Basics of Concrete Technology

COURSE OBJECTIVE
Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, water, and aggregate. Concrete technology is used in building construction, road, and bridges for making columns, beams, slabs, and other load-bearing structures.

The course discusses the fundamentals related to concrete and concrete material as below:

• Understand the theoretical concept of Concrete material e.g. (Cement, Admixtures, and Aggregates)

• Discuss different types of aggregates, admixtures & the mechanism of hydration of cement.

• The properties of Fresh and Hardened Concrete

• Discussing the factors affecting the engineering properties of concrete

• Understand the concept of mix design of concrete

• Know various types of special concretes & their application.

COURSE OUTCOME:

After completing this course the student must demonstrate the knowledge of:

• What is concrete, how it is formed, and what materials are involved?

• The properties of the constituent materials of concrete.

• The physical & mechanical properties of aggregates.

• The behavior of concrete at its fresh and hardened state, carry out tests relevant to the use of concrete on site.

• Factors affecting the strength of concrete.

• Define special concretes, and their application for practical purposes.

• Ability to perform various tests on concrete ingredients and also on concrete (Fresh and Hardened).

• Acquire and apply fundamental knowledge of the fresh and hardened properties of concrete

• To be able to comprehend detailed information about concrete and concrete aggregate is provided as a building material.

• Identify the functional role of ingredients of concrete and apply this knowledge to mix design philosophy

  
  

COURSE CONTENT

Introduction to Concrete Technology: Properties, grades, advantages & disadvantages of concrete, Ingredients of concrete, types of cement, aggregates, water, admixtures, Inspection & testing of materials

Cement: Portland cement – chemical composition – Hydration, Setting of cement – Structure of hydrated cement. Admixtures: Types of admixtures – mineral and chemical admixtures.

Aggregates: Classification of aggregate – Particle shape & texture –, strength & other mechanical properties of aggregate – Specific gravity, Bulk density, porosity, adsorption & moisture content of aggregate – Sieve analysis – Fineness modulus – Grading curves – Grading of fine & coarse Aggregates – Gap graded aggregate – Maximum aggregate size.

Fresh Concrete: Workability – Factors affecting workability – Measurement of workability by different tests – Setting times of concrete – Effect of time and temperature on workability – Segregation & bleeding – Mixing and vibration of concrete – Steps in the manufacture of concrete – Quality of mixing water, Curing of concrete.

Hardened Concrete: Water/Cement ratio – Strength of concrete in tension & compression – Factors affecting strength – Relation between compressive & tensile strength.

Testing of Hardened Concrete: Compression tests – Tension tests– Flexure tests – Splitting tests –Elasticity, Creep & Shrinkage – Modulus of elasticity – Dynamic modulus of elasticity.