Dept.

of Civil Engineering, MEAEC Module I

MODULE 1
Syllabus:
Aggregates: Review of types; sampling and testing; effects on properties of concrete, production of
artificial aggregates.
Cements: Review of types of cements, chemical composition; properties and tests, chemical and
physical process of hydration, Blended cements.

INTRODUCTION
Concrete is the most commonly used manmade construction material. It has become very popular not
only among civil engineers but among common people also. The secret of its popularity lies in the
simple fact that except cement, all other ingredients of concrete are commonly available local
materials like aggregate and water. Therefore, it is no surprise that the concrete is being used as a
construction material from small pavements to run-ways and express-ways, from small hutments to
multi- storied buildings and from small culverts to long multi-span bridges.

Production of concrete

The production of concrete involves two distinct but equally important activities. One is related to
materials required for concrete and the other to processes involved in its production.

Material

The activity related to materials involves their

(1) Selection and

(2) Proportioning

Process
The activity related to process involved in Production of concrete involves,

(1) Mixing
(2) Transportation
(3) Placement
(4) Compaction and
(5) Curing

Out of above activities, more often than not, it is the process' which is responsible for quality of the
concrete, though the cost of the concrete is mainly governed by the cost of the materials. The selection
of materials and their proportioning is usually well taken care of at higher levels but the process is left
to the lower levels. The expenditure incurred on materials goes waste if the process is not taken care
of. Ignorance and lack of appreciation of good practices are the main reasons for the poor quality
of concrete. Therefore, if we are able to control the process, we can obtain far better quality of
concrete at no extra expenditure.

Ingredients of concrete

The basic ingredients of concrete are as given below

(1) Cement - It is the most important and costliest ingredient of concrete. The mix-design of
concrete indirectly means optimizing the use of cement for obtaining the desired properties of
concrete in green as well as hardened state. It affects the overall economy of the structure too.

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Different types of cements are available for different type of structures and different types of
locations. Judicious selection of cement is necessary for the longevity of the structure.
(2) Aggregate - The aggregates give volume to the concrete because these occupy maximum space in
the total volume of concrete. Efforts should be made to use maximum quantity of aggregates
as these increase the volumetric stability of concrete and make the mix-design more economical.
(3) Water - It is indispensable because it is required for reaction of hydration. But its use should be
restricted to minimum as possible considering the requirement for chemical reaction with
cement and workability only. Any excess water is destined for evaporation, leaving capillary- pores
in the concrete. Eventually, strength and durability both will be adversely affected when water is
excessive.
(4) Admixture - It is an optional ingredient which is used only for some specific purpose. It is used to
modify some of the properties of concrete like setting time, workability or surface finishing
characteristics etc. But admixture should not be used to compensate for bad quality of
concrete instead it should be used as a supplement to good construction practices. Though the
newer versions of concrete i.e. HPC, RMC and SCC, the use of admixtures has become
indispensable.

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AGGREGATE
Aggregates give body to the concrete. They also reduce shrinkage and effect overall economy. Since
aggregate is cheaper than cement, it is economical to put as much aggregates as practically possible.
Not only the use of more volume of aggregate in concrete is economical, it also provides higher volume
stability to the concrete. Generally they occupy 60-70% of the total volume of concrete. At the same
time the aggregates should be strong because the weak aggregates can't make strong concrete and
they may limit the strength of concrete. Therefore the selection of aggregate becomes very vital.

Earlier aggregates were viewed as an inert ingredient of concrete but now their importance has been
understood and these are no more considered inert. Their physical, chemical as well as thermal
properties greatly influence the properties of concrete.

TYPES OF AGGREGATES
In terms of size, there are two broad categories of aggregate as given below:

1. Fine Aggregate - passing 4.75 mm sieve

2. Coarse Aggregate - retained over 4.75 mm sieve

Within a particular category also, aggregates should have representation of all standard sizes as per
relevant IS - codes. The different sizes of the aggregates are mixed for making concrete assuming that
voids created by the larger size will be filled up by the next immediate lower size. Again some voids
would be created, which would accommodate the next lower size. This assumption holds good from
coarse aggregate to fine aggregate and then finally up to cement paste. At the end we should get
a compact mass of concrete with minimum or no voids.

SOURCE OF AGGREGATES
Almost all natural aggregate materials originate from bed rocks. There are three kinds of rocks, namely,
igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. These classification is based on the mode of formation
of rocks. The concrete making properties of aggregate are influenced to some extent on the basis of
geological formation of the parent rocks together with the subsequent processes of weathering and
alteration.

Most igneous rocks make highly satisfactory concrete aggregates because they are normally hard,
tough and dense.

The quality of aggregates derived from sedimentary rocks vary in quality depending upon the
cementing material and the pressure under which these rocks are originally compacted

Many metamorphic rocks particularly quartzite and gneiss have been used for production of good
concrete aggregates.

PROPERTIES OF AGGREGATES
The properties of aggregates can be broadly be categorized as:

1. Inherited properties

These properties are inherited by the aggregate from the parent rock. These are as given below:

i. Chemical and mineral composition

ii. Specific gravity
iii. Hardness
iv. Strength
v. Colour etc.

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2. Acquired properties

These properties are acquired by aggregates in the process of crushing. These properties are:

i. Aggregate shape
ii. Aggregate size
iii. Surface texture
iv. Water absorption

If we closely observe the above two categories of properties, we can easily infer that not only the
source or parent rock is important in influencing the properties of aggregate, but the properties which
have been acquired by the aggregate is also equally important. All the acquired properties greatly
influence the properties of fresh as well as hardened concrete. Therefore all the acquired properties
need to be closely studied before the aggregate is selected for concrete. These are elaborated as under:

Aggregate Shape

The shape of aggregates is an important characteristic since it affects the workability of concrete. The
shape acquired by aggregate can't be defined by any regular geometrical shape. It can approximately
be defined by the words given as under:

 Rounded
 Angular
 Elongated
 Flaky
 Irregular

Shape of aggregates

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The shape can also be defined by a mathematical entity called Angularity no. as suggested by Shergold.
This is based is based on the percentage voids in the aggregate after compaction in a specified manner.
It measures the percentage of voids in excess of 33%. This 33% represents the percentage of voids in
most rounded gravels. The method of determination is described in IS: 2386 (Part) I : 1963.

Mathematically,

Angularity No. = 67 - (Bulk Density/Sp. Gr.) x 100

Here 67 represents percentage of solid in total volume of the most rounded gravel. It has been found
that if gravels are most angular, the percentage of solid in total volume will reduce to 56%. Therefore
angularity no. will vary from 0 to 11 depending upon roundness. Higher the angularity no., more
angular will be the aggregate.

Flaky aggregates have thickness less than 0.6 times mean sieve size to which particles belong. Similarly
elongated aggregate have length dimension more than 1.8 times mean sieve size.

The shape of aggregate is influenced by the type of crusher as well as its reduction ratio.

This may be a question of debate which type of aggregate should be used for concrete. According to
the field experience, the rounded aggregates are preferred for the low grade of concrete where w/c
ratio is more than 0.4, but angular aggregates are preferred for higher grade of concrete and where
the requirement of flexure strength and interlocking is higher.

Angular aggregates exhibit a better interlocking effect in concrete, which makes it superior in concrete
used for roads and pavements. The total surface area of rough textured angular aggregate is more than
smooth rounded aggregate for the given volume. By having greater surface area, the angular aggregate
may show higher bond strength

Aggregate size

Larger size of aggregate is preferred in concrete because of the following reasons:

 It reduces the cement requirement

 It reduces the water requirement
 It reduces shrinkage of concrete

But practically, there are a no. of factors which limit the use of higher size aggregates in the concrete.
The maximum size of aggregate (MSA) which can be used is guided by the factors given below:

 Thickness of section - MSA should not be greater than 1/4th thickness of section
 Spacing of Reinforcement - MSA should not be greater than 5 mm less than spacing of steel
 Clear Cover - MSA should not be greater than 5 mm less than cover provided

For Plain Concrete called Plum Concrete', even rubbles of size up to 160 mm have been used. For RCC
works, MSA of 20 mm is generally used. For Pre-stressed concrete (PSC) works, this size should be
further reduced.

