Can We Truly Predict the Compressive Strength of Concrete without Knowing the Properties of Aggregates?
This paper is focused on the influence of the geological nature and quality of the aggregates on the compressive strength of concrete and explains why it is important not to ignore the characteristics of aggregates in the estimation of the strength of concrete, even for virgin aggregates. For this p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/7/1095 |
| _version_ | 1819237601706508288 |
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| author | Jorge de Brito Rawaz Kurda Pedro Raposeiro da Silva |
| author_facet | Jorge de Brito Rawaz Kurda Pedro Raposeiro da Silva |
| author_sort | Jorge de Brito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper is focused on the influence of the geological nature and quality of the aggregates on the compressive strength of concrete and explains why it is important not to ignore the characteristics of aggregates in the estimation of the strength of concrete, even for virgin aggregates. For this purpose, three original (Abrams, American Concrete Institute Manual of concrete practice and Slater) and two modified (Bolomey and Feret) models were used to calculate the strength of concrete by considering results of various publications. The results show that the models do not properly predict the strength of concrete when the characteristics of aggregates are neglected. The scatter between the calculated and experimental compressive strength of concrete, even when made with natural aggregates (NAs) only, was significant. For the same mix composition (with similar cement paste quality), there was a significant difference between the results when NAs of various geological nature (e.g., limestone, basalt, granite, sandstone) were used in concrete. The same was true when different qualities (namely in terms of density, water absorption and Los Angles abrasion) of aggregates were used. The scatters significantly decreased when the mixes were classified based on the geological nature of the aggregates. The same occurred when the mixes were classified based on their quality. For both modified models, the calculated strength of mixes made with basalt was higher than that of the mixes containing other types of the aggregates, followed by mixes containing limestone, quartz and granite. In terms of the quality of the aggregates, the calculated strength of concrete increased (was overestimated) as the quality of the aggregates decreased. The influence of the aggregates on the compressive strength of concrete became much more discernible when recycled aggregates were used mainly due to their more heterogeneous characteristics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:22:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a15a0d83282b4cf0ad19255d59d2c48b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:22:56Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a15a0d83282b4cf0ad19255d59d2c48b2022-12-21T17:45:24ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172018-07-0187109510.3390/app8071095app8071095Can We Truly Predict the Compressive Strength of Concrete without Knowing the Properties of Aggregates?Jorge de Brito0Rawaz Kurda1Pedro Raposeiro da Silva2Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalInstituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalInstituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, R. Conselheiro Emídio Navarro, 1950-062 Lisbon, PortugalThis paper is focused on the influence of the geological nature and quality of the aggregates on the compressive strength of concrete and explains why it is important not to ignore the characteristics of aggregates in the estimation of the strength of concrete, even for virgin aggregates. For this purpose, three original (Abrams, American Concrete Institute Manual of concrete practice and Slater) and two modified (Bolomey and Feret) models were used to calculate the strength of concrete by considering results of various publications. The results show that the models do not properly predict the strength of concrete when the characteristics of aggregates are neglected. The scatter between the calculated and experimental compressive strength of concrete, even when made with natural aggregates (NAs) only, was significant. For the same mix composition (with similar cement paste quality), there was a significant difference between the results when NAs of various geological nature (e.g., limestone, basalt, granite, sandstone) were used in concrete. The same was true when different qualities (namely in terms of density, water absorption and Los Angles abrasion) of aggregates were used. The scatters significantly decreased when the mixes were classified based on the geological nature of the aggregates. The same occurred when the mixes were classified based on their quality. For both modified models, the calculated strength of mixes made with basalt was higher than that of the mixes containing other types of the aggregates, followed by mixes containing limestone, quartz and granite. In terms of the quality of the aggregates, the calculated strength of concrete increased (was overestimated) as the quality of the aggregates decreased. The influence of the aggregates on the compressive strength of concrete became much more discernible when recycled aggregates were used mainly due to their more heterogeneous characteristics.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/7/1095compressive strengthmodelsgeological nature of aggregatesquality of aggregatesconcreterecycled aggregates |
| spellingShingle | Jorge de Brito Rawaz Kurda Pedro Raposeiro da Silva Can We Truly Predict the Compressive Strength of Concrete without Knowing the Properties of Aggregates? Applied Sciences compressive strength models geological nature of aggregates quality of aggregates concrete recycled aggregates |
| title | Can We Truly Predict the Compressive Strength of Concrete without Knowing the Properties of Aggregates? |
| title_full | Can We Truly Predict the Compressive Strength of Concrete without Knowing the Properties of Aggregates? |
| title_fullStr | Can We Truly Predict the Compressive Strength of Concrete without Knowing the Properties of Aggregates? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can We Truly Predict the Compressive Strength of Concrete without Knowing the Properties of Aggregates? |
| title_short | Can We Truly Predict the Compressive Strength of Concrete without Knowing the Properties of Aggregates? |
| title_sort | can we truly predict the compressive strength of concrete without knowing the properties of aggregates |
| topic | compressive strength models geological nature of aggregates quality of aggregates concrete recycled aggregates |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/7/1095 |
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