Aggregates & Admixtures Flashcards
What is concrete?
Concrete is a composite material that consists essentially of
aggregate particles embedded in a binding medium.
What is an aggregate?
A granular material used in construction. It can be natural, manufactured, or recycled.
What is fine aggregate and what size does it come in?
- It is usually sand
- 62 micrometers - 4mm
What is coarse aggregate usually and what sizes does it come in?
- Crushed gravel or rocks
- > 4mm
What do the materials of concrete influence?
- Workability
- Density
- Strength
- Dimension stability
- Durability
- Mix design
- Cost
What are primary/ natural aggregates?
Primary aggregates are naturally occurring deposits of minerals that come in the form of crushed rocks, sand, and gravel which can be found along river beds, on the ocean floor, and in most natural environments.
What type of crush rock can you get?
Igneous
Sedimentary
What is good about igneous rocks?
Tough, strong and excellent
What’s good about sedimentary rocks?
They are cost effective and can be extracted near the surface
What are the textures of crushed rock usually like?
Rough and angular
Where does gravel and sand originate from?
From weathering and erosion of hard rocks by river, glacier, and wind action
What is gravel texture like?
Gravel is smooth and rounded from attrition
What are manufactured/secondary aggregates?
- Industrial by products from quarrying or mining
What are recycled aggregates?
Construction or demolition waste
What are the stages in the production of crushed rock?
- Removal of overburden (material overlying useful aggregates)
- Drilling & blasting
- Processing: crushing, screening, washing, blending & stockpiling
- Quality control test
What are the stages of sand and gravel production?
- Removal of overburden
- Extraction (dry or wet working/dredging)
- Processing: screening, washing, blending, stockpiling
- Quality control testing
Where is there an increasing demand for sand?
In Bangladesh
Where did marine aggregates originate from?
Deposited by ‘ancient’ rivers, then submerged due to rising sea levels after the most recent Ice Age
What is the composition of marine aggregates like?
- Similar composition, strength, and other physical properties to land-based aggregates
- Chloride and shell content
What does shell content affect?
Workability
What is shell predominantly made from?
CaCO3
What is involved in the production of manufactured aggregates?
- Raw materials pelletised, then sintered at 1000 - 1200 degrees
- Generation of gases → Expansion (clay)
- Spherical particles with porous cellular interior, with low density
What influences workability, water demand and mix design?
- Shape, surface texture, size & grading
- Porosity, water absorption
What influences the overall mechanical properties of concrete?
- Strength
- Elastic modulus
- Dimension stability
What influences mix design and density?
Specific gravity
What influences workability, bond with cement paste and long term durability?
Presence of deleterious substances, cleanliness