Surface texture

It is the surface quality of aggregate in terms of roughness. Texture of aggregate depends upon its
hardness, grain size, pore structure and degree to which it has been polished by the external forces like
wind and water. There can be two types of texture for aggregate as given below:

(a) Smooth texture

(b) Rough texture

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(a) Smooth texture

Generally hard, dense and fine grained aggregates are smooth textured. The surface area is less due to
less irregularities, therefore these require less quantity of paste for lubrication. But as smoothness
increases, the bonding area with matrix also reduces. Therefore, although more compressive strength
may be achieved due to less requirement of water, yet the flexure strength decreases due to poor
bonding and interlocking.

(b) Rough texture

Rough textured aggregates exhibit higher strength in tension as compared to smooth aggregates, but
compressive strength is less because higher w/c ratio is required for the same workability. The
beneficial effects of surface texture of aggregate is shown in the Table-1 given below:
Table-1

Particle 28 day 28 day

Percentage
flexural strength Compressive strength
w/c ratio
Smooth Rough (MPa) (MPa)

100 0 0.54 4.3 34.8

5 50 0.57 4.6 32.1
0 100 0.64 4.8 29.5

Water Absorption

In mix-design calculations, we assume aggregate to be saturated and surface dry (SSD). Actually it may
be in a different state of dryness as given under.

(a) Bone dry

(b) Air dry
(c) Saturated and surface dry
(d) Moist

If aggregate is drier than SSD, it will absorb water from concrete and reduce the workability. On the
other hand if it moist, it will contribute water in the concrete reducing the strength. The different stages
can be as given in Fig.

Water Absorption

STRENGTH OF AGGREGATES
When we talk of strength we do not imply the strength of the parent rock, because the strength of the
rock does not exactly represent the strength of aggregates in concrete. Since aggregates is assemblage
of individual pieces of aggregate bound together by cementing material, its properties are based
primarily on the quality of cement paste. This strength is also dependent on the bond between the
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cement paste and aggregate. When cement paste of good quality is provided and its bond strength is
satisfactory, then the mechanical properties of aggregate will influence the strength of concrete. From
a weak aggregate, strong concrete cannot be made. Hence for making strong concrete, strong
aggregates are essential.

The test for strength of aggregate are done in following situations.

 For production of high strength and ultra-high strength concrete

 When contemplating to use aggregates manufactured from weathered rocks
 Aggregates manufactured by industrial process

QUALITY OF AGGREGATES
The aggregate should be free from impurities like deleterious material, salt contaminations and alkali
reaction. These are elaborated as under:

(a) Deleterious Material

Impurities and deleterious material like clay, silt, coal, lignite, mica, shale etc. interfere with the process
of hydration and prevent bonding of aggregate with cement matrix.

(b) Salt contamination

This is the main problem mainly with sea dredged aggregate. These aggregates should not generally be
used for PSC works. Even if these are permitted for PSC works, the limits should be as given in
Concrete Bridge Code' (CBC) :

As per CBC:

Limit of chloride - 0.04% by weight of FA or

0.02% by weight of CA
Limit for sulphate - 0.4% by weight of Total Aggregate

(c) Alkali Reaction

Some aggregates contain reactive silica which may react with alkalies present in cement like sodium
oxide, potassium oxide etc. Alkaline hydroxide derived from alkalies in the cement may attack these
constituents and gels of unlimited swelling' is formed which results in cracking. Alkali-aggregate
reaction in concrete requires water, so the deterioration will be more on the surface where water is
abundant. The ideal temperature for promotion of alkali-aggregate reaction is in the range of 10 – 38ᵒC.

The problem of alkali-aggregate reaction can be overcome by:

 Selecting non-reactive aggregates

 Using low alkali cement (cement with alkali content < 0.6%)
 Adding Ground Pozzolana (admixture) to the cement so that Pozzolana react with alkalies before
they attack aggregates.

 By controlling moisture condition and temperature

PHASES OF CONCRETE
In the total concrete volume, there are two important phases viz;

i. Paste phase
ii. Aggregate phase

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In most of the cases of concrete failure, it is the paste phase which is a weaker link. The paste phase of
concrete has the following characteristics:

 It is weaker than aggregate

 It is vulnerable to most of the ill effects on concrete
 It is more permeable than any of the mineral aggregates
 It is susceptible to aggressive chemicals
Therefore, effort should be made to use minimum volume of paste in the concrete. It should just be
sufficient to fill the voids left out by the aggregates and lubricate them properly. This can be achieved
by using well graded aggregates' so that the voids are minimum.

GRADING OF AGGREGATES
Aggregate comprises about 55 per cent of the volume of mortar and about 85 per cent volume of mass
concrete. Mortar contains aggregate of size of 4.75 mm and concrete contains aggregate up to a
maximum size of 150 mm. Thus it is not surprising that the way particles of aggregate fit together in
the mix, as influenced by the gradation, shape, and surface texture, has an important effect on the
workability and finishing characteristic of fresh concrete, consequently on the properties of hardened
concrete.

Typical packing and grading of aggregates of different sizes

One of the most important factors for producing workable concrete is good gradation of aggregates.
Good grading implies that a sample of aggregates contains all standard fractions of aggregate in
required proportion such hat the sample contains minimum voids. A sample of the well graded
aggregate containing minimum voids will require minimum paste to fill up the voids in the aggregates.
Minimum paste will mean less quantity of cement and less quantity of water, which will further mean
increased economy, higher strength, lower-shrinkage and greater durability.

SIEVE ANALYSIS OF AGGREGATES

It is a process of dividing a sample of aggregate into various fractions, each consisting of particles of
same nominal size. The resultant particle size distribution’ is called the gradation.

Grading pattern of a sample of C.A. or F.A. is assessed by sieving a sample successively through all the
sieves mounted one over the other in order of size, with larger sieve on the top. The material retained
on each sieve after shaking, represents the fraction of aggregate coarser than the sieve in question and
finer than the sieve above. Sieving can be done either manually or mechanically.

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Set of Sieves assembled for conducting Sieve analysis

Standard sizes of the sieve are: - 80mm, 40mm, 20mm, 10mm, 4.75mm, 2.36mm, 1.18mm, 600µ, 300µ,
150µ

The gradation of aggregate is very important not only for concrete strength but for workability also. In
fact the gradation of FA has much greater effect on concrete qualities. FA should not be very coarse as
it may cause segregation or bleeding and also result into harsh concrete. It should not be very fine also,
otherwise it will have more water demand.

The gradation of FA can be represented by a mathematical index called 'Fineness Modulus' (FM) which
determines relative fineness of material.

Mathematically,

FM = Cumulative percentage of aggregates retained on each standard sieves / 100

Typical example of sieve analysis

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Larger the value of FM, coarser will be the aggregate as given in Table-2 below:

Table-2
Sand FM
Fine Sand 2.2 - 2.6
Medium Sand 2.6 - 2.9
Coarse Sand 2.9 - 3.2

FM more than 3.2 is generally considered unsuitable for concrete.

As per IS: 383-1970, the gradation of FA has been done by dividing into four zones i.e. Zone-I, Zone-II,
Zone-III & Zone-IV. The grading limits are shown in Table-3.

Table-3
Percentage Passing
IS Sieve Zone-I Zone-II Zone-III Zone-IV
10 mm 100 100 100 100
4.75 mm 90-100 90-100 90-100 95-100
2.36 mm 60-95 75-100 85-100 95-100
1.18 mm 30-70 55-90 75-100 90-100
*600 µ 15-34 35-59 60-79 80-100
300 µ 5-2 8-30 12-40 15-50
150 µ 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-15

* Since the values for 600 µ size are not overlapping for different zones, it is used for confirming the
zone of a sample of FA.

Zone-I represents the course and zone-IV represents the finer sand in all the four zones. Fine aggregate
belonging to Zone-IV should not be used in RCC works unless tests have been made for suitability of
mix proportion.

GAP GRADING OF AGGREGATES

This is relatively a different concept of aggregate gradation. It is different from the conventional
adopted well gradation' or continuous gradation' which means representation of all the standard
particle sizes in certain proportion. Assumption made in well gradation is that voids created by the
higher size of aggregate will be filled-up by immediate next lower size of aggregate and again some
smaller voids will be left out which will again be filled-up by next lower size aggregates.

