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KEYWORDS Abstract An experimental investigation has been performed to study the efficiency of using mod-
Fresh concrete; ified geotechnical Vane shear test to evaluate the fresh properties of concrete. Different concrete
Vane shear test; mixes with different coarse aggregates (both type and size) were conducted. Moreover different
Slump test; shapes and sizes of Vane probes were investigated. Also the influence of using enhancing workabil-
Compacting factor; ity admixtures was studied. The results of the shear Vane test were statistically analyzed and com-
VeBe test; pared with those for standard tests. The results reveal that the Vane shear test with modified blades
Conical blade; can be simply executed to measure workability of concrete anywhere with a good efficiency. Useful
Cylindrical blade
equations with good correlation coefficients are established between the well known standard tests
include compacting factor, slump, VeBe and flow tests and the Vane yield method. Size effect phe-
nomenon related to Vane size is recorded for the Vane yield stress results. The results of the Vane
yield stress could clearly distinguish between not only mixes made up of different aggregate types
but also the aggregate maximum nominal size. The results of the Vane shear test are clearly affected
by using enhancing workability admixtures and its dosage. A direct proportion between Vane yield
stress results and the companion compacting factors test values is strongly noticed which introduces
the Vane test method as a simple instrument that could be simply adapted anywhere to measure the
workability of fresh concrete instead of compacting factor that is a laboratory apparatus.
ª 2012 Housing and Building National Research Center. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.
All rights reserved.
Introduction
study.
concrete tests
Flow %
Slump
Experimental work
V.B.
Tests
1.
2.
3.
4.
with the Vane test include, slump test, VeBe test, flow test
and compacting factor test. The main parameters of this inves-
0.443, 0.477, 0.51, 0.543 and 0.577
tigation comprise;
0.4
110
100 Dolomite 20mm
Size (mm)
Dolomite10mm
90
Schedule of experimental work.
Gravel 20mm
80 Sand
20
20
20
10
70
% passing
Cement:dolomite:sand
Cement:dolomite:sand
Cement:dolomite:sand
60
Group No. Proportions (kg/m3)
Cement:gravel:sand
50
40
350:1100:700
350:1100:700
350:1100:700
350:1100:700
30
20
10
0
0.15 0.31 0.63 1.25 2.5 5 10 20 40
Table 1
Sieve mm
1
– Using of superplasticizer admixtures (HRWR) (0.5%, 1%, After mixing, the test method concept involves basically insert-
1.5% and 2% by cement weight) which were used to control ing the different Vane probe in the concrete rested in the mixer
both the workability and consistency degrees with fixed to be tested. Subsequently, the Vane is manually turned
water cement ratio. according to a slowly constant strain rate (constant angular
– Vane probe with different dimensions (D · H (diame- velocity). While torque moment is applied, a shear stress is
ter · height)) and shapes as depicted in Fig. 3 (conical with generated in the stressed area which is being conical or cylin-
three blades (co3b5 and co3b10) and four blades (co4b10) drical one according to the Vane shear blade shape. When
and cylindrical with three blades (cy3b10)). The blades of the torque moment produces a shear stress equal to the yield
the Vane probe were manufactured from 2 mm steel plates capacity of the tested concrete mix, the sheared surface starts
to enable the use of one torque––meter to capture shear to rotate. At that moment and according to the maximum tor-
stresses of the fresh concrete after mixing. Table 1 presents que measured, the Vane yield stress is calculated. In section:
not only the schedule of experimental work but also include Derivation of the Vane yield stress equation explains the meth-
the proportions of concrete mixes and tests. od and calculations procedure of the Vane yield stress. After
conducting the Vane shear test, the common tests include
slump test according to the procedure described in Egyptian
Materials Code ECP 203:2009, ASTM C143 and BS 1881 part 102 BS
5075 standards, VeBe test according to BS 1881 EN 12350-3,
All materials used in this work are available in Egypt local flow test according to BS EN 12350-5 and compacting factor
market. The cement used in all mixes is type I Portland test have been conducted according to ECP 203:2009 and BS
cement-grade 42.5 N confirmed requirements of the Egyptian 1881 part 103 BS 5073.
