Cement and Concrete Research 31 (2001) 495 ± 502

Generalization of Abrams' law for cement mortars

G. Appa Rao*
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
Received 23 August 2000; accepted 3 November 2000

Abstract

The influence of constituent materials and various mix proportions on compressive and splitting tensile strength of mortar (ranged from
high strength to low strength) has been studied experimentally and reported. In this study, cement/sand ratios of 1:2, 1:2.5, and 1:3 are used.
At each cement/sand ratio, the water/cement ratio varied from 0.30 to 0.65 at a constant increment of 0.05. For all the mortar mixes, the
compressive strength of mortar was determined at ages of 3, 7, and 28 days. From the experimental test results, it has been observed that the
important parameter affecting the strength of mortar was the water/cement ratio and Abrams' generalization law is applicable to mortar both
in compression and splitting tension. Generalizing Abrams' law for mortars with different mix proportions has been proposed for mortars
falling in the range between very low strength to very high strength. It has been observed that the Abrams' generalized law is applicable to
mortars with water/cement ratio greater than 0.40. Empirical model expressions have been proposed to predict the compressive strength of
mortar using water/cement ratio. D 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Abrams' law; Compressive strength; Mortar; Splitting tensile strength; Water/cement ratio

1. Introduction ratio can be applicable in normal hardened cement pastes

with water/cement ratio > 0.15 [10]. It has been noticed that
Investigations on various physical properties of concrete Bolomey parameters depend on the degree of hydration.
can be traced back to the work of Feret who first recognized Quite significant information has been reported on high-
the importance of water/cement ratio on the strength of strength concrete and its behavior under various loading and
concrete. This was about two decades before pronounce- environmental conditions [1]. Portland cement paste is the
ment of well-known Abrams' law on the effect of water/ most active component between aggregates in mortar and
cement ratio on concrete strength [5 ± 7]. According to concrete [2]. Generally, it has been observed that the
Abrams' generalization law, the compressive strength of physical properties of cement-based materials are primarily
concrete varies inversely with the water/cement ratio for affected by the water/cement ratio, the chemical composi-
concrete. However, from time to time, the water/cement tion, micro-structure and pore geometry of the cementitious
ratio law has been criticized as not being a fundamental law. materials, properties of aggregates, cement/aggregate ratio,
Information on the influence of water/cement ratio on the and properties of cement/aggregate interfacial zone [1,4,8].
strength of mortar is very limited. From an extensive In this study, an effort has been made to understand the
experimental study by Curie and Sinha [3], it has been Abrams' law for cement mortars made with ordinary Port-
observed that the important factor affecting the compressive land cement conforming to IS: 8112-1989.
strength of mortar appeared to be the water/cement ratio. It
has also been revealed from the investigations that the
relationship between compressive strength and water/ 2. Abrams' water/cement ratio law
cement ratio was unaffected by the use of different sands
and sand gradings. It has been observed that the Bolomey Abrams' water/cement ratio law, pronounced during 1918,
expression relating strength of concrete to water/cement has been described as the most useful and significant advance-
ment in the history of cementitious materials technology, in
* Tel.: +91-80-309-2330; fax: +91-80-360-0404. general, and in the concrete technology, in particular. Abrams'
E-mail address: [email protected] (G.A. Rao). performed and published extensive experimental research

0008-8846/00/$ ± see front matter D 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 0 0 8 - 8 8 4 6 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 4 7 3 - 7
496 G.A. Rao / Cement and Concrete Research 31 (2001) 495±502

Table 1 Bolomey's formula relates strength to water/cement ratio

Physical properties of cement and recommendations for 43 grade cement
[9]. Bolomey's formula is often used to predict the strength
IS: 8112-1989 of concrete materials. It is of the form given by [Eq. (3)]:
Property Result recommendations
Fineness, % (residue 2.70 < 10 sC ˆ k1 …1=…W=C† ÿ k2 † …3†
on 90 mm sieve)
The first k parameter depends on concrete composition
Standard consistency, % 27.50 ±
Setting times and degree of hydration, while the second k parameter is
(a) Initial (min) 120  30 a constant.
(b) Final (min) 210  600
Specific gravity 3.10 ±
Compressive strength, MPa at:
3. Experimental program
(a) 3 days 24.00  23.00
(b) 7 days 34.50  33.00
(c) 28 days 45.00  43.00 3.1. Materials

