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WORKSHEET 4 CONCRETE. a). b). what are the two main properties that concrete must have?. how do we achieve them?. Q1. (i) strength. (ii) workability . by using an acceptable water / cement ratio . strength also depends on: mix proportions - more cement, stronger the concrete
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a) b) what are the two main properties that concrete must have? how do we achieve them? Q1 (i) strength (ii) workability by using an acceptable water / cement ratio strength also depends on: mix proportions - more cement, stronger the concrete quality of materials - strength of cement, aggregate proper vibration proper curing
c) what is the main factor which affects them and how? Q1 water / cement ratio the higher the water / cement ratio (more water) - weaker the concrete the higher the water / cement ratio - concrete more workable
a) b) what are the main ingredients of concrete? what are the main proportions (by weight) of: Q2 cement coarse aggregate (gravel) fine aggregate (sand) water additives (i) cement to aggregate? 1:4 to 1:7 (ii) water to cement? 0.4:1 to 0.6:1
a) b) what happens when water and cement are mixed? why do we use aggregate? Q3 • hydration • a series of chemical reactions occur after the cement is mixed • with water forming new compounds • a gel or paste is formed which progressively hardens and • the concrete gains strength • to provide bulk - cheaper than cement • aggregate reduces shrinkage - only cement shrinks
c) d) why do we need to grade the aggregate? what is the role of sand? Q3 • well- graded aggregate ensures that no ‘bridging’ occurs • and voids are filled • coarse aggregate ranges from 5 - 20mm (approx.) • aggregates are considered well-graded if the various size of the • particles are uniformly distributed - but doesn’t have to be continuous • to fill the gaps between the coarse aggregate • sand is cheaper than cement
a) b) why do we want concrete workable? how do we measure workability? Describe Q4 • so that it can be easily moved into all parts of the formwork • we measure workability using the slump test • a standard slump cone should be filled with a sample of concrete within • 20 mins of the concrete arriving on site. • fill 1/3 of the cone and compact the concrete by ‘rodding’ with a steel rod • 25 times (pushing the rod in and out of the concrete). • fill to 2/3 and rod again 25 times. • fill and rod again. • lift the cone straight up. • turn the cone upside down and place the rod across the top of the cone. • measure the average distance to the top of the sample. • if the sample is outside the tolerance (too high or too low) another • must be taken. If this also fails, the batch should be rejected
c) d) how do we measure concrete strength? When? how can one reduce the water/cement ratio yet keep the concrete workable? Q4 • by compression testing of test cylinders • after 28 days to test full strength • can test after 7 days or 24 hrs to get a statistical estimate • by the addition of various admixtures, including superplaticizers, • which increase the fluidity of the concrete
a) b) c) what slump indicates good workability? when would we use high slump concrete? when would we use low slump concrete? Q5 • 50-100 mm for normal work • 25-50 mm for mass and lightly reinforced concrete • when we need high workability • difficult formwork - thin walls, lots of detail • lots of closely spaced reinforcement • when we don’t need high workability • mass concrete - light reinforcement • dams, footings, paths
a) b) c) what are air pockets? what do they do? how do we get rid of them? Q6 • voids in the concrete - honeycombing • reduce the strength of concrete • through proper compaction - by adequate vibration
a) b) c) what is meant by setting of concrete? what is meant by hardening of the concrete? how does age affect the strength of concrete? Q7 • the initial hardening of the concrete - up to 2hrs after placing • the process of gaining strength over time • concrete gains strength with age • gains almost all its strength after 1 year
c) what is meant by curing of concrete? Q7 • the procedure for retaining moisture in concrete for several days • it prolongs the process of hydration • it improves the compressive strength and reduces the • incidence of drying shrinkage cracking • curing should be maintained for a minimum period of 3 days • it should begin no more than 3 hours after finishing
describe some methods for curing concrete? Q8 • polythene sheeting secured over the concrete to prevent evaporation • curing compounds applied by spray or roller • ponding water on the surface where practicable • steam curing