But it is easier said than done. Practically it has been found that voids created by a particular size may
be too small to accommodate the very next lower size. Therefore the next lower size may not
be accommodated in the available gap without lifting the upper layer of the existing size. Therefore,
Particle Size Interference' is created which disturbs the very process of achieving the maximum density.

In fact the size of voids created by a particular size of aggregates can accommodate the second or third
lower size aggregates only i.e. voids created by 40 mm will be able to accommodate size equal to 10
mm or 4.75 mm but not 20 mm. This concept is called Gap Grading'.

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Advantages of Gap Grading

 Requirement of sand is reduced by 26 to 40%

 Specific area of total aggregate will be reduced due to less use of sand
 Point contact between various size fractions is maintained, thus reducing the drying
shrinkage.
 It requires less cement as the net volume of voids is reduced to a greater extent.

A word of caution while using gap grading is that sometimes it may lead to segregation and may even
alter the anticipated workability. Therefore tests must be conducted before adopting this gradation.

BULKING OF SAND
It is the property of sand by virtue of which its apparent volume increases when some water is added
to it. It happens mainly due to surface tension. This increase in volume will not take place when the
sand is either dry or fully saturated. The bulking depends both on moisture content as well as particle
size. Fine sand bulks more and very fine sand may bulk even up to 38-40%. The bulking is maximum at
a particular moisture content as shown in the Fig below

Bulking of sand

TESTING OF AGGREGATES
Test for Determination of Flakiness Index

The flakiness index of aggregate is the percentage by weight of particles in it whose least dimension
(thickness) is less than three-fifths of their mean dimension. The test is not applicable to sizes smaller
than 6.3 mm.

This test is conducted by using a metal thickness gauge, of the description shown in Fig. below. A
sufficient quantity of aggregate is taken such that a minimum number of 200 pieces of any fraction can
be tested. Each fraction is gauged in turn for thickness on the metal gauge. The total amount passing
in the gauge is weighed to an accuracy of 0.1 per cent of the weight of the samples taken. The flakiness
index is taken as the total weight of the material passing the various thickness gauges expressed as a
percentage of the total weight of the sample taken.

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Thickness Gauge (IS: 2386 (Part I) – 1963)

Test for Determination of Elongation Index

The elongation index on an aggregate is the percentage by weight of particles whose greatest
dimension (length) is greater than 1.8 times their mean dimension. The elongation index is not
applicable to sizes smaller than 6.3 mm.

This test is conducted by using metal length gauge of the description shown in Fig. below. The
procedure is similar to that of finding flakiness index.

The elongation index is the total weight of the material retained on the various length gauges expressed
as a percentage of the total weight of the sample gauged. The presence of elongated particles in excess
of 10 to 15 per cent is generally considered undesirable, but no recognized limits are laid down.

Length Gauge. (IS: 2386 (Part I) – 1963)

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Test for Determination of Specific Gravity

Indian Standard Specification IS : 2386 (Part III) of 1963 gives various procedures to find out the specific
gravity of different sizes of aggregates. The following procedure is applicable to aggregate size larger
than 10 mm.

A sample of aggregate not less than 2 kg is taken. It is thoroughly washed to remove the finer particles
and dust adhering to the aggregate. It is then placed in a wire basket and immersed in distilled water
at a temperature between 22° to 32°C. Immediately after immersion, the entrapped air is removed
from the sample by lifting the basket containing it 25 mm above the base of the tank and allowing it to
drop 25 times at the rate of about one drop per sec. During the operation, care is taken that the basket
and aggregate remain completely immersed in water. They are kept in water for a period of 24 ± 1/2
hours afterwards. The basket and aggregate are then jolted and weighed (weight A1) in water at a
temperature 22° to 32° C. The basket and the aggregate are then removed from water and allowed to
drain for a few minutes and then the aggregate is taken out from the basket and placed on dry cloth
and the surface is gently dried with the cloth. The aggregate is transferred to the second dry cloth and
further dried. The empty basket is again immersed in water, jolted 25 times and weighed in water
(weight A2). The aggregate is exposed to atmosphere away from direct sunlight for not less than 10
minutes until it appears completely surface dry. Then the aggregate is weighed in air (weight B). Then
the aggregate is kept in the oven at a temperature of 100 to 110°C and maintained at this temperature
for 24 ± 1/2 hours. It is then cooled in the air-tight container, and weighed (weight C).
C C
Specific Gravity = ; Apparent Sp. Gravity =
B−A C−A

100 (B−C)
Specific Gravity = C

Where, A = the weight in gm of the saturated aggregate in water (A1 – A2)

B = the weight in gm of the saturated surface-dry aggregate in air, and
C = the weight in gm of oven-dried aggregate in air.

Test for Determination of Bulk Density and Voids

Bulk density is the weight of material in a given volume. It is normally expressed in kg per litre. A
cylindrical measure preferably machined to accurate internal dimensions is used for measuring bulk
density.

The cylindrical measure is filled about 1/3 each time with thoroughly mixed aggregate and tamped with
25 strokes by a bullet ended tamping rod, 16 mm diameter and 60 cm long. The measure is carefully
struck off level using tamping rod as a straight edge. The net weight of the aggregate in the measure is
determined and the bulk density is calculated in kg/litre.

net weight of the aggregate in kg

Bulk density =
capacity of the container in litre
Gs − γ
Percentage of voids = × 100
Gs

Where, Gs = specific gravity of aggregate and

γ = bulk density in kg/litre

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MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AGGREGATES IS: 2386 PART IV – 1963

Test for determination of aggregate crushing value

The “aggregate crushing value” gives a relative measure of the resistance of an aggregate to crushing
under a gradually applied compressive load. With aggregates of ‘aggregate crushing value’ 30 or higher,
the result may be anomalous and in such cases the “ten per cent fines value” should be determined
and used instead.

The standard aggregate crushing test is made on aggregate passing a 12.5 mm I.S. Sieve and retained
on 10 mm I.S. Sieve.

About 6.5 kg material consisting of aggregates passing 12.5 mm and retained on 10 mm sieve is taken.
The aggregate in a surface dry condition is filled into the standard cylindrical measure in three layers
approximately of equal depth. Each layer is tamped 25 times with the tamping rod and finally levelled
off using the tamping rod as straight edge. The weight of the sample contained in the cylinder measure
is taken (A). The same weight of the sample is taken for the subsequent repeat test.

Aggregate Crushing Value Apparatus

The apparatus, with the test sample and plunger in position, is placed on the compression testing
machine and is loaded uniformly upto a total load of 40 tons in 10 minutes time. The load is then
released and the whole of the material removed from the cylinder and sieved on a 2.36 mm I.S. Sieve.
The fraction passing the sieve is weighed (B),
B
The aggregate crushing value = × 100
A
where, B = weight of fraction passing 2.36 mm sieve,
A = weight of surface-dry sample taken in mould.

The aggregate crushing value should not be more than 45 per cent for aggregate used for concrete
other than for wearing surfaces, and 30 per cent for concrete used for wearing surfaces such a runways,
roads and air field pavements.

Test for determination of aggregate impact value

The aggregate impact value gives relative measure of the resistance of an aggregate to sudden shock
or impact. Which in some aggregates differs from its resistance to a slow compressive load.

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Aggregate Impact Value Apparatus

The test sample consists of aggregate passing through 12.5 mm and retained on 10 mm I.S. Sieve. The
aggregate shall be dried in an oven for a period of four hours at a temperature of 100°C to 110°C and
cooled. The aggregate is filled about one-third full and tamped with 25 strokes by the tamping rod. A
further similar quantity of aggregate is added and tamped in the standard manner. The measure is
filled to over-flowing and then struck off level. The net weight of the aggregate in the measure is
determined (weight A) and this weight of aggregate shall be used for the duplicate test on the same
material.

The whole sample is filled into a cylindrical steel cup firmly fixed on the base of the machine. A hammer
weighing about 14 kg is raised to a height of 380 mm above the upper surface of the aggregate in the
cup and allowed to fall freely on the aggregate. The test sample shall be subjected to a total 15 such
blows each being delivered at an interval of not less than one second. The crushed aggregate is
removed from the cup and the whole of it is sieved on 2.36 mm I.S. Sieve. The fraction passing the sieve
is weighed to an accuracy of 0.1 gm. (weight B). The fraction retained on the sieve is also weighed
(weight C). If the total weight (B + C) is less than the initial weight A by more than one gm the result
shall be discarded and a fresh test made. Two tests are made.

