FHWA NJ 2001-03

Rapid Hardening Concrete

FINAL REPORT
December 2000

Submitted by
Dr. P.N. Balaguru
Professor
&
Dharm Bhatt
Graduate Research Assistant

Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Technology

Civil & Environmental Engineering
Rutgers, The State University
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8014

NJDOT Research Project Manager

Mr. Tony Chmiel

In cooperation with

New Jersey
Department of Transportation
Division of Research and Technology
and
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
 Disclaimer Statement
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author(s) who is (are) responsible for the facts and the
accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do
not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the
New Jersey Department of Transportation or the Federal
Highway Administration. This report does not constitute
a standard, specification, or regulation."

The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors,

who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the
information presented herein. This document is disseminated
under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation,
University Transportation Centers Program, in the interest of
information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no
liability for the contents or use thereof.
 TECHNICAL REPORT STANDARD TITLE PAGE
1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No.

FHWA 2001 - 03
4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date
Rapid Hardening Concrete December 2000
6. P e r f o r m i n g O r g a n i z a t i o n C o d e
CAIT/Rutgers
7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No.
Dr. P.N. Balaguru
and Dharm Bhatt FHWA 2001 - 03
9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No.

New Jersey Department of Transportation

CN 600 11. Contract or Grant No.
Trenton, NJ 08625
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Final Report
Federal Highway Administration 04/12/1999 - 12/31/2000
U.S. Department of Transportation 14. Sponsoring Agency Code
Washington, D.C.
15. Supplementary Notes

16. A b s t r a c t
Results of an experimental investigation on the properties of rapid hardening concrete are reported. Six potential cements that can
develop 2000 l bf/in² in 3 hours and workable duration of about 20 minutes were selected based on an extensive literature search.
Preliminary strength and workability tests were conducted for these six selected cements. Based on the results of the preliminary
investigation, three cements were selected for further investigation. The variables evaluated were: (i) cement type, (ii) cement content,
(iii) water – cement ratio, (iv) use of latex, (v) influence of retarding admixture, and (vi) ambient temperature. The response variables
were: (i) strength gain with time, (ii) slump loss with time, (iii) workability under vibration, (iv) plastic and drying shrinkage, and (v)
relationship between compressive strength and modulus of rupture. The following are the major findings.
• It is possible to formulate a workable concrete that can provide 2000 lbf/in² compressive strength in 3 hours.
• A modulus of rupture of 350 lbf/in² can be easily achieved at 3 hours.
• The strength gain under flexure mode is more rapid that the strength gain under compression loading.
• Retarding admixtures can be added to increase the workable duration to 25 minutes. The concrete flows well under vibration.
• The concrete retains its flowable characteristics better if the mix was kept under constant movement.
• Trial mixes should be made if the coarse aggregate is different from the 0.375 in maximum size trap rock used for the
investigation.
• If the ambient temperature is between 65 and 80° F, mix proportions presented in the conclusion section will provide a workable
mix for 25 minutes.
• If the ambient temperature is between 80 and 90° F, the retarder dose can be increased by 20 percent. If there is no need for
extended workable time, the admixture dosage can be maintained at the same level.
• If the ambient temperature is between 50 and 65 ° F, the admixture dosage should be reduced by 50 percent.
• If the ambient temperature is less than 50° F placement is not recommended, unless heated water is used for the mix and heating
blankets are used for curing for at least 3 hours. The concrete should be maintained at about 72° F for a minimum of three hours.
• Rapid Set Concrete is more susceptible to plastic shrinkage cracking as compared to ASTM Type I cement concrete. Therefore,
the exposed surface should be protected with curing membrane or wet blanket to avoid any water loss. The surface protection
can be applied as soon as the surface becomes hard.
• Rapid Set Concrete shrinks less and therefore cracks less under restrained conditions. It might be possible to formulate a mix
that will not crack due to drying or autogenous shrinkage.