3.1.1. Cement
Ordinary Portland cement namely 43 grade cement con-
work on the relationship between concrete compressive
forming to IS: 8112-1989 and similar to ASTM Type III
strength and water/cement ratio. The most important observa-
(C150-95) was used for the present experimental investiga-
tion was the inverse proportionality between water/cement
tion. Various physical properties of the cement are shown in
ratio and the strength of concrete. Among all other factors
Table 1.
influencing the strength of concrete, it was strongly believed
that concrete strength was dependent on only one factor, the
3.1.2. Fine aggregate
water/cement ratio, as a first approximation. The mathema-
Natural river sand with sand fraction passing through
tical relationship between concrete strength and water/cement
4.75-mm sieve and retained on 600-mm sieve was used for
ratio, according to Abrams', is [Eq. (1)]:
this program. Care has been taken to avoid the presence of
sC ˆ A=BW=C …1† inorganic and silt particles in the adopted sand fraction. The
fineness modulus of sand was 2.81 with a specific gravity of
Where sC = compressive strength of concrete, W/C = water/ 2.65. The bulk density of the sand was 1584 kg/m3.
cement ratio, A and B are constants for a given material, age
and test conditions. 3.1.3. Water
For high-performance concretes (HPC), supplementary Potable tap water available in the laboratory with pH
cementitious materials or pozzolanic materials such as fly value of 7.85 ‹ 0.1 was used for mixing mortar and curing
ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume, etc., the mortar specimens as well.
are generally incorporated as partial replacement of cement.
It has been observed that Abrams' water/cement ratio law is 3.2. Proportioning of mortar mixes
not directly applicable in such concretes [7]. Alternative
augmented water-cementitious materials ratio law can be In order to study the influence of water/cement ratio on
proposed for designing concrete mixes with the incorpora- strength of mortar, mortar mixes were designed with water/
tion of cement replacement materials. In such cases, the cement ratio varying from 0.30 to 0.65 at a constant
Abrams' law can be proposed using the concept of ``equiva- increment of 0.05. To study the effect of mix proportion-
lent cement'' as [Eq. (2)]: ing, three proportions of cement/sand ratios, i.e., 1:2, 1:2.5,
sC ˆ A=BW=Ceq …2† and 1:3, were adopted. Tables 2, 3, and 4 show the mix
proportions in HSM-I, HSM-II, and HSM-III mortar
Where Ceq = equivalent cementitious material. mixes, respectively.

Table 2 Table 3
Mix proportions of HSM-I mortar mixes Mix proportions of HSM-II mortar mixes
Mix proportions Mix proportions
S. no. Mix designation Cement/water/sand S. no. Mix designation Cement/water/sand
1 HSM-I-1 1:0.30:2.0 1 HSM-II-1 1:0.30:2.5
2 HSM-I-2 1:0.35:2.0 2 HSM-II-2 1:0.35:2.5
3 HSM-I-3 1:0.40:2.0 3 HSM-II-3 1:0.40:2.5
4 HSM-I-4 1:0.45:2.0 4 HSM-II-4 1:0.45:2.5
5 HSM-I-5 1:0.50:2.0 5 HSM-II-5 1:0.50:2.5
6 HSM-I-6 1:0.55:2.0 6 HSM-II-6 1:0.55:2.5
7 HSM-I-7 1:0.60:2.0 7 HSM-II-7 1:0.60:2.5
8 HSM-I-8 1:0.65:2.0 8 HSM-II-8 1:0.65:2.5
 G.A. Rao / Cement and Concrete Research 31 (2001) 495±502 497

