Proceedings of the International Symposium on High Performance Concrete, Hong Kong University of Science and

Technology. Hong Kong, China, December 10-15, 2000.

Time-generalisation of Abrams' model for high performance

concrete and practical application examples

Carlos E. de S. Tango

IPT - Technological Research Institute of São Paulo State

Brazil

Abstract

The well-known Abrams' exponential mathematical model, also named Abrams'

"law", is a very important tool in concrete strength evaluation, and, in consequence,
as well in concrete mixture design and concrete quality control. It is an equation
relating strength with water-cement ratio in a particular age of concrete testing,
usually 28 days.
In prior works it was proposed a model for generalization of Abram's equation for
any age of concrete. This model is expressed as:
fc,j = A / (Bx .ET .Dx.T ), where:
fc,j = compressive strength at age j;
A, B, E, and D: constants, which vary with environmental conditions and materials
characteristics;
x = water-cement ratio (weight);
T = j-n = "transformed time"
j = age of testing;
n = linearizing exponent, usually = 0.5.
The above model was successfully used in the prediction of concrete strength and in
Brazilian IPT Concrete Mixture Design Method.
This work presents test results confirming the validity of proposed model to high
performance concrete with silica fume, some important relations between constants
and concrete properties, and practical examples for concrete mix-design and concrete
strength prediction for anticipated quality control.

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Proceedings of the International Symposium on High Performance Concrete, Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology. Hong Kong, China, December 10-15, 2000.

1. Theoretical basis

1.1 Mathematical model: strength versus w-c ratio versus time

One of Powers' approaches for compressive strength as a function of gel/space ratio,
which is a function of the non-evaporable water and hydration degree in a cement
paste, is similar to Abrams' "law" (Abrams, 1918) and is given by equation 1
(Powers, 1949):
fc,j = AP / BP x/wn (equation 1)
Where:
fc,j = compressive strength at age j;
AP and BP = Powers' constants for paste, depending on materials and test conditions;
x = water-cement ratio;
wn = relative mass of non-evaporable water,
Equation 1 can be seen as a time generalization of Abram's "law", because it is valid
for any age, and paste-aggregate transition zone effects, not considered for paste, can
be regarded by adequately adjusted constants Ap and Bp also for concrete. From
equation 1 it is possible to arrive to equation 2 (Tango, 1992):
fc,j = A / Bx/hj (equation 2)
Where:
A and B = constants depending on materials (paste-aggregate transition zone
included) and test conditions;
hj = hydration degree at age j.
Inverse of hydration degree can be given by equation 3 (Tango, 1992):
1 / hj = 1 + T . (h' max-1 + h"o -1 . x-1) (equation 3)
Where:
T = transformed time = j-n, with n = 0.5 for no-slag cements;
h'max = maximum initial hydration "speed" considering the transformed time T;
h"o = derivative of the initial hydration "speed" as a function of x, when x = 0.
Then, we can write equation 4 substituting equation 3 given value in equation 2:
fc,j = A / B(x+x.T/h'max+T/h"o) (equation 4)
We can write equation 4 as equation 5:
fc,j = A / (Bx . Ex.T . DT ) (equation 5)
Where:
E = B / h'max = constant;
D = B / h"o , = constant.
Equation 5 assumes the aspect shown in figure 1 when graphically expressed.

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Proceedings of the International Symposium on High Performance Concrete, Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology. Hong Kong, China, December 10-15, 2000.

75

Compressive 65
Strength (MPa)
55

45
125
35 105
85
25 65
0,450

45 Age j (days)
0,500
0,550

25
0,600
0,650

5
Water-binder ratio x (g/g)

Figure 1. 3-D diagram for time generalization of Abram's equation.

1.2. Linearization for extrapolation and prediction of strength.

Equations 4 and 5 are linearizable, that means, it is possible to transform a surface
shown in figure 1 to a ruled surface or a surface composed by straight lines applying
the logarithm function to compressive strength (that is a currently used mathematical
tool in concrete technology), and elevating age to a certain negative exponent (for
obtaining an asymptotic fitting). Figure 2 shows a view of linearized graphic.

1,9
Transformed strength log fc,j

1,85
1,8
1,75
1,7
1,65
0,05
1,6
0,13
1,55
0,21 Transformed time j^(-0.5)
1,5
0,29
1,45
0,45 0,37
0,5 0,55 0,6 0,65 0,45
Water-binder ratio x

Figure 2. 3-D representation of figure 1 linearized graphic for high-performance

concrete. The straight lines of surface are not necessarily parallel and
surface is not a plane.

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Proceedings of the International Symposium on High Performance Concrete, Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology. Hong Kong, China, December 10-15, 2000.