The ratio of the weight of fines formed to the total sample weight in each test is expressed as
percentage.
B
The aggregate crushing value = × 100
A
where, B = weight of fraction passing 2.36 mm sieve,
A = weight of surface-dry sample taken in mould.

The aggregate impact value should not be more than 45 per cent by weight for aggregates used for
concrete other than wearing surfaces and 30 per cent by weight for concrete to be used as wearing
surfaces, such as runways, roads and pavements.

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Test for determination of aggregate abrasion value

Apart from testing aggregate with respect to its crushing value, impact resistance, testing the aggregate
with respect to its resistance to wear is an important test for aggregate to be used for road
constructions, ware house floors and pavement construction.

Indian Standard 2386 (Part IV) of 1963 covers two methods for finding out the abrasion value of coarse
aggregates: namely, by the use of Deval abrasion testing machine and by the use of Los Angeles
abrasion testing machine. However, the use of Los Angeles abrasion testing machine gives a better
realistic picture of the abrasion resistance of the aggregate.

Deval Attrition Test

In the Deval attrition test, particles of known weight are subjected to wear in an iron cylinder rotated
10000 times at certain speed. The proportion of material crushed finer than 1.7 mm size is expressed
as a percentage of the original material taken. This percentage is taken as the attrition value of the
aggregate. This test has been covered by IS 2386 (Part IV) – 1963. But it is pointed out that wherever
possible Los Angeles test should be used.

Deval’s Attrition testing machine

 Well dried (at 100-110⁰C) aggregate samples of size 5cm is taken in two cylinders
 Rotate the aggregates together for about 5hrs at a speed of 30-1000rpm
 Aggregates loss their weight due to rubbing action among the aggregates
 Note the percentage loss in weight of aggregates
 Greater loss in weight, poorer is resistance to abrasion
Los Angeles Test

Los Angeles test was developed to overcome some of the defects found in Deval test. Los Angeles test
is characterized by the quickness with which a sample of aggregate may be tested. The applicability of
the method to all types of commonly used aggregate makes this method popular. The test involves
taking specified quantity of standard size material along with specified number of abrasive charge in a
standard cylinder and revolving if for certain specified revolutions.

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Los Angeles Abrasion Testing Machine

Test sample and abrasive charge are placed in the Los Angeles Abrasion testing machine and the
machine is rotated at a speed of 20 to 33 rev/min. At the completion of revolution, the material is
discharged from the machine and a preliminary separation of the sample made on a sieve coarser than
1.7 mm IS Sieve. Finer portion is then sieved on a 1.7 mm IS Sieve. The material coarser than 1.7 mm
IS sieved is washed, dried in an oven at 105° to 110°C to a substantially constant weight and accurately
weighed to the nearest gram.

The difference between the original weight and the final weight of the test sample is expressed as a
percentage of the original weight of the test sample. This value is reported as the percentage of wear.
The abrasion value should not be more than 30 per cent for wearing surfaces and not more than 50
per cent for concrete other than wearing surface.

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Module I Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC
CEMENT
HISTORY OF CEMENT
In general, cement is described as a material used to bind the mineral fragments called aggregates. The
cement paste acts as glue which makes a cohesive mass with all the aggregates. This bonding is very
important as the concrete fails not because of less strength of aggregates but mainly due to failure of
bonding.

Production of cement is only a recent development. It was conceived in 1824 by William Aspidin, but
it was developed in the form of present day cement by Isaac Charles Johnson in 1845. He produced
this modern cement by burning a mixture of chalk, clay and silica up to a temperature of 1400-1450oC.
At this temperature, the basic raw materials i.e. lime, clay and silica fuse together forming clinkers in
the shape of spherical balls of 3 to 25 mm in diameter. Due to high temperature, approximately 20-
30% of the material become liquid and crystallizes into spherical balls on cooling.

The cement may be a recent development, but the use of cementing material is quite old. Lime and
gypsum were used as early as 2560 BC by the Egyptians in making Great Pyramids. Similarly the Greek
and the Romans also used calcined lime stone. The basic raw materials of these cementing materials
were the same as of today s cement but the only difference is the temperature up to which these are
heated. Prior to production of modern cement, a temperature of 1400-1450oC was not heard of and
the ingredients used to be mixed at atmospheric temperature

The cement was produced as a product by combining lime with volcanic ash containing active
silica and aluminium, at normal temperature. This product was known as pozzolanic cement because
the volcanic ash used in this was obtained from a village called Pozzuoli.

Present day cement is called Hydraulic Cement by virtue of its property of setting and hardening even
under water.

COMPOSITION OF MODERN CEMENT

The modern cement is also called Ordinary Portland Cement because after setting it resembles in
colour and quality with the Portland Stone quarried in Dorset-UK.

Portland cement primarily consists of

(1) Calcareous material - Limestone or chalk
(2) Argillaceous material - Clay/Shale
(3) Silicious material - Silica

The process of manufacturing of cement essentially involves the following activities

(a) Proportioning of raw material,
(b) Grinding, intimate mixing and
(c) Burning in a large rotary kiln at 1400-1450ᵒC.

Due to intense heat, 20 to 30 % of material fuses together forming spherical balls known as
clinkers . The clinker is only one step short of cement. The cement is obtained by grinding the clinkers
up to the desired fineness.

The process of cement production is shown in Figure below as a schematic diagram.

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Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC Module I

Process of cement production

Schematic Depiction of Cement manufacturing process

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Module I Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CEMENT
Same type of cement may not be suitable for different locations and climatic conditions. Therefore
various types of cement have been developed as per the actual requirements. The necessary changes
have been achieved by different methods like

(a) Changing oxide composition

(b) Changing fineness
(c) Using additives or mineral mixtures like slag, fly-ash or silica fumes etc.

The various types of cements generally used in various locations are as given below

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC)

OPC is the most commonly produced and used cement. The name Portland was derived from lime
stone called Portland stone quarried in Dorset-UK, due to its resemblance with the set cement.

In OPC category, we have three grades of cement available in Indian market.

i. Grade 33
ii. Grade 43
iii. Grade 53

Rapid Hardening Cement (RHC)

It is also called Early Strength Cement because its 3 days strength is almost equal to 7 days strength of
OPC. It is different from quick setting cement which only sets quickly whereas in RHC, strength
development is very fast. This is because of following reasons

 Higher fineness of cement. The specific surface of this cement is increased to 320 m 2/kg as
compared to 225 m2/kg for OPC.
 Higher quantity of C3S in cement as compared to C2S. C3S is more reactive in comparison to C2S.

As a result of these changes, the rate of reaction in the early period is considerably increased and so is
the heat generated. Therefore, this cement should be used only where the early strength requirement
is there. At the same time it should not be recommended where surface/volume ratio is less and the
large heat that will be liberated, may not be dissipated effectively. If it is not ensured then there are
chances of temperature cracks.

This cement is recommended

 In pre-fabricated construction
 When the form work is to be removed early
 In road repair works
 In cold weather where heat generation will be helpful in preventing freezing.

Sulphate Resistant Cement (SRC)

The normal OPC is susceptible to sulphate attack - particularly magnesium sulphate. The sulphate
present in the soil or surrounding environment reacts with free Ca(OH)2 available in the concrete and
CaSO4 is formed. There is no dearth of free Ca(OH)2 as it is available in abundance in the set cement.
The CaSO4 thus produced reacts with hydrate of calcium aluminate and form an expansive compound
called calcium sulpho-aluminate which causes expansion and cracks in the set cement. Sulphate
attack is further accelerated if it is accompanied by alternate wetting and drying also, which normally
takes place in marine structures of the tidal zone.

The cement can be made sulphate resistant if quantities of C3A and C4AF are controlled as given below

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C3A < 5% (Normally it is 8-12% in OPC) and

3 C3A + C4AF < 25%

While controlling the quantities of C3A and C4AF, a precaution is to be taken when chloride attack is
also perceived in addition to sulphate attack. In this situation, the quantity of C A should be limited to
5-8%. Similarly when only chloride attack is there and no sulphate attack, then sulphate resistant
cement (SRC) should never be used.

