RESEARCH NO. 1
Building Technology 1
TYPES OF CEMENT AND
THEIR USES
TYPES OF CEMENT AND THEIR USES
1. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is the most widely used type of cement, which is suitable for all general
concrete construction.
2. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) is prepared by grinding pozzolanic clinker with Portland cement. It is also
produced by adding pozzolana with the addition of gypsum or calcium sulfate or by intimately and uniformly
blending Portland cement and fine pozzolana.
3. Rapid Hardening Cement attains high strength in the early days; it is used in concrete where formworks are
removed at an early stage and are similar to ordinary portland cement (OPC). This cement has increased lime
content and contains higher c3s content and finer grinding, which gives higher strength development than OPC
at an early stage.
4. Quick setting cement is different from rapid hardening cement. The quick-setting cement sets earlier. At the
same time, the rate of gain of strength is similar to Ordinary Portland Cement, while quick hardening cement
gains strength quickly. Formworks in both cases can be removed earlier.
TYPES OF CEMENT AND THEIR USES
5. Low Heat Cement is produced by maintaining the percentage of tri-calcium aluminate below 6% by
increasing the proportion of C2S. A small quantity of tri-calcium aluminate makes the concrete to produce low
heat of hydration. Low heat cement suitable for mass concrete construction like gravity dams, as the low heat
of hydration, prevents the cracking of concrete due to heat.
6. Sulfates Resisting Cement is used to reduce the risk of sulfate attack on concrete and thus is used in the
construction of foundations where the soil has high sulfate content. This cement has reduced the contents of
C3A and C4AF.
7. Blast Furnace Slag Cement is obtained by grinding the clinkers with about 60% slag and resembles more or
less in properties of Portland cement. It can be used for works where economic considerations are
predominant.
TYPES OF CEMENT AND THEIR USES
8. High Alumina Cement is obtained by melting a mixture of bauxite and lime and grinding with the clinker. It is
a rapid hardening cement with initial and final setting time of about 3.5 and 5 hours, respectively. The
compressive strength of this cement is very high and more workable than ordinary portland cement and is used
in works where concrete is subjected to high temperatures, frost, and acidic action.
9. White Cement is prepared from raw materials free from iron oxide and is a type of ordinary portland
cement, which is white. It is costlier and is used for architectural purposes such as precast curtain wall and
facing panels, terrazzo surface, etc. and for interior and exterior decorative work like external renderings of
buildings, facing slabs, floorings, ornamental concrete products, paths of gardens, swimming pools, etc.
10. Colored cement is produced by mixing 5- 10% mineral pigments with ordinary cement. They are widely
used for decorative works on floors.
TYPES OF CEMENT AND THEIR USES
11. Air Entraining Cement is produced by adding indigenous air-entraining agents such as resins, glues, sodium
salts of sulfates, etc. during the grinding of clinker. This type of cement is especially suited to improve the
workability with a smaller water-cement ratio and to improve frost resistance of concrete.
12. Expansive Cement expands slightly with time and does not shrink during and after the time of hardening.
This cement is mainly used for grouting anchor bolts and pre-stressed concrete ducts.
13. Hydrographic cement is prepared by mixing water-repelling chemicals and has high workability and
strength. It has the property of repelling water and is unaffected during monsoon or rains. Hydrophobic cement
is mainly used for the construction of water structures such as dams, water tanks, spillways, water retaining
structures, etc.
CONCRETE RATIO: GRADE OF
CONCRETE AND THEIR USES
GRADE OF CONCRETE AND THEIR USES
C10
Used for: Patio slabs, pathways and non-structural work
Type: Domestic & commercial use
C15
Used for: Pavement kerbs and floor blinding
Type: Domestic & Commercial
C20
Used for: Domestic floors and foundations (where the weight of structure will be lighter). Also good for
workshop bases, garages, driveways and internal floor slabs.
Type: Domestic
C25
Used for: Construction in all areas. Multi-purpose concrete mix, usually used for foundations.
Type: Domestic & Commercial
GRADE OF CONCRETE AND THEIR USES
C30
Used for: Pathways and roadways (this is the lowest grade concrete mix that can be used for this purpose).
More durable than the grades that have come before, and thus is much more weather-resistant and can take
heavy road traffic.
Type: Commercial
C35
Used for: Commercial structures. This heavy concrete mix is usually used for creating external walls and slabs,
as well as for structural piling.
Type: Commercial
C40
Used for: Commercial construction sites, creating foundations and beams for structural support and roads. The
most durable in this list, C40 can withstand chemical corrosion also, so is frequently used on farms where slurry
could corrode structures, or in septic tanks.
Type: Commercial
NOMINAL
AND
DESIGN MIX
NOMINAL MIX AND DESIGN MIX
NOMINAL MIX
It is the process in which all the ingredients are prescribed as per specifications and
their proportions are specified in the ratio of cement to aggregrates for a certain
strength achievement. The proportions of ingredients in the nominal mix are the
same for all the projects. To simplify this statement let us take an example of M 20
grade concrete. Its nominal mix proportion is 1:1.5:3 it means we have to weigh
them to 1 kg of cement 1.5 kg of fine aggregate that is sand and 3 kg of coarse
aggregates. But we normally take them on a volume basis and multiply them with
1.5 by constant to get the bulk volume of the material so to conclude this we can
say nominal mix generally contains volumetric batching.