Standard Specifications ESS requirements (4756-1/2007). Nat- It is recommended that the Vane’s rotation speed should be
ural siliceous sand with finesses modulus of 2.37 was used. less than 10 rpm so as to avoid any influence on viscosity resis-
Two types of coarse aggregates were used namely, natural tance and the instrument’s inertia in maximum torque determi-
gravel and crushed dolomite. The grading curves are shown nation. A recommended velocity of 0.1 rpm (36/min) was
in Fig. 2. A Well graded rather rounded in shape with a max- proposed in many studies. In some developed preliminary
imum size of 20 mm gravel was obtained from Suez quarries. studies it was concluded that angular velocities between 30
Moreover, two sizes of dolomite from Attaka quarries with and 90/min, the measured maximum shear values did not un-
20 mm and 10 mm maximum nominal size were employed. dergo major alterations [8].
The dolomite particle has a granular porous texture, rough
surface and irregular. Fine and coarse aggregates confirmed Derivation of the Vane yield stress equation
the ESS requirements (1109–2002). Tap water was used for
all mixes. A high range water reducing admixtures (HRWR) In this study the Vane is turned slowly according to a constant
with trade name Sikament-163M. It complies with ASTM strain rate (constant angular velocity). The sheared concrete
C-494 Type A&F and B.S. 5075 Part 3 with specific gravity yields when the applied torque reaches the maximum value
1.2 and it was added within the range recommended by the and so causes shearing of the material in the area around the
manufacturer. Vane. The conical Vane probe is tried due to the simplicity
of its immersion into fresh concrete. The maximum torque ob-
Methodology tained in the experiment of cone Vane probe scone can be de-
fined as the algebraic sum of the moment exerted on the
Eighteen mixes divided into four groups as shown in Table 1 surface area s1 and on the Vane upper area s2 as depict below
were prepared and tested. The concrete mixes were mixed in and calculated according to Eq. (4) derived in this paper as
a portable concrete mixer with a maximum capacity of following:
100 L. The water (or water and admixtures when used) and
scone ¼ s1 þ s2
cementitious materials are mixed for a half minute to ensure Z R
the uniformity of the constituents. Sand is simultaneously s2 ¼ 2prdr r r
charged into the mixer and the mixing process was continued 0
for a half minute and then coarse aggregate was added. After Z R
2 1
that, the total content was mixed for a period of two minutes. s2 ¼ 2pr r2 dr ¼ prR3 ¼ prH3
0 3 12
Flow properties of fresh concrete by using modified geotechnical Vane shear test 163
Results and discussion Results and analysis of Vane yield stress and compacting factor
tests
The experimental investigation was conducted to study the
ability and the factors influencing the use of the well known Results of both of the Vane yield stress and the compacting
geotechnical Vane shear test to measure and asses the flow factor are given in Tables 2–5 for all mixes. Figs. 4–7 show
properties of fresh concrete mixes. Four main groups contain- the relationship between Vane yield stress and compacting fac-
ing 18 concrete mixes were investigated. The parameters stud- tor results. It can be noticed that linear regression equations
ied covered the influence of type and size of coarse aggregate, with high correlation coefficients could be established for all
164 M.A. Abd Elaty, M.F. Ghazy
1.6
Table 5 Test results for group 4, dolomite (10 mm) Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10
(w/c = 0.4). 1.4 Co3b5, Y = -9.8023X + 10.129
R2 = 0.9979
5.0 4.5
Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10
Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10 Co3b5, Y = -53.139X + 53.218 4.0
R2 = 0.9838 Co3b5, Y = -24.759X + 24.544
4.0 3.5
Vane yield stress, kPa
Fig. 4 Relationship between Vane yield stress and compacting Fig. 7 Relationship between Vane yield stress and compacting
factor for group 1 (gravel 20 mm). factor for group 4 (dolomite 10 mm, w/c = 0.4).