In concrete control, linearization permits to extrapolate concrete future strength,

having two earlier results for the same sample (e.g. calculating 28-day strength using
as basis the strengths obtained in tests at 3 and 7 days with the same concrete
sample). This procedure is adequate to ACI (ACI, 1995) control recommendations,
has been successfully used, and is called "AMEBA method" (Tango, 1998).
In concrete experimental mixture design, as traditionally in IPT method or other,
making three (two would be theoretically minimum) experimental batches varying
cement consumption, keeping constant workability and consequently varying water-
binder ratio as necessary, it is possible to adjust A, B, D, and E constants with two
earlier ages compressive test results, and to calculate the future age Abrams' curve or
to anticipatory calculate the necessary water-binder ratio which will give the required
strength. at the age of interest.
Following examples illustrate real cases for control and mix design of high
performance concrete.

2. Practical examples

2.1. High performance concrete anticipated experimental mixture design

Table 1 Weight composition of experimental batches for concrete design

Crushed
Binder Silica River HRWR
Cement Granite 19 Water*
Consumption Fume Sand Admixture
mm
Poorer 0,900 O,100 2,376 3,376 0,010 0,614
Medium 0,900 0,100 1,876 2,876 0,010 0,515
Richer 0,900 0,100 1,376 2,376 0,010 0,454
* Necessary to slump 10 + 1 cm with the Abrams' cone
Cylindrical specimens 20 cm height and 10 cm diameter, 2 by age and cement consumption, were
molded and moist-temperature controlled cured 3, 7, 14, and 28 days, for compressive rupture test, by
Brazilian Standard Methods.

The above concrete samples, when tested only at 3 and 7 days, gave A, B, D and E
constants and permitted to obtain estimated anticipated water-binder ratio for desired
49,1 MPa compressive strength at 28 days as shown in figure 3. When all tests were
performed, the real configuration was very similar.

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Proceedings of the International Symposium on High Performance Concrete, Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology. Hong Kong, China, December 10-15, 2000.

70,0

65,0
Compressive strength fc,j (MPa)

60,0

55,0

50,0

45,0

40,0

35,0 0,454 0,515 0,614 0,454

30,0 0,515 0,614 n= 0,5 0,566

25,0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Age of concrete j (days)

Figure 3. Strength time extrapolating diagram giving 0.566 as water-binder ratio for
obtaining 49.1 MPa mean compressive strength at 28 days. Obtained
with test results at 3 and 7 days ages. Calculated constants: A = 189.1; B
= 7.615; D = 1.234; and E = 2.562 (with units MPa and days). When 14
and 28 days tests occurred, calculated real water/binder ratio was 0.579
and constants were: A = 170.1 ; B = 5.879 ; D = 1.960 ; and E = 2.130.

2.2. High performance grout anticipated control

In the manufacture of a semi-prepared grout, maximum aggregate size 9.5 mm, it
was possible to use the factory's quality control data at 1 and 7 days to predict the 28
day strengths, using equation (6) and an n value = 0.5 in equation (7). The cement
used was a blended cement with less than 34% slag, HRWR and expansive
admixtures, and pozzolan. Figure 4 is the control chart for predicted and measured
28 day strengths (Tango, 1998).

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Proceedings of the International Symposium on High Performance Concrete, Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology. Hong Kong, China, December 10-15, 2000.

Compressive Strength, fc (MPa)

60

50

40

30

20

10 fc24h measured f c28 predicted fc28

0
09/02/94 22/03/94 11/05/94 18/05/94 27/06/94 16/09/94 28/10/94 04/03/95
day of manufacturing (dd/mm/yy)
Figure 4. Control chart for a repairing high performance grout. After stabilizing
control factory laboratory variability, a good fitness was observed
between predicted and obtained values.

3. Conclusion

The model presented in this work is adequate for high performance concrete with
silica fume, and useful for anticipated quality control or experimental mixture design.
Spreadsheets of usual programs for microcomputer are applicable for necessary
calculations and graphics, and have been continuously developed by the author.

4. References
ACI - AMERICAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE. "Building Code Requirements for
Structural Concrete (ACI 318-95) and Commentary (ACI 318R-95)".
American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, USA, 1995.
Abrams, D.A. (1918) "Design of Concrete Mixtures". Bulletin 1, Structural
Materials Research Laboratory, Lewis Institute, Chicago, USA, Dec. 1918.
Powers, T.C. (1949) "The Nonevaporable Water Content of Hardened Portland
Cement Paste - It's Significance for Concrete Research and it's Method of
Determination". ASTM Bulletin n. 158, USA, May 1949, pp. 68-76.
Tango, C.E.S. (1992) "Modeling and Verifying Portland Cement Concrete Strength-
Time Relationship up to 50 years ages". Proceedings of the 9th International
Congress on the Chemistry of Cements, New Delhi - India. 1992.
Tango, C.E.S. (1998) "An Extrapolation Method for Compressive Strength
Prediction of Hydraulic Cement Products". Cement and Concrete Research,
ISSN 0008-8846, Volume 28, N. 07, pp. 969-983, USA, 22/Jul., 1998.