The quantity of C3A in OPC can be controlled simply by blending with slag cement.

SRC is recommended in

 Marine condition where both sulphate and chloride attacks are there
 Construction of sewage treatment plants
 Foundations and basement in soil having sulphate attack
 Chemical factories

Blast furnace slag cement

This cement is also known as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). It is produced by blending
OPC clinkers with blast furnace slag in suitable proportion (generally 25-65%) and grinding together. A
small quantity of gypsum is also added which acts as a retarder. The slag can be separately grinded and
mixed with OPC in the mixer during concreting also. But in the conventional drum mixers, it is difficult
to achieve proper mixing.

The slag is a waste product in the manufacture of steel from open hearth blast furnace. Earlier this
waste was thrown outside the plants and huge stacks of slag were lying unused creating disposal
problem. It was later found that the constituents of slag were similar to that of cement and the so
called waste product was rechristened as by-product. Its extensive use now has resulted in saving of
enormous energy and raw mineral in addition to prevention of pollution.

Limitations of slag cement

The only word of caution while using this cement is that the early strength is less as compared to OPC.
Therefore the form-work removal should be adjusted accordingly. The early strength of blended
cement is due to OPC fraction only and the slag fraction joins in strength contribution later on.

Earlier there was a considerable resistance and suspicion in the minds of the users in using the slag
cement mainly because the good quality of slag was not available. In fact earlier the thrown out air-
cooled slag was being used which is not considered good quality for concrete. Instead of air cooling if
the slag is rapidly cooled by pouring water over it, then the process of crystallization is prevented and
it solidifies as granules. This slag is ideal for cement. That is the reason why it is now called granulated
slag.

Physical properties of slag cement are similar to those of OPC in terms of fineness, setting time,
soundness and strength etc., but the initial reaction with water is slower due to which the heat of
hydration is low. It is a better resistant to sulphate, alkali and acid also.

Recommended use of Slag cement

 In sewage disposal works

 In water treatment plants
 Where low heat cement is required
 Where high chloride and sulphate attack is there

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Module I Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC
Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)

Pozzolana essentially means a silicious material having no cementing properties in itself. But in finely
divided form it reacts with Ca (OH) 2 in presence of water at ordinary temperature and forms
compounds possessing cementing properties. In this process Ca (OH) 2 is also utilized which

Generally fly-ash, shale, volcanic ash, praline, diatomaceous earth etc. are used as Pozzolana. It is easier
to grind together OPC clinkers with Pozzolana than mixing the Pozzolana afterwards at the time of
mixing. Mixing afterwards is difficult because of Pozzolana being finer than cement. Fineness of
Pozzolana is 300 m2/kg as compared to 225 m2/kg for OPC.

Fly-ash is a waste product of thermal plants which is collected by electro-statically precipitating the
exhaust fumes of coal-fired power stations. The use of fly-ash is an eco- friendly process as precipitation
of fly-ash reduces the pollution. The quality of fly ash is tested as per IS 3812:1981. The code specifies
that percentage of silica plus alumina should be at least 70% and maximum loss on ignition should be
maximum 12%. Generally much better quality is available from power plants as compared to the coal
specifications. The obvious advantage of using PPC is that impermeable and denser concrete is
produced by blending OPC with fly-ash.

The early strength of PPC is contributed by OPC fraction and Pozzolana also starts contributing after
some time. This early strength should normally be not less than 22 MPa in 7 days and not less than 31
MPa in 28 days. Other properties of PPC like soundness, setting time etc. are same as OPC.

Advantages of Pozzolana cement

 Less heat of hydration

 Reduced leaching of Ca (OH) 2 as it is utilized in reaction with Pozzolana.
 It can be used at almost all the places where OPC is used.

Air entraining cement

Air is entrained in the concrete in the form of bubbles which modify the properties of fresh concrete
i.e. workability, segregation, bleeding and finishing characteristics. It also modifies the properties of
hardened concrete i.e. resistance to frost action and permeability. Air bubbles acts as flexible ball
bearings so that friction between the various ingredients of concrete is reduced and workability is
automatically improved without additional water. The desirable air content is 3-6%. The various air
entraining agents generally used are

(a) Alkali salts of wood resin

(b) Synthetic detergents
(c) Calcium ligno-sulphate
(d) Aluminium powder, animal fats etc.

These are also available under commercial names such as vinsol resin, airalon, darex, teepol etc. Just
for clarity, entrained air is different from entrapped air. The difference between them is given in the
Table-1.

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Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC Module I
Table-1: Difference between entrained and entrapped air

Entrained Air Entrapped Air

1. Entrained air is intentional and it is 1. Entrapped air is due to insufficient
distributed evenly. compaction and unevenly
distributed.
2. The size of bubbles in entrained 2. The size of entrapped air pockets
air is very small ranging from 5µ may vary from
to 80µ. 10µ to 1000µ.
3. The shape is nearly 3. Entrapped air may be of any
spherical. shape as it follows the contours
of aggregate surface.
4. It is a desirable process. 4. It is an undesirable inclusion.

Air entraining cement is not very popular in India and it is not covered by any IS Code. But in 1950s, it
had been used in some of the very big dams in India like Hirakund dam, Konya dam and Rihand dam.
For these works the air entraining agents like Vinsol and Darex were imported from the USA.

Quick Setting Cement

The setting time of ordinary cement is very less if gypsum is not added at the clinkering stage. Therefore
when quick setting cement is required, the gypsum is deliberately added in less quantity or not added
at all. This type of cement is useful in flowing water and some typical grouting operations.

Expansive Cement

Generally there is a tendency of shrinkage in green concrete due to drying. Shrinkage is associated
with reduction in volume which may cause cracking in the concrete. If sulpho-aluminate is added to
the cement, the expansion due to sulpho-aluminate will counteract the shrinkage of concrete. This
cement is used for repair works where the change in volume is not desirable.

High alumina cement

This cement has a very high rate of strength development. In this type of cement, up to 80% of total
strength is achieved in one day only. Lime and bauxite are used as raw material for producing this
cement. Because of large proportion of bauxite, this cement is called high alumina cement. The rate
of heat generation is also proportionately high i.e. 2.5 to 3 times of rapid hardening cement. The form
work should be stripped-off as early as possible to prevent built-up of high temperature.

This cement is resistant to sulphate attack due to inert quality of alumina gel and absence of Ca(OH)2.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF PORTLAND CEMENT

Since the raw material consist mainly of lime, silica, alumina and iron oxide, these form the major
constituents of Portland cement also. The raw material is always available in the form of oxides
in nature. The range of percentages of various oxides which are used in cement is as given below.

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Module I Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC
Table – 2
Oxide Percent
Calcium Oxide (CaO) 59-64%
Silica Oxide (SiO2 ) 19-24%
Aluminium Oxide (Al2 O3 ) 3-6%
Ferric Oxide (Fe2 O3) 1-4%
Magnesia (MgO) 0.5-4%

When the raw material is heated in the kiln, the oxides get converted into silicates and aluminates
in addition to some other compounds. Four compounds are usually regarded as the major constituents
of cement: they are listed in Table 3, together with their abbreviated symbols.

This shortened notation, used by cement chemists, describes each oxide by one letter, viz.: CaO = C;
SiO2 = S; Al2O3 = A; and Fe2O3 = F. Likewise, H2O in hydrated cement is denoted by H, and SO3 by S

Table – 3
Short
Compound Chemical Formula %
form
Tri-calcium Silicate C3S 3CaO.SiO2 39-50%
Di-calcium Silicate C2S 2CaO.SiO2 20-45%
Tri -calcium Aluminate C3A 3CaO.Al203 8-12%
Tetra-calcium Alumino 6-10%
C4AF 4CaO.Al203.Fe203
Ferrite

The calculation of the potential composition of Portland cement is based on the work of R. H. Bogue
and others, and is often referred to as ‘Bogue composition’. Bogue’s equations for the percentages of
main compounds in cement are given below. The terms in brackets represent the percentage of the
given oxide in the total mass of cement.