17. K e y W o r d s 18. D i s t r i b u t i o n S t a t e m e n t

Rapid Hardening Concrete, Rapid Set

Concrete, Fiber Reinforced Concrete.

19. S e c u r i t y C l a s s i f ( o f t h i s r e p o r t ) 20. S e c u r i t y C l a s s i f . ( o f t h i s p a g e ) 2 1 . N o o f P a g e s 22. P r i c e

Unclassified Unclassified 27
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-69)
Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their appreciation to the New Jersey Department of
Transportation for the allotment of funds making this research possible. Special thanks
are extended to Mr. Tony Chmiel and Mr. Nicholas Vitillo of NJDOT for their support and
extending the opportunity to participate in such a significant and extensive research
program.

Greatly appreciated was the co-operation and assistance of the Graduate Students
Anand Bhatt, Amrish Thakkar, Aseem Jaluria, Dipesh Jadav and Ronald Garon. Thanks
to Edward Wass, Nicholos Wong, Yubun Auyeung, and Steve Kurtz for their assistance
in the laboratory.

CTS company, Ultimax company, and Dow Chemical Inc., provided materials and
supporting services, without which the research would have been impossible.

i
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
ABSTRACT............................................................................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 2
OBJECTIVES........................................................................................................ 2
RESEARCH PLAN.................................................................................................. 2
IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE CEMENTS.......................................................... 3
PRELIMINARY EVALUATION................................................................................. 4
LARGE SLABS AND FIELD TRIAL.......................................................................... 9
CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................9
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH.............................................11
FIELD IMPLEMENTATION.......................................................................................12
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................14
APPENDIX................................................................................................................15

ii
LIST OF TABLES

Table IA. Summary of Mix Proportions, Cement Type A.

Table 2A. Compressive Strength, lbf/in², Cement Type A.
Table IB. Summary of Mix Proportions, Cement Type B.
Table 2B. Compressive Strength, lbf/in², Cement Type B.
Table IC. Summary of Mix Proportions, Cement Type C.
Table 2C. Compressive Strength, lbf/in², Cement Type C.
Table 3A. Flexural Strength, lbf/in², Cement Type A.
Table 3B. Flexural Strength, lbf/in², Cement Type B.

iii
ABSTRACT

Results of an experimental investigation on the properties of rapid hardening concrete

are reported. Six potential cements that can develop 2000 lbf/in² in 3 hours and
workable duration of about 20 minutes were selected based on an extensive literature
search. Preliminary strength and workability tests were conducted for these six
selected cements. Based on the results of the preliminary investigation, three cements
were selected for further investigation. The variables evaluated were: (i) cement type,
(ii) cement content, (iii) water – cement ratio, (iv) use of latex, (v) influence of retarding
admixture, and (vi) ambient temperature. The response variables were: (i) strength gain
with time, (ii) slump loss with time, (iii) workability under vibration, (iv) plastic and drying
shrinkage, and (v) relationship between compressive strength and modulus of rupture.
The following are the major findings.
• It is possible to formulate a workable concrete that can provide 2000 lbf/in²
compressive strength in 3 hours.
• A modulus of rupture of 350 lbf/in² can be easily achieved at 3 hours.
• The strength gain under flexure mode is more rapid that the strength gain under
compression loading.
• Retarding admixtures can be added to increase the workable duration to 25 minutes.
• The concrete flows well under vibration.
• The concrete retains its flowable characteristics better if the mix was kept under
constant movement.
• Trial mixes should be made if the coarse aggregate is different from the 0.375 in
maximum size trap rock used for the investigation.
• If the ambient temperature is between 65 and 80°F, mix proportions presented in the
conclusion section will provide a workable mix for 25 minutes.
• If the ambient temperature is between 80 and 90°F, the retarder dose can be
increased by 20 percent. If there is no need for extended workable time, the
admixture dosage can be maintained at the same level.
• If the ambient temperature is between 50 and 65°F, the admixture dosage should be
reduced by 50 percent.
• If the ambient temperature is less than 50°F placement is not recommended, unless
heated water is used for the mix and heating blankets are used for curing for at least
3 hours. The concrete should be maintained at about 72°F for a minimum of three
hours.
• Rapid Set Concrete is more susceptible to plastic shrinkage cracking as compared
to ASTM Type I cement concrete. Therefore, the exposed surface should be
protected with curing membrane or wet blanket to avoid any water loss. The surface
protection can be applied as soon as the surface becomes hard.
• Rapid Set Concrete shrinks less and therefore cracks less under restrained
conditions. It might be possible to formulate a mix that will not crack due to drying or
autogenous shrinkage.

