Characterization of Materials

CHAPTER 3
CHARACTERIZATION OF MATERIALS

3.1 Concrete
It is composed of Cement and Water combined with Fine aggregates and coarse
aggregates. The concrete is plastic and can be molded into any form or trowelled to produce
a smooth surface. Hardening starts immediately after mixing but precautions are taken
usually by covering, to avoid rapid loss of moisture since the presence of water is necessary
to continue the chemical reaction and increase the strength. The quality of paste formed by
the cement and water largely determines the character of concrete. Proportioning of
ingredients is referred to as designing the mixture. Normally the full hardening of concrete
is at least 28 days. Concrete is stronger in compression than in tension. The ingredients of
concrete include: tap water, Cement (Ordinary Portland cement), coarse aggregates with
diameters in the range of 10-20 mm medium graded with aggregate size Within 4-10mm
,Fine sand and polypropylene micro fiber fly-ash and Nano particles .The details of all the
materials are discussed as follows

3.1.1 Cement
Cement Used in all mixes was Ordinary Portland Cement Physical Properties and
Mechanical properties characteristics of cement are provided in Table 3.1

Table 3.1 Cement properties

Sr. No. Property of Cement Test Result

1. Standard consistency 30%
2. Compressive strength MPa (3 days 16.4
3. Compressive strength MPa (7 days) 23.5
4. Compressive strength MPa (28 days) 54
5. Initial Setting time 40 minutes
6. Final Setting Time 590 minutes
7. Soundness 8
8. Fineness 4%
9. Specific gravity 3.11

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 Characterization of Materials

3.1.2 Aggregate

Fine aggregate is natural sand, quality of a material is good. Coarse aggregate is gravel,
two kinds 5-20mm and 20-40mm, the ratio is 40%:60%.

Fine Aggregate: 4.75 maximum size of fine aggregates from Pench Kanhan River were
used. Which is free from organic impurities. This sand is yellowish brown and proves to
be good for concrete the silt was checked and found to be well below 5%

Note Based on Test Results Sand conforms to grading Zone II

Fineness of Aggregate = (% Cumulative Wt. Retained)/100 =2.409
(𝑊𝑡𝑜𝑓𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟+𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑓𝐴𝑔𝑔)–(𝑊𝑡.𝑜𝑓𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟)
Bulk Density = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑓𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟

(ρb)=1460 Kg/m³

Table 3.3 Results of sieve analysis for fine aggregate

Sieve Size Wt. Retained Cumulative Wt. % Cumulative Wt. % Cumulative

mm gm. Retained Retained Passing
4.75 15 15 1.5 98.5
2.36 58 73 7.3 92.7
1.18 156 229 22.9 77.1
0.6 215 444 44.4 55.6
0.3 296 740 74.0 26
0.15 168 908 90.8 9.2

Table 3.2 Properties of Fine aggregate

Sr. No. Properties of Fine aggregate Test Result

1. Bulk Density, ρb (kg/m3) 1460
2. Specific Gravity Assumed 2.72
3. Fineness Modulus F.M. 2.409
4. Free surface moisture (%) 2.0
5. Water Absorption 1.1%

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 Characterization of Materials

120
Sieve Analysis of Fine Aggregates
100

80
% Sieve Passing
60

40

20

0
0.15 0.3 0.6 1.18 2.36 4.75
Sieve Size in mm

Fig. 3.1 Chart of Sieve Analysis of Fine Aggregate

Coarse Aggregate: The crushed aggregate was used from the local quarry. In this
experiment the aggregate was used of 20mm. Crushed aggregates from Panchgoan Nagpur
were used as coarse Aggregates.

Fineness of Aggregates = (% Cumulative Wt. Retained)/100 FM = 6.27

Bulk Density = ((Wt. Of container + Loss of agg) – (Wt of empty Container)) /
(Volume of Container)
(ρb) = 1500 Kg/m³
Table 3.5 Results of Sieve Analysis for Coarse Aggregates

Sieve Size Wt. Retained Cumulative Wt. % Cumulative Wt. % Cumulative

mm gm Retained Retained Passing
40 0 0 0 100
31.5 0 0 0 100
25 756 756 14.12 85.88
20 2234 2990 59.8 40.2
16 770 3760 75.2 24.8
12 570 4330 86.6 13.4
10 310 4640 92.8 7.2
6.3 320 4960 99.2 0.8
4.75 25 4985 99.7 0.3
Pan 15 5000 100 0
Total 5000

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 Characterization of Materials

Table 3.4 Properties of Coarse Aggregate

Sr. No. Properties of Course aggregate Result

1. Maximum nominal size 20
2. Bulk Density ρb (kg/m3) 1500
3. Specific Gravity Assumed 2.84
4. Fineness Modulus F.M. 6.27
5. Absorption Value 1%

120 % Sieve Passing Vs Sieve size in mm

100

80
% Sieve Passing

60

40

20

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Sieve Size in mm

Fig 3.2 Chart of sieve analysis of coarse aggregates

Figure 3.1 and Figure 3.2 shows the graphs of sieve size in mm vs % of sieve passing for
coarse aggregate. The fineness modulus for coarse and fine aggregates is found to be 6.27
and 2.409 respectively. The aggregates are chemically inert materials which when bonded
with cement paste to form concrete constitute the bulk of total volume of concrete.
Depending upon their size the material are classified as coarse aggregates and fine

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 Characterization of Materials

aggregates. The material retained through 4.75 mm is termed as fine aggregates whereas
the material passing 4.75 mm sieve is termed as Coarse aggregates

3.2 Admixture Plasticizer

Vitalia Admixture is an integral water proofing compound which also Increases strengths
of concrete It has a unique formulation and hence dosage required is very low in the region
of 100 ml per 50 kg bag of cement It is not to be added Directly to the mix but added to the
mixing water.