C3S = 4.07(CaO) – 7.60(SiO2) – 6.72(Al2O3) – 1.43(Fe2O3) – 2.85(SO3)

C2S = 2.87(SiO2) – 0.75(3CaO.SiO2)
C3A = 2.65(Al2O3) – 1.69(Fe2O3)
C4AF = 3.04(Fe2O3)

The silicates, C3S and C2S are the most important compounds, which are responsible for the strength
of hydrated cement paste. The presence of C3A in cement is undesirable, it contributes little or nothing
to the strength of cement except at early ages, and when hardened cement paste is attacked by
sulphate, the formation of calcium sulpho-aluminate (ettringite) may cause disruption. However, C3A
is beneficial in the manufacture of cement in that it facilitates the combination of lime and silica. C4AF
is also present in cement in small quantities and compared with other three compounds it does not
affect the behaviour significantly.

In addition to the main compounds listed in table above, there exist minor compounds such as MgO,
TiO2, Mn2O3, K2O and Na2O; they usually amount to not more than a few per cent of the mass of
cement. Two of the minor compounds are of particular interest: the oxides of sodium and potassium,
Na2O and K2O, known as the alkalis (although other alkalis also exist in cement). They have been found
to react with some aggregates, the products of the reaction causing disintegration of the concrete, and
have also been observed to affect the rate of the gain of strength of cement. It should, therefore, be
pointed out that the term ‘minor compounds’ refers primarily to their quantity and not necessarily to
their importance.

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HYDRATION OF CEMENT
The extent of hydration of cement and the resultant microstructure of hydrated cement influences the
physical properties of concrete. The microstructure of hydrated cement is more or less similar to that
of silicate phases. When the cement comes in contact with water, the hydration of cement proceeds
both inward and outward in the sense that the hydration products get deposited on the outer
periphery and the nucleus of the unhydrated cement inside gets gradually diminished in volume.
The reaction proceeds slowly for 2-5 hours (called induction or dormant period) before accelerating as
the surface skin breaks. At any stage of hydration, the cement paste consists of gel (a finely- grained
product of hydration having large surface area collectively called gel), the remnant of unreacted
cement, calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2, and water, besides some other minor compounds. The crystals
of various resulting compounds form an interlocking random three dimensional network gradually
filling the space originally occupied by the water, resulting in stiffening and subsequent
development of strength. Accordingly, the hardened cement paste bas a porous structure, the pore
size varying from very small to a much Larger value, the pores being called gel pores and capillary
pores, respectively. The pore system inside the hardened cement paste may or may not be continuous.
As the hydration proceeds, the deposit of hydration products on the original cement grain makes
the diffusion of water to unhydrated nucleus more and more difficult thus reducing the rate of
hydration with time.

The reactions of compounds of cement and their products may be represented as:

2C3S + 6H C3S2H3 + 3Ca(OH)2

2C2S + 4H C3S2H3 + Ca(OH)2
2C3A + 21H C4AH13 + C2AH8 2C3AH6 + 9H
C4AF + 7H C3AH6 + C3FH6

Reactions in the presence of gypsum are:

C3A + 32H + 3CaSO4 C6AS3H32 (tri-sulphate hydrate or ettringite)

C3A + 18H + CaSO4 C4ASH18 (monosulphate hydrate)

Microscopic view of hydration of cement

The calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH2), liberated during the reaction of silicate phase crystallizes in the
available free space. The product C3S2H3 representing calcium silicate hydrate, a gel structure, is
normally expressed by hyphenated C-S-H, which signifies that it is not a well-defined compound.

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Module I Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC
Out of the above compounds, the strength of cement is contributed mainly by silicates. Silicates react
with water and produce a gel called Calcium Silicate Hydrate or C-S-H gel. This gel is initially weak
and porous, but with the passage of time it becomes stronger and less porous. Since it is an
exothermic reaction, a lot of heat is generated.

Evolution of Hydration

Hydration of Silicates

The hydration of C3S produces a comparatively lesser quantity of C-S-H than that produced by C2S. On
the other hand C3S liberates nearly three times as much calcium hydroxide on hydration as C2S.
However, Ca(OH)2 is not a desirable product in the concrete mass as it is soluble in water and gets
leached out making the concrete porous. The only advantage of Ca(OH)2 is its being alkaline in nature
and maintaining a pH value of around 13 in the concrete. A pH value at this level passivates reinforcing
steel against corrosion. In general, the quality and density of C-S-H produced due to hydration of C3S
is slightly inferior to that formed by hydration of C2S. The hydration product of C2S is rather dense and
its specific surface is higher.

Although the products of reaction are same in both the cases, i.e. C-S-H gel and Ca(OH)2, yet quality
wise, C2S is considered superior to C3S because it requires less water for reaction and produces
more C-S-H, less Ca(OH)2 and less heat. All the four parameters are favourable for good quality of
concrete as compared to C3S. The C3S require 24% water by weight of cement whereas C S requires
only 21% water for complete hydration. In addition to this, the density and the quality of gel formed
by C2S is also superior. Therefore higher percentage of C2S is desirable in cement

Hydration of C3A

C3A reacts very fast with water forming a compound C3AH6 which triggers flash set in the cement. Since
it is not desirable that cement should set immediately, the quantity of C3A in the cement has to be
controlled. For this purpose, gypsum is generally added at the time of grinding of clinkers. Hydrated
calcium aluminate (C3AH6) doesn’t contribute anything to the strength of cement.

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Hydration of C4AF

C4AF is a minor constituent of cement which reacts with water and produce C3FH6 or hydrated calcium
ferrite. Its volume is insignificant and it doesn’t contribute to strength.

Reaction in Presence of Gypsum

In the presence of gypsum, depending upon the concentrations of aluminate and sulphate ions in the
solution phase, the precipitating crystalline product is either calcium aluminate trisulphate hydrate
(C6S3H32) or calcium aluminate monosulphate hydrate (C4ASH18). The product calcium aluminate
trisulphate is known as ettringite, which crystallizes as short prismatic needles on account of high
sulphate-aluminate ions ratio in the solution phase during first hour of hydration. When sulphate
solution gets depleted, aluminate ions concentration increases due to renewed hydration and the
aluminate is gradually converted into monosulphate which is the final product of hydration of Portland
cement containing more than 5 per cent C3A.

Water in Hydration reaction

Initially when the gel is porous, the pores are completely filled-up with water. About 15% water by
weight of cement is required to fill up the gel pores and it is called gel water. In addition to this 23%
extra water is required for continuing the chemical reaction which is called bound water. Therefore,
theoretically speaking, the total requirement of water should not exceed 38%.

Evolution of Hydration Products

Any extra water causes capillary formation in the concrete which increase the permeability of concrete.
If only 38% water is added to the concrete, no extra water will be available for capillary formation and
therefore concrete will be more compact, stronger and more durable.

The extent of reaction of cement with water is called degree of hydration. Since the reaction is
associated with evolution of heat, the degree of hydration can indirectly be estimated measured by
measuring the heat evolved during the reaction. Approximately 50% of the total heat evolution occurs
during the first 3 days of hydration and a continuous record of liberation of heat during this period is a
very useful indicator for estimation of strength gain.

In the total volume of cement paste, about 50-60% volume is occupied by C-S-H gel, 20-25% by Ca(OH)2
and the rest by water, pores etc.

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Analysis of Reaction

A schematic diagram showing the cement compounds and reaction with water is as shown in Fig.

Reaction of cement with water

Strength of cement is mainly contributed by silicates i.e. C3S and C2S, whereas C3A is responsible for
setting. In the order of reaction with water, C3A is the first to react with it and imparts setting to the
cement paste. Strength contribution by C3A is negligible and therefore can very well be neglected. In
the category of silicates, C3S is quicker in reacting with water as compared to C2S. Therefore the initial
strength up to 7 days is mainly given by C3S. After 7 days when most of C3S has already exhausted, C2S
also start reacting with water. The strength between 7 and 28 days is contributed mainly by C2S and a
part is contributed by C3S too.

Heat of Hydration and strength

The hydration of cement compounds is exothermic, and the quantity of heat (in Joules) per gram of
unhydrated cement, evolved upon complete hydration at a given temperature is defined as the heat
of hydration.

For the usual range of Portland cements, about one-half of the total heat is liberated between 1 and 3
days, about three quarters in 7 days, and nearly 90 percent in 6 months. In fact, the heat of hydration
depends on the chemical composition of the cement.

