Strength of Concrete

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010
Contents
Definition of strength Factors affecting strength of concrete
Definition of Strength
Depends on mode of stress and definition of failure Different types of strength: compressive, tensile, flexural, shear, torsion In concrete design, compressive strength is usually of most concern.
Strength of Concrete
Influencing factors, design principles, code requirements
Cement paste Paste-aggregate bond Aggregates
What does compressive strength in concrete mean?

Response of concrete to compressive stress
Dr. Hans Beushausen Professor Mark Alexander
Influence of Time & Temp. the Maturity Concept Other types of concrete strength
Tensile and Flexural strength
Practical and structural aspects: design and testing

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers May 2010
A concrete cylinder under a compression test
Fundamental factors influencing compressive strength

Strength = f [properties of various phases in concrete, interactions between them] Thus, paste, aggregate, and interfaces (ITZ) are important Also important are specimen type (cube, cyl.), size, and nature of loading Chart on next slide shows the range of factors influencing strength of concrete
Strength of cement paste

Primarily a function of paste porosity Porosity:
Porosity can be expressed in terms of:

(a) Gel/Space Ratio X
Strength equation using X is: c = Axn (n = 2.6 3, depending on cement) Powers and Brownyard: c = 235X3 (MPa) - implies cement paste has an intrinsic strength of 235 MPa (This expression independent of w/c, age, etc.)
S = e-kp S0
Where S = strength S0 = intrinsic strength (i.e. at zero porosity) p = fractional porosity k depends on material
X = vol. of solid hydration products (incl. gel pores) Space available for these hydration products
(b) Water / cement ratio, i.e. essentially capillary porosity

Capillary porosity = f(w/c)proper compaction, any degree of hydration
(b) Water / cement ratio (contd)
Abrams w/c ratio law for c:

c = A . B1.5(w/c)
Schematic of strength as a function of compaction
Modern admixtures allow us to progress up this curve
A = empirical constant (14 000 p.s.i.) B 4 (dep. on cement type)

Note: importance of full compaction see next slide!
Concrete strength (contd)
More correctly:
c = f [w/c, A/c, aggregate characteristics (e.g. max.
size), etc.]
Effect of pore size e.g. pore refinement with CSF
w/c: governs the pore system size and distribution Aggregates: influences paste-agg.
bond, heterogeneity of microstructure, etc.
Effect of cement fineness

(e.g. rapid hardening type cements)
Cement paste aggregate bond

Chemical bonding
It is probable that no aggregate is truly inert, i.e. all aggregates interact chemically with cement paste to some degree
Cement paste aggregate bond (contd)
Cement paste aggregate bond (contd)
E.g. well-known effect of andesite aggregates on concrete strength
Andesite surface x2000
Quartzite surface x2000
Strength premiums of andesite concrete over quartzite concrete (Alexander & Ballim, 1987)
Physical bonding
This is mainly a function of micro and macro texture, with micro-texture often being more important
Cube Compressive Strength Indirect Tensile Strength Modulus of Rupture
Age (d) 28 28 35
Percentage increase in strength for w/c ratio 0.83 0.56 0.42
28% 19% 16%
23% 24% 27%
17% 18% 9%
Cement paste aggregate bond (Contd)
Influence of aggregates Aggregate type
I
Volume fraction of agg.
Aggregates (contd)
Effect of ITZ - interfacial

transition zone
Aggregates (contd)
Nature of compressive testing

Cube test - Stresses in cubes Cube test - Types of failures
Max. Size of agg.
What does compressive strength in concrete mean?
Nature of compressive testing (contd)
Nature of compressive testing (contd)
Response of concrete to compressive stress

Multi-phase material
implies strain incompatibilities and progressive micro-cracking
Cube size
Cylinder test
Response of concrete to compressive stress (contd)
Response of concrete to compressive stress (contd)
Progressive microstructural breakdown Role of different types of cracking
Deformations and matrix changes under short-term stress application
Response of concrete to compressive stress (contd) Thus concrete fails under compressive stress by a complex, system of internal microcracking and microstructural breakdown with extensive cracking: bond cracking between aggregate and matrix cleavage cracking in the matric itself.
This cracking is largely tensile or shear/tensile in nature. As ultimate failure is approached, cleavage cracking predominates leading to final rupture
Response of concrete to compressive stress (contd) Limits of response to stress: immediate vs. microstructural breakdown vs.
creep
Influence of curing and temperature the Maturity Concept (a)

Effect of temperature
Influence of curing and temperature Maturity Concept (contd)

(b) Effect of moisture/relative humidity (c) Period of curing
The Maturity Concept Maturity = f [T x t] where T curing temp. t curing time
The Maturity Concept
Other types of concrete strength

Tensile and flexural strength
Tensile/flexural strength are important in: Concrete pavements and slabs on grade Water retaining structures Crack-free concrete
Note inter-relationship between time and temperature!
Saul-Nurse Expression (datum = Maturity = t(T+10)
10oC)
t = time of curing (d) T = temp. of curing (oC)
Tests for tensile strength

Direct tensile strength very difficult to do successfully
Used for research mainly
Tests for tensile strength
Factors affecting tensile strength

Flexural strength
Gives significantly higher strength values than indirect test.
Indirect tensile strength

Split tensile test (Brazilian test) Good representation of direct tensile strength value.
Reason is assumed shape of stress distribution at failure.
Similar to factors influencing compressive strength Aggregate effect more important:

aggregate bond max size
Influence of strain and stress gradients e.g. due to drying
Relationship between tensile and compr. strength

