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Concrete Technology: 4 Semester

Water is an essential ingredient in concrete as it participates in the chemical reaction with cement. The quality and quantity of water used affects the strength of the concrete. Water suitable for drinking is generally suitable for making concrete if its pH is between 6-8 and free from organic matter. Sea water can be used for plain cement concrete but should be avoided for reinforced concrete due to corrosion concerns, and reduces compressive strength by 10-15%. Impurities in water like chlorides, iron, organic matter can cause staining, efflorescence or persistent dampness.

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Asadullah Khan Ghalib
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31 views

Concrete Technology: 4 Semester

Water is an essential ingredient in concrete as it participates in the chemical reaction with cement. The quality and quantity of water used affects the strength of the concrete. Water suitable for drinking is generally suitable for making concrete if its pH is between 6-8 and free from organic matter. Sea water can be used for plain cement concrete but should be avoided for reinforced concrete due to corrosion concerns, and reduces compressive strength by 10-15%. Impurities in water like chlorides, iron, organic matter can cause staining, efflorescence or persistent dampness.

Uploaded by

Asadullah Khan Ghalib
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

(CE 207)
4th Semester

Lecture – 8

Prepared By: Engr. Muhammad Waleed Sarwar

Sarhad University of Science & Information Technology


WATER
1. Water:
 Water is an important ingredient of concrete as it actively participates in the chemical reaction with
cement.

 It helps to form the strength giving cement gel, the quantity and quality of water is required to be
looked into very carefully.

 Quality of water also affects the strength of mix (concrete, mortar).

1.1 Qualities of Water:


 A popular yard-stick (a standard used for comparison) to the suitability of water for mixing concrete is
that, if water is fit for drinking it is fit for making concrete.

 Some waters containing a small amount of sugar would be suitable for drinking but not for mixing
concrete and conversely water suitable for making concrete may not necessarily be fit for drinking.

 Some specification also accept water for making concrete if the pH value of water lies between 6
and 8 and the water is free from organic matter.
 The best course to find out whether a particular source of water is suitable for concrete making or
not, is to make concrete with this water and compare its 7 days and 28 days strength with companion
cubes made with distilled water.

 If the compressive strength is up to 90 percent, the source of water may be accepted.

 Carbonates and bi-carbonates of sodium and potassium effect the setting time of cement.

 While sodium carbonate may cause quick setting, the bi-carbonates may either accelerate or retard
the setting.

 If some of these salts exceeds 1,000 ppm, tests for setting time and 28 days strength should be carried
out.

 Salts of Manganese, Tin, Zinc, Copper and Lead cause a marked reduction in strength of concrete.

 Silts and suspended particles are undesirable as they interfere with setting, hardening and bond
characteristics. A turbidity limit of 2000 ppm has been suggested.
The following guidelines should also be taken
into consideration regarding the quality of water.
(a) To neutralize 100 ml sample of water using
phenolphthalein as an indicator, it should not
require more than 5 ml of 0.02 normal
NaOH.
(b) To neutralize 100 ml of sample of water,
using mixed indicator, it should not require
more than 25 ml of 0.02 normal H2SO4.
 Algae in mixing water may cause a marked reduction in strength of concrete either by combining
with cement to reduce the bond or by causing large amount of air entrainment in concrete.
 Algae which are present on the surface of the aggregate have the same effect as in that of mixing
water.
1.2 Use of Sea Water for Mixing Concrete:
 Sea water has a salinity (Salinity is the saltiness or amount of salt dissolved in a body of water ) of
about 3.5 per cent.
 Sea water also contain small quantities of sodium and potassium salts. This can react with
reactive aggregates in the same manner as alkalies in cement. Therefore sea water should not be
used even for PCC if aggregates are known to be potentially alkali reactive.
 Use of sea water for mixing concrete does not appreciably reduce the strength of concrete although it
may lead to corrosion of reinforcement in certain cases.
 Sea water slightly accelerates the early strength of concrete. But it reduces the 28 days strength of
concrete by about 10 to 15 per cent.
 Water containing large quantities of chlorides in sea water may cause efflorescence and persistent
dampness.
 When the appearance of concrete is important sea water may
be avoided.
 The use of sea water is also not advisable for plastering purpose
which is subsequently going to be painted.
Efflorescence and Persistent Dampness
 Sea water be avoided for making reinforced concrete.
 For economical or other passing reasons, if sea water cannot be avoided for making reinforced
concrete, particular precautions should be taken to make the concrete dense by using low
water/cement ratio coupled with vibration and to give an adequate cover of at least 7.5 cm in order to
overcome corrosion of reinforcement.
 Specification permits the use of Sea Water for mixing and curing of plain cement concrete (PCC)
under unavoidable situation.
 Water that contains impurities which caused staining, is objectionable for curing concrete members
whose look is important.
 The most common cause of staining is usually high concentration of iron or organic matter in the
water. Water that contains more than 0.08 ppm. of iron may be avoided for curing if the appearance
of concrete is important.

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