5.2. Discuss five different desirable characteristics of aggregate used in Portland cement concrete.

 Particle shape: it is desirable to use rounded and smooth aggregate particles to improve the
workability and stability of fresh concrete during mixing.
 Absorption: Aggregate can capture water in surface void the water is not available to improve
the workability of fresh concrete, and to react with cement. Thus, aggregate absorption must
be evaluated to determine the appropriate amount of water to mix into the concrete.
 Soundness: is the ability of aggregate to withstand and weathering. Aggregate used in the
Portland cement concrete must be sound and durable.
 Unite weight: the bulk is needed for the proportioning of Portland cement concrete.
 Specific gravity: is the mass of the material divided by the mass of the equal volume of the
distilled water.

5.3. Discuss five different desirable characteristics of aggregate used in asphalt concrete.

 Particle shape: for preparing asphalt concrete, it is desirable to use angular and rough particles
to increase the stability of materials in the field and to reduce rutting.
 Surface texture: it helps in developing a bond between the aggregate and the asphalt concrete.
 Surface charge: processes either negative or positive charge. Liquid asphalt has a high effect ion
by the aggregate.
 Asphalt affinity: the attraction of the aggregate towards the asphalt concrete to bind well. The
affinity must be comparatively good in asphalt than in water.
 Mass stability: aggregates hold the water and asphalt in their voids resulting mass stability.

5.4. Using the Internet, find the aggregate specifications for your state and identify the limitations for
deleterious materials in aggregates used for asphalt concrete.

 Desirable Properties of Aggregates Selection of an aggregate material for use in an Asphalt

Concrete pavement depends on the availability, cost, and quality of the material, as well as the
type of construction for which it is intended. To determine if an aggregate material is suitable
for use in asphalt construction, evaluate it in terms of the following properties:
 1. Size and grading. The maximum size of an aggregate is the smallest sieve through which 100
percent of the material will pass. How the Asphalt Concrete is to be used determines not only
the maximum aggregate size, but also the desired gradation (distribution of sizes smaller than
the maximum).
 2. Cleanliness. Foreign or deleterious substances make some materials unsuitable for paving
mixtures.
 3. Toughness. Toughness or hardness is the ability of the aggregate to resist crushing or
disintegration during mixing, placing, and compacting, or under traffic loading.
 4. Soundness. Although similar to toughness, soundness is the aggregate’s ability to resist
deterioration

5.5. The shape and surface texture of aggregate particles are important for both portland cement
concrete and asphalt concrete.
a. For preparing PCC, would you prefer round and smooth aggregate or rough
and angular aggregate? Briefly explain why (no more than two lines).
b. For preparing HMA, would you prefer round and smooth aggregate or rough and angular aggregate?
Briefly explain why (no more than two lines).

 (a) rounded and smooth aggregates, which can improve the workability of fresh concrete during
mixing.
 (b) angular and rough aggregate, which can increase the stability of the materials in the field
and to reduce rutting.

5.6. Define the following terms:

a. Saturated surface-dry condition of aggregates

b. Absorption of aggregates

c. Free water on aggregates

d. Referring to Figure 5.9, which portion of the water in the aggregate reacts with the cement in the PCC
mix?

 a. In a saturated surface–dry (SSD) condition, the aggregate’s voids are filled with moisture but
the main surface area of the aggregate particles is dry.
 b. Absorption is defined as the moisture content in the SSD condition.
 c. Free moisture is the difference between the actual moisture content of the aggregate and the
moisture content in the SSD condition.
 d. Excess moisture reacts with the cement in the Portland cement concrete mix.

5.35. Define the fineness modulus of aggregate. What is it used for?

 The fineness modulus is a measure of the fine aggregates’ gradation, and is used primarily for
Portland cement concrete mix design. It can also be used as a daily quality control check in the
production of concrete.