Table 3.6 Properties of Vitalia Admixture

Properties Plasticizer Properties Plasticizer

Type Liquid Effect on Compressive Enhances compressive
Strength strengths
Colour Crimson Standard Compliance As per I.S. 9103 for water
reduction & I.S. 2645
Admixture Type Plasticizer Mixing Directions To be mixed with water

3.3 Polypropylene Micro Fibre

Polypropylene Micro Fibre was procured from Bajaj Reinforcement Nagpur and was used
in the present study. These fibres have been specifically engineered and manufactured in
ISO 9001 2000 certified facility for use as concrete reinforcement at the recommended
dosage rate of 1 kg per cubic meter for effective performance The table below shows
Chemical and physical properties of polypropylene fibres in experimental Investigation
.These fibres have a high salt and acid resistance and low melting point use of these fibres
have been helpful in producing not only high compressive strength concrete but also
concrete which is more durable and not susceptible to cracking under repeated and versatile
loading conditions . The cracks caused by paste contracting in the concrete are formed in
the first hours after pouring the concrete in the frames and before the concrete reaches its
initial strength. Such cracks create critical points in the concrete sensitivity for attaching
harmful materials and these are filled up with Polypropylene fiber imparting durability

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 Characterization of Materials

Chemical and physical properties of polypropylene Micro Fibres (Bajaj Reinforcement

Nagpur)

Table 3.7 properties of Polypropylene Micro Fibre

Characteristic Material Characteristic Material Properties

Properties
Fibre length 12 mm Type /Shape Monofilament Fibre
Absorption Nil Diameter 30 microns
Specific Gravity 0.90 Thermal conductivity Low
Tensile strength 4.5 Kgf Melt Point 162° C(324° F)
Aspect Ratio 400 Electrical Conductivity Low
L/D

3.4 Fly ash

FA contains trace amounts of toxic metals (U, Th, Cr, Pb, Hg, Cd etc.), which may have
negative effect on human health and on plants. Fly ash is a by-product of the combustion
of pulverized coal in electric power generating plants. It is the most widely used
supplementary cementitious material in concrete. It is used in more than 50% of ready mix
concrete. The properties of fly ash can greatly affect the properties for both fresh concrete
and hardened concrete.

Table 3.8 Property of Fly Ash

Sr. No. Property of Fly Ash Test Result

1. Specific surface area (cm2/g) 285
2. Compressive strength Mpa (3 days) 29.0
3. Compressive strength Mpa (7 days) 35.8
4. Compressive strength Mpa (28 days) 43.4
5. Initial Setting time 140 minutes
6. Final Setting Time 210 minutes
7. Soundness 6
8. Fineness 4%
9. Specific gravity (g/cm 3 ) 2.2

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 Characterization of Materials

3.5 Nano Particle Gel

This is sourced from the medical field basically Dentistry the product is used to stop
sensitivity of teeth it contains 5% Calcium phosphosilicate and 35% Titanium dioxide nano
particles Gel is used to carry nano particles as nano powder being very small it gets air
bourne and is found to enter lungs and gets deposited therein. What we have done here is
to source the nano particle material from these gels and premixed this with water before
adding this to concrete as a source of Nano particle

Table 3.9 properties of Nano Particle Gel

Material Properties Nano Particle gel

Type Gel Paste
Colour White
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate 5%
Potassium Acesulfame 2%
Calcium Phospho silicate Nano Particle 5%
Titanium Dioxide 35%
Silica 10%
Thermal Conductivity Low

3. 6 Mix Design of M 30 Grade Concrete

1) Design Stipulation

a) Characteristic strength = 30 N/mm²

b) Degree of Quality Control = Good

c) Degree of Exposure =Severe

d) Workability = 100 mm Slump value

2) Material Supplied

a) Cement : Ordinary Portland Cement, 53 Grade Jowahar Brand

b) Coarse Aggregates :20 mm

c) Fine Aggregates : Sand Conforming to grading zone II

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 Characterization of Materials

d) Nano Particle gel, Shy NM Gel

e) Admixture for concrete, Vitalia from Asian Paints

Design Mix Proportions (I.S.10262:2009)

Mix Design is the process of selection of suitable ingredients of concrete and determining
their proportions with the object of producing concrete of certain maximum strength and
durability as economically as possible. The concrete mix is designed as per I.S. 10262-
2009, I.S. 456-200. The table gives the materials required for M 30 Grade concrete Water
Cement Ratio is 0.45 and mix proportions are 1:1.95:2.61

Table 3.10 Concrete mix proportioning

Sr. No. Material Quantity in Kg/m³

1 Cement 395
2 Fine Aggregates 770
3 Coarse Aggregates 1033
4 Water 178
5 Admixture 7

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