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QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY ASK ABOUT CONCRETE IN AN

INTERVIEW
1) What is Concrete Mix Design?
 To select a fixed proportion of the ingredients (having limited properties of their
values after laboratory test) when mixed mechanically to achieve the desired
specification of the concrete for particular use.
 Mix design can be defined as the process of selecting suitable ingredients of
concrete and determining their relative proportions with the object of producing
concrete of certain minimum strength and durability as economically as possible.

2) What is Water cement ratio?


 It is the ratio of mixing water to quantity of cement.
(w/c= Qty Water/Qty of Cement)
 The water–cement ratio is the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of cement
used in a concrete mix. A lower ratio leads to higher strength and durability but
may make the mix difficult to work with and form. Workability can be resolved with
the use of plasticizers or super-plasticizers.
3) What happen when water to cement ratio increases?
 Concrete becomes more workable (Slump) but strength decreases.
 As the amount of batch water is increased to achieve greater workability, so is the
amount of cement in order to maintain the required water-to-cement ratio. ...
Hydration is the result of a chemical reaction that occurs between the cement and
water.

4) What happen when water to cement ratio decreases?


 Due to lower water concrete becomes more drier but compressive strength
increases.

5) How is the water-cement-ratio determined?


 By calculating the total weight of water to the total weight of cement.
6) A greater water to cement ratio means greater cement content or greater water
content?
 greater water content.
7) What are the factors that affect the workability of concrete?
 Cement and water content of concrete.
 Size, shape, grading and surface texture of aggregate.
 Mix proportion of concrete.
 Use of admixtures in concrete.
8) What are the important factors in the strength increase of a mix design?
 Water-cement ratio
 Cement content
 Relative proportion of line and coarse aggregates.
 Use of admixtures.
9) By adding chemicals (admixtures) is it possible to increase or decrease strength
of concrete of the 3- and 7-days test result?
 High early strength (3 days result) can be achieved by adding admixture (ex.
Calcium Chloride) to permit earlier removal of concrete.
10) What is the effect of air voids in concrete?
 They make the concrete more permeable and hence, concrete strength is reduced
highly.

11) Why is tensile strength of concrete check?


 Concrete is not expected to resist high direct tensile strength because of its low
tensile strength and brittle nature. Tensile strength of concrete is of importance
about crack formation.

12) Can strength of concrete mix designs exceed 4000 psi?


 Yes, there are high strength concrete use for foundations of heavy machinery and
equipment.
13) What is the reason of high temperature in concrete and how it is controlled?
 Chemical reaction resulting hydration causes the rise of temperature in concrete
and it is controlled by using chilled water or ice.

14) What is the size of concrete test cylinder?


 15cm diameter x 30cm height

15) If Slump is more or less than the specified allowable mix design, why is it
rejected?
 It is being rejected because it exceeds mix nominal proportions relative to water
cement ratio as per the approved mix design.
16) What is the allowable time gap of concrete pouring, after a discontinued pour?
 Allowable gap is equal to initial time setting of concrete, after the elapse of the time
limit a cold joint will occur.
17) What is the smallest and largest size of aggregates used for reinforced concrete
mix design of 4000 psi?
 Largest is ¾” inch (20mm)
 Smallest is 3/8” inch (10mm)

18) What is the effect of increase in size of coarse aggregates to a mix design?
 It is more than the designed size then it affects workability and it cause segregation.

19) What is the major difference of a 2000psi and a 4000psi concrete?


 4000 psi has less water-cement-ration than that of 2000 psi concrete.

20) Concrete ingredients are mixed by weight or by volume in a concrete plant?


 Volume batching as per 09-SAMS-097 is not allowed. Aramco allows the concrete
mixing by weight for ready mix concrete plant.

21) How is the initial setting time of cement determined?


 Initial setting time of cement determined through lab test using Vicat’s apparatus.

22) Why curing is required minimum 7 days for structural concrete?


 AS PER ACI 305 R, ACI 308 AND SAES Q001 SECTION 10.1 minimum of 7 days
is required with maximum TDS of 1000ppm.

23) Why free fall of concrete is not allowed from height more the 1 meter?
 Because it causes segregation.
24) Why vibrator must be used during concrete pouring?
 Vibrator must be used for 5 to 8 second at each area of concrete where steel is
congested It is used for consolidation of concrete to reduce voids in concrete.
25) What type of Sulfate and chloride found in aggregates?
 Calcium sulfate and Sodium chloride are the most common found in aggregates.

26) Where and when Type I and Type cements are used?
 Type I can be used where concrete members is exposed to negligible S04 Sulfate
is (less than 0.1% by weight of soil and less than 150ppm by ground water) and
Type V is used when Sulfate S04 is more than 0.1% by weight of soil and more
than or equal to 150ppm by ground water.
27) Does concrete without rebar attack by chemicals?
 Yes, presence of chemicals causes expansion of concrete mass and hence results
in cracking of the structure.
28) What are type of Cements?
 Rapid hardening cement, low heat cement, quick setting cement, Pozzolanic
cement, Sulfate resisting cement, Colored cement, Super Sulfated cement, air
entraining cement, High alumina cement, Expanding cement and white Portland
cement.

29) How will truck be checked when receiving concrete at site?


 Temperature test (should not be greater than 32degrees at site.
 Revolution counter.
 Ticket checked for concrete signature and slump test value at plant.
 Slump test to be done at site.
 Assure 3rd party is present while performing Slump and temperature test.
 4 cylinders (1 minimum set) for every 76 cubic yards of concrete.

30) What is the effect of foreign chemicals on concrete?


 Chemical may cause expansion and cracking of concrete.
31) How can concrete get attacked by chemicals?
 It could be due to contamination of surrounding backfill materials for underground
foundations.
 The water table may have chemical contamination.
 The windblown dust in hot climate may carry chemicals
 These items should be included in geotechnical report prior to work before the
determination of work design.
32) What is the function of super plasticizers?
 Acceleration in gaining strength at early ages.
 Improve workability and reduces water cement ratio.
 Reduce permeability of concrete.
 Improves cohesion and minimize bleeding and segregation.
 Some commercial brand of super plasticizers are 1) SMF Sulfonated Melamine
Formaldehyde Condensate, 2) SNF Sulfonated Naphthalene Formaldehyde
Condensate, 3) LS Ligno Sulfonate and 4) PCE Polycarboxylic Ether.

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