Heat of Hydration
Compound
J/g Cal/g
C3S 502 120
C2S 260 62
C3A 677 208
C4AF 419 100

It may be noted that by reducing the proportions of C3A and C3S, the heat of hydration of cement can
be reduced

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Reaction of Hydration and Gain of Strength

The major portion of the strength of cement is achieved during first three weeks after casting, however
the process continues forever. It has been found from the experimental studies that the full strength
potential of cement is never achieved because the hydration process never gets completed in reality.
In fact, after initial reaction with cement particles, the water is not readily accessible to some of the
particles of C3S & C2S which get surrounded by a layer of already hydrated silicates. These hydrated
silicates are relatively impervious to water and therefore come in the way of some particles of cement
and renders further reaction slow. It is very much possible that even less reactive C2S crystals present
on the surface of a cement grain may get hydrated first and a more reactive C3S crystals buried in the
interiors of a cement grain may hydrate late or may not get hydrated at all.

Development of strength of Pure Compounds

Therefore, in practice, the full strength potential of cement is never utilized, and therefore the water
requirement will also be proportionately less than 38% for the reaction. But in most of the cases, the
requirement of water is guided by the requirement of workability and not by the chemical reaction.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF PORTLAND CEMENT

The cement to be used should have certain physical properties, which lie in a certain range, to ensure
its quality. The important physical properties of a cement are as follows

Fineness

The fineness of a cement is a measure of the size of particles of cement and is expressed in terms of
specific surface of cement. It is an important factor in determining the rate of gain of strength and
uniformity of quality. For a given weight of cement, the surface area is more for a finer cement than
for a coarser cement. The finer the cement, the higher is the rate of hydration, as more surface area is
available for chemical reaction. This results in the early development of strength. If the cement is fine
beyond a certain limit its cementative properties may be adversely affected due to prehydration by
atmospheric moisture. As per Indian Standard specifications the residue of cement should not exceed
10 percent when sieved on a 90 micron IS sieve. In addition, the amount of water required for constant
slump concrete decreases with the increase in the fineness of cement.

Effect of fineness of cement

 Due to increased fineness, the surface area of cement increases and reaction with water
becomes quicker. Therefore the gain of strength also becomes faster but the ultimate strength
remains unaffected. This will be clear by observing the trend of relation between specific surface
and strength as shown in Fig.

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Module I Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC

Relation between specific surface and strength

From this figure it is evident that 7 days or 28 days strength may be higher for finer cement but
1 year strength is almost same even for higher fineness. In fact it will be exactly same if we
compare the ultimate strength at infinity.

 Chance of bleeding reduces in the concrete if finer cement is used.

 Shrinkage and cracking in the concrete increases with fineness.

Setting Time

Cement when mixed with water forms paste which gradually hardens, and finally a hard mass is
obtained. In this process of setting, a stage is reached when the cement paste is sufficiently rigid to
withstand a definite amount of pressure. The time to reach this stage is termed setting time. The time
is reckoned from the instant when water is added to the cement. The setting time is divided into two
parts, namely, the initial and final setting times. The time at which the cement paste loses its plasticity
is termed the initial setting time. The time taken to reach the stage when the paste becomes a hard
mass is known as the .final setting time. For OPC, the initial setting time should not be less than 30
minutes and final setting time should not be more than 600 minutes.

It is essential for proper concreting that the initial setting time be sufficiently long for finishing
operations, i.e. Transporting and placing the concrete.

Soundness

The unsoundness of cement is caused by the undesirable expansion of some of its constituents,
sometimes after setting. The large change in volume accompanying expansion results in disintegration
and severe cracking. The unsoundness is due to the presence of free lime and magnesia in the cement.
The unsoundness may be reduced by:

i. limiting the MgO content to less than 0.5 per cent,

ii. fine grinding,
iii. allowing the cement to aerate for several days, and
iv. Thorough mixing.

The chief tests for soundness are the Le Chatelier and Autoclave tests. The expansion carried out in
the manner described in IS: 269-1989 should not be more than 10 mm in the Le Chatelier test and
0.8 per cent in Autoclave test.

Compressive Strength

It is one of the important properties of cement. The compressive strength of cement is determined by
the mortar cube crushing tests and concrete compression tests. These are conducted on standardized
aggregates under carefully controlled conditions and therefore give a good indication on strength

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qualities of cement. Cement mortar cubes (1:3) having an area of 5000mm2 are prepared and tested
in compression testing machine. For ordinary Portland cement the compression strength at 3 and 7
days curing shall not be less than 16 MPa and 22 MPa, respectively. The graded standard sand used for
preparing the cubes should conform to IS: 650-1991.

Standard Sand : A particular variety of sand available at Ennore in Tamil Nadu is used as standard
sand which closely resembles the Leighton Buzzard sand (the British Standard Sand) in its
properties. The standard sand has following properties.

 The standard sand shall be of quartz, of light grey or whitish variety and shall be free from
silt.
 The sand grains shall be angular with shape approximating to spherical forms.
 The sand shall pass through IS: 850-μm sieve and not more than 10 per cent shall pass
through IS: 600-μm sieve.
 It shall be free from organic impurities.

Specific Gravity

The specific gravity of Portland cement is generally about 3.15, but that of cement manufactured from
materials other than limestone and clay, the value may vary. Specific gravity is not an indication of the
quality of cement. It is used in calculation of mix proportions.

TESTS ON CEMENT
Normally two types of cement tests are conducted as given below

[1] Field tests

[2] Laboratory tests

FIELD TESTS

There are some field tests which give some basic idea about the quality of the cement without
elaborate facility of laboratory in the field. These tests are as given under

(a) Date of manufacture

It is important because the strength reduces with age. Date of manufacture should be seen on the
bag. A rough indication of reduction in strength with age is given in Table-4.

Table-4

Period of Strength w.r.t.

Storage 28 days strength
Fresh 100%
3 months 80%
6 months 70%
12 months 60%
24 months 50%

(b) Open the bag and see that lumps should not be present in the bag. It will ensure that no setting
has taken place.
(c) Thrust your hand into the cement bag and it should give cool feeling. It indicates that no hydration
reaction is taking place in the bag.
(d) Take a pinch of cement between the fingers. It should give smooth feeling.
(e) Throw handful of cement on water. It should float initially before finally settling.

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Module I Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC
(f) Take 100 g of cement and make a stiff paste. Prepare a cake with sharp edges and put on the
glass plate. Immerse this plate in water. Observe that the shape shouldn’t get disturbed while
settling. It should be able to set and attain strength. Cement is capable of setting under water
also and that is why it is also called Hydraulic Cement.

LABORATORY TESTS

Although most of the tests are conducted in the laboratories of producers and a certificate is also being
provided by the supplier along with the supply, yet some of the tests are also conducted by the
user in their own laboratories for confirmation and also to assess the deterioration of strength
potential during transit. The various tests which are generally conducted on cement are as given under

Fineness of cement (IS 4031-1968)

Fineness of cement determines the rate of hydration reaction. Finer cement reacts faster with water
and the rate of development of strength and corresponding heat of hydration is higher. IS Codes
prescribe only the values of minimum fineness which are required for different types of cements.

Fineness can be determined either by specific surface using air permeability test or it can be
determined by actual sieving. In order to ensure the adequate fineness, 100g of cement is hand sieved
through 90µ IS sieve for 15 minutes. The limits of residue on sieve should be as given under

For OPC, < 10%

For PPC, HSPC & SGC, < 5%

As per IS Codes the minimum specific surface for OPC should be 225 m2/kg and for PPC, HSPC and SGC
it should be 320 m2/kg.

Standard Consistency Test

This test in itself doesn’t give any quality parameter of cement but it ascertains the volume of water
which is to be added for other tests like initial setting time, final setting time, soundness and strength
etc. Vicat’s Apparatus is used for this test as shown in the Fig

Vicat’s Apparatus

Procedure

About 500 g of cement is taken and paste is made by adding about 24% water by weight of cement.
Cement and water are correctly measured before adding because the quantity of water needs to be
adjusted to achieve normal consistency of paste.

