Introduction to

Concrete Petrography
Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla
DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
UP National Institute of Geological Sciences
Current Administration to spend approximately $180 Billion for
infrastructure development
 Introduction: Philippine Construction
Proposed Clark Freeport Zone New Bohol (Panglao) Airport –Aug 2018

http://www.build.gov.ph/ http://tribune.net.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/new-bohol-intl-airport-fr-top.jpg

New construction projects = Demand for construction materials

Need for effective QA/QC of construction projects
Concrete Deterioration
Introduction: Philippine Geologic Setting

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire.svg/310px-Pacific_Ring_of_Fire.svg.png
Introduction: Philippine Geologic Setting
24 Active Volcanoes
(PHIVOLCS, 2016)

Hit by Earthquakes regularly Source: Skynews

Annual typhoons cause

extreme wind, torrential
rainfall, and coastal hazards
 West Valley Fault
146 km long and cuts across
the capital (Manila)

May potentially cause a 7.2

magnitude earthquake

Loss of life estimated to be

33,500

Ripe for movement

https://assets.rappler.com/612F469A6EA84F6BAE882D2B94A4B421/img/907F97B83B16428D96C06E6983165367/rappler-logo-
west-valley-fault-map-april-11-2017.jpg
 Philippine Geologic
Setting
Aggregates constitute a large portion
of concrete.
Concrete strength influenced by the
Physical and Chemical properties of
aggregates affected by:

 Geologic origin of aggregates

 Physical processing by
aggregate producer
Potentially Deleterious Components in
Aggregates

• Amorphous silica may lead to

Alkali-Silica Reaction
 Existing Test Methods in the PH

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FOKCmL5gxz0/U583KfdM3uI/AAAAAAAAFfE/tMac6j7IMuI/s1600/compression-
https://theconstructor.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/testing-cylindrical-concrete-specimen.jpg
test%255BEngineersdaily.com%255D.jpg

Indirect Tensile Strength test Compressive strength test

Existing test methods for hardened concrete in the PH:

Limited to physical strength tests

NO TEXTURAL INFORMATION

(alkali silica reaction, delayed ettringite
formation, saltwater attack, fire damage, etc.
can only be detected through textural analysis)
Microscopic Examination of Concrete
“Strength and durability are the two most important concerns of
concrete engineers.
Microscopic examination can provide sufficient evidence to
accurately identify the reasons behind low strength or poor
durability.”
(Jana and Sarkar, 2015)
Petrography
Petrography

• Using Petrography, geologists are able to not only identify

rocks and minerals, but also the processes during the
formation of the rock.
Concrete is a man-made rock
Concrete Petrography

https://geoprobe.com/sites/default/files/images/tooling/concrete-core.jpg
https://www.buehler.com/images/Product-Images/Imaging-Analysis/LV100POL.jpg
Concrete Petrography CONCRETE PETROGRAPHY LAB, UPNIGS

Widely used in Singapore,

U.S.A and Europe

Can complement existing

test methods in the
Philippines
TRAINING, EXOVA-ADMATERIALS SINGAPORE

LABORATORY CERTIFICATION, UP NIGS

Concrete Petrography
What it Can Do
Comparison of Test Methods (Poole & Sims, 2016)
Petrographic Physical
Phases/Components to be Identified/Verified
Methods Methods
Coarse Aggregate P P
Fine Aggregate P P
Concrete Aggregate Recycled/secondary Coarse Aggregate P P
Materials Artificial Coarse Aggregate P P
Expanded Coarse Aggregate P P
Fillers P P
Unground cement clinkers P
Portland cements P
Unhydrated Special cements P
cementitious materials
High-alumina cement/calcium aluminate cement P
Non-Portland-type cements P
Ground-granulated blastfurnace slag P
Unhydrated cement- Pulverized fly ash P
admixtures and Natural pozzolans P
replacements Silica fume P
Chemical admixtures P
 Silica Fume

Belite

Alite

AGGREGATES CEMENT CLINKER ADDITIVES

Phase Identification
Deterioration Phases/Properties to be Identified/Assessed Petrographic Physical
Methods Methods
Cement Type P
Aggregate Types P
Air Voids P
Textures/fabric P
Hardened Pulverised fly ash admixtures P
Concrete and Ground-granulated blastfurnace slag
Cement Paste
Properties
admixtures
Water/Cement ratio
P
P
Comparison of
Natural pozzolanas
Silica fume admixtures
P
P
Test Methods
Chemical admixtures
Mix proportions
P
P
(Poole & Sims,
Chemical attack
Delayed Ettringite Formation
P
P
2016)
Aggregate shrinkage P
Salt Attack P
Carbonation P
Possible causes Reinforcement Corrosion P
of deterioration Sulphate attack P
Alkali-silica reaction/ Alkali-carbonate
reaction P
Frost Damage P
Fire Damage P
Workmanship P
 CARBONATION
Plane Polarized Light Cross Polarized Light

carbonated paste carbonated paste

uncarbonated paste uncarbonated paste

Cement Paste Condition

 Water-Cement Ratio Determination
carbonated paste carbonated paste

Silica Fume

0.35 0.45 0.60

Images taken from Admaterials, 2017

 Deterioration of Concrete
Cracking Fire Damage Saltwater Attack

Micro-cracks
crack Oxidized Flint

PPL XPL
PPL PPL

ASR Gel

Cement Paste

Delayed Ettringite Formation Alkali Silica Reaction

Concrete Petrography
• A cost and time-effective method of analyzing concrete quality

• May complement existing test methods by providing textural

information

• Reasons for low strength or poor durability may be traced back

to microscopic features