2
R = 0.9725
4.0 Co3b10, Y = -5.6183X + 5.8283 ues approach 13.4, 5.7, 2.35 and 7.46, respectively. The corre-
2
R = 0.9079 sponding values for Vane of 100 mm (co4b10) approach 21.1,
3.0 Co4b10, Y = -11.042X + 11.12
2 11.1, 3.6 and 9.46 for the same groups, respectively. Finally
R = 0.995
Cy3b10. Y = -9.5268X + 9.831 and for Vane of 100 mm (cy3b10), the constant values (A) ap-
2.0 2
R = 0.9892 proach 21, 9.7, 4.9 and 3.4, respectively. The higher the value
1.0 of the constant (A) means more degradation of the Vane yield
stress against the values of the compacting factor and vice ver-
0.0 sa is correct. It could also be noticed that when compacting
0.8 0.82 0.84 0.86 0.88 0.9 0.92 0.94 0.96 0.98 1 1.02 1.04 1.06 factor approach unity the Vane yield stress approach the value
Compacting factor
of the constant (A) while it approaches zero when the com-
pacting value reaches unity. The values of this constant are
Fig. 5 Relationship between Vane yield stress and compacting
greater for mixes containing gravel compared with those mixes
factor for group 2 (dolomite 20 mm).
containing dolomite of the same maximum nominal size. While
for mixes containing dolomite of 20 mm maximum nominal
investigated mixes (R2 = 0.85131). The proposed regression size, the values of the constant tend to be smaller with using
equations take the following form Eq. (6). enhancing workability admixtures compared to the corre-
Vane yield stress (kPa) = constant (compacting fac- sponding mixes without admixtures. Also, considering mixes
tor) + constant or, containing 10 mm dolomite maximum size, the constant values
tend to be greater compared with the corresponding mix with
Y ¼ AðX 1Þ ð6Þ
higher aggregate size. In general, the direct proportion between
where, Y = Vane yield stress (kPa), X = compacting factor Vane yield stress results and compacting factors introduces an
and A is a constant instrument could be simply adapted anywhere to measure the
Considering the values of the constant (A), it can be noticed workability of fresh concrete instead of compacting factor that
the following; is a laboratory apparatus. The coefficient (A) joins the rela-
Flow properties of fresh concrete by using modified geotechnical Vane shear test 165
3.5 4.5
4.0 Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10
3.0 Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10
3.5
5.0
6
Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10 Co3b5, y = 0.326e0.5707x
Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10 4.0 R2 = 0.9947
1.2 R2 = 0.8896
2
R = 0.9865 3.0
2
Co3b10, Y = -0.0024X + 0.0916X - 0.4209 Co4b10, Y = 0.073e0.6841X
1
2
R =1 2.0 R2 = 0.997
0.8 2 Cy3b10, Y = 0.2865e0.3054X
Co4b10, Y = 0.0018X - 0.0982X + 1.7545 1.0
2
R =1 R2 = 1
0.6
2 0.0
Cy3b10, Y = 0.0028X - 0.148X + 2.312
0.4 2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
R =1
V. B., sec
0.2
120 170 220 270 320 370 Fig. 13 Relationship between Vane yield stress and VeBe for
slump, mm group 2 (dolomite 20 mm).
