INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS - Shear test

AND TESTING - Brinell Hardness test

- Impact test
Material Testing - is a well-established technique used - Torsion test
to determine the physical and mechanical properties of
materials and its component For Cement
- Fineness test
Factors Affecting the Quality of Construction: - Soundness test
- Quality of materials - Consistency test
- Cement-sand-gravel ratio - Setting time
- Water/cement ratio
- Workability For Bitumen
- Curing - Bitumen content
- Quality of machinery used in construction - Flash and Fire point of bitumen
- Method of construction and speed of work: - Penetration of bitumen
excessive work speed reduces the quality of - Softening point of bitumen
construction - Ductility of bitumen
- Skills and experience of labor - Marshal stability of bitumen

Important point to Check Quality of Cement: Five Major Categories of Material Testing
1. Field testing Mechanical testing
2. Laboratory testing - destructive testing, reveals the properties of
a material under dynamic or static force
Construction materials - the materials, supplies,
fixture, or equipment to be utilized during construction Testing for Thermal Properties
or are to be incorporated into construction work - used to measure material’s ability to transfer
pursuant to a bonafide written construction contract heat since it differs with each substance and may
depend on structure, density, humidity, pressure, and
Types of Construction Materials temperature
- Aggregates
- Coarse Aggregates Testing for Electrical Properties
- Fine Aggregates - materials are subjected to electrical stresses
- Steel Reinforcement under a variety of controlled conditions, including liquid
- Cement contaminants, dust and fog, dry air electrical arc, or
high voltage dielectric breakdown conditions
- Bitumen
- Concrete Testing for resistance to Corrosion, Radiation and
- Asphalt Biological Deterioration
- Hollow Blocks/Masonry
- Lumber Non Destructive Testing
- Glass - to evaluate the properties of a material,
- Ceramics component, structure or system for characteristic
- Rock/stone differences or welding defects and discontinuities
without causing damage to original part
Test conducted on different construction materials
For aggregates
- Sieve analysis
- Water absorption
- Aggregate Impact Value
- Aggregate Abrasion Value
- Aggregate Crushing Value FAMILIARIZATION WITH THE APPARATUS AND
EQUIPMENT USED IN TESTING OF MATERIALS
For Concrete
- Test of fresh concrete
- Slump test
- Compacting Factor Test
- VeBe test
- K-slump test
- Test of Hardened Concrete
- Compression strength test
- Flexural Strength test
- Rebound Hammer test
- Ultrasonic Pulse test

For Steel Reinforcement

- Tensile strength test
- Bending test
- Re-bend test

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing
PRINCIPAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS - Water absorption
- Denotes the ability of the material to
These properties of building materials are absorb and retain water
responsible for its quality and capacity and helps to
decide applications of these materials. -The capacity of a material to absorb
and retain water in it.
Physical properties - It depends on the size, shape and
Mechanical properties number of pores of material.
Chemical properties - Weathering resistance
Electrical properties - is the ability of material to endure
Magnetic properties alternate wet and dry conditions for a
Thermal properties long period without considerable
deformation and loss of mechanical
There are certain general factors which affect the strength
choice of materials for a particular scheme:
- Climatic Background - The property of a material to
- Economic Aspect withstand all atmospheric actions
without losing its strength and shape.
Physical Properties - characteristic of matter that is - Spalling Resistance
not associated with a change in its chemical - The ability of a material to undergo a
composition certain number of cycles of sharp
temperature variations without failing.
Bulk density Spalling resistance - Used to describe areas of concrete
Porosity Water absorption which have cracked and delaminated
Durability Water permeability from the substrate.
Density Hygroscopicity - Water permeability
Density index Coefficient Of Softening - is the capacity of a material to allow
Specific gravity Refractoriness water to penetrate under pressure
Fire resistance
Frost resistance - The ability of a material to permit
Weathering resistance water through it.
- Impervious materials don't allow water
- Density through it.
- the dry mass per unit volume of a - Frost resistance
substance under absolute compact - denotes the ability of a
conditions water-saturated material to endure
- Bulk density repeated freezing and thawing with
- is the mass of a unit volume of considerable decrease of mechanical
material in its natural state (with pores strength
and voids)
- the ratio of mass to the volume of the - It depends upon the density and bulk
material in its natural state that density of material.
includes voids and pores. - Heat conductivity
- Density index - is the ability of a material to conduct
- it indicates the degree to which the heat
volume of material is filled with solid - Thermal capacity
matter - is the property of a material to absorb
- Ratio of bulk density and density heat described by its specific heat
- Fire resistance
- it gives the volume of solid matter in - is the ability of a material to resist the
the material. action of high temperature without any
- appreciable deformation and
- Specific weight substantial loss of strength
- Also known as the unit weight which is
the weight per unit volume of material - The ability to withstand fire without
- Specific gravity changing its shape and other
- Is the ratio of weight/mass of a given properties. Fire resistance of a
volume of solids to the weight/mass of material is tested by the combined
an equal volume of water at 4°C actions of water and fire. Fireproof
- Apparent or mass specific materials should provide more safety
gravity in case of fire.
- True or absolute specific - Refractoriness
gravity - Denotes the ability of a material to
- Porosity withstand prolonged action of high
- is the degree to which the volume of temperature without melting or losing
the material is interspersed with force shape
- it is expressed as a ratio of the volume
of force to that of the specimen