1
INTRODUCTION

There is a critical need for concrete that can attain reasonable compressive and flexural
strengths in about 3 hours. In order to avoid interference with heavy traffic in
metropolitan areas, repairs are carried out during the nighttime. Usually the lane
closures occur between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Typical work schedule for the 8 hour window
is as follows.
• Close bridge at 9 p.m.
• Mill and shot blast the bridge deck by 11 p.m.
• Place the overlay by 2 a.m.
• Open lane to traffic by 5 a.m.

This scenario provides about 3 hours for placing and finishing concrete and strength
development. The research reported in this report deals with rapid set concrete mixes
that can attain a reasonable strength in 3 hours. Based on the typical loads on bridge
decks and previous experience, a target compressive strength of 2000 lbf/in² and a
target modulus of rupture of 350 lbf/in² were chosen.

Even though a large number of accelerating admixtures are available in the market,
very few, if any provides a compressive strength of 2000 lbf/in² in 3 hours. Therefore,
special proprietary cements were chosen to achieve the objective. The results
presented include extensive experimental data obtained during the current investigation
and results available in the published literature(1,2).

OBJECTIVES

As mentioned in the introduction, the primary objective was to obtain a concrete mix
proportion that can provide a compressive strength of 2000 lbf/in² and a modulus of
rupture of 350 lbf/in² in 3 hours after placement. Additional major requirements were:
(i) reasonable working time, (ii) strength gain at different temperatures, (iii) plastic and
drying shrinkage cracking under restrained conditions, and (iv) heat of hydration.

RESEARCH PLAN

The research plan consisted of: (i) identifying commercially available cements,
(ii) preliminary testing for strength gain and workability duration, (iii) systematic
evaluation of compressive and flexural strength gain, (iv) evaluation of plastic and
drying shrinkage under restraints, (v) influence of vibration and continuous mixing on
workability, and (vi) castability of large slabs. This report presents the results of the first
five steps.

The details of the experimental procedure, results, and discussion are presented in the
following sections.

2
IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE CEMENTS

Based on the literature search, commercial contacts, and contacts with other public
agencies including Virginia DOT, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Pen
DOT, NY DOT, and New York Thruway Authority, and cement manufacturing
companies, the following cements were chosen for preliminary investigation.

Cement A

Cement A, commercially known as Ultamax Cement, is a blend of Portland cement and

a proprietary compound that provides a rapid set. Ultamax Company distributes this
cement, some times called as sulphate cement. It is being commercially used for a
number of applications, including extensive repairs in Los Angeles Airport.

Cement B

Cement B is similar to cement A, but manufactured by a different company. This

cement called as CTS cement has also been used for various types of applications
including pavements.

Cement C

Cement C has a silicate based additives that provide early strength gain. This cement
manufactured by Five Stars had been used in Tappen Zee bridge on Interstate 287.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has also used this cement in bridges and
pavements.

For cement types A, B, and C, the major constituent is Portland cement. Therefore, the
hardened concrete has mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity similar to
Portland cement concrete. Cement types A and B also provide less drying shrinkage as
compared to normal Portland cement concrete(1).

Cement D

Cement D was magnesium phosphate cement, which is distributed as a mortar mix.

This cement gains strength rapidly and has been used extensively for repairs. The
major concerns are working time which can not be extended with admixtures and
sensitivity to water cement ratio. Small increases in water can result in considerable
reduction in strength.