3 5
Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10 Co3b5, Y = 0.3414e0.2844X Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10 Co3b5, Y = 61.79X-1.0356
R = 0.9587
2 Co3b10, Y = 0.3969e0.0574X Co3b10, Y = 5.2978X-0.5338
R2 = 0.851 3 R2 = 0.944
Co4b10, Y = 0.4238e0.0836X
Co4b10, Y = 9.1716X-0.6152
1 R2 = 0.9982 2 R2 = 0.9995
Cy3b10, Y = 0.3368e0.1348X
Cy3b10, Y = 25.933X-0.8894
R2 = 0.998
1 R2 = 0.9892
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0
V. B., sec 0 50 100 150 200
Flow, %
Fig. 14 Relationship between Vane yield stress and VeBe for
group 3 (dolomite 20 mm, w/c = 0.47). Fig. 16 Relationship between Vane yield stress and flow test for
group 1 (gravel 20 mm).
6
Co3b5, Y = 0.7348e0.2009X Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10
2
5 R = 0.9352 7
Vane yield stress, kPa
0.136X
Co3b10, Y = 0.5666e
Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10 Co3b5, y = 27.682x-0.856
4 R2 = 0.9942 6
R2 = 0.9601
1.4 (co3b10) are reduced with the fluidity of the concrete. This ra-
Co3b10, Y = 0.7789X-0.1325
1.2
tio approaches 1.333 at w/c = 0.675.
R2 = 0.9021
Co4b10, Y = 1.0984X-0.1864
For concrete mix containing 20 mm dolomite with enhanc-
1
R2 = 0.9854 ing workability admixture and at relatively low w/c, the Vane
0.8 yield stress using (co3b5) is greater compared to those mea-
Cy3b10, Y = 1.5624X-0.3003
0.6 R2 = 0.985 sured using (co3b10). The ratio between the recorded values
0.4 using (co3b5) to these recorded by (co3b10) are reduced with
0.2 the fluidity of the concrete. This ratio approaches 0.89 at 2%
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 admixture.
Flow, %
For concrete mix containing 10 mm dolomite with enhanc-
ing workability admixture and at relatively low w/c, the Vane
Fig. 18 Relationship between Vane yield stress and flow test for
yield stress using (co3b5) is greater compared to those mea-
group 3 (dolomite 20 mm, w/c = 0.47).
sured using (co3b10). The ratio between the recorded values
using (co3b5) to these recorded by (co3b10) are reduced with
the fluidity of the concrete. This ratio approaches 1.481 at
5
Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10
2.5% admixture.
4
Co3b5, Y = 7.7587X-0.457 Based on the investigation results, a size effect is recorded.
Vane yield stress, kPa
R2 = 0.9933 Generally for all the conducted concrete mixes, Vane yield
3 Co3b10, Y = 2.6266X-0.2908 stress measured using a relatively small Vane instrument is
R2 = 0.9322 higher compared to those got using Vane instrument with big-
2 Co4b10, Y = 3.1133X-0.2987 ger dimensions. So the bigger the size of the Vane blade the
R2 = 0.9341 lower the values of the Vane yield stress measured and vice ver-
1 Cy3b10, Y = 1.2815X-0.1682 sa is correct.
R2 = 1
0 Effect of coarse aggregate type on the Vane yield stress
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Flow, %
The influence of the coarse aggregate type on the values of the
Fig. 19 Relationship between Vane yield stress and flow test for Vane yield stress is plotted in Fig. 20. The results explain the
group 4 (dolomite 10 mm, w/c = 0.4).
influence of using either gravel or dolomite of the same maxi-
mum nominal size. As it is clear and for the four different Vane
instruments conducted in this study, the values obtained for
(co3b10). The ratio between the recorded values using (co3b5) gravel mixes are smaller compared to the values obtained for
to these recorded by (co3b10) are reduced with the fluidity of the corresponding dolomite mixes. The relative values (for
the concrete. This ratio approaches unity at w/c = 0.577. gravel mixes to dolomite ones) for the implemented Vane
For concrete mix containing 20 mm dolomite and at rela- instruments are 0.375, 0.447, 0.5 and 0.632 for Vane probe
tively low w/c, the Vane yield stress using (co3b5) is greater co3b5, co3b10, co4b10 and cy3b10, respectively. That is agree
0
Co3b5 Co3b10 Co4b10 Cy3b10 Conclusions
Vane type
Based on the results of this investigation the following conclu-
Fig. 20 Effect of coarse aggregate type on the results of Vane sions could be drawn;
yield stress.