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing
 - Chemical resistance - Impact Strength
- is the ability of a material to withstand - If a material is subjected to sudden
the action of acids, alkalis, seawater loads and it will undergo some
and gases deformation without causing rupture is
- Durability known as its impact strength. It
- is the ability of a material to resist the designates the toughness of material.
combined effects of atmospheric and - Toughness
other factors - impacted or vibrated by stress, the
material is able to absorb much energy
- Maintenance cost of material is and deform greatly without rupture.
dependent on durability. - also called Impact Toughness.
- to withstand against the combined - Hardness
action of atmospheric and other - refers to the property of a material to
factors is known as durability of resist pressing-in or scratch of a sharp
material object
- Hygroscopicity - Abrasion Resistance
- the property of a material to absorb - refers to the capacity of a material to
water vapor from air resist abrasion
- Coefficient of Softening - an ability to withstand the wear and
- Coefficient of softening of a material is tear of friction caused by mechanical
the ratio of compressive strength of a parts and instances of repetitive
saturated material to its compressive scraping or rubbing
strength in dry state.
- It affects the strength of water - The loss of material due to rubbing of
absorbent materials like soil. particles while working is called
- Void ratio abrasion.
- is the ratio between the volume of - The abrasion resistance for a material
voids to the volume of solid material makes it durable and provides a long
life.
Mechanical Properties - determine the range of - Creep
usefulness of a material and establish the service - Creep the deformation caused by
life that can be expected constant loads for long periods. It is
time dependent and occurs at a very
Strength slow rate. It is almost negligible in
Hardness normal conditions. But at high
Elasticity temperature conditions creep occurs
Brittleness rapidly.
Fatigue
Impact strength
Chemical Properties - A property of a substance that
Abrasion resistance
is observed when a substance undergoes a chemical
Creep
change
- Corrosion Resistance
- Strength
- This property indicates a material's
- is the ability of the material to resist
ability to withstand degradation or
failure under the action of stresses
deterioration caused by chemical
caused by loads
reactions with its environment, such as
- Hardness
oxidation, rusting, or acidic attack
- is the ability of a material to resist
- pH Sensitivity
penetration by a harder body
- Some materials may exhibit sensitivity
- Elasticity
to changes in pH levels, which can
- is the ability of a material to restore
affect their chemical stability and
its initial form and dimensions after
performance.
the load is removed
- Reaction with water
- Plasticity
- Certain materials undergo chemical
- the ability of a material to change its
reactions with water, leading to
shape under load without cracking and
hydration, expansion, or dissolution.
to retain this shape after the load is
- On the other hand, materials like
removed
certain types of clay may expand or
- Brittleness
shrink when exposed to water,
- describes the property of a material
affecting soil stability and foundation
that fractures when subjected to stress
performance.
but has little tendency to deform
- Chemical Resistance to Aggressive Substances
before rupture
- Materials should possess resistance to
- Fatigue
aggressive substances commonly
- If a material is subjected to repeated
encountered in their intended
loads, then the failure occurs at some
applications, such as industrial
point which is lower than the failure
chemicals, sewage, and aggressive
point caused by steady loads.
soils.

