High Strength Concrete

High
Strength
Concrete
High-strength concrete
Definitions
The definition of high-performance concrete is

more controversial.
Mehta and Aitcin used the term, high-

performance concrete (HPC) for concrete
mixtures possessing high workability, high
durability and high ultimate strength.
P.K. Mehta and P.J.M. Monteiro, Concrete: Microstructure, Properties, and Materials
Definitions
ACI defined high-performance concrete as a

concrete meeting special combinations of
performance and uniformity requirements that
cannot always be achieved routinely using
conventional constituents and normal mixing,
placing, and curing practice.
Typical Classification
Normal Strength 20-50 MPa
High Strength 50-100 MPa
Ultra High Strength 100-150 MPa
Especial > 150 MPa
Microstructure
From the general principles behind the design of

high-strength concrete mixtures, it is apparent
that high strengths are made possible by reducing
porosity, inhomogeneity, and microcracks in the
hydrated cement paste and the transition zone.
Microstructure
The utilization of fine pozzolanic materials in high-strength

concrete leads to a reduction of the size of the crystalline
compounds, particularly, calcium hydroxide.
Consequently, there is a reduction of the thickness of the

interfacial transition zone in high-strength concrete.
The densification of the interfacial transition zone allows

for efficient load transfer between the cement mortar and
the coarse aggregate, contributing to the strength of the
concrete.
For very high-strength concrete where the matrix is

extremely dense, a weak aggregate may become the
weak link in concrete strength.
Materials - Cement
Almost any ASTM portland cement type can be used to

obtain concrete with adequate rheology and with
compressive strength up to 60 MPa.
In order to obtain higher strength mixtures while

maintaining good workability, it is necessary to study
carefully the cement composition and finenesses and its
compatibility with the chemical admixtures.
Experience has shown that low-C3A cements generally

produce concrete with improved rheology.
Materials -- Aggregate
In high-strength concrete, the aggregate plays an

important role on the strength of concrete.
The low-water to cement ratio used in high-strength

concrete causes densification in both the matrix and
interfacial transition zone, and the aggregate may
become the weak link in the development of the
mechanical strength.
Extreme care is necessary, therefore, in the selection of

aggregate to be used in very high-strength concrete.
Materials -- Aggregate
The particle size distribution of fine aggregate that meets
the ASTM specifications is adequate for high-strength
concrete mixtures.
If possible, Aitcin recommends using fine aggregates with

higher fineness modulus (around 3.0). His reasoning is as
follows:
– a) high-strength concrete mixtures already have large
amounts of small particles of cement and pozzolan,
therefore fine particles of aggregate will not improve
the workability of the mix;
– b) the use of coarser fine aggregates requires less
water to obtain the same workability; and
– c) during the mixing process, the coarser fine
aggregates will generate higher shearing stresses that
can help prevent flocculation of the cement paste.
Guidelines for the selection of materials
The higher the targeted compressive strength, the

smaller the maximum size of coarse aggregate.
Up to 70 MPa compressive strength can be produced

with a good coarse aggregate of a maximum size ranging
from 20 to 28 mm.
To produce 100 MPa compressive strength aggregate

with a maximum size of 10 to 20 mm should be used.
To date, concretes with compressive strengths of over

125 MPa have been produced, with 10 to 14 mm
maximum size coarse aggregate.
Guidelines for the selection of materials
Using supplementary cementitious materials, such as

blast-furnace slag, fly ash and natural pozzolans, not only
reduces the production cost of concrete, but also
addresses the slump loss problem.
The optimum substitution level is often determined by the

loss in 12- or 24-hour strength that is considered
acceptable, given climatic conditions or the minimum
strength required.
While silica fume is usually not really necessary for

compressive strengths under 70 MPa, most concrete
mixtures contain it when higher strengths are specified.
Usage of Superplasticizers
Constant w/c: Increase in the Constant workability:
workability
Lower w/c
same workability
No MLS SMF SC
admixture
LOWER WATER CONTENT
Lower w/c
Courtesy from Prof. Gettu

Superplasticizer-Silica Fume Interaction
Without superplasticizer, the cement + water +

silica fume system tends to coagulate, making the
use of a superplasticizer essential.
REPULSIVE FORCES
Silica Silica
fume fume
COAGULATION DISPERSION

Selection of the Superplasticizer
Study of the compatibility
Optimum superplasticizer dosage
Cost-benefit considerations
In several cases, this order is inverted,

resulting in costly consequences

Marsh Cone Test: Evaluation of the compatibility and dosage
800-1000 ml Comparison with yield shear stresses

obtained with a viscometer
7.0 25
Cement I 52.5R
w/c=0.33
Superplasticizer SD1
15.5 cm
20
6.5
Bingham yield stress (Pa)

