COMPOSITE (CONCRETE)

COMPOSITE

A composite is a material which is made from two or more constituent materials. The constituent materials
have notably different chemical, physical or mechanical properties. The aims of merged these different
materials is to create a composite material with properties improved than the individual materials.

Figure. Representation of various

characteristics of the dispersed face in
composites. a) Concentration, b) size, c)
shape, d) distribution and e) orientation
CONCRETE
INTRODUCTION

Concrete is a composite material consisting of aggregates (gravel and sand), cement, and water. As a

construction material, concrete can be cast in almost any shape desired, and once hardened, can become a

structural (load bearing) element.

Cements in a general sense are adhesive and cohesive materials which are capable of bonding together

particles of solid matter into a compact durable mass.

Aggregates are the materials basically used as filler with binding material in the production of mortar and

concrete. They occupy 70-80% of the volume and have considerable influence on the properties of the

concrete. The coarse aggregate form the main matrix of concrete and the fine aggregate form the filler matrix

between the coarse aggregate.

1. PORTLAND CEMENT
Cement is a substance that sets and hardens and can bind other materials together, it is a binder.
Cements used in construction can be characterized as being hydraulic binder, upon its ability to react and
harden chemically in the presence of water.
Cement contains limestone , clay , cement rock and iron ore blended and heated to 1200 to 1500°C. The
resulting product "clinker" is then ground to the consistency of powder. Gypsum is added to control setting
time.
Example of cement uses:
• Mortar for masonry work, plaster;
• Beams, stairs, roofing concrete.
• Precast pipes

Ordinary Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world.
Portland cement consists of three main ingredients ( in increasing order of reactivity with water )

• C3S = 3CaO • SiO2 (tricalcium silicate)

• C2S = 2CaO • SiO2 (dicalcium silicate)

• C3A = 3CaO • Al2O3 (tricalcium aluminate)

In addition to gypsum and tetra-calciumaluminoferrite.

Portland cement is a mixture of calcium silicates and aluminum silicates that react with water to form a

binder. Some other compound such as Magnesuim oxide (MgO) and Soduim oxide (Na2O) and Potassuim

Oxide (K2O) can be present.

Hydration is the chemical reaction generated when cement is mixed with water.

The principal hydration product is C3S2H4 and is called glue gel binder, it is believed to be the material

governing concrete strength.

Types of cement

Cements of unique characteristics for desired performance in a given environment are being manufactured

by changing the chemical composition of OPC or by using additives, or by using different raw materials.

Some of the cements available in the market are as follows.

• Rapid Hardening Portland Cement

• High Alumina Cement

• Super-sulphated Portland Cement

• Sulphate Resisting Portland Cement

• Portland slag Cement

• Etc..
2. AGGREGATE

Aggregates are defined as inert, granular, and inorganic materials that normally consist of stone or stone- like

solids. Aggregates can be used alone (in road bases and various types of fill) or can be used with cementing

materials (such as Portland cement or asphalt cement) to form composite materials or concrete.

Aggregates can be classified as:

• Coarse aggregate: Aggregates predominately retained on the sieve 4.75 mm.

• Fine aggregate (sand): Aggregates passing sieve 4.75 mm and predominately retained on the sieve 75 μm.

Sand (> 0.07 mm) is used as a fine aggregate in mortar and concrete. It is a granular form of silica. It is used to

prevent shrinkage and development of cracks in mortar, furnish strength to mortar against crushing and

allow carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to penetrate the fat lime mortars necessary for its air hardening.
3. WATER

Almost any natural water that is drinkable and has no pronounced taste or odour can be used as mixing

water for making concrete. Some waters that are not fit for drinking may be suitable for concrete making

provided that they satisfy the acceptance criteria laid by ASTM C 94.
Some quantity of water, about 15% by weight of cement, is required to fill the cement gel pores and is
known as gel water. Therefore, a total of 38% of water by weight of cement is required to complete the
chemical reaction.
w/c (water/cement) = 0.4

Excessive impurities in mixing water affect setting time and concrete strength and also cause efflorescence

(deposits of white salts on the surface of concrete), staining, corrosion of reinforcement, volume changes,

and reduced durability

4. MIX DESIGN

A rational proportioning of the ingredients of concrete is the essence of the mix design. However, it may not

guarantee of having achieved the objective of the quality concrete work. The aim of quality control is to

ensure the production of concrete of uniform strength from batch to batch.

The water-cement ratio (w/c) is one of the major factors but not the only one influencing the strength of

concrete. Water-cement ratio is the water used to the quantum of cement in the mixture by weight. For

proper workability the w/c ratio varies from 0.4–0.6. However, maximum strength is derived at w/c = 0.4.

When it is decreased to less than 0.4 there is improper consistency and workability of cement and

honeycombed structure. However, concrete compacted by vibrator displays higher strength even up to

w/c = 0.3
Cement gains strength and hardness because of the chemical action between cement and water. This

chemical reaction requires moisture, favourable temperature and time referred to as the curing

period.

The object is to prevent the loss of moisture from concrete due to evaporation or any other reason,

supply additional moisture or heat and moisture to accelerate the gain of strength. Curing must be done

for at least three weeks and in no case for less than ten days.

The different curing methods are: Water Curing, Steam Curing, Curing by Infra Red Radiation, Electrical

curing, Chemical Curing.

❖ Mechanical properties

• Compressive strength

Where 𝞼 is the compressive stress, F is the instantaneous load applied ⊥ in newtons (N), A0 is the original
cross- sectional (m2)
• Tensile Strain:

The tensile strain may be determined by Briquette test method or by split tensile strength test.

Where ∊ is the strain, l0 is the original length before any load is applied, and li is the instantaneous length.
In addition, the lateral ties also serve to confine the concrete, there by enhancing its

compression load bearing capacity.

a. Plain concrete beam presenting

cracks when subjected under
flexural loading

b. Reinforced concrete beam

support loads with acceptable low
deformation under flexural loading
by failing in a ductile mode
5. TYPES OF CONCRETE

• Conventionally Reinforced Concrete

• Fibre Reinforced Concrete FRC (steel fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, polymeric fibers, synthetic fibers
and natural fibers)
• High Performance Concrete (HPC)
• High Volume Fly Ash Concrete.
• Silica fumes concrete.
• Ternary blend concrete.
• Light weight concrete.
• Polymer concrete.
• Self-Compacting Concrete.
• Acid-resistant, expanding and oil-well cement

• Shrinkage compensating concrete

• Bacterial concrete

• Shotcrete

• Ferrocement

• Ready Mixed Concrete (RMC)