amounts of reinforcing steel 50
mm (2 in.) down from the surface.
5. Using thickened slab edges.
6. Using vacuum dewatering, shrinkage-
compensating concrete, or post-tensioning.
DELAMINATIONS

Delaminations are similar to blisters in

that delaminated areas of surface
mortar result from bleed water and
bleed air being trapped below the
prematurely closed (densified) mortar
surface. The primary cause is finishing
the surface before bleeding has
occurred.

Delaminations can be repaired by patching

or, if widespread, by grinding and
overlaying with a new surface. Epoxy
injection may also be beneficial in some
applications.
DISCOLORATIONS
Surface discoloration of concrete
flatwork can appear as gross color
changes in large areas of concrete,
spotted or mottled light or dark
blotches on the surface, or early light
patches of efflorescence
The discoloration of concrete can be avoided or
minimized by
(1)avoiding the use of calcium chloride
admixtures,
(2) using consistent concrete ingredients, uniformly
proportioned from batch to batch, and
(3) using proper and timely placing, finishing, and
curing practices.

To eradicate discoloration, the first (and usually

effective) remedy is an immediate, thorough
flushing with water.
Treating a surface with a 20% to 30% water solution
of diammonium citrate. This chemical is expensive
to buy in small quantities, so consider it as a last
resort.
DUSTING
Dusting—the development of a fine,
powdery material that easily rubs off
the surface of hardened concrete—
can occur either indoors or outdoors,
but is more likely to be a problem when
it occurs indoors. Dusting is the result of
a thin, weak layer, called laitance,
composed of water, cement, and fine
particles.

One way to correct a dusting surface is to grind off

the thin layer of laitance to expose the solid
concrete underneath. Another method is to apply
a surface hardener. This treatment will not convert
a basically bad concrete slab into a good one; it
will, however, improve wearability and reduce
dusting of the surface.
EFFLORESCENCE
Efflorescence can be considered a
type of discoloration. It is a deposit,
usually white in color, that occasionally
develops on the surface of concrete,
often just after a structure is
completed. Although unattractive,
efflorescence is usually harmless. In rare
cases, excessive efflorescence deposits
can occur within the surface pores of
the material, causing expansion that
may disrupt the surface.

To reduce or eliminate soluble salts:

1. Never use unwashed sand. Use sand that meets
the requirements of ASTM C 33 or CSA A23.1 for
concrete.
2. Use clean mixing water free from harmful
amounts of acids, alkalies, organic material,
minerals, and salts. Drinking water is usually
acceptable. Do not use seawater.
LOW SPOTS
Low spots can affect slab drainage or
serviceability if items placed on the
slab need to be level. Low spots are
often caused by poor lighting during
placement and finishing, improperly set
forms and screeds, damage to form
and screed grade settings during
construction, use of overly wet or
variably wet concrete, and poor
placement and finishing techniques.

Low spots can be avoided by (1) using a low-

slump, low-water-content concrete mix, (2)
providing adequate light, (3) frequently checking
grades and levels, and filling the low areas, (4)
using a vibrating screed for strikeoff, and (5) using
a “highway” straightedge in lieu of a bullfloat to
smooth and straighten the surface
POPOUT
A popout is a conical fragment that breaks
out of the surface of the concrete leaving a
hole that may vary in size generally from 5
mm to 50 mm (1/4 in. to 2 in.) but up to as
much as 300 mm (1 ft) in diameter (Fig. 8).
Usually a fractured aggregate particle will
be found at the bottom of the hole, with
part of the aggregate still adhering to the
point of the popout cone.

The following steps can be taken to minimize or eliminate

popouts:
1. Use concrete with the lowest water content and slump
possible for the application.
2. Use a durable crushed-stone or beneficiatedaggregate
concrete. A popout is a small fragment of concrete surface that has broken
away due to internal pressure, leaving a shallow, typically conical,
3. Cover the surface with plastic sheets after screeding and depression.
bullfloating to reduce evaporation before final finishing.
4. Do not finish concrete with bleed water on the surface.
5. Use wet-curing methods such as continuous sprinkling with
water, fogging, ponding, or covering with wet burlap soon after
final finishing.
6. Use a blended cement or a supplementary cementitious
material such as fly ash
SCALING AND MORTAR FLAKING
Scaling is the general loss of surface
mortar exposed to freezing and
thawing. The aggregate is usually
clearly exposed and often stands out
from the concrete

1. Use a proper concrete mix with durable and

well-graded aggregate, a low slump—
maximum of 100 mm (4 in.)
2. Properly slope the concrete to drain water
away from the slab; saturated concrete is
much more susceptible to deterioration than
drier concrete
3. Use proper finishing practices.
4. Cure promptly with wet burlap (kept
continuously wet), curing paper, or plastic
sheet for a minimum of 7 days
5. After curing, allow the concrete 30 days to air
dry.
SPALLING
Spalling is a deeper surface defect
than scaling, often appearing as
circular or oval depressions on surfaces
or as elongated cavities along joints.
Spalls may be 25 mm (1 in.) or more in
depth and 150 mm (6 in.) or more in
diameter, although smaller spalls also
occur. Spalls are caused by pressure or
expansion within the concrete, bond
failure in two-course construction,
impact loads, fire, or weathering.
Improperly constructed joints and
corroded reinforcing steel are two
common causes of spalls
Spalls can be avoided by (1) properly designing
the concrete element—including joints—for the
environment and anticipated service, (2) using
proper concrete mixes and concreting practices,
and (3) taking special precautions where
necessary.