Materials of Construction

(805261)
Chapter 5: Fresh Concrete

 Introduction
 Workability
 Factors Affecting Workability
 Cohesion and Segregation
 Bleeding
 Workability Tests
Chapter 5: Fresh Concrete

 Comparison of tests
 Density (Unit Mass or Unit Weight in Air) of
Fresh Concrete
Introduction

 Since the long-term properties of hardened

concrete:
strength, volume stability, and durability
are seriously affected by its degree of compaction, it
is vital that the consistency or workability of the
fresh concrete be such that the concrete can be:
- properly compacted,
- transported,
- placed, and
- finished
sufficiently easily without segregation, which would
be detrimental (harmful or unfavorable) to such
compaction
Workability

 The strict definition of workability is the amount of

useful internal work necessary to produce full
compaction (ease of placing and consolidating
freshly mixed concrete)

 Wet concretes are more workable than dry

concretes, but concretes of the same consistency
(consistency refers to the ease with which the
concrete will flow) may vary in workability
Workability

 Compression is expressed as a density ratio [a ratio

of actual density of a given concrete (partially
compacted) to the density of full compaction]
Density 
Density  (or Strength) of Partially Compacted Concrete
Ratio   
(or Strength) Density 
 
(or Strength) of Fully Compacted Concrete
 
 Because the strength of concrete is adversely and
significantly affected by the presence of voids in the
compacted mass, it is vital to achieve a maximum
density. This requires a sufficient workability for
virtually full compaction to be possible using a
reasonable amount of work under the given
conditions
Workability

 It is obvious that the presence of voids in concrete

reduces the density and greatly reduces the
strength:
(5% of voids can lower the strength as much as 30%)
 Types of voids in hardened concrete:
1) Bubbles of entrapped air
2) Spaces left after excess water has been removed
 Voids may be useful to prevent freezing and thawing
of water in concrete and they depend on the degree
of compaction
Factors Affecting Workability

 These factors include:

1. Water Content (most important factor)
2. Aggregate size, type, and grading
3. Aggregate/cement ratio
4. Presence of admixtures
5. Fineness of cement
Factors Affecting Workability

 The main factor is water content of the mix since by

simply adding water the interparticle lubrication is
increased
 However, to achieve optimum conditions for
minimum voids, or for maximum density with no
segregation, the influence of aggregate type and
grading has to be considered.
 For example, finer particles require more water to
wet their larger specific surface, whilst the irregular
shape and rougher texture of an angular aggregate
demand more water than, say, a rounded aggregate
Factors Affecting Workability

 Lightweight aggregate tends to lower the

workability. In fact, workability is governed by the
volumetric proportions of particles of different sizes,
so that when aggregates of varying specific gravity
(or particle density) are used, e.g. semi‑lightweight
aggregate, the mix proportions should be assessed
on the basis of the absolute volume of each size
fraction
 For a constant water/cement (W/C) ratio, the
workability increases as the aggregate/cement ratio
is reduced because the amount of water relative to
the total surface of solids is increased
Factors Affecting Workability

 A rather high ratio of volumes of coarse aggregate to

fine aggregate can result in segregation and in a
lower workability, so that the mix is harsh and not
easily finished.

 Conversely, too many fines lead to a higher

workability but such an over‑sanded mix makes less
durable concrete

 Air entrainment reduces the water requirement for a

given workability
Factors Affecting Workability

 There are other two factors affecting workability;

time and temperature.

 Freshly mixed concrete stiffens with time. Some of

the mixing water is absorbed by the aggregate, some
is lost by evaporation (particularly if the concrete is
exposed to the sun or wind), and some is removed
by initial chemical reactions.
Factors Affecting Workability

 The stiffening of concrete is effectively measured by

a loss of workability with time, knowing as slump
loss, which varies with:
 richness of the mix,
 type of cement,
 temperature of concrete, and
 initial workability.

 A higher temperature reduces the workability and

increases the slump loss
Cohesion and Segregation

 In considering the workability of concrete, concrete

should not segregate, and it ought to be cohesive.
The absence of segregation is essential if full
compaction is to be achieved

 Segregation can be defined as separation of the

constituents of a heterogeneous mixture so that the
distribution is no longer uniform.
Cohesion and Segregation

 In the case of concrete, it is the differences in the

size of particles (and sometimes in the specific
gravity of the mix constituents) that are the primary
cause of segregation, but its extent can be
controlled by:
1) The choice of suitable grading
2) Care in handling
Cohesion and Segregation

 The actual extent of segregation depends on the

method of handling and placing of concrete. If the
concrete does not have far to travel and is transferred
directly from the skip or the wheelbarrow to the final
position in the formwork, the danger of segregation is
small
 Segregation forms:
1) The coarser particles tend to separate out since
they travel further along a slope or settle more
than the finer particles (occurs mostly in dry mixes)
2) Separation of grout (cement + water)
(occurs mostly in wet mixes)
Cohesion and Segregation

 The addition of water would improve the cohesion of

the mix, but when the mix becomes too wet the
second type of segregation would take place.
 To prevent or reduce segregation:
1) Good grading
2) Appropriate handling and placing
3) Proper vibration, needed to achieve good
compaction: neither under nor over vibration
4) Using of air entrainment (reduces segregation)
5) Close specific gravity values for coarse and fine
aggregate
Cohesion and Segregation

 It must be stressed, nevertheless, that concrete

should always be placed direct in the position in
which it is to remain and must not be allowed to flow
or be worked along the form

 This prohibition includes the use of a vibrator to

spread a heap of concrete over a larger area.
Vibration provides a most valuable means of
compacting concrete, but, because a large amount
of work is being done on the concrete, the danger of
segregation (in placing, as distinct from handling) is
increased with improper use of a vibrator.
Cohesion and Segregation

 This is particularly so when vibration is allowed to

continue too long: with many mixes, separation of
coarse aggregate toward the bottom of the form and
of the cement paste toward the top may result.
 Segregation is difficult to measure quantitatively but
is easily detected and can be evaluated by:
a) Measuring mix cohesion by the flow table test, or
b) By vibrating a concrete cube or cylinder for
about 10 minutes and then strip it to observe the
distribution of coarse aggregate
(any segregation will be easily seen)
Bleeding

 Bleeding, known also as water gain, is a form of

segregation in which some of the water in the mix
tends to rise to the surface of freshly placed
concrete. This is caused by the inability of the solid
constituents of the mix to hold all of the mixing
water when they settle downwards.

