Research Activities: 1999

The Influence of Surface Area to Volume Ratio on the Quality Control of High Performance Concrete

 

Status

Complete

View Report:

PDF 
 

Sequential Number

R13
 

Identification Number

R-5-38025
 

Matching Research Agency

American Concrete Institute (ACI)
 

Principal Investigator

John Myers, Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering
University of Missouri-Rolla
218 Engineering Research
Rolla, MO 65409
p(573) 341-6618
f(573) 341-6215
jmyers@mst.edu
 

Student Involvement

One (1) graduate student
 

Project Objective

To develop quality control methods for high performance concrete.
 

Project Abstract

Developments in structural design together with the increasing need for faster and accelerated construction schedules require that the transportation engineer determine the actual strength of the in-place concrete rather than relying on indications of potential strengths from traditional quality control test specimens. As structural demands increase (taller structures, longer spans, smaller members, and/or faster construction), the demands to better evaluate the material performance also increases. Further, as more efficient materials are optimized, the realization of full strength potential of the concrete becomes more dependent on curing, placement conditions such as temperature rise, moisture conditions, and member dimensions. The discrepancy between traditional quality control specimens and in-place concrete is in fact magnified for high performance concrete or concrete subjected to high temperatures during hydration of the cementitious materials. To date, no study has fully investigated the level of heat generated during hydration where match-curing technology becomes necessary to adequately estimate the mechanical properties of the concrete both at early and later-ages.
 

Task Description

The tasks for this project include (i) a state of the art literature search, (ii) a mixture proportioning development phase, (iii) a laboratory testing phase involving different mixture proportions and SA/V ratios, and (iv) a reporting phase including technical memos of the testing program and progress reports, a technical seminar for technology transfer to industry, and a final technical report.
 

Anticipated Benefits

Enhanced QC/QA measures for precast/prestressed HPC members and a better understanding of the influence of SA/V on the QC of HPC.
 

Modal Orientation

N/A
 

Milestones

Project Start Date:07/01/1999
Project End Date:06/30/2000
 

Relationship to other Research/Projects

N/A
 

Technology Transfer Activities

To assist in technology transfer, the project deliverables include, technical memos, a technical seminar, and a final technical report to two ACI Technical Committees.
 

Transportation Research Board Keywords

High performance concrete, high-strength concrete, match curing technology, quality control, and surface area to volume ratio