Month: May 2019

Purpose of Different Testing of Aggregates

Purpose of  Different Testing of Aggregates

The following tests are generally performed to find out the standard aggregate:

  • Test for determination of Flakiness Index.
  • Test for determination of Elongation Index.
  • Test for determination of Clay, fine silt & fine dust.
  • Test for determination of Organic Impurities.
  • Test for determination of Specific Gravity.
  • Test for determination of Bulk Density & Voids.
  • Test for determination of Aggregate crushing value.
  • Test for determination of Aggregate Impact Value.
  • Test for determination of Aggregate abrasion value.

Read Also:

Functions Of Fine & Coarse Aggregate in Concrete

Requirements or Characteristics Of A Good Fine & Coarse Aggregates

Functions Of Fine and Coarse Aggregate in Concrete

Functions Of Fine Aggregate in Concrete

Fine aggregates perform the following functions:  

Functions Of Fine and Coarse Aggregate in Concrete

1. It assists in producing workability and uniformity in the mixture.

2. It assists the cement paste to hard the coarse aggregate particles.

3. It helps to prevent possible segregation of paste and coarse aggregate, particularly during the transport operation of concrete for a long distance.

4. Fine aggregate reduces the shrinkage of binding material.

5. It prevents the development of a crack in the concrete.

6. It fills the voids existing in the coarse aggregate. Thus, it helps in increasing the density of concrete.

7. It assists in the hardening of cement by allowing the penetration of water through its voids. 

Functions Of Coarse Aggregate in Concrete

Coarse aggregate is used in concrete to achieve the following functions:  

Functions Of Coarse Aggregate in Concrete

1. It makes a solid & hard mass of concrete with cement and sand.

2. It provides bulk to the concrete.

3. It increases the crushing strength of concrete.

4. It reduces the cost of concrete by using cheaper materials.

Read Also:

Requirements or Characteristics Of A Good Fine & Coarse Aggregates

Bulking Of Sand

Different Grading Zone Value of Fine Aggregates(sand) As Per IS: 383

Requirements or Characteristics Of A Good Fine and Coarse Aggregates

Requirements or Characteristics Of  A Good Fine Aggregates

The following are the requirements of good fine aggregate:

  •  It should consist of coarse, angular, sharp & hard grains.
  • A Good Fine Aggregates must be clean & free from coatings of clay and silt.
  •  It should not contain any organic matter.
  • It should be free from hygroscopic salt.
  • It should be chemically inert.
  • It must be strong and durable.
  • The size of its grains should be such that the pass-through 4.75mm I.S sieve & retained entirely on 75 µ I.S sieve.

Requirements Or Characteristics Of A Good Coarse Aggregate

A good coarse aggregate should fulfil the following requirements:

  • It should be angular or cubical in shape.
  • It must be sound & durable.
  • A Good Coarse Aggregate should be absolutely clean and free from any organic matter, chemicals and coating of clay.
  • It should be hard and tough.

Read Also:

Sizes Of Coarse Aggregates For Mass Concrete as Per IS:383

Deleterious Material in Aggregates

Functions Of Fine & Coarse Aggregate in Concrete

5 Difference Between The Wet And Dry Process of Manufacturing of Portland Cement

5 Difference Between The Wet And Dry Process of Manufacturing of Portland Cement

The following 5 differences between the wet and dry processes of manufacturing Portland cement are described:

Difference Between The Wet And Dry Process of Manufacturing of Portland Cement

Dry Process

1. This method is adopted when the raw materials are hard.

2. The quality of cement prepared by this method is inferior.

3. The dry process is slow, difficult, and costly.

4. Raw materials are fed into the rotary kiln in the form of a slurry.

5. This method is rarely used nowadays.

Wet Process

1. This method is adopted when the raw materials are soft.

2. The quality of cement prepared by this method is superior.

3. Wet process is the fasted method.

4. Raw materials are fed into the rotary kiln in the form of fine powder.

5. This method is widely used.

Read Also:

Types of Cement Test

Types of Cement

Bogue’s Compounds

10 Causes of Corrosion of Reinforcement in Concrete

10 Causes of Corrosion of Reinforcement in Concrete

The corrosion of reinforcement embedment in concrete is extremely complicated and influenced by the following 10 factors:  

1. Non-homogeneities in the metal surface increase the probability of corrosion of steel.  

2. Variation in stress in the reinforcement promotes corrosion.  

3. Presence of moisture at the concrete-steel interface and pH influence the corrosion. Corrosion is more rapid in acidic solutions and all corrosive factors become ineffective in the absence of moisture.  

4. The amount of available oxygen at the concrete-steel interface, considerably influence the rate of corrosion.  

5. Presence of salts increases the corrosion rate. But at high concentration, it diminishes the solubility of oxygen, thereby lowering the corrosion rate.  

6. The CO2 absorbed into the concrete promotes the corrosion rate of steel.

7. Permeability of concrete is the most important factor affecting the corrosion of reinforcement.

8. Corrosion of steel greatly depends upon the thickness of concrete cover over the steel.  

9. Corrosion is also influenced by the relative humidity.  

10. The corrosion of steel also depends upon the nature of admixtures used in concrete.

Read Also:

Effect of Impurities in Water on Properties of Concrete

Strain Energy Stored By A Beam Due To A Uniform Bending Moment

Strain Energy Stored By A Beam Due To A Uniform Bending Moment

For this case, strain energy stored by the beam due to bending = Wi = ∫(M²/2EI).ds = M2l/2EI.  