 Bleeding can be expressed quantitatively as the total

settlement (reduction in height) per unit height of
concrete upon stiffening of cement paste.
Bleeding

 Bleeding depends on:

1) The water content of the mix

2) The tendency to bleeding depends largely on the

properties of cement. Bleeding is lower with finer
cements and is also affected by certain chemical
factors: there is less bleeding when
 The cement has a high alkali content
 The cement has a high C3A content
 Calcium chloride is added
Bleeding

 Bleeding depends on (Continued):

3) Temperature, a higher temperature within the
normal range, increases the rate of bleeding but
the total bleeding capacity is probably unaffected

4) Rich mixes are less prone to bleeding than lean

ones, and a reduction in bleeding is obtained by
the addition of Pozzolans or of aluminum powder

5) Air entrainment effectively reduces bleeding so

that finishing can follow casting without delay .
Workability Tests

 Unfortunately, there is no acceptable test which will

measure directly the workability as defined early.
However, the following methods give a measure of
workability which is applicable only with reference to
the particular method. Workability could be
measured by means of a slump test, compaction
factor test, and V-B consistometer test

 The tests are:

1) Slump test 2) Compacting factor test
3) Vebe test 4) Flow table test
5) Ball penetration test (Kelly ball test)
Workability Tests

1) Slump Test: ASTM C143-78

1) The inside of the mould is moistened
2) Filled in three layers
3) Each is tamped 25 times
4) Standard 5/8 in diameter steel rod
5) Immediately after filling, cone is slowly lifted
6) The unsupported concrete will now slump
7) Slump: is the decrease in height (5 mm)
Workability Tests

1) Slump Test: ASTM C143-78

Workability Tests

1) Slump Test: ASTM C143-78

Workability Tests

1) Slump Test: ASTM C143-78

Workability Tests

2) Compacting Factor Test:

1) Inverse approach (measure degree of
compaction achieved by a standard amount of
work)
2) Apparatus consists of two hoppers (shape of
frustum of a cone) and one cylinder. All being
above one another
3) The hoppers have hinged doors at the bottom
4) The upper hopper is filled with concrete
(placed gently, no work is done on concrete)
5) The bottom door of the hopper is then released
6) The concrete falls into the lower hopper
(smaller)
Workability Tests

2) Compacting Factor Test:

7) The smaller hopper is filled to overflowing
8) The bottom door of the lower hopper is
released
9) The concrete falls into the cylinder and fills it
10) Determine the net mass of the concrete in the
known volume of the cylinder
11) The density of the concrete is calculated
(density of partially compacted concrete)
12) Density of fully compacted concrete (filling
cylinder, four layers, each tamped or vibrated)
Workability Tests

2) Compacting Factor Test:

13) The compacting factor is the
ratio of the density of the
partially compacted concrete
to that of the fully compacted
concrete
Workability Tests

3) Vebe Test:
1) As shown in the figure, a standard slump cone
is placed in a 9.5" diameter and 8" high.
2) The slump cone is filled in the standard
manner, removed, and a disc-shaped rider
(6 lb) is placed on top of the concrete
3) Compaction is achieved using a vibrating table
4) Compaction is assumed to be complete when
the transparent rider is totally covered with
concrete and all cavities in the surface of the
concrete have disappeared (judged visually)
5) Workability is measured in Vebe Seconds
6) Good test for dry mixes
Workability Tests

3) Vebe Test:
Workability Tests

4) Flow Table Test:

1) More widespread in its use, particularly for
flowing concrete made with superplasticizing
admixtures
2) Apparatus consists essentially of a wooden
board covered by a steel plate with a total
mass of 35 lb.
3) The board is hinged along one side to a base
square board (27.6")
4) The upper board can be lifted up to a stop so
that the free edge rises 1.6“
5) Concrete is filled and tamped, then placed
Workability Tests

4) Flow Table Test:

6) After 30 seconds, mould is slowly removed
7) The table top is lifted and allowed to drop 15
times
8) Each cycle taking approximately 4 seconds
9) The concrete spreads
10) The maximum spread parallel to the edges of
the table is measured
11) The average of these two values (to the nearest
millimeter) represents the flow
12) 400: medium, 500: high workability
Workability Tests

4) Flow Table Test:

Workability Tests

5) Ball Penetration (Kelly Ball) Test:

1) A simple field test
2) Determination of the depth to which a 6"
diameter metal hemisphere, 30 lb, will sink
under its own weight into fresh concrete
3) Similar in use (an alternative) to slump test
Workability Tests

5) Ball Penetration (Kelly Ball) Test:

Comparison of Tests
Density (Unit Mass, Unit Wt.
in Air) of Fresh Concrete
 Let the masses per batch of water, cement, fine
aggregate, and coarse aggregate be, respectively, W,
C, Af, and Ac.
 Then, the volume of compacted concrete obtained
from one batch (or yield) is
C  Af  Ac  W
V 

 The cement content (wt. per unit volume of concrete)
C Af  Ac  W

V V
 Quiz

Discuss the Applicability of the various

workability tests to concretes of different
levels of workability.