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing
Properties of Construction Materials Cement
- Chemical Properties of Building Materials - The size of the particles of the cement is its
- Chemical resistance fineness. The required fineness of good cement
- Corrosion resistance is achieved through grinding the clinker is the
- Electrical Properties of Building Materials last step of the cement production process. As
- The properties of a material to conduct the hydration rate of cement is directly related
or to resist electricity through them are to the cement particle size, the fineness of
electrical properties of material. cement is very important.
- Magnetic Properties of Building Materials - Soundness refers to the ability of cement to not
- Thermal Properties of Building Materials shrink upon hardening. Good quality cement
- govern the rate of heat transfer retains its volume after setting without delayed
between the inside and outside of the expansion, which is caused by excessive free
building lime and magnesia.
- In the Vicat Test, cement paste of normal
- Thermal capacity consistency is taken in the Vicat Apparatus.
- Thermal capacity is the The plunger of the apparatus is brought down
property of a material to to touch the top surface of the cement. The
absorb heat and it is required plunger will penetrate the cement up to a
to design proper ventilation. certain depth depending on the consistency. A
- Thermal conductivity cement is said to have a normal consistency
- The amount of heat when the plunger penetrates 10±1 mm.
transferred through unit area
of specimen with unit
Concrete (Hardened Concrete)
thickness in unit time is termed
- Hardened concrete has a number of properties,
as thermal conductivity
including:
- The amount of heat
transferred through unit area - Mechanical strength, in particular
of specimen with unit compressive strength.
thickness in unit time is termed - Durability. Concrete is extremely
as thermal conductivity resistant to the physico-chemical
- Thermal resistivity attack emanating from the
- It is the ability to resist heat environment (frost, rain, atmospheric
conduction pollution, etc...) It is particularly well-
- It is measured in kelvins suited for structures exposed to
- Thermal resistivity of soil demanding and extreme conditions.
varies from 30 to 500 - Porosity and density. These properties
0C-cm/W. are responsible for the first two. The
- Specific heat denser (or the less porous) the
- Specific heat is the quantity of concrete the better its performance
heat required to heat 1 N of and the greater its durability. The
material by 1oC. density of concrete is increased by
- Specific heat is useful when we optimizing the dimensions and packing
use the material in high of the aggregate and reducing the
temperature areas. water content.
- Fire resistance.
Properties of Most Commonly Used Construction - Thermal and acoustic insulation
Materials properties.

Asphalt CHARACTERISTICS BEHAVIOR UNDER STRESS

- Durability
- Rheology The common characteristics of building
- Safety materials under stress are ductility, brittleness,
- Purity stiffness, flexibility, toughness, malleability and
hardness.
Steel
- Strength
The ductile materials can be drawn out without
- Yield strength is the most common
breaking down.
property that the designer will need.
Brittle materials have no little or no plasticity.
- Toughness
Stiff materials have a high modulus of
- The toughness of steel and its ability to
elasticity permitting small deformation for a given load.
resist brittle fracture.
Flexible materials on the other hand have low
- Ductility
modulus of elasticity and bend considerably without
- Redistribution of stress at the ultimate
breakdown.
limit state
Tough materials withstand heavy shocks.
- Bolt group design
Malleable materials can be hammered into
- Reduced risk of fatigue crack
sheets without rupture.
propagation and in the fabrication
Hard materials resist scratching and denting.
processes of welding
- Bending and straightening