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Within 3 to 5 minutes of adding water at 27+2ᵒC, the paste is filled in the mould of 80 mm dia and 40
mm height. After keeping the mould in position, the Vicat’s plunger of 10 mm dia and 50 mm height is
fitted to the apparatus and it is kept in touching position with top of the paste in the mould. Then
plunger is quickly released and its penetration in the paste is recorded. The quantity of water is
adjusted in such a manner that the penetration achieved becomes 33-35 mm.

The percentage of water by weight of cement which causes the penetration of 33-35 mm is called
Standard Consistency and it is designated by P. This value is useful in standardization of other tests of
cement as shown in Table-5.

Table-5

S.N. Test Addition of water

1. IST & FST 85% of P
2. Soundness test 78% of P
3. Strength test (P/4)+3 %
Setting Time Tests

Setting time means the time required for stiffening of cement paste to a defined consistency. There
are two important limits on time scale which are important for setting of cement

1. Initial setting time

2. Final setting time.

Initial setting time

By definition it is the time from addition of water to a time when the paste starts losing its plasticity.
The test is conducted using Vicat’s apparatus. A needle of size 1 mm2 is used for measuring the
penetration. 500 g of cement is taken and water equal to 0.85 P is added to make paste and the test
is conducted at 27±2ᵒC. The needle is lowered till it touches the top surface of paste in the mould and
then tightened. The needle is then quickly released and penetration is recorded. Initially it may go
down and touch the bottom. As the time passes and the paste stiffens, the penetration of the needle
will reduce. The test is repeated till such time when the needle is 5 mm (+0.5 mm) above bottom of
mould. This time is called Initial setting time. When the test is repeated, the mould should be slightly
displaced so that the needle doesn’t penetrate at the same location.

Final setting time

It is the time from addition of water to the time when paste completely loses its plasticity. The earlier
test is continued but with the changed needle. This needle has special attachment such that when
the penetration is more than 0.5 mm, there will be two impressions on cement paste, one of main
needle and second of a circular cutting edge. But there will be only one impression of main needle
when penetration is less than 0.5 mm.

Therefore final setting time is the time from addition of water to the time when the penetration is just
less than 0.5 mm or when the circular cutting edge fails to make an impression on the cement paste.

Soundness Test

This test is conducted to find out the presence of excess unburnt lime in the cement. Due to this lime,
cracks may develop in the set cement because of increase in volume. When excess lime is present in
the raw material, there is a possibility that entire lime may not combine with acidic oxides at the time
of burning in the kiln and some free lime may be left in the cement. This free or hard burnt lime
hydrates very slowly and some of it will hydrate only when the cement has already set. Due to this
delayed hydration of lime, expansion will take place in the set cement as the hydrated lime or

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Module I Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC
Ca(OH)2 occupies more volume as compared to quick lime or CaO. Since no space is available for
expansion after setting of cement, this expansion causes cracks in the set cement which is called
unsoundness of cement. In fact there may be three main reasons for this excess free lime in the cement
as given below

 Inadequate burning of raw material

 Insufficient grinding of raw material
 Insufficient mixing of raw material

The test to find out the expansion due to free lime will indicate the presence of free lime and limit of
expansion will be a guiding factor for the soundness of cement. The cement will be considered sound
if the expansion is within the permissible limits otherwise it will indicate unsoundness. The expansion
is measured using ‘Le Chatelier Apparatus’ and it should be limited to 10 mm for all cements except for
Special Grade Cement (SGC). For SGC this limit is 5 mm.

Test Procedure for soundness test

Step 1: Cement paste with water equal to 0.78 x P (Standard consistency) by weight of cement is
prepared and filled up in the mould. The mould is 30 mm in dia, 30 mm in height and split along height.
It is provided with a 165 mm length indicator for magnification of expansion as shown in Fig below.
This is called ‘Split Brass Cylinder’. After filling the mould, glass plates are put at top as well as at
bottom. Then the assembly is put in water at a temp. of 27-32ᵒC. After 24 hours it is taken out and
distance between pointers is recorded at the extreme end. Let it be ‘x’. Till now, the free lime present
in the cement has not contributed any expansion.

Split Brass Cylinder

Step 2: Assembly is again submerged in water and water is heated up to boiling point in about 30
minutes. It is kept in boiling water for 3 hours. Again distance between pointers is recorded at the
extreme end. Let it be ‘y’ which will be obviously more than ‘x’ because now expansion due to free lime
has occurred due to boiling water. Therefore,

Net expansion due to free lime = y - x

The above test is suitable for detection of expansion due to free lime only though it can be due to
magnesia also. When free lime and magnesia both are present, a test called Autoclave Test is
recommended which is explained below:

Autoclave Test

A cement specimen of 25 x 25 mm2 section and 250 mm length is prepared and cured in humid air for
24 hours. It is then placed in autoclave which is a high pressure steam-boiler. The temperature is
raised to 216ᵒC and steam pressure increased to 2 ± 0.07 MPa in approximately 60 ± 15 minutes. The
autoclave is then cooled and the length of the specimen is measured again.

The expansion of bar should not be more than 0.5 %.

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Strength Test

The test is conducted with paste of cement and sand in the ratio of 1:3. Sand is used to prevent
excessive shrinkage. The paste is prepared with 200 g cement, 600 g sand and (P/4 + 3.0) % of combined
weight of cement and sand. The paste is mixed for 3-4 minutes and filled-up in cube moulds of 7.06
cm sides. The moulds are vibrated on a standard vibrating table and then kept for 24 hours at 27 ± 2ᵒC.
Cubes are then taken out of the moulds and cured at 90% relative humidity and tested after 1,3,7 and
28 days depending upon type of cement. 3 cubes constitutes one sample and an average of 3 cubes is
taken as compressive strength. Material for each set of three cubes is mixed separately.

STORAGE OF CEMENT

Store Godown

Since cement is hygroscopic is nature, it loses strength with time depending upon its exposure to
moisture. Therefore in order to minimize the loss of strength, the following precautions should be
taken while storing the cement in Godown.

 Godown should be air tight and moisture proof and above the ground level as shown in Fig above
 Bags should be stacked on raised platform
 Different stacks should be made for different cement company, date of manufacture, type and
grade of cement. In addition identification tags should be displayed on each stack showing all
above details.
 There should be a clearance of about 0.6 m between adjacent stacks and also outer walls and
the stacks as shown below

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Module I Dept. of Civil Engineering, MEAEC
 Normally not more than 7-8 bags should be stacked vertically. Up to 15 bags can be permitted
temporarily. Efforts should be made to remove additional bags as early as possible.
 During rainy season, the stacks should be covered with 700 gauge polythene sheets.
 For general purpose First in - First out policy should be adopted.

GAIN OF STRENGTH IN CEMENT

Initially the rate of gain of strength in the cement is very high but it reduces with time. However, the
process of strength gain continues forever. The strength gain is faster in the beginning mainly because
of the following reasons

 Prompt response of more active constituents

 Rapid hydration of finer particles of the cement
 Ready availability of a lot of free water

As outer layers start setting, the availability of water reduces for the inner particles and the rate of gain
of strength decreases.

BLENDED CEMENT

Blended cement is obtained by mixing OPC with mineral admixtures or additives like fly-ash, slag or
silica fumes. Blended cements are now being considered superior as compared to conventional OPC
category of cements. The advantages of using the blended cement can broadly be divided in two
categories i.e.

(1) Technical advantages and

(2) Environmental advantages

Technical advantages

 It reduces water demand and therefore w/c ratio can be reduced.

 It improves workability for the same water content.
 The blended cements are finer as compared to OPC therefore the permeability of concrete is
less. This results into improved durability.

Environmental advantages

 Energy saving Blended cements are obtained by adding mineral admixtures with OPC. The
energy, which would have otherwise been utilized for production of OPC, is thus saved. This
saving is to the tune of 0.8 to 1.2 MWH/ton of cement.
 Conservation of natural resources the used mineral admixtures are the waste products of
thermal and steel plants. By using these products, we are conserving the precious minerals like
lime stone, clay and silica etc.
 Pollution control by reducing the production of cement pollution is also controlled as
cement is an energy intensive product. It has been estimated that 7% of total present pollution
is only due to cement production which can proportionately be reduced if more blended
cement is used.

*******************************
Prepared By

NAJEEB. M
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Civil Engineering
MEA Engineering College

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