Table 4 4. Test results and discussion

Mix proportions of HSM-III mortar mixes
Mix proportions 4.1. Variation of compressive strength
S. no. Mix designation Cement/water/sand
1 HSM-III-1 1:0.30:3.0 HSM-I, HSM-II, and HSM-III are the three mortar mix
2 HSM-III-2 1:0.35:3.0
groups with cement/sand ratios of 1: 2, 1:2.5, and 1:3,
3 HSM-III-3 1:0.40:3.0
4 HSM-III-4 1:0.45:3.0 respectively. From the test results, it has been observed
5 HSM-III-5 1:0.50:3.0 that HSM-I mortar mix group performed better in com-
6 HSM-III-6 1:0.55:3.0 pression than those in the other two groups, i.e., HSM-II
7 HSM-III-7 1:0.60:3.0 and HSM-III. Tables 5 ±7 show the comparison of experi-
8 HSM-III-8 1:0.65:3.0
mental and predicted values of compressive strength at
different ages in HSH-I, HSM-II and HSM-III respec-
3.3. Preparation of test specimens tively. It has been generally observed that the compressive
strength at the ages of 3, 7, and 28 days increases as the
3.3.1. Compressive strength water/cement ratio decreases. However, at a water/cement
Standard metallic cube moulds (100-mm) were used for ratio of 0.30 in series HSM-I and HSM-II, and at 0.30
preparation of the mortar specimens for compressive and 0.35 in series HSM-III mortar mixes, the trend of
strength. A table vibrator was used for compaction of the strength development has been deviated from the gener-
mortar filled cubes. The specimens were demoulded after 24 ally observed trend. At W/C = 0.30/0.35, the mortar was
h and subsequently immersed in water till the time of supplied with insufficient amount of water required for
testing. Three cube specimens were used for the determina- hydration of cement particles and the aggregate surface
tion of average compressive strength. was completely wet as the specific surface area is gen-
erally high. As a result of the above fact, the workability
3.3.2. Splitting tensile strength of mortar appeared to be very difficult at low water/
Standard metallic cylindrical moulds measuring 100 cement ratio, which led to incomplete compaction. As a
 200 mm were used for the preparation of the test speci- result of this, the strength of mortar did not follow the
mens for split tensile strength. The compacted mortar test general trend, as it should have with the decrease in the
specimens were demoulded after 24 h and immersed in water/cement ratio. In other words, Abrams' generalized
water till the time of testing. The procedure outlined in water/cement ratio law is valid for high-strength mortars
ASTM C496-90 has been followed to determine the split when the water/cement ratio is greater than 0.40.
tensile strength. Average of three specimens was used to The optimum gradation of fine aggregate for high-
determine the splitting tensile strength of every mortar mix. strength concrete is determined more by its effect on water
requirement than on physical packing. Sand with a fine-
3.4. Testing of specimens ness modulus below 2.5 results in a sticky consistency,
while sand with fineness modulus above 3.0 produces
The cube specimens were tested for compressive strength mortar with good workability. The water requirement of
at the age of 3, 7, and 28 days Ð using 200-tonnes capacity mortar of standard consistency increases with the fineness
compression-testing machine. Three specimens were used to modulus of sand [3]. Increase in cement content beyond a
obtain the average strength of every mortar mix at each certain point may not always increase compressive
water/cement ratio. The cylindrical specimens were tested strength. Curie and Sinha [3] reported that the water
using a splitting frame under 40-tonne capacity UTM under requirement, and hence, the strength of mortar, is influ-
load control. The split tensile strength was calculated as enced by the shape and texture of the aggregate and these
st = 2P/pLD. factors are expressed indirectly by the packing of the

Table 5
Results from the experimental and predicted equation and comparison in HSM-I mortar mixes
Compressive strength, MPa Splitting tensile strength, MPa
Mix designation sC3, ext sC7, ext sC28, ext sC28, eq % Difference st28, ext st28, eq % Difference
HSM-I-1 22.67 25.83 40.00 ± ± ± ± ±
HSM-I-2 26.00 34.83 46.37 46.97 ÿ 1.29 2.66 2.70 ÿ 1.50
HSM-I-3 25.83 34.00 43.67 43.97 ÿ 0.069 2.55 2.52 1.18
HSM-I-4 20.67 30.00 42.33 41.49 1.98 2.35 2.37 ÿ 0.85
HSM-I-5 20.50 28.33 40.00 39.39 1.52 2.27 2.25 0.88
HSM-I-6 16.00 20.83 38.16 37.58 1.52 2.20 2.14 2.73
HSM-I-7 12.33 17.16 35.50 36.00 ÿ 1.41 2.07 2.05 0.97
HSM-I-8 11.00 16.00 34.16 34.61 ÿ 1.32 1.91 1.97 ÿ 3.14
498 G.A. Rao / Cement and Concrete Research 31 (2001) 495±502