The mortar mix can be extended using 0.375 in pea – gravel as a coarse aggregate.

3
Cements E and F

These two cements were proprietary mixes, specifically developed for rapid repair of
pavements and bridge decks. Cement E is a proprietary mix, which is blend of Rapid
Set Cement, sand and coarse aggregate (nominal size 0.375 in). The manufacturers
recommend the amount of water to be needed.

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION

All the six cements were evaluated for strength gain with primary focus on the first four
hours and workable duration. The findings were as follows:
The target slump of 4 in and a minimum workable time of 10 minutes could be achieved
for the Portland based cements A, B and C. The working time could be extended using
retarders.
Based on these findings, cement types A, B and C were chosen for detailed
investigation.

Evaluation of Cement Types A, B, and C

Cement types A, B (Sulphate Cements) and C (Silicate Accelerator) were evaluated
using a comprehensive test program to determine the influence of cement content,
water cement ratio, amount of retarding admixture, and curing temperature. The
response variables were compressive strength, modulus of rupture, and workability.

A total of 37 mix proportions were evaluated for strength gain. The major variables and
the ranges are as follows:
• Cement content : 517 to 705 lb/yd³
• Water-cement ratio : 0.34 to 0.52
• Retarder (citric acid) : 0.25 to 1.00 percent by weight of cement
• Admixtures : latex or high range water reducing
Admixture

Concrete sand and crush rock with a maximum size of 0.375 in were used for fine and
coarse aggregates respectively. The concrete was mixed using a 9 ft³ mixer. Cylinders
(4 in x 8 in) and prisms (4 x 4 x 4 in) were cast using table vibrator. The top surfaces were
covered with impermeable membranes to reduce moisture loss. ASTM procedures were
followed for mixing and casting.

Compressive strengths and modulus of rupture were measured at 2, 3, 4, and 24 hours, 7

and 28 days. Modulus of rupture was measured at 3 and 6 hours and at 7 days.

Workability was measured using slump test and a modified flow test. In the flow test, the
mix was placed on a flat surface and vibrated to evaluate the performance under
mechanical vibration. The major findings are presented in the following sections.

4
Strength Development

Almost all mixes developed the required 2000 lbf/in² in 3 hours.

The modulus of rupture was much higher for comparable compressive strengths of
normal Portland cement concrete. For example, for the mix with a compressive strength
of 3500 lbf/in² was in the range of 650 lbf/in². Tests conducted at Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey confirm this trend.
Based on the results of the current investigation and limited results available in the
literature, the author recommends mixes with cement contents of 611 or 658 lb/yd³. The
complete mix proportions are presented in the conclusion section.

For the mixtures with cement content of 611 lb/yd³, the compressive strengths range from
2100 to 2200 lbf/in² at 3 hours for cement types A and B. Cement type C has a higher
strength. The 28 day strength is about 4800 lbf/in². Modulus of rupture varies from 500 to
800 lbf/in², far exceeding the target of 350 lbf/in².

Workability

After 10 minutes, the slump is in the range of 3 to 4 in. The values reduce to 1.5 in after
15 minutes.
The mixes are thixotropic and therefore flows better under vibration. Even the mix with a
slump of 1 in can be placed and compacted using a vibrator.
The mixes stay more workable under continuous mixing. Therefore it is advisable to keep
the mixer running until the placement.

Influence of Temperature

The temperature influences strength gain and the workability. In order to study the
influence of temperature, water baths were setup. These water baths were insulated
drums filled with water maintained at various temperatures. The cylinders covered with
polyethylene sheets were placed in the water baths. The results of the current
investigation were combined with the results reported by Sprinkel of Virginia DOT(2).

• Variations in strength between 55 and 73°F are negligible between 2 to 4 hours.