5.43. What is alkali–silica reactivity? What kinds of problems are caused by ASR? Mention two ways to
minimize ASR.

 Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is the chemical reaction that occurs between alkali cations and
hydroxyl ions in the pore solution of hydrated cement paste and certain reactive silica phases
present in the aggregates used in concrete. In ASR, aggregates containing certain forms of silica
will react with alkali hydroxide in concrete to form a gel that swells as it adsorbs water from the
surrounding cement paste or the environment. These gels can induce enough expansive
pressure to damage concrete.

5.44 What are the typical deleterious substances in aggregates that affect portland cement concrete?
Discuss these effects.

 Organic impurities – Delay the settling and hardening, may reduce strength gain, may cause
deterioration.
 Minus 0.075 mm (No. 200) materials – Weaken bond, may increase water requirements.
 Coal, lignite or other low-density materials – Reduce durability, may cause popouts or stains.
 Clay lumps and friable particles – Popouts, reduce durability and wear resistance.
  Soft particles - Reduce durability and wear resistance, popouts.

5.45 Review ASTM D75 and summarize the following:

a. Sampling aggregates from conveyer belts.

b. Sampling aggregates from stockpiles.

c. Sampling aggregates from roadway bases and subbases.

d. If the nominal maximum aggregate size is 3/4 in., what is the minimum sample size that needs to be
obtained

6.26 State five types of admixtures and discuss their applications.

Types of admixtures:

1. Air entrainers: increase the concrete workability.

2. Water reducers: gain workability and, at the same time, maintain strength.

3. Retarders: can be used to delay the initial set of concrete.

4. Hydration controller admixture: used to stop and reactive the hydration process pf concrete.

5. Accelerators: used to develop early strength of concrete at a faster rate than that developed in
normal concrete.

6.27 If you were a materials engineer in Minnesota (cold climate) and could use only one type of
admixture, which would you select? Explain.

 If I were a material engineer in Minnesota, I will use air entrainer admixture. It produces tiny air
bubbles in the hardened concrete to provide space for water to expand upon freezing.

6.28 Under what condition is an air-entraining agent needed? Why? Discuss how the air-entraining
agent performs its function. What is the typical diameter of air-entrained voids?

 Air entrainers are usually liquid and should meet the specifications of ASTM C260. The agents
enhance air entrainment by lowering the surface tension of the mixing water. Anionic air
entrainers are hydrophobic (water hating). The negative charge of the agent is attracted to the
positive charge of the cement particle. The hydrophobic agent forms tough, elastic, air-filled
bubbles. Mixing disperses the air bubbles throughout the paste, and the sand particles form a
grid that holds the air bubbles in place. Other types of air entrainers have different mechanisms
but produce similar results. Entrained air voids are generally considered to be larger than
the capillaries (at least 5 µm in diameter) but smaller than the voids considered to be
entrapped voids

6.29 If a water reducer is added to the concrete mix without changing other ingredients, what will
happen to the properties of the concrete? If the intention of adding the water reducer is to increase the
compressive strength of hardened concrete, how can this be achieved?
  Adding a water reducer without altering the other quantities in the mix increases the slump,
which is a measure of concrete consistency and an indicator of workability. The strength of the
mix can be increased by using the water reducer by lowering the quantity of water and keeping
the cement content constant.

6.30 How can the water reducer be used to achieve each of the following functions?

a. improve strength

b. improve workability

c. improve economy

 Adding a water reducer without altering the other quantities in the mix increases the slump,
which is a measure of concrete consistency and an indicator of workability. The strength of the
mix can be increased by using the water reducer by lowering the quantity of water and keeping
the cement content constant. The cost of the mix, which is primarily determined by the amount
of cement, can be reduced. In this case, the water reducer allows a decrease in the amount of
water. The amount of cement is then reduced to keep the water– cement ratio equal to the
original mix. Thus, the quality of the mix, as measured by compressive strength, is kept constant,
although the amount of cement is decreased.