Table 6
Results from the experimental and predicted equation and comparison in HSM-II mortar mixes
Compressive strength, MPa Splitting tensile strength, MPa
Mix designation sC3, ext sC7, ext sC28, ext sC28, eq % Difference st28, ext st28, eq % Difference
HSM-II-1 20.00 24.67 32.00 ± ± 2.35 ± ±
HSM-II-2 22.67 30.33 46.00 49.56 ÿ 7.74 2.51 2.59 ÿ 3.19
HSM-II-3 22.00 28.20 44.50 43.59 2.05 2.42 2.427 ÿ 0.29
HSM-II-4 20.83 27.67 39.83 38.92 2.28 2.32 2.294 1.12
HSM-II-5 20.50 27.00 38.67 35.61 7.91 2.30 2.181 5.17
HSM-II-6 12.00 18.33 32.33 32.08 0.77 2.13 2.083 2.21
HSM-II-7 11.83 17.50 30.00 29.51 1.63 1.97 2.00 ÿ 1.52
HSM-II-8 9.16 12.67 25.00 25.00 0.00 1.85 1.92 ÿ 3.78

aggregate particles, i.e., the percentage of voids in a loose compressive strength of mortar is the water/cement ratio.
condition. It has been further observed that the specific The type of sand and its grading has no effect on the
surface measured by nitrogen adsorption seems to have no strength of mortar. Therefore, it is quite judicious to state
relation with the water content of mortar and it has not that the water/cement ratio solely controls the strength of
influenced the strength of mortar. This may be due to the mortar. For the HSM I mortar mixes, an empirical expres-
formation of a dense layer of cement paste on the sion, Eq. (4), has been derived to predict the compressive
aggregate surface, although this is not usually thought to strength of mortar at 28 days with water/cement ratio. The
prevent the aggregate from becoming saturated. regression coefficient is .99.
Figs. 1 ±3 show the variation of compressive strength at
3, 7, and 28 days, respectively, with water/cement ratio in sC28 ˆ 27:98…W=C†ÿ0:4934 …4†
the three series of mortar mixes, i.e., HSM-I, HSM-II, and
HSM-III. It has been observed that the test results are For the HSM-II mortar mixes, Eq. (5) shows the relation
exactly obeying Abrams' law on the variation of compres- between strength and water/cement ratio with a regression
sive strength with water/cement ratio. Owing to its pore coefficient of .96.
filling effect of cement, the HSM-I mortar mixes exhibit
decrease in the porosity in the interfacial zone. As a result sC28 ˆ 18:049…W=C†ÿ0:9622 …5†
of the above mechanism, the mortar mixes with higher
In case of the HSM III mortar mixes, the empirical
cement quantities exhibit higher strength and the fractured
equation (Eq. (6)) with a regression cefficient of .901 is
surfaces seemed to be smooth with very significant trans-
given by:
granular type of failure. The variations of compressive
strength at the age of 28 days for the three mortar mix sC28 ˆ 17:228…W=C†ÿ0:8568 …6†
groups are shown in Fig. 3. From the variations, the
generalized Abrams' law relating compressive strength From the above relationship, between compressive
with water/cement ratio has been perfectly observed. The strength of mortar and water/cement ratio, it would be
mortar mix groups, HSM-I and HSM-II, exhibited better possible to estimate the design strength of mortar required
performance than the other one, i.e., HSM-III. Generalized for any practical purposes. The percentage difference
correlations have been derived to predict the 28 days between the experimental results and empirical equations
compressive strength of mortar as a function of water/ is very less. Almost the values from experiments and
cement ratio for all the three mortar mix groups. It has expressions are exactly matching. Hence, it is suggested
been reported [3] that the important factor affecting the for predicting the strength in both compression and splitting