Marsh cone flow time (s) 15
29 cm
Flow time (s)
τ 0 (Pa)
6.0
10
6 cm 5.5
5
Diameter: 8 mm
5.0 0
200-500 ml 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3. 0 3.5
% sp/c
Practical Significance of the Saturation Point
210
w/c = 0.35
T = 22°C
60 min
Marsh cone flow time, s
170
130 Saturation Point
90 5 min
50
0.0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8
Superplasticizer dosage (% sp/c) Courtesy from Prof. Gettu
Cement/Superplasticizer Compatibility
200
w/c = 0.35
180 T = 23° C
60 min
Marsh cone flow time, s
160
140
120
60 min
100 Cement A
Cement B
80
5 min 5 min
60
0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8
Superplasticizer dosage (% sp/c)
Selection of Superplasticizer
COST-BENEFIT RATIO
% sp/c
CBR = × (cost/kg) × time (s)
s.r.
Time (s)
0.25 % sp/c
CBR = × ( 3 euros/kg) × 5 s = 12.5
0.3 s.r.
w/c = 1.5% sp/c

CBR = ×( 1 euro/kg) ×7 s = 26.3
0.33 0.4 s.r.

Factors that Affect the Saturation Point
• Type of cement
• Water/cement ratio
• Presence of mineral admixtures
• Mixing sequence (better to separate the
incorporation of water and superplasticizer
by at least 1 minute of mixing)
• Temperature

Effect of Temperature on the Loss of Fluidity
20 16
c = I 52.5 R c = I 52.5 R
35ºC
Marsh Cone flow time (s)

Marsh Cone flow time (s)
sp = SN sp = SC
w/c = 0.33 w/c = 0.33
sp/c = 1% sp/c = 0.3%
15 12
35ºC
45ºC 5ºC 25ºC
10 8 15ºC
15ºC
25ºC 45ºC
5ºC
5 4
0 5 15 30 45 60 75 90 0 5 15 30 45 60 75 90
Time (min) Time (min)
• Loss of fluidity in the paste is lower for polycarboxylate based
superplasticizers.
• There is no clear trend with respect to temperature.
Effect of Temperature on the Water Demand of Cement
0.30
c = I 52.5 R • The water demand of
sp = SN
0.28 cement increases
Water demand (w/c)
0.26
with an increase in
temperature.
0.24
45 ºC
0.22 35 ºC • This demand

25 ºC decreases due to
0.20
5 ºC
15 ºC
incorporation of
0.18 superplasticizer until
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
% sp/c the saturation point.
Differences Between NSC and HSC
In normal strength concrete, the microcracks form when

the compressive stress reaches ~ 40% of the strength.
The cracks interconnect when the stress reaches 80-90%
of the strength
For HSC, Iravani and MacGregor reported linearity of the

stress-strain diagram at 65 to 70, 75 to 80 and above
85% of the peak load for concrete with compressive
strengths of 65, 95, and 105 MPa.
Differences Between NSC and HSC (2)
The fracture surface in NSC is rough. The fracture

develops along the transition zone between the matrix
and aggregates. Fewer aggregate particles are broken.
The fracture surface in HSC is smooth. The cracks move

without discontinuities between the matrix and
aggregates.
Mechanical Behavior
Stress-strain curve is more linear
The strain corresponding to the maximum stress

increases with strength
The post-peak domain gets steeper
The ultimate deformation decreases with the

increasing strength
Strength
Based on 289 observations of moist-cured high-

strength concrete samples made with Type III
cement, Mokhtarzadeh and French obtained the
following relationship
 t 
fcm = fc28 
0.89 + 0.97t 
Long-term strength
Iravani and MacGregor suggested the following strength

values for sustained loading:
70 to 75% (of the short-time loading strength) for 65

MPa concrete
75 to 80% for 95 MPa concrete, without silica fume
85 to 90% for 105 MPa concrete, with silica fume
85 to 90% for 120 MPa concrete, with silica fume
Elastic Modulus
Great care should be taken if using well-established
equations developed for normal-strength concrete to
estimate the elastic modulus of high-strength concrete.
Extrapolation beyond the validity of the equations often
leads to overestimation of the elastic modulus.
Elastic Modulus
for normal weight concrete with 21 MPa < fc < 83 MPa
where Ec is the elastic modulus of concrete, fc the

compressive strength.
E c = 3320 fc + 6900 MPa
Data from Tomosawa and Noguchi
60000
40000
Elastic Modulus (MPa)
river gravel
Crushed Graywack
Crushed Quartz
20000 Crushed Limestone
Crushed Andesite
Blast furnace slag
Calcined bauxite
Crushed Cobble
Crushed Basalt
Lightweight CA
Lightweight FA + CA
Model
0 50 100 150 200
Compressive Strength (MPa)
Chemical and Autogeneous shrinkage
During hydration of the cement paste in a closed system,

the volume of the hydration products, , is less than the
sum of the volume of water and the volume of cement
that is hydrated. This leads to chemical shrinkage whose
magnitude can be expressed by
ε ch =
(Vc + Vw ) − Vh
Vci + Vwi
where and are the current and initial volume of cement, and and
are the current and initial volume of water, respectively.
Early Volume Change
Before setting, the chemical shrinkage is not constrained

and, therefore, it will induce shrinkage of the same
magnitude in the cement paste. As a rigid network of
hydration products starts to develop, the values of the
chemical shrinkage and that of the measured shrinkage
in the cement paste start to diverge, since the rigidity of
the paste restrains the deformation.
Definition of the autogenous shrinkage according to
the Japanese Concrete Institute
macroscopic volume reduction of cementitious materials

when cement hydrates after initial setting. Autogenous
shrinkage does not include volume change due to loss
or ingress of substances, temperature variation, and
application of an external force and restraint.

