High strength concrete-Stage I:

Part 2-properties of concrete

with local aggregates

Assoc. Prof. Katz Amnon, Dr Dancygier Avraham,

Prof. Bentur Arnon, Dr Leviathan Itai

Abstract
1. Objectives: Investigation of the properties of high strength concrete prepared
with typical Israeli's aggregates. Investigation of the mechanical properties of
concretes made with these aggregates (compressive strength, tensile strength in
flexure and splitting, modulus of elasticity). Defining the relationships between
these properties with respect to the type of aggregates.
2. Findings: this part of the work tested high strength concrete prepared from
typical local aggregates: limestone from Ein-Harod and Modiyim, dolomite from
Hanaton and Wadi-Arah, and Basalt from Bteha. The concretes were prepared
with low water to cement ratio that varied between 0.50 and 0.30, using cement
CEM I 52.5N without additives such as fly ash or microsilica.
The following conclusions were found:
Compressive strength: the 28 days compressive strength has reach ~90 MPa and
strength increased to ~100 MPa at 90 days. No significant difference was found
between the various stones. Though, in the narrow range of the results (97-108
MPa), basalt aggregate was found in the upper range, and limestone, in the lower
range.
Rate of compressive strength development was higher as concrete strength
increased, unlike the common equations to predict strength development
according to various standards. These equations show reasonable correlation with
concrete in the known range (up to ~60 MPa), but they underestimate the strength
at early age. Alternatively, estimation of concrete strength at late age (28 days and
thereafter) according to the results at early age may overestimate the strength.
Flexural strength has slightly changed by the effect of stone type. The trend
found here were opposing to those found for compressive strength, i.e. the flexural
strength of concrete with basalt aggregate was slightly lower than that made with
limestone aggregate.
The development of flexural strength was very rapid. At age 2 days it was ~80%
of the 28 days strength, much more than the observed values for compressive
strength, or the values expected by the standards. Some reduction of the flexural
strength was observed with concretes prepared with low water/cement ratio after
age 7 days. It is possible that this observation results from self desiccation that
leads to shrinkage of concretes with low water/cement ratio. This phenomenon
should be re-evaluated for a longer period of time in the second part of the study,
including its effect on the design of concrete elements (mainly pre-stressed
concrete).
As a result from the rapid development of flexural strength compared with
compressive strength the conversion factors from compressive to flexural (or
tensile) strength are higher at early age (0.13-0.15) than at 28 days (0.11-0.13).
Modulus of Elasticity: concretes with limestone exhibited somewhat lower
modulus that the dolomite aggregates. Good correlation with the values shown in
 SI 466-1 in the range of strength equivalent to B- 60 (water/cement ratio of 0.50).
at the high strength range the modulus of the limestone aggregate was 41-43 GPa,
and higher values were obtained for dolomite: 50 GPa and 45 GPa for aggregates
from Wadi-Arah and Hanaton, respectively. Interesting to know the average value
observed for basalt aggregate (~44 GPa).
3. Recommendations: at the end of this stage of the study it seems to be too early to
address guidelines for the design of concrete elements made with high strength
concrete, without full completion of the whole study. The next stage should focus on
two types of stone and examine water/cement ratio in the range of 0.40-027, including
the use of microsilica. The phenomenon of reduction in flexural strength at late ages
should be studied in addition.