Table 7
Results from the experimental and predicted equation and comparison in HSM-III mortar mixes
Compressive strength, MPa Splitting tensile strength, MPa
Mix designation sC3, ext sC7, ext sC28, ext sC28, eq % Difference st28, ext st28, eq % Difference
HSM-III-1 8.50 9.10 13.50 ± ± ± ± ±
HSM-III-2 9.50 15.00 18.00 ± ± ± ± ±
HSM-III-3 17.15 21.33 35.00 37.77 7.33 2.26 2.365 ÿ 4.65
HSM-III-4 17.65 23.67 37.50 34.15 8.93 2.32 2.20 5.17
HSM-III-5 14.25 21.33 30.33 31.20 ÿ 2.87 2.10 2.063 1.76
HSM-III-6 11.67 18.00 29.67 28.75 3.10 1.94 1.946 ÿ 0.31
HSM-III-7 11.00 17.25 28.33 26.69 5.79 1.81 1.84 ÿ 1.66
HSM-III-8 8.67 12.50 23.00 24.92 ÿ 8.35 1.75 1.756 ÿ 0.34
 G.A. Rao / Cement and Concrete Research 31 (2001) 495±502 499

Fig. 1. Variation of compressive strength at 3 days with water/cement ratio in mortars.

tension for practical design purposes. Figs. 1 and 2 show the HSM-II, and HSM-III mortar mixes, respectively. From
variation of compressive strength at 3 and 7 days with these expressions, it can be seen that variation of compres-
water/cement ratios for different types of mortar mixes. sive strength with cement/water ratio seems to be well
Bolomey's formula relates strength to water/cement ratio. coincided with the Bolomey type of expression.
The scope of the present work is to evaluate these relations
with a more general expression for the mortar mixes. Fig. 4 sC28 ˆ 9:1586…1=…W=C† ‡ 2:28† …7†
shows the relation between compressive strength at 28 days
sC28 ˆ 15:678…1=…W=C† ‡ 0:25† …8†
of mortar with 1/(W/C) for high-strength mortars. It has
been clearly observed that the relation is linear. The com-
sC28 ˆ 12:66…1=…W=C† ‡ 0:46† …9†
pressive strength of mortar increases with the cement/water
ratio. The variations of compressive strength with cement/ The regression coefficients for Eqs. (7), (8), and (9) are
water ratio are given in Eqs. (7) ±(9) for series HSM-I, .98, .96, and .89, respectively. The k parameters for HSM-I

Fig. 2. Variation of compressive strength at 7 days with water/cement ratio in mortars.

500 G.A. Rao / Cement and Concrete Research 31 (2001) 495±502

Fig. 3. Variation of compressive strength of high-strength cement mortar at 28 days with water/cement ratio.

mortar mixes are k1 = 9.16 and k2 = 2.28; for HSM-II mortar very-low-strength mortars with different sands with differ-
mixes are k1 = 15.70 and k2 = 0.25; and for HSM-III mortar ent gradings. Using the data in Ref. [3] and from the present
mixes are k1 = 12.70 and k2 = 0.46. From the experimental study, a general variation of compressive strength with
data, a general expression has been derived to predict the water/cement ratio has been proposed, for the designing of
compressive strength of mortar as a function of cement/ mortar mixes ranging from lean mortar mixes to very strong
water ratio. It is shown in Eq. (10) with a regression mortar mixes as a function of the single largest factor
coefficient of .827. affecting the strength of mortar; the water/cement ratio.
Fig. 5 shows the general variation of strength with water/
sC28 ˆ 13:43…1=…W=C† ‡ 0:63† …10† cement ratio. The mathematical relationship [Eq. (11)] is in
The k parameters for this expression are k1 = 13.43 and the general form, with regression coefficient of .977.
k2 = 0.63.
sC28 ˆ 11:30…W=C†ÿ1:713 …11†
4.2. Generalized Abrams' law for mortars Using the same data, the relation between the compres-
sive strength of mortar and cement/water ratio has been
Using the experimental data, a more generalized varia- derived. The form of the expression is similar to Bolomey's
tion and expression has been presented for easy verification formula for design of concrete materials. Eq. (12) shows the
of Abrams' generalized law for mortar mixes ranging from mathematical relationship between compressive strength
very-low-strength to very-high-strength mortars. In the and cement/water ratio for mortar mixes, in general, with
report by Curie and Sinha [3], results are provided for a regression coefficient (R) of .978. Fig. 6 shows the general