Age of concrete (d) 3 Compressive Rel. 0.4 strength Values Tensile strength 0.4 7 28 90 1.1 360 1.35
Typical ratios: ft/fc = fct/fc = fr/fc = 0.07 0.11 (direct tension) 0.08 0.14 (splitting tension) 0.11 0.23 (flexural tension)
Compressive strength
0.65 1.0 0.7 1.0
1.05 1.1
Structural design Practical aspects Specification Quality control
Code suggestions:
CEB, direct tension: ft = ACI, flexural tension: fr = 0.3(fc)2/3 (MPa) 0.62(fc)1/2 (MPa)
Strength consideration in structural design
Strength consideration in structural design

= 0.67 fcu Note differences between cube, cylinder and bending strength:

/fc [%] 100 70-90
Major crack development, ongoing crack development independent of increase in stress Increased micro cracking (ITZ), stress increasingly results in long-term deformations
30-40
Actual behaviour! In design: use safety factor (commonly 1.5)
Design stress (strains assumed linear)
Strain at fracture (in compression): cu = 2 2.5 mm/m
Compressive strength Compressive strength
Definition, specification and testing

Design strength
28-day strength Concrete cured at 23oC in water Cubes, 150 mm3 or 100 m3 Tested in saturated condition Average of 3 results (details given in SANS)
Target strength
Consideration of statistical variability Commonly: Target strength + ~8 MPa (details in SANS)
In-situ strength
Difference between cube strength (ideal curing) and structure SANS: If the average core strength is at least 80% of the specified strength, and if no single core strength is less than 70% of the specified strength, the concrete shall be accepted

Specify: design strength = 30 MPa (= cube strength) Strength used in analysis = 0.67 x 30 MPa / 1.5 = 13.3 MPa
Stress path in a concrete cube under compression
Testing (cube)
SANS 5860: 2006 (Dimensions, tolerances, uses of cast test specimens) SANS 5861-2: 2006 (Sampling of freshly mixed concrete) SANS 5861-3: 2006 (Making and curing of specimens)
Target strength = 38 MPa
Acceptable in-situ (core) strength = 0.8 x 30 MPa = 24 MPa
Tensile failure under compressive loading
Stress path in a concrete column under high compressive loads
In-situ testing (estimation) of concrete strength
Surface hardness testing Rebound Hammer In-situ testing of concrete strength

1940 developed in Switzerland by Ernst Schmidt (Schmidt Hammer) Covered in BS 1881, ASTM standards, etc Empirical measure of surface hardness of a localized area
Rebound Hammer
Rebound Hammer
Statistical reliability
e.g.: ASTM: 12 readings per area 300x300 mm, regular spaced grid
Testing and conformity assessment of cores

Used to:
Assess uniformity of concrete Determine areas of poor quality or deteriorated concrete Estimate compressive strength Assess variation of strength within a structure
Calibration against core strength Influences:

Carbonated surface area: region of greater hardness Moisture condition Formwork used Inclination of hammer during testing Properties of aggregates, etc
Testing and conformity assessment of cores
Compressive strength of concrete cores End preparation Smooth and level
Compressive strength of concrete cores
Void ratio
Strength decreases (significantly) with increasing porosity
SANS 5865: 2006 (Drilling, preparation and testing of compr. strength of cores taken from hardened concrete) Void ratio Reinforcement factor Equation for conversion Equivalent cube strength
Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010 Compressive strength of concrete cores
Void ratio
Account for voids Who is to blame for low in-situ strength?
Void ratio
Void ratio
Compressive strength of concrete cores Steel reinforcement

Steel reinforcement results in stress concentrations, which lowers the measured failure load
Compressive strength of concrete cores Account for steel reinforcement SABS 865: 1994
Compressive strength of concrete cores Convert core strength to equivalent cube strength
The more slender the specimen, the lower the failure load Aim at equal length-to-diameter ratio
Compressive strength of concrete cores Convert core strength to equivalent cube strength
Core strength summary: example

Design strength = 30 MPa Measured failure stress = 21 MPa Correction factor for [length/diameter = 0.8]: 0.91 Correction factor for rebar: 1.04 Measured equivalent cube strength = 21 MPa x 0.91 x 1.04 = 19.9 MPa Who is to blame? Estimated voidage = 1.5%, void correction factor = 1.13 Estimated intrinsic potential strength = 19.9 x 1.13 = 22.5 MPa Acceptance criteria: 80% of design strength = 0.8 x 30 = 24 MPa What now?
Thank you

Strength of Concrete

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Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Cement paste Paste-aggregate bond Aggregates

What does compressive strength in concrete mean?

Practical and structural aspects: design and testing

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

A concrete cylinder under a compression test

Fundamental factors influencing compressive strength

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Strength of cement paste

Porosity can be expressed in terms of:

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

(b) Water / cement ratio, i.e. essentially capillary porosity

(b) Water / cement ratio (contd)

Abrams w/c ratio law for c:

Schematic of strength as a function of compaction

Modern admixtures allow us to progress up this curve

A = empirical constant (14 000 p.s.i.) B 4 (dep. on cement type)

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete strength (contd)

Concrete strength (contd)

Effect of pore size e.g. pore refinement with CSF

Concrete strength (contd)

Effect of cement fineness

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Cement paste aggregate bond

Cement paste aggregate bond (contd)

Cement paste aggregate bond (contd)

E.g. well-known effect of andesite aggregates on concrete strength

Andesite surface x2000

Quartzite surface x2000

Percentage increase in strength for w/c ratio 0.83 0.56 0.42

28% 19% 16%

23% 24% 27%

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Cement paste aggregate bond (Contd)

Influence of aggregates Aggregate type

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Effect of ITZ - interfacial

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Nature of compressive testing

Max. Size of agg.

What does compressive strength in concrete mean?

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Concrete Technology for Structural Engineers Workshop, May 2010

Nature of compressive testing (contd)

Nature of compressive testing (contd)

Response of concrete to compressive stress