Dams and Water Retaining Structures Past exam questions

These questions are taken from the last five years of exam papers on a previous unit. They are longer than the questions you will see in the exam but Id expect you to be able to answer all these questions from what we have covered in the materials aspects of this unit. Please note that there will also be one geotechnics question in the exam.

1. a) Suggest, with reasons, how the following causes of damage to concrete can be prevented: i) Alkali silica reaction ii) Frost iii) Exposure to a marine environment [18 marks] b) Discuss the effects that the inclusion of cement replacement materials can have on the properties of concrete. [15 marks]

2. a) The specification for an air-entrained concrete mix is given below.

28-day characteristic cube strength Slump Entrained air content Cement strength class Aggregate characteristics

20 N/mm2 30-60 mm 5% by volume 42.5 Uncrushed Saturated Surface Dry Maximum size 20 mm 70% fine aggregate passing 600 m sieve

Using the data provided, calculate the batch weights for a 1 m3 trial mix. [18 marks] b) The concrete mix designed in part a) is subsequently used in a construction project and a dispute arises as to whether errors were made during batching to the entrained air content and the free water to cement ratio. Clearly stating any assumptions, estimate the magnitude of such errors if tests on 100 mm diameter cores gave the following average results:

Length to diameter ratio Density Failure load

1.00 2150 kg/m3 141 kN [15 marks]

3.

An existing concrete frame building, for which no design information exists, is to be modified. a) Summarize how non-destructive techniques could be used in a preliminary assessment of the existing structure. [11 marks] b) Three cores were taken from the structure and tested for strength. Comment on the limitations of using this testing approach to estimate the characteristic in situ compressive strength. [11 marks] c) Discuss the testing variables which influence the strength of cores. [11 marks]

4. a) Discuss the reasons why the in situ compressive strength of concrete differs from the standard compressive strength for the same batch of concrete. [8 marks]

b)

Cores with a diameter of 100 mm were taken from a structure and tested. The following results were obtained. Core 1 2 3 4 Length, mm 110 100 120 95 Failure load, kN 322 343 248 309

Stating any assumptions that are made, assess whether the concrete falls within the C30/37 compressive strength class. [25 marks]

5. a) Outline the advantages of using cement replacement materials in concrete. [10 marks]

b)

Suggest, with reasons, how cement replacement materials could be utilised in the following applications: i) ii) a reinforced concrete structure in a marine environment high strength concrete (>100 MPa) for the lower storeys of a high rise building [23 marks]

6. A steel-fibre reinforced concrete beam with a 150 mm square cross-section and a test span of 500 mm was loaded centrally. The beam had a 25 mm notch at midspan on the tension face. The load-deflection curve obtained is shown in the graph below. The flexural tensile stress is defined by: Flexural tensile stress 3PL 2bh

16.00 14.00 12.00 10.00

Load, kN

8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 0.00 0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

Deflection, mm

a)

Comment on how this curve would be affected by: i) ii) Decreasing the fibre dosage Increasing fibre length to beyond the critical length [11 marks]

b)

Determine the limit of proportionality according to BS EN 14651:2005. [11 marks]

c)

Several test standards exist for the measurement of the properties of fibre reinforced concrete. Compare how the test parameters affect the maximum tensile stress obtained. [11 marks]

7.

(a)

State the possible reasons for taking cores from concrete structures

and testing for strength. [8 marks]

(b)

Two 100mm diameter horizontally drilled cores from a structure give the following results:

Core 1 2

Length, mm 100 100

Failure Load, kN 200 225

State clearly any assumptions that are made and determine: (i) (ii) estimated in-situ cube strength, and whether the concrete originally supplied for construction complied with a characteristic strength specification of 30 N/mm2.

[25 marks]

8.

The majority of concrete used in a suspension bridge falls into three categories. Discuss how cement replacement materials could assist in producing concrete suitable for:

(i) (ii) (iii)

mass concrete for anchorages. structural concrete for foundations in sea water. very high strength concrete (in excess of 100 N/mm2) for the towers. [33 marks]

9.

(i)

The specification for an entrained air concrete mix is given below.

28 Day Characteristic Strength Slump Entrained Air Content Cement Type Aggregate Characteristics

25 N/mm2 30-60 mm 5.0% Rapid Hardening Portland Uncrushed Saturated Surface Dry Maximum Size 20 mm 60% of Fine Aggregate Passing 600 m Sieve

Using the Building Research Establishment mix design data provided, calculate the batch weights for a 1 m3 trial mix. [19 marks]

(ii)

A dispute arises as to whether errors had been made during batching to the entrained air content and the free water to cement ratio. Clearly stating any assumptions that have been made, estimate the magnitude of such errors if tests on 100 mm diameter vertically drilled cores give the following average results:

Length to Diameter Ratio Excess Voidage Density Failure Load

1.00 0.5% 2150 kg/m3 95 kN

[14 marks]

10.

(a)

A dispute arises about the quality of concrete supplied for construction. Discuss how concrete core testing would be used to assess compliance with a given strength specification. [14 marks]

(b)

Vertically drilled 100 mm diameter concrete cores were taken from a Structure and testing gave the following results:

Core 1 2 3 4

Length, mm 115 110 100 100

Failure Load, kN 165 155 160 175

Stating any assumptions that are made, assess whether the concrete complies with a characteristic strength of 30 N/mm2.

11.

Details of a 1 m3 air entrained concrete mix designed using Building Research Establishment data are: Entrained air content Free water content Ordinary Portland cement content Crushed fine aggregate content Crushed 10mm coarse aggregate content 5.0% 190 kg 440 kg 665 kg 1000 kg

Calculate: (i) specified 28 day characteristic strength. (ii) specified slump. (iii) proportion of fine aggregate passing the 600 m sieve. [20 marks]