Fig. 4. Variation of compressive strength of high-strength mortars with cement/water ratio.

 G.A. Rao / Cement and Concrete Research 31 (2001) 495±502 501

Fig. 5. Variation of compressive strength with water/cement ratio in cement mortars.

variation of compressive strength of mortar with cement/ HSM-II mortar mixes, two types of failures were observed.
water ratio. The expression for compressive strength with From this study, it was clearly understood that the cement/
cement/water ratio is given by: aggregate interface has been stronger in HSM-I mortar
mixes than that of the other two. Empirical equations have
sC28 ˆ 20:80…1=…W=C† ÿ 0:35† …12† been derived to predict the splitting tensile strength of
mortar with water/cement ratio in all the three mortar mixes.
4.3. Variation of splitting tensile strength For HSM-I mortar mixes, R = .986 [Eq. (13)]
st28 ˆ 1:58…W=C† ÿ 0:5097 …13†
Fig. 7 shows the variation of 28 days splitting tensile
strength of mortar mixes as a function of water/cement ratio. For HSM-II mortar mixes, R = .958 [Eq. (14)]
The splitting tensile strength decreases as the water/cement st28 ˆ 1:563…W=C†ÿ0:4806 …14†
ratio increases. From the fractured surfaces, the type of
failure was clearly observed in tension than in compression. For HSM-III mortar mixes, R = .956 [Eq. (15)]
Moreover, in stronger mortar mixes, i.e., HSM-I mortar
st28 ˆ 1:348…W=C†ÿ0:6137 …15†
mixes, no pulling out of aggregate from the cement paste
has been observed. But in HSM-III mortar mixes, pulling The splitting tensile strength at 28 days can be estimated
out of aggregate particles was encountered significantly. In as a function of compressive strength of mortar at 28 days. It

Fig. 6. Variation of compressive strength of mortar with cement/water ratio with strength ranging from very-low-strength to very-high-strength mortars.
502 G.A. Rao / Cement and Concrete Research 31 (2001) 495±502

shows that nonlinear variation has been observed between References

the two important properties of mortar. The regression
coefficient (R) is .94 [Eq. (16)]. [1] ACI Committee 363, State-of-the-art report on high strength concrete,
ACI Mater. J. (1984) 364 ± 411 (No. ACI 363 R-84).
st28 ˆ 0:30…sC28 †0:55 …16† [2] C.-J. Guo, Early-age behavior of Portland cement paste, ACI Mater. J.
91 (1) (1994) 13 ± 25.
[3] D. Currie, B.P. Sinha, Survey of Scottish sands and their character-
istics which affect mortar strength, Chem. Ind. 19 (1981) 631 ± 645.
[4] M. Gopal Reddy, Understanding the mix proportioning and behavior
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[5] T.S. Nagaraj, Z. Banu, Generalization of Abram's law, Cem. Concr.
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seemed to be more brittle than the other mortar mix groups. [7] F.A. Oluokun, Fly ash concrete mix design and the water ± cement
However, the single largest factor affecting the strength of ratio law, ACI Mater. J. 91 (4) (1994) 362 ± 371.
[8] I. Sims, B. Brown, Concrete aggregates, in: P.C. Hewlett (Ed.),
mortar has been observed as the water/cement ratio. Math-
Lea's Chemistry of Cement and Concrete, fourth ed., Wiley, New
ematical model expressions have been proposed for prac- York, 1999, 903 ± 989.
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