NOMINAL MIX AND DESIGN MIX
DESIGN MIX
Concrete shall be called design mix concrete when the proportion of its ingredients
are decided after trial and error of various options in the laboratory. After carrying
out tests on individual ingredients with the object of producing concrete of certain
minimum strength and durability as economically as possible. The proportions of
ingredients in the design mix differ from project to project. Other concrete
properties like durability, workability, surface finish etc. also change as so per
strength and project requirements the correct design mix shall be selected.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CONCRETE TESTS AND
PROCEDURES
CONCRETE TESTS AND PROCEDURES
SLUMP TEST
The consistency of the concrete determines how well the concrete will pour, handle and
compact. The measurement used to gauge the consistency of concrete is called slump.
Problems with consolidation and mortar loss can occur if your slump is too low (runny) or
too high (thick). To perform the slump test, take a sample of your recently mixed concrete
and pack it into a cone 2 inches high, 8 inches wide at the bottom of the cone and 4 inches
at the top which must be open. Level the concrete at the top rim of the cone then lift it so
the bottom of the cone remains unsupported. The distance between the top of the cone
top and the level the concrete settles at gives you your slump. Compare this number with
the slump value on the package your concrete mixture came in to find out if your concrete
contains good consistency.
CONCRETE TESTS AND PROCEDURES
AIR CONTENT TEST
The air content of concrete determines how it will fare when frozen by cold weather then
thawed by warmer weather. Since air is lost during transportation, consolidation,
placement and finishing, the air content test only tells you the air amount in recently mixed
concrete. There are three different devices for performing this test. The pressure type B
meter applies pressure to a sample of your concrete to condense the entrained air; it then
uses the change in air to determine the air content of the concrete. You can also use a
volumetric air meter. This device removes air from a determined volume of concrete. You
can compare the new volume of the sample to the rest of your concrete to determine air
content. Finally you can use an air indicator kit. Place a sample of concrete into the
provided vial, then add alcohol. The change in the alcohol level indicates the concrete’s air
content.
CONCRETE TESTS AND PROCEDURES
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST
The air content of concrete determines how it will fare when frozen by cold weather then
thawed by warmer weather. Since air is lost during transportation, consolidation,
placement and finishing, the air content test only tells you the air amount in recently mixed
concrete. There are three different devices for performing this test. The pressure type B
meter applies pressure to a sample of your concrete to condense the entrained air; it then
uses the change in air to determine the air content of the concrete. You can also use a
volumetric air meter. This device removes air from a determined volume of concrete. You
can compare the new volume of the sample to the rest of your concrete to determine air
content. Finally you can use an air indicator kit. Place a sample of concrete into the
provided vial, then add alcohol. The change in the alcohol level indicates the concrete’s air
content.
PROCEDURES
CONCRETE TESTS AND PROCEDURES
1. Rebound Hammer or Schmidt Hammer (ASTM C805)
A spring release mechanism is used to activate a hammer which impacts a plunger to drive into the surface of
the concrete. The rebound distance from the hammer to the surface of the concrete is given a value from 10 to
100. This measurement is then correlated to the concretes’ strength.
2. Penetration Resistance Test (ASTM C803)
To complete a penetration resistance test, a device drives a small pin or probe into the surface
of the concrete. The force used to penetrate the surface, and the depth of the hole, is correlated to the
strength of the in-place concrete.
3. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (ASTM C597)
This technique determines the velocity of a pulse of vibrational energy through a slab. The ease at
which this energy makes its’ way through the slab provides measurements regarding the concrete’s elasticity,
resistance to deformation or stress, and density. This data is then correlated to the slab’s strength.
CONCRETE TESTS AND PROCEDURES
4. Pullout Test (ASTM C900)
The main principal behind this test is to pull the concrete using a metal rod that is cast-in-place or post-installed
in the concrete. The pulled conical shape, in combination with the force required to pull the
concrete, is correlated to compressive strength.
5. Drilled Core (ASTM C42)
A core drill is used to extract hardened concrete from the slab. These samples are then compressed in a
machine to monitor the strength of the in-situ concrete.
6. Cast-in-place Cylinders (ASTM C873)
Cylinder molds are placed in the location of the pour. Fresh concrete is poured into these molds
which remain in the slab. Once hardened, these specimens are removed and compressed for strength.
CONCRETE TESTS AND PROCEDURES
7. Wireless Maturity Sensors (ASTM C1074)
This technique is based on the principle that concrete strength is directly related to its hydration temperature
history. Wireless sensors are placed within the concrete formwork, secured on the rebar, before
pouring. Temperature data is collected by the sensor and uploaded to any smart device within an app using a
wireless connection. This information is used to calculate the compressive strength of the in-situ concrete
element based on the maturity equation that is set up in the app.
REFERENCES
REFERENCES
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/types-cement-applications/5974/
https://www.civillead.com/nominal-mix-concrete-vs-design-mix-concrete/
https://homesteady.com/12954266/types-of-concrete-testing
https://www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete/article/21072546/7-methods-for-testing-concrete-strength