Unit 1: Ingredients of Concrete

1. Cement
 Physical Properties:
o Fineness
o Consistency test
o Initial and final setting time
o Soundness
o Compressive strength
o Specific gravity
 Chemical Properties:
o Hydration of cement
o Chemical compounds of cement
 Grades of Cement
 Types of Cement:
o Ordinary Portland Cement
o Portland Pozzolana Cement
o Rapid Hardening Portland Cement
o Quicksetting Cement
o Sulphur Resisting Cement
o Super Sulphated Cement
o Expansive Cement
o Rediset Cement
o High Strength Cement
 o High Alumina Cement
o Low Heat Cement
o White Cement
o Coloured Cement
o Oil Well Cement
o Hydrophobic Cement
2. Aggregates
 Physical Properties:
o Sieve analysis and fineness modulus
o Specific gravity and water absorption
o Silt content
o Bulking of sand
o Bulk density
o Moisture content
o Flakiness index
o Elongation index
 Mechanical Properties:
o Crushing value
o Impact value
o Abrasion value
o Alkali–Aggregate reaction
 Types of Aggregates:
o Grading of Aggregate
o Artificial Aggregate
 o Recycled Aggregate
3. Water
 Specifications of Water:
o As per IS 456 – 2000

Unit 2: Fresh Concrete

1. Handling Fresh Concrete
 Batching – Proper measurement of materials
 Mixing – Uniform blending of components
 Transportation – Methods of moving concrete to the site
 Placing of Concrete – Techniques for accurate positioning
 Pumping and Compaction – Ensuring density and durability
2. Workability of Concrete
 Methods of Measuring Workability:
o Slump test
o Compaction factor test
o Flow table test
o Vee Bee test
 Factors Affecting Workability:
o Water content
o Aggregate size and shape
o Cement type
o Use of admixtures
  Challenges in Fresh Concrete:
o Segregation – Separation of components
o Bleeding – Excess water rising to the surface
3. Curing of Concrete
 Purpose of Curing:
o Strength development
o Durability improvement
 Different Methods of Curing:
o Water curing
o Steam curing
o Membrane curing
o Chemical curing
 Temperature Effects on Fresh Concrete
Admixtures in Concrete
1. Types of Admixtures:
 Plasticizers & Super Plasticizers – Enhancing workability
 Air Entraining Agents – Improving freeze-thaw resistance
 Retarders – Delaying setting time
 Pozzolanic Admixtures – Boosting cement reaction
2. Specific Admixtures:
 Fly Ash – Effect on fresh concrete properties
 Silica Fume – Improves durability
 Metakaolin – Enhances compressive strength
  Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) – Improves
sustainability

Unit 3: Hardened Concrete

1. Strength of Concrete
 Water/Cement Ratio (w/c ratio) – Effect on strength and
durability
 Gel-Space Ratio – Influence on porosity and solid structure
 Effect of Maximum Aggregate Size – Impact on overall concrete
strength
 Factors Affecting Strength of Concrete – Mix proportions,
curing, temperature
2. Characteristic Strength
 Types of Strength:
o Compressive Strength – Resistance to axial loads
o Tensile Strength – Ability to resist stretching forces
o Flexural Strength – Resistance to bending forces
 Relation Between Compressive & Tensile Strength
3. Modulus of Elasticity
 Definition & Importance – Indicates stiffness of concrete
 Relation Between Modulus of Elasticity & Strength
4. Long-Term Behavior of Concrete
 Creep of Concrete – Time-dependent deformation under
sustained load
 Shrinkage of Concrete – Volume reduction due to moisture loss
5. Testing Hardened Concrete
 Compressive Strength Test – Cube and cylinder tests
 Flexural Strength Test – Measures bending resistance
 Split Tensile Test – Determines indirect tensile strength
 Comparison of Cube Test and Cylinder Test
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Methods
1. Schmidt’s Rebound Hammer
 Types:
o Mechanical
o Digital
2. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Method
 Measurement Techniques
 Factors Affecting Pulse Velocity
3. Other NDT Equipment
 Corrosion Meter – Detects reinforcement corrosion
 Cover Meter – Measures concrete cover over reinforcement
 Core Cutter – Extracts concrete samples for analysis

Unit 4: Concrete Mix Design

1. Nominal Mix Concrete
 Standard proportioning without complex calculations
2. Objectives of Mix Design
  Achieve desired strength and durability
 Ensure workability and ease of placement
 Optimize material usage for cost-effectiveness
3. Factors Governing Mix Design
 Material Properties: Cement type, aggregates, admixtures
 Environmental Conditions: Temperature, humidity, exposure
conditions
 Workability Requirements: Slump and flow behavior
 Strength Requirements: Compressive and tensile strength
targets
4. Methods of Expressing Proportions
 Weight Basis: Components weighed accurately
 Volume Basis: Ratios expressed in cubic measures
 Statistical Quality Control: Ensures consistency through
sampling and testing
5. Mix Design Methods
 ACI 211.1-91 Method: American Concrete Institute’s empirical
approach
 IS Code Method (IS 10262 & IS 456): Indian standard approach
for proportioning concrete
 Mix Design for Fly Ash Concrete (IS 10262 – 2019): Guidelines
for incorporating fly ash for sustainability
Unit 5: Special Concrete
1. Types of Special Concrete
 Lightweight Concrete – Reduces dead load, used in high-rise
buildings
 No-Fines Concrete – High permeability, ideal for drainage
applications
 High-Density Concrete – Used for radiation shielding in nuclear
plants
 Fiber Reinforced Concrete – Contains fibers to enhance
toughness and durability
 Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) – Flows easily without
vibration, improves workability
 High-Strength Concrete (HSC) – Exceeds traditional strength
limits, suitable for heavy structures
 High-Performance Concrete (HPC) – Optimized for durability,
strength, and sustainability
2. Manufacturing of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC)
 Batching Process – Precise proportioning of ingredients
 Mixing & Transportation – Using transit mixers for uniformity
 On-Site Delivery – Ensures quality and consistency
3. Special Concreting Techniques
 Cold Weather Concreting – Prevents freezing, uses heated
materials and curing blankets
 Hot Weather Concreting – Controls rapid evaporation, prevents
thermal cracking
  Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) – Designed for heavy traffic
loads, enhances road durability

Unit 6: Durability of Concrete

1. Strength & Durability Relationship
 Interconnection Between Strength & Durability – Higher
strength generally enhances durability
 Effect of Water/Cement (w/c) Ratio on Durability – Lower w/c
ratio improves resistance to environmental damage
2. Exposure Conditions (As per IS 456)
 Classification of Exposure Conditions:
o Mild
o Moderate
o Severe
o Very severe
o Extreme
 Minimum & Maximum Cement Content for Each Condition –
Specified limits ensure durability
3. Effect of Permeability on Durability
 Higher Permeability Issues:
o Reduces concrete longevity
o Allows penetration of harmful substances
 Ways to Control Permeability:
o Proper curing
o Use of pozzolanic materials
 o Reducing w/c ratio
4. Sulphate Attack on Concrete
 Causes & Effects:
o Sulphates react with cement paste, leading to
deterioration
o Expansion & cracking in hardened concrete
 Methods of Controlling Sulphate Attack:
o Use of sulphate-resistant cement
o Reduction of permeability
o Proper mix design
5. Durability of Concrete in Sea Water
 Challenges Faced in Marine Environments:
o Chloride penetration leading to reinforcement corrosion
o Sulphate reaction degrading concrete
 Preventive Measures:
o Use of high-quality concrete with low permeability
o Adequate cover for reinforcement
o Protective coatings and admixtures