– The geotechnical Vane shear device with modified Vane
well with the fundamental that the mixes containing dolomite blades can be successfully adapted at laboratory or field
as a coarse aggregate give a relatively stiffer concrete mixes to measure the flow properties of freshly mixed concrete
compared to those containing gravel as a coarse aggregate with different workability levels.
type. Generally, the Vane yield stress values are relatively high- – The direct proportionality between Vane yield stress results
er for mixes cast with dolomite compared to those for the cor- and compacting factors introduces the Vane test method as
responding mixes made up of gravel as a coarse aggregate type. a simple instrument that could be simply adapted anywhere
to measure the workability of fresh concrete instead of com-
pacting factor that is a laboratory apparatus.
Effect of coarse aggregate maximum nominal size on Vane yield
– Size effect phenomenon is recorded for the Vane yield stress
stress
results. Generally for the conducted concrete mixes, Vane
Effect of coarse aggregate maximum nominal size on the re- yield stress measured using a relatively small Vane instru-
sults of Vane yield stress is presented in Fig. 21. This figure ment is higher compared to those got using Vane instru-
covers the influence of both the maximum nominal size for ment with bigger dimensions. So the bigger the size of the
the dolomite used and the size of the implemented Vane instru- Vane blade the lower the values of the Vane yield stress
ment. Considering (co3b5) as instrument and with the same measured and vice versa is correct.
admixture content, the results of the Vane yield stress ap- – For the same admixture content, using smaller values of the
peared to be higher for mixes containing 10 mm maximum maximum nominal sizes make the mix a relatively stiffer
nominal size compared to those for 20 mm maximum nominal which can be observed from the higher values for the Vane
size. The values for 10 mm compared with 20 mm maximum yield stress compared to those values obtained for mixes
nominal sizes are 6.0, 3.0 and 4.0 for 1%, 1.5% and 2% admix- containing dolomite of higher maximum nominal size.
tures content, respectively. Considering (co3b10) as instru- – The results of the Vane yield stress are clearly distinguish
between mixes made up of gravel and those cast with dolo-
mite which agrees well with the results of the traditional
standard test methods.
4.5 – With good correlation coefficients useful relations are
Co3b5, 20mm dolomite established between Vane yield stress and properties of
4.0
Co3b5, 10mm dolomite fresh concrete. The proposed equations take the forms
3.5 Co3b10, 20 mm dolomite given in Eqs. (6), (7), (8) and (9) for compacting factor,
Vave yield stress, kPa.
3.0 Co3b10, 10 mm dolomite slump, VeBe and flow as standard tests, respectively.
2.5
2.0 References
1.5
[1] S.H. Kosmatka, W.C. Panarese, Design and Control of Concrete
1.0
Mixtures, PCA, 1994.
0.5 [2] G.H. Tattersall, The Workability of Concrete, A viewpoint
Publication, PCA, 1976.
0.0
[3] British Standard Institution BS 5168: Glossary of Standard
1 1.5 2
Rheological Terms, 1975.
% admixture
[4] C.F. Ferraris, Measurement of the rheological properties of high
performance concrete: state of the art report, Journal of Research
Fig. 21 Effect of coarse aggregate maximum nominal size on the of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 104 (5)
results of Vane yield stress. (1999) 461–478.
Flow properties of fresh concrete by using modified geotechnical Vane shear test 169
[5] E.P. Koehler, D.W. Fowler. Summary of Concrete Workability [8] E. Bauer, J.G.G. de Sousa, E.A. Guimaraes, F.G.S. Silva, Study
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Materials Research India 12 (1) (2009) 75–81. Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
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