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing
MATERIALS FOR MAKING CONCRETE-II - Coarse Aggregates
AGGREGATES - aggregates retained on 4.75 mm sieve
Aggregates - Are the materials basically used as filler - obtained by natural disintegration or
with binding material in the production of mortar and by artificial crashing of rocks
concrete - maximum size of aggregate can be 80
- They are derived from igneous sedimentary mm
and metamorphic rocks or manufactured from - It shall easily fit into the forms and in
blast furnaces, slag etc. between reinforcing bars
- refers to coarse particulate rock-like material - Fine Aggregates
consisting of a collection of different elements - Aggregate passing through 4.75 mm
of size ranging from a small fraction of a sieve
millimeter to tens of millimeters. It includes - may be natural sand - deposited by
crushed rock, sand, recycled concrete, slag, rivers, crashed stones sand - obtained
and synthetic or artificial aggregates. by crushing stones and crushed gravel
- the aggregates component is about 60% to sand
75% of the total mass of concrete - the smallest size of fine aggregate or
sand is 0.06 mm
- Aggregate is hard material made up of rock - All-in Aggregates
materials. It is the disintegration of the hard - naturally available aggregates of
stratum of the rock. It consists of many types, different fractions of fine and coarse
that includes gravel, concrete, crushed rock, sizes
etc. It is used in the construction of buildings, - Graded Aggregates
construction of pavement surfaces, etc. - aggregate most of which passes
through a particular size of sieve are
3 Groups of Aggregates known as graded aggregate
- Primary Aggregates
- naturally occurring deposits of On the Basis of SHAPE
minerals that come in the form of - Rounded aggregates
crushed rocks, sand and gravel which - generally obtained from river or
can be found along river beds, on the seashore and produce minimum voids
ocean floor and in most natural in the concrete
environments. Primary aggregates are - It is unsuitable for high strength
typically used for home improvements, concrete & pavements because of poor
landscaping projects and for creating interlocking behavior and weak bond
buildings and structures. Examples: strength.
Basalt Flagstone Granite Limestone - Irregular aggregate
Quartzite Sand Sandstone Slate. - They have voids about 36% and require
- Secondary Aggregates more cement paste as compared to
- by-products of processes such as rounded aggregate
quarrying or mining, which results in - because of irregularity in shape they
clay and slate waste, and limestone develop good bonds and are suitable
deposits. They are also produced for making ordinary concrete
through industrial processes too, - Angular aggregates
where burned shale, burned clay, boiler - they have sharp angular and rough
ash can be collected from blast particles having maximum voids
furnaces, steel slags, etc. Examples: - most suitable for high strength
Burned Clay, Boiler Ash, Broken concrete and pavements
Concrete - Flaky aggregates
- Recycled Aggregates - Sometimes sometimes wrongly called
- are neither primary nor secondary as elongated aggregate
aggregates, they are aggregates that - generally orient in one plane with
have been used before, hence, water and air voids underneath
recycled. These aggregates have been - aggregate thickness is small when
used for a purpose but have been compared with width and length of
collected through deconstruction and other aggregate
have been crushed and processed so - when the least dimension of aggregate
that they can be put back to good use. is less than the 60% of its mean
dimension then it is said to be flaky
Classification of Aggregates aggregate.
- Natural Aggregates - Elongated
- Obtained by crushing from quarries of - This type of aggregates is longer than
igneous sedimentary or metamorphic they are thick or wide; adds more
rocks surface area to a mix.
- Artificial Aggregates - Flaky and Elongated
- Broken bricks, blast furnace slag and - A mix of the previous two– and the
synthetic aggregates least efficient form of aggregate with
regards to workability.
On the Basis of SIZE

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing
Based on UNIT WEIGHTS / DENSITY - gives an idea on the internal structure of
- Normal-weight / Normal-Density aggregate
- They have relative densities within a - aggregates having more absorption are more
limited range of approximately 2.55- porous in nature and are generally considered
2.75, thus, all produced concrete unsuitable, unless found to be acceptable
normally ranges 2250–2450 kg/m3 , based on strength, impact and hardness tests
depending on mix proportions. - Absorption capacity (AC) -- maximum
amount of water the aggregate will
- Sand, gravel, granite, sandstone, absorb. The range for most
limestone normal-weight aggregates is 1 - 2%.
- Heavy-weight - Effective Absorption (EA) -- amount of
- This type of aggregate can be used water required to bring an aggregate
where concrete of high density is from the air dry state to the
required, for example in radiation saturated-surface-dry state.
shielding. - Surface Moisture (SM) -- amount of
- These may be made with high-density water in excess of SSD. The surface
ores such as barytes and haematite, or moisture (SM) represents water in
manufactured, such as steel shot. excess of the SSD state,
- Magnetite, baryte, scrap iron - Apparatus Required
- Light-weight - Wire Mesh Bucket
- They are used to produce lower density - not more than 6.3mm mesh or
concrete, which are advantageous in a perforated container of
reducing the self-weight of structures convenient size with thin wire
and also have better thermal insulation hangers for suspending it from
than normal-weight concrete. the balance.
- The most important aspect of - Setup of Water Absorption Test
lightweight aggregate is the porosity. - The setup consists of a
- The reduced relative density of this container for filling water and
aggregate is obtained from air void suspending the wire basket in
within the aggregate particles. it and an airtight container of
- dolomite, pumice, cinder, clay capacity similar to that of
basket, a shallow tray and two
Tests Carried Out on Aggregates dry absorbent clothes.
4 Abrasion
1. Specific Weight - Hardness property is determined by
- The bulk density or specific weight (unit conduction abrasion test.
weight) of an aggregate is defined as the
weight of the aggregate particles that would Los Angeles Abrasion Test
fill a unit volume. The term bulk is used since - Specific gravity defines the ratio of the mass of
the volume is occupied by both the aggregates aggregate to the mass of an equal absolute
and voids. The typical bulk density used in volume of water, the measure of the
making normal concrete ranges from 1200 to compactness of the aggregate particles.
1750 kg/m^3 - The principle of Los Angeles abrasion test is to
- The void contents range between 30% to 45% find the percentage wear due to relative
for coarse aggregate and 40% to 50% for fine rubbing action between the aggregate and
aggregate. Void content increases with steel balls used as abrasive charge.
angularity and decreases with well graded
aggregate. 5. Density and Uniformity
- Bulk Density = Mass of the aggregate\Volume Density
of aggregate particles - Determine the proportions of aggregates,
cement, and water required to produce the
BULK DENSITY OF AGGREGATES DEPENDS UPON desired concrete mixture.
THE FOLLOWING 3 FACTORS - Density increases, void content decreases
- Degree of compaction - Density up, strength up
- Grading of Aggregates - The bulk density or UNIT WEIGHT of
- Shape of aggregate particles an aggregate is the mass or weight of
the aggregate that is required to fill a
container of a specified unit volume.
2. Specific Gravity - The approximate bulk density of
- a metric that quantifies the ratio of the weight aggregate that is commonly used in
of a given volume of aggregate to the weight normal-weight concrete is between
of an equal volume of water 1200-1750 kg/m3 (75-110 lb/ft3).
- helps determine how robust and resilient the - The relative density or SPECIFIC
material is GRAVITY of an aggregate is the ratio
- serves as a reliable indicator of the strength of its mass to the mass of an equal
and quality of a particular material volume of water.
- Most aggregates have a relative
3. Water Absorption density between 2.4-2.9 with a

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing
 corresponding particle (mass) density - Porosity
of 2400-2900 kg/m3 (150-181 lb/ft3). - the entrapped air bubbles in the rocks
Uniformity during their formation lead to minute
- Refers to the consistency in size, shape, and holes or cavities known as pores
gradation of aggregate particles - the porous aggregate absorb more
- Variations in aggregate uniformity can moisture resulting in loss of workability
influence specific gravity results. of concrete at a much faster rate
- Fineness Modulus - Moisture Content
- Fineness Modulus (FM) is used in - Bulking
determining the degree of uniformity - Fineness Modulus
of the aggregate gradation. It is an - is a numerical index of fineness, giving
empirical number relating to the some idea about the mean size of the
fineness of the aggregate. The higher particles in the aggregates
the FM is, the coarser the aggregate is.
- Fineness Modulus is defined as the Deleterious Materials and Organic Impurities
sum of the cumulative percentages - they affect the properties of concrete in green
retained on specified sieves divided by as well as in hardened state and are
100. undesirable
- FM describes the average size of - they may be classified as those interfering with
particles in a sample of aggregate. the processes of hydration, affecting the
This factor provides a basis to select development of bond between aggregates and
estimated proportions for concrete mix the cement piece, and, unsound particles
design, but its real influence is not which are weak or bring about chemical
always understood. Fineness modulus reaction between aggregate and cement paste
is not a precise value, as it provides a
way to estimate the amount of Soundness
aggregate needed to proportion mix - defined as the ability of aggregate the resist
designs. changes in volume as a result of changes in
physical condition
Characteristics of Aggregate - The conditions affecting this property are
- Strength freezing and thawing, temperature changes,
- the strength should be at least equal to and alternate wetting and drying
that of the concrete
- rocks commonly used as aggregates Thermal Properties of Aggregates
have a compressive strength much - Specific Heat
higher than that usual range of - Thermal conductivity
concrete strength - Coefficient of expansion
- Stiffness - affects the concrete in general since
- the modulus of elasticity is the coefficient of thermal expansion of
approximately equal to the weighted concrete increases with that of coarse
average of the moduli of the cement aggregate
paste and the aggregate, as such the
modulus of the course aggregate has FINE AGGREGATE
an important influence in the stiffness
of concrete Sand - is used as a fine aggregate in mortar and
- Bond Strength concrete
- Shape and Texture - it is a granular form of silica
- the shape influences the properties of - sand used for mix design is known as standard
fresh concrete more than when it has sand
hardened
- rounded aggregate are highly Classification
workable but yield law strength - basis of source
concrete - mineralogical composition
- angular shape is the best - size of the particles
- the shape and surface texture of fine - particle size distribution
aggregate govern its void ratio and
significantly affect the water Functions of Sand
requirement - To achieve economy by its use as adulterant in
- Specific Gravity mortar
- the specific gravity and porosity of - Prevent shrinkage and develop cracks in
aggregates greatly influence the mortar
strength and absorption of concrete - Furnish strength to mortar against crushing
- Bulk Density - Allow carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to
- The bulk density of aggregate depends penetrate the fat lime mortars necessary for its
upon their packing, the particles shape air hardening
and size, the grading, and the moisture
content
- Voids

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing
Effect of Gradation CEMENT
- workability of mortar - Cements are materials that exhibit
- Very fine sand and very coarse sand have been characteristic properties of setting and
found to be unsatisfactory for making mortar hardening when mixed to a paste with water.
and concrete - commonly used binding material in the
Effect of Impurities construction
- Clay is most harmful since it coats individual - obtained by burning a mixture of calcareous
sand particle and prevent their bonding with (calcium) and argillaceous (clay) material at a
cement very high temperature and then grinding the
Effect by Entraining Air in Concrete clinker so produced to a fine powder
- the quantity of fine aggregate required for - first produced by mason Joseph Aspdin in
making concrete mix can be reduced by England in 1924, he patented it as portland
entraining air cement

COARSE AGGREGATE Types of Cement

- They may be crushed, uncrushed, or partially
crushed gravel or stone most of which is Hydraulic Cement
retained in 4.75 mm sieve - Hydraulic cements have the ability to set and
- they should be hard, strong, dense, durable, harden underwater.
clear and free from veins and adherent - hydraulic limes, pozzolan cements, slug
coatings cements, natural cements, and portland
- flaky, scoriaceous and elongated aggregate cement
should be avoided
Non Hydraulic Cement
- Non hydraulic cements do not have the ability
to set and harden underwater but require air to
harden.

- Lime
- Lime is one of the oldest known
cementing materials, is readily
available and rather inexpensive.
- Hydraulic Lime
- Hydraulic limes are used for browning
plaster coats or for stucco and similar
uses.

1. White cement
- made free from coloring oxides of iron,
manganese and chlorium
- the oil is used instead of coal for
burning
- used for the floor finishes, plastering,
ornamental works etc.

2. Colored cement
- produced by intimately mixing
pigments with ordinary cement
- chlorium oxide gives green color
- cobalt produce blue
- Iron oxide produce brown, red, or
yellow color
- Manganese dioxide gives black or
brown
- used for giving finishing touches to
floors, walls, window sills, roofs etc.

3. Quick Setting cement

- produced by reducing the percentage
of gypsum and adding a small amount
of aluminum sulfate during the
manufacture of cement
- finer grinding also adds to quick
setting
- Sets within 5 minutes after adding
water, hardens within 30 minutes
- used to lay concrete under static or
slowly running water

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing
 10. Acid Resistant Cement
4. Rapid Hardening cement - produced by adding acid resistant
- can be produced by increasing lime aggregates such as quartz, quartzite,
content and burning at high sodium silicate or soluble glass
temperature while manufacturing - has good resistance to action of acid
cement and water
- commonly used in the construction of
5. Low Heat Cement chemical factories
- In mass concrete works like
construction of dams, heat produced 11. Sulphate Resistant Cement / Sulphate Furnace
due to hydration of cement will not get Cement
dispersed easily - by keeping the percentage of
- may give rise to cracks tricalcium aluminate CA below five per
- it is preferable to use low heat cement cent in ordinary cement this cement is
produced
6. Pozzolana Cement - used in the construction of structures
- Pozzolana is a volcanic power found in which are likely to be damaged by
Italy. alkaline conditions
- it can be processed from shales and - Examples of such structures are canals,
certain types of clay also culverts etc.
- releases less heat during setting
- imparts a higher degree of water 12. Fly Ash Blended Cement
tightness - Fly ash is a byproduct in thermal
- tensile strength is high but stations.
compressive strength is low - The particles of fly ash are very minute
- used for mass concrete works and they fly in the air, creating air
- used in sewage line works pollution problems.
- the best way to dispose of fly ash is to
- A siliceous or siliceous and aluminous mix it with cement in controlled
material which in itself possesses little condition and derive some of the
or no cementitious value but will, in beneficiary effects on cement
finely divided form and in the presence - Fly ash blended cements have superior
of moisture, chemically react with quality of resistance to weathering
calcium hydroxide at ordinary action.
temperatures to form compounds - The ultimate strength gained is the
possessing cementitious properties. same as that with ordinary portland
cement. However, strength gained in
7. Expanding Cement the initial stage is slow.
- expands as it sets - Birta plus, Birta star, A.C.C. Suraksha
- property is achieved by adding an are some of the brand names of
expanding medium like blended cement.
sulphoaluminate and a stabilizing
agent to ordinary cement Slag Cements
- used for filling the cracks in concrete - Slag cements are hydraulic cements consisting
structures mostly of an intimate and uniform blend of
granulated blast-furnace slag and hydrated
8. High Alumina Cement lime.
- manufactured by calcining a mixture
of lime and bauxite Natural Cement
- more resistant to sulfate and acid - A natural cement is a hydraulic cement
attack produced by calcining a naturally occurring
- develops almost full strength within 24 argillaceous limestone at a temperature below
hours of adding water the sintering point and then grinding to a fine
- used for underwater works powder.

9. Blast Furnace Cement Portland Cement

- In the manufacture of pig iron, slag - Portland cement is a hydraulic cement
comes out as a waste product. By produced by pulverizing clinker consisting
grinding clinkers of cement with about essentially of hydraulic calcium silicates,
60 to 65 percent of slag, this cement is usually containing one or more of the forms of
produced. calcium sulfate as an interground addition.
- properties are more or less same as
- Types of Portland Cement
ordinary cement, but it is cheap, since
- Type I: Normal
it utilizes waste products
- Type II: Moderate
- durable but it gains the strength slowly
- Type III: High early strength
and hence needs longer period of - Type IV: Low heat
curing - Type V: Sulfate resisting