• At 3 hours, the strength drop is about 10 percent between 55 and 73°F.
• In the temperature range of 45 and 55°F the strength decreases exponentially. At 3
hours, the strength decreases by 12 percent between 50 to 55°F and about 80
percent between 45 to 50°F.
Based on these results, it is recommended that normal placement should be done only
at temperatures higher than 50°F. It is advisable to use insulation blankets below
60°F. The water temperature should be adjusted so that the concrete temperature is
about 70°F.

If the repair has to be done at temperatures below 50°F, special precautions such as
heated water and aggregates and heating blankets have to be used for at least 3 hours

5
after placement. The concrete should be maintained around 70°F. The parent surface
should also be heated to 70°F before placing the rapid set concrete.

Heat of Hydration and Rise in Temperature

The raise in temperature was measured in the cylinders for up to 3 hours and the raise
in temperature was found to be negligible.

Plastic Shrinkage Characteristics of Rapid Set Concrete

The shrinkage characteristics of rapid set concrete during the initial and final setting
period were evaluated using restrained shrinkage tests, commonly used for fiber
reinforced concrete. The results can be used to simulate the performance of slabs cast
in the field during the first 24 hours and long term shrinkage induced cracking.

The test variables were cement type, and the amount of retarder. Based on the strength
and workability results the cement content 611 lb/yd3 was chosen for this study. In
addition to cement types A, B, and C, ASTM Type I cement was tested as a control.
The response variables were: (i) total crack area and (ii) maximum crack width
measured over a square restrained concrete slab.

The test consists of drying a concrete slab which is 1.5 in thick and has a plan
dimension of 3.5 x 3.5 ft. The base consists of 0.5 in thick plywood with a polyethylene
sheet secured to the top surface by a spray adhesive. The polyethylene sheet provides
a smooth top surface, allowing the concrete slab to shrink freely. The sides of the forms
consist of two 0.75 in wooden strips. A wire mesh is placed at mid-height of the sides of
the form. About 2 in of the wire mesh is exposed along the inside perimeter of the form.
The secured wire mesh imbedded in the slab provided the restraint along the perimeter
of the slab. When the slab shrinkage cracks develop on the surface.

In order to hasten the drying process, high velocity fans were used to blow air on the top
of the slabs. The air velocity was approximately 12 mph. The slab dimensions and test
procedures were based on the numerous tests conducted for fiber reinforced
concrete(7,10).

Placing the slab on the vibrator vibrated the concrete. The vibration time was limited to
30 seconds. The slabs were placed on level surface and then screed once with a
straight edge. High velocity fans placed near the slabs were switched on.

After 24 hours, the crack areas were obtained by measuring crack lengths and widths at
a number of locations along the crack. The control slab made with ASTM Type I cement
did not crack. This is consistent with results reported in the literature (7,8).

All the slabs with rapid set cements developed hairline cracks. Review of results lead to
the following observations.

6
? Hair line cracks developed for cement types A and B. The cracks were wider for
cement type C.
? The difference in behavior between cement type A and B is insignificant.
? There is a good correlation of crack area with respect to retarder dosage.
Consistent increase in retarder dosage result in consistent decrease in crack
area.
? The authors believe, the retarder provides a mechanism to reduce the surface
tension and evaporation of water. The retarders might also reduce heat of
hydration.
? Plastic shrinkage cracking is influenced by the interdependent relationship
between volume change during initial setting and tensile strength development.
Rapid hydration seam to change this relationship as compared to ASTM Type I
cement.

Drying Shrinkage Characteristic of Rapid Set Concrete

The drying shrinkage characteristics of rapid set concrete were evaluated using ring
tests, commonly used for evaluating fiber reinforced concrete. Tests were conducted for
cement types A, B, and C using 611 lb/yd3 of cement.

Ring specimens were used by a number of investigators for evaluating fiber-reinforced

cement composites under restrained drying shrinkage. Essentially, a ring of concrete is
cast around a stiff steel ring. As the concrete shrinks, it induces stresses on the steel
ring. Since the steel ring is stiff and undergoes very little deformation, the outer
concrete ring is subjected to tension. If the concrete ring is thin in relation to the internal
diameter, then the stresses across the thickness can be considered uniform. The
compressive stress developed at the interface between the steel ring and the concrete
ring is also negligible. The researchers used various external diameters for steel rings.
The thickness of the cement composite was also varied depending on the composition
of the matrix. Typically, thicker sections were used with concrete containing coarse
aggregates.