If the beam section is rectangular, with section width b and depth d and the beam is subjected to a uniform bending moment M. Now, M = (1/6)⨯fbd²

Where f is the extreme bending stress for each section.

And the moment of inertia for a rectangular beam section is = I = bd³/12. So, Wi = (given below).  

Strain Energy Stored By A Beam Due To A Uniform Bending Moment

So, The strain energy stored per unit volume of the beam due to a uniform bending moment is = f²/6E.

Read Also:

Strain Energy Stored Due to Axial Loading

Strain Energy Stored Due To Bending

Strain Energy Stored Due To Bending

Let’s assume a beam that is subjected to a uniform moment M. Consider an elemental length ds of the beam between two sections 1-1 and 2-2.

Strain Energy Stored Due To Bending

The elemental length of the beam may be assumed as consisting of an infinite number of element cylinders each of area da and length ds. Consider one such elemental cylinder located y units from the neutral layer between the section 1-1 and 2-2.

Now, the intensity of stress in the element cylinder = [latex] f = \frac{M}{I}y [/latex]
Where I = Moment of inertia of the entire section of the beam about the neutral axis.

So, Energy stored by the element cylinder = (Energy stored per unit volume⨯Volume of the cylinder)

= [latex] \frac{f^{2}}{2E}\cdot da\cdot ds [/latex]

= [latex] \frac{1}{2E}\left (f^{2} \right )da\cdot ds [/latex]

= [latex] \frac{1}{2E}\left ( \frac{M}{I}y \right )^{2}da\cdot ds [/latex]

= [latex] \frac{M^{2}}{2EI^{2}} ds\cdot da\cdot y^{2} [/latex]

Energy stored by ds length of the beam = Sum of the energy stored by each elemental cylinder.
Between the two sections 1-1 and 2-2.

= [latex] \sum \frac{M^{2}}{2EI^{2}} ds\cdot da\cdot y^{2} [/latex]

= [latex] \frac{M^{2}}{2EI^{2}} ds\cdot \sum da\cdot y^{2} [/latex]

But,  ∑da.y2  Moment of inertia of the beam section about the natural axis = I

So, The energy stored by the ds length of the beam

=  [latex] \frac{M^{2}}{2EI^{2}} ds\cdot I [/latex]

= [latex] \frac{M^{2}}{2EI} ds [/latex]

And,
The total energy stored due to bending by the whole beam = [latex] \int \frac{M^{2}}{2EI} ds [/latex]

Strain Energy Stored Due to Axial Loading

Strain Energy Stored Due to Axial Loading

Let’s think of an elastic member whose length is l, and whose cross-sectional area is A, which is subjected to an external axial load W. If the applied load is increased gradually from zero to the value W, the member also increases by δ.

So, the work is done by the load is equal to the product of the average load and the displacement δ.
External work is done = We =(1/2)⨯Wδ = 0.5⨯Wδ
Let, the energy stored by the member be Wi. Since the work done by the external force on the member equals the energy stored by it, we have, We=Wi
Let the tension in the member be S.
For the equilibrium of the member, S=W.

The intensity of the tensile stress = f =S/A.
Now, tensile strain = e = f/E = f/AE.
Where E is Young’s Modulus of the material of the member.
So, change in length of the member =δ= strain⨯ stress.
Or, δ = el = Sl/AE
Now, Strain energy stored = Work done = 0.5⨯Wδ
After putting the value of W and δ in the above equation, we get
Strain energy stored = 0.5⨯ S⨯(Sl/AE) = 0.5⨯(S2l/AE) =S2l/2AE.

In this case, the strain energy stored is due to axial loading on the member.
Strain energy stored per unit volume of the member = (S2l/2AE)/Al = S2l/2A2E = f2/2E.

Read Also:

 Value of Slenderness Ratio For a Tension Member

Strain Energy Stored By A Beam Due To A Uniform Bending Moment

Strain Energy Due To Bending

6 Difference Between Prestressed and Reinforced Cement Concrete

Difference Between Prestressed and Reinforced Cement Concrete

Following are the 6 differences between prestressed concrete and reinforced cement concrete:

Reinforced Cement Concrete

1. In reinforced cement concrete(R.C.C) only the position of concrete above N.A is useful in resisting external forces.

2. Minutes cracks may be developed in the tension zone of concrete.

3. It requires mild steel and concrete of lower grade.

4. Costly tensioning equipment and anchoring devices are not necessary.

5. R.C.C needs more quantity of concrete and steel, which results very heavy section.

6. It requires ordinary supervision.

Prestressed Concrete

1. In prestressed concrete, the whole of the concrete is useful in resisting the external forces.

2. The technique of prestressing eliminates cracking of concrete.

3. It requires high tensile steel and concrete of higher grade.

4. It requires costly tensioning equipment and anchoring devices.

5. In prestressed concrete, needs less quantity of concrete and steel as compared to R.C.C, thus saving in weight.

6. It requires perfect supervision at all stage of construction.

Read Also: 

5 Differences Between Pre-tensioning & Post-tensioning System

4 Difference between air-entrained and Lightweight Concrete