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing
Properties of Ordinary Portland Cement into a liquid state, to a solid state.
- Fineness Initial setting time is when cement
- Soundness starts losing plasticity after adding
- Compressive Strength water. Final setting time is when water
- Heat of Hydration is added and loses plasticity
- Specific Gravity completely. Vicat apparatus, with
- Time of Setting needles and a movable rod, measures
these times using a split
Chemical Properties cylinder-shaped Vicat mold.
- Soundness test
Physical Properties - It consists of a split brass mold of
- Fineness diameter 30 mm and height 30 mm. On
- It is measured in terms of percentage either side of the split, there are two
of weight retained after sieving the indicators, with pointed ends. The ends
cement through 90 micron sieve or by of indicators are 165 mm from the
surface area of cement in square center of the mold.
centimeters per gramme of cement. - Crushing Strength Test
According to IS code specification - Crushing is a local failure of a material,
weight retained on the sieve should not usually over a small area and despite
be more than 10 percent. the fact that the area around it is
- Setting Time confined and not readily able to dilate
- The setting time refers to the time it or fail in shear. Compressive strength is
takes for cement to harden and measured by the vertical force applied
become stable after it has been mixed to an unconfined cylinder
with water. A period of 30 minutes as
minimum setting time for initial Uses of Cement
setting. It refers to the time it takes for - Cement slurry is used for filling cracks in
cement to harden and become stable concrete structures.
after it has been mixed with water. This - Cement mortar is used for masonry work,
process involves the formation of a plastering and pointing.
hardened mass. Two tests are - Cement concrete is used for the construction of
commonly used – the initial and final various structures like buildings, bridges. water
setting time tests – to measure the tanks, tunnels, docks, harhours etc.
setting time of cement. - Cement is used to manufacture lamp posts,
- Soundness telephone posts, railway sleepers, piles etc. (v)
- Once the concrete has hardened it is For manufacturing cement pipes, garden seats,
necessary to ensure that no volumetric dust bins, flower pots etc. cement is commonly
changes take place. The cement is said used.
to be unsound, if it exhibits volumetric - It is useful for the construction of mads,
instability after hardening. IS code footpaths, courts for various sports etc
recommends testing with Le Chatelier
mold for testing this property. At the Testing of Cement
end of the test, the indicator of Le - Fineness test
Chatelier mold should not expand by - Consistency test
more than 10 mm. - Setting time
- Crushing strength - Soundness test
- For this mortar cubes are made with - Specific Gravity test
standard sand and tested in a - Chemical test
compression testing machine as per
the specification of IS code. The Influences of Ingredients on the Properties of
minimum strength specified is 16 Concrete
N/mm2 after 3 days and 22 N/mm2 Aggregates
after 7 days of curing. - They are the primary contributors to the
compressive strength of concrete. The stronger
Physical Tests on Cement and more durable the aggregates, the higher
- Fineness Test the overall strength of the concrete.
- It is conducted by sieve analysis where Water
the fineness of the cement particles is - The water-cement ratio in concrete is crucial,
determined. In sieve analysis, a sample with lower ratios generally leading to higher
of cement is passed through a series of compressive strength, while excessive water
sieves with progressively finer mesh can weaken the concrete, increasing porosity
sizes. This helps assess the uniformity and the risk of cracks.
of the cement particles, which can Cement
impact the setting time and strength of - Higher cement content generally leads to
the cement. increased strength, provided that the
- Setting time water-cement ratio is appropriately controlled.
- Setting of cement is the process of
changing mixed cement with water

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing
 - Fine cement particles often lead to improved
workability, allowing for easier placement and
compaction of the concrete
- Optimizing the use of cement while
maintaining the required performance
characteristics is essential for economic
reasons.

Curing Process
Importance of Curing
Curing imparts better strength to the concrete,
it also protects the concrete surface from the sun and
wind. Curing period is about 7 to 14 days, if curing of
concrete is not done properly it will reduce the
compressive and flexural strengths.

Purpose of Curing
- The resistance of concrete to abrasion is
considerably raised by proper curing.
- The curing protects the concrete surfaces from
sun and wind.
- Concrete strength moderately increases with
age, if curing is efficient.
- The presence of water is essential to cause the
chemical action that accompanies the setting
of concrete.
- The durability and impermeability of concrete
are increased and shrinkage is decreased.

Bautista, Ma. Angela M.

Construction Materials and Testing