How size of aggregate affect on strength of concrete?
Test for Determination of Specific Gravity Indian Standard Specification IS: 2386 (Part III) of 1963 gives various procedures to find out the specific gravity of different sizes of aggregates. The following procedure is applicable to aggregate size larger than 10 mm. A sample of aggregate not less tRead more
Test for Determination of Specific Gravity
Indian Standard Specification IS: 2386 (Part III) of 1963 gives various procedures to find out the specific gravity of different sizes of aggregates. The following procedure is applicable to aggregate size larger than 10 mm. A sample of aggregate not less than 2 kg is taken. It is thoroughly washed to remove the finer particles and dust adhering to the aggregate. It is then placed in a wire basket and immersed in distilled water at a temperature between 22° to 32°C. Immediately after immersion, the entrapped air is removed from the sample by lifting the basket containing it 25 mm above the base of the tank and allowing it to drop 25 times at the rate of about one drop per sec. During the operation, care is taken that the basket and aggregate remain completely immersed in water. They are kept in water for a period of 24 ± 1/2 hours afterwards. The basket and aggregate are then jolted and weighed (weight A1) in water at a temperature 22° to 32° C. The basket and the aggregate are then removed from water and allowed to drain for a few minutes and then the aggregate is taken out from the basket and placed on dry cloth and the surface is gently dried with the cloth. The aggregate is transferred to the second dry cloth and further dried. The empty basket is again immersed in water, jolted 25 times and weighed in water (weight A2). The aggregate is exposed to atmosphere away from direct sunlight for not less than 10 minutes until it appears completely surface dry. Then the aggregate is weighed in air (weight B). Then the aggregate is kept in the oven at a temperature of 100 to 110°C and maintained at this temperature for 24 ± 1/2 hours. It is then cooled in the air-tight container, and weighed (weight C).
Specific Gravity = C / B − A; Apparent Sp. Gravity = C / C− A
Water absorption = 100 (B − C) / C
Where, A= the weight in gm of the saturated aggregate in water (A1 – A2),
B = the weight in gm of the saturated surface-dry aggregate in air, and
C = the weight in gm of oven-dried aggregate in air.
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The size of the aggregate plays a crucial role in the strength of the concrete. Normally, small-sized aggregates are preferred. Larger sized aggregate reduces the strength of the concrete. This is because of the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ). The interfacial transition zone is the zone that is fRead more
The size of the aggregate plays a crucial role in the strength of the concrete. Normally, small-sized aggregates are preferred. Larger sized aggregate reduces the strength of the concrete. This is because of the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ).
The interfacial transition zone is the zone that is formed on the surface of the aggregates. When concrete is mixed, the water present in the mix coats itself on the surface of the aggregates. This thin film results in a high water-cement ratio in the vicinity of the aggregates.
Owing to the high w/c ratio, during hydration reaction, a rather porous network is formed, resulting in a weaker section surrounding the aggregates. However, as the hydration reaction proceeds, the second generation hydration gels are produced, making the zone denser but still comparatively weaker than the rest of the concrete.
This happens in all sized aggregates. But as the size of the aggregate increases, the surface area of the aggregate also increases. As a result, the ITZ increases, making the concrete weak.
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