Material and Construction Optimization PooledFund Research on PCC Pavements

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Material and Construction Optimization
Pooled-Fund Research on PCC Pavements

• November 2, 2002

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The Problem Achieving Desired Performance All
The Time
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Concrete Mixes Today
28-Day Strength Spec
Yesterday
PRS
Today
Warranty
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The Solution

• Characterizing materials, compatibilities, and
  construction procedures is key to increasing
  durability
• Need understanding of materials used
• Need quick answers
• Need procedures to get into the zone of
  optimization

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Initiating Organization Midwest Concrete
Consortium (MC2) website www.ctre.iastate.edu/M
CC

• A coalition of DOTs and State Paving Associations
  from

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Fundamentals of Optimization
Subset of Materials
All Available Materials
1 Sand
Knowledge Base
2 Rock Sources
2 Cements
1 Class F Fly-Ash 1 GGBFS
2 Chem. Admix.
Materials/Mix Optimization
Guidelines
Cement
Sand
Class F Fly-Ash
Rock
Optimum Proportions
Chem. Admix.
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A program of coordinated projects to develop data
and other parameters essential to Material and
Construction Optimization

• Material Mix Optimization (ISU)
• Blended Cements (ISU)
• Other state projects
• Other national research
• Task 4 Material Compatibility

• Task 64 (Transtec) integrates results into
  user-friendly specifications software that
  industry can apply to a wide range of projects
• Pooled Fund Project to fill gaps

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Pooled Fund Project Overview
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Task 4

• Identifying Combinations of
• Materials That Lead to
• Premature Deterioration in
• Concrete Pavements

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Task 4

• Develop simple test for evaluating compatibility
• Determine
• Effects of production and placement methods
• Factors that influence segregation, bleeding and
  cohesiveness relative to finishability
• Influence of environmental conditions
• Deficiencies in existing test methods

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Blended Cements Research Objectives

• To Identify
• The major chemical and physical differences
  between blended cement (with different type and
  amount of supplementary cementitious materials)
  and OPC
• The effects of chemistry changes on blended
  cement hydration and its concrete performance
• The methods to monitor and improve the
  performance of concrete made with blended cement
• To Provide
• A footing for establishing improved specification
  for proper use of blended cement in extreme
  weather conditions

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Mix Optimization Research Objectives

• To Identify
• Optimal mixing procedures relative to various
  combinations of supplementary materials and
  admixtures
• Characteristics of a good mix when it is
  received by
• Haul vehicles (agitating and non-agitating)
• Slip form paver
• Effects of various material combinations, mixing
  times, and mixing methods on fresh concrete
  properties
• Workability, uniformity, air void system
• To Provide
• Engineers and Contractors with guidelines that
  simplify the process of mixing with supplementary
  cementitious materials and admixtures

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Computer Based Guidelines for Mix Optimization
(Task 64)