High Strength Concrete

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High Strength Concrete

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High

 The definition of high-performance concrete is

 Mehta and Aitcin used the term, high-

 ACI defined high-performance concrete as a

Normal Strength 20-50 MPa

High Strength 50-100 MPa

Ultra High Strength 100-150 MPa

Especial > 150 MPa

 From the general principles behind the design of

 The utilization of fine pozzolanic materials in high-strength

 Consequently, there is a reduction of the thickness of the

 The densification of the interfacial transition zone allows

 For very high-strength concrete where the matrix is

 Almost any ASTM portland cement type can be used to

 In order to obtain higher strength mixtures while

 Experience has shown that low-C3A cements generally

 In high-strength concrete, the aggregate plays an

 The low-water to cement ratio used in high-strength

 Extreme care is necessary, therefore, in the selection of

 If possible, Aitcin recommends using fine aggregates with

 The higher the targeted compressive strength, the

 Up to 70 MPa compressive strength can be produced

 To produce 100 MPa compressive strength aggregate

 To date, concretes with compressive strengths of over

 Using supplementary cementitious materials, such as

 The optimum substitution level is often determined by the

 While silica fume is usually not really necessary for

LOWER WATER CONTENT

Courtesy from Prof. Gettu

Without superplasticizer, the cement + water +

Courtesy from Prof. Gettu

Study of the compatibility

Optimum superplasticizer dosage

In several cases, this order is inverted,

Courtesy from Prof. Gettu

800-1000 ml Comparison with yield shear stresses

Bingham yield stress (Pa)

Flow time (s)

200-500 ml 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3. 0 3.5

130 Saturation Point

Superplasticizer dosage (% sp/c)

w/c = 1.5% sp/c

Courtesy from Prof. Gettu

Courtesy from Prof. Gettu

Marsh Cone flow time (s)

0.22 35 ºC • This demand

 In normal strength concrete, the microcracks form when

 For HSC, Iravani and MacGregor reported linearity of the

 The fracture surface in NSC is rough. The fracture

 The fracture surface in HSC is smooth. The cracks move

 Stress-strain curve is more linear

 The strain corresponding to the maximum stress

 The post-peak domain gets steeper

 The ultimate deformation decreases with the

 Based on 289 observations of moist-cured high-

 Iravani and MacGregor suggested the following strength

 70 to 75% (of the short-time loading strength) for 65

 75 to 80% for 95 MPa concrete, without silica fume

 85 to 90% for 105 MPa concrete, with silica fume

 85 to 90% for 120 MPa concrete, with silica fume

 for normal weight concrete with 21 MPa < fc < 83 MPa

 where Ec is the elastic modulus of concrete, fc the

The definition of high-performance concrete is

Mehta and Aitcin used the term, high-

ACI defined high-performance concrete as a

From the general principles behind the design of

The utilization of fine pozzolanic materials in high-strength

Consequently, there is a reduction of the thickness of the

The densification of the interfacial transition zone allows

For very high-strength concrete where the matrix is

Almost any ASTM portland cement type can be used to

In order to obtain higher strength mixtures while

Experience has shown that low-C3A cements generally

In high-strength concrete, the aggregate plays an

The low-water to cement ratio used in high-strength

Extreme care is necessary, therefore, in the selection of

If possible, Aitcin recommends using fine aggregates with

The higher the targeted compressive strength, the

Up to 70 MPa compressive strength can be produced

To produce 100 MPa compressive strength aggregate

To date, concretes with compressive strengths of over

Using supplementary cementitious materials, such as

The optimum substitution level is often determined by the

While silica fume is usually not really necessary for

In normal strength concrete, the microcracks form when

For HSC, Iravani and MacGregor reported linearity of the

The fracture surface in NSC is rough. The fracture

The fracture surface in HSC is smooth. The cracks move

Stress-strain curve is more linear

The strain corresponding to the maximum stress

The post-peak domain gets steeper

The ultimate deformation decreases with the

Based on 289 observations of moist-cured high-

Iravani and MacGregor suggested the following strength

70 to 75% (of the short-time loading strength) for 65

75 to 80% for 95 MPa concrete, without silica fume

85 to 90% for 105 MPa concrete, with silica fume

85 to 90% for 120 MPa concrete, with silica fume

for normal weight concrete with 21 MPa < fc < 83 MPa

where Ec is the elastic modulus of concrete, fc the

During hydration of the cement paste in a closed system,

Before setting, the chemical shrinkage is not constrained

macroscopic volume reduction of cementitious materials