CE 3020 Construction Materials

Dr. Kurtis
100 Points Possible

Fall 2004 MIDTERM1

NAME:

NO cell phones, NO PDAs.

Calculators OK.

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my responsibility as a member of the Georgia Tech Community to uphold the Honor Code at all
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Question 1 22 points
A concrete batch plant stockpiles two aggregates. Periodically, the field moisture content must be
determined for each aggregate sample. In these tests, 1000g of each aggregate type brought to the
oven dry condition (OD) and weighed. Data for each test is given in the table below.
Table 1. Absorption capacity and moisture content data.
FA 1

CA 1

Field Weight (Ww)

Ww = 1000.0g

Ww =1000.0g

Oven Dry Weight (WOD)

WOD = 983.0

WOD = 998.0

Absorption Capacity (%)

AC = 0.5%

AC = 0.5%

Specific Gravity, SSD

2.46

2.57

1.1) Describe the field moisture state (i.e. wet, SSD, or air dry) of each aggregate, FA1 and CA1.
6 points

1.2) The batch plants typical mixture design for 4000 psi concrete consists of:
500 lbs/cu yd cement
300 lbs/cu yd water
1700 lbs/cu yd SSD coarse aggregate
1400 lbs/cu yd SSD fine aggregate
(a) What is the water-to-cement ratio of this mixture? 2 points
(b) Adjust the cement, water, coarse aggregate, and fine aggregate contents, as necessary, to
account for the field moisture conditions described in Table 1. 8 points

1.3) If 1 cu. ft. of concrete prepared according to the SSD mix proportions given in question 1.2,
and compacted in a standard way, was found to have a mass of 142.5 lbs, determine air content of
the concrete. 4 points

1.4) Based upon your answer to question 1.3, would you expect this concrete to be air entrained
or non-air entrained? 2 points

Question 2 21 points
2.1) Assuming that all other factors remain the same, which aggregate would you expect to have
the highest compressive strength in each of the situations 2.1-2.3 described below: 2 points each
a) An aggregate from a sedimentary or metamorphic or igneous rock.
b) A coarse aggregate with 0.1% or 1.0% porosity.
c) A normal weight aggregate or a lightweight aggregate.
2.2) How important is the compressive strength of the coarse aggregate in controlling the strength
of normal weight, normal strength concrete? Why? 6 points

2.3) How does the elastic modulus (E) of the coarse aggregate affect the elastic modulus of
normal weight, normal strength concrete? 4 points

2.4) What is the transition zone or the interfacial transition zone in concrete? What is the
significance of this feature? That is, how does it affect the mechanical behavior and durability of
concrete? 5 points

Question 3 17 points
Fill in the chart below regarding normal hydration of portland cement. 12 points
C3A

C3S

C2S

Reaction rate
(indicate fastest,
slowest, intermediate)
Heat of hydration
(indicate most
exothermic, least
exothermic,
intermediate)
Reaction products in
normal portland
cement hydration

Fill in the blanks below using 5 points

3.2) As cement hydration proceeds and less gypsum is available for reaction, some of the
___________________ formed during early hydration will convert to ________________,
making the concrete more vulnerable to sulfate attack.
3.4) The primary differences between ASTM Type I cement and ASTM Type III cement are that
the Type III cement generally contains more _________ and _________ and less _________ and
is ground more finely. As a result, Type III cement reacts more quickly, produces greater heat on
hydration, and produces concrete with higher early strength.

Question 4 12 points
Because of the ongoing cement shortage, a Type IP cement (a portland cement-pozzolan blend)
have been delivered to a construction site instead of the Type I cement specified by the project
materials engineer (You). The cement manufacturer has indicated that the Type IP cement has a
specific gravity of 3.03 and is a blend of portland cement and Class F fly ash. From your CEE
3020 course at Georgia Tech, you recall that the SGcement = 3.15 and the SGfly ash = 2.20.
4.1) Determine the relative amounts of pozzolanic material and cement by weight in the cement
blend. 6 points

4.2) Advise the project manager and owner about at least 2 effects of the partial substitution of fly
ash for cement on the properties of the fresh and/or hardened concrete. 6 points

Question 5 16 points
5.1) Assuming that all other factors remain the same, which concrete would you expect to have
the shorter setting time (i.e., sets more quickly) in each of the situations 5.1-5.3 described below:
2 points each
a) Concrete produced with Type I or Type III or Type V cement.
b) Concrete placed at 10C or 22C or 34 C
c) Ordinary concrete or concrete containing fly ash or concrete containing silica fume
5.2) How does slump vary with w/c? How does is change with time for a given mixture? 4 points

5.3) What kind of chemical admixture(s) would you recommend: 6 points

-

To improve the workability of a mixture while maintaining a constant w/c?

When concreting in cold weather?

To protect against damage from freeze/thaw cycles?

Question 6 12 points
As a materials engineer at the Buzz Batch Plant, your tasks include tailoring existing concrete
mixture designs to suit the needs of your clients. The basic Buzz mixture design, which
consistently produces workable concrete with normal strength (~5000 psi at 28 days), is described
in Table 1.
Table 1: Standard Buzz Mixture Design for 5000 psi concrete
Material
Water
Cement
Coarse Aggregate

Quantity
360 lbs./ cu. yd.
600 lbs./cu. yd.
1100 lbs./cu. yd.

Fine Aggregate
Chemical Admixtures

1500 lbs./cu. yd.

Air entrainer to produce 6%
air
none
6-7%
3.0+ 0.5

SCMs
Air content
Slump

Characteristics
tap water
Type I
mixture of crushed granite and
crushed sandstone, MSA=1.5
FM = 2.8
---

What changes do you recommend to the basic Buzz mixture for the following projects? Consider:
w/c, ASTM cement Type, aggregate characteristics, mineral admixtures, and chemical
admixtures. Supply at least 3 recommendations per project and describe your reasoning behind
your recommendations.

6.1) Construction of a new taxiway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport is planned;

the owner would like a service life of 50+ years with minimal maintenance (its difficult to close
a taxiway in the worlds busiest airport!). The taxiway will be treated with alkali-containing
(potassium) deicing chemicals during its service life to prevent ice formation at the surface. And,
you are aware of reports of map cracking and gel protrusion in some 20+ year-old Atlanta
concrete structures. 6 points

6.2) The city of Atlanta has asked Buzz to tailor their standard mixture for concrete construction
related to the citys sewer renewal project. The city desires a 100+ year service life in the new
concrete sewer system, with minimal maintenance. Tests of water carried in this system show a
range of sulfate concentration from 500 to 1000 ppm SO4, which is typical of moderate sulfate
exposure conditions. 6 points