The concrete is sealed at the top using a sealer, allowing it to dry evenly only at the
outer edge. A relatively large ratio of the width (exposed surface) to the thickness (4 or
higher) can provide uniform drying across the thickness.

The concrete was cast between a steel ring and an annular outer mold. The outer
mould was made of plastic. A vertical cut was made to remove the outer mold without
causing disturbance to the young concrete. Care should also be taken to place the
outer ring concentrically with the inner ring to avoid nonuniform thickness of the
concrete ring.

The outer moulds were removed as soon as the concrete hardens. Once the outer
mould was removed the specimens were subjected to the desired drying scheme.

7
The ring developed cracks after, 14 and 44 days for cement type B and C respectively.
Specimen made with cement type A did not develop a crack for 6 months.

Cement type B developed a crack at 14 days, which was 0.0075 in wide and the crack
width did not increase up to 44 days. Ring made with cement type C developed a crack
at 44 days, which was 0.0057 in wide.

The shrinkage strains for concrete made with cement types A and B are much less that
that of concrete made with ASTM Type I cement (9). The shrinkage strains range from
277 x 10-6 to 390 x 10-6 in/in for typical compositions. The tensile strengths range from
385 to 705 lbf/in². Concrete with higher strengths has higher modulus of elasticity.
Therefore, tensile strain at failure is about 0.0002 in/in for all strengths.

The shrinkage strain is higher than the tensile capacity and therefore cracking should be
expected. If the entire shrinkage of the ring is assumed to be the crack width, the
magnitude of crack width will be 0.013 in. However, the ring will sustain some strain and
only part of the shrinkage will contribute to crack width. The experimental crack width of
0.004 in for cement type B confirms the low shrinkage strain of sulphate cements.

The shrinkage strain can be divided into two components consisting of: drying shrinkage
and autogenous shrinkage. For the rapid set concrete studied in this investigation, the
drying shrinkage can be expected to be minimal because the permeability of concrete
decreases very rapidly. For concrete with latex, the permeability is further reduced.
This aspect, explains lower shrinkage strain for these concrete. Typically, the shrinkage
of rapid set concrete is about 30% as compared to concrete made with ASTM Type I
cement. Most of the shrinkage of rapid set concrete can be assumed to be autogenous
shrinkage. If this shrinkage is further reduced or if the tensile strain capacity is
increased, it is possible to produce crack free concrete.

CHLORIDE PERMEABILITY

Rapid chloride permeability test (AASHTO – T 277) is being used by a number of

agencies to evaluate the permeability of concrete. Low permeability is an indication of
durable concrete because the ingress of chemicals from deicing salts will be low.

The tests conducted by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey using sulphate
cement after 28 days of dry cure resulted in a coulomb number of 600. The control
which had ASTM Type III cement had a number of 1700.

Sprinkel (2) reported the results for rapid set concrete with 658 lb/yd3 of cement and
latex. The test samples were cured in cylinders for 24 hours and air dried till the age at
testing. The average coulomb numbers at ages of 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 5 months, and 12
months were: 1, 396 (3 samples), 639 (3 samples), 7 (5 samples), and 1 (5 samples)
respectively. Each sample was the average of two specimens. The samples were

8
taken at various locations of Rt 33 and Rte 620. Six of the ten specimens tested at 12
months-registered zero.

Based on the aforementioned results, it can be concluded that latex modified rapid set
concrete provide excellent resistance for chloride ion penetration.

LARGE SLABS AND FIELD TRIAL

Three slabs that were 4, 6, and 8 in were cast for all three cements. The plan
dimensions were 4 ft x 6ft. These slabs were cast to demonstrate the feasibility for
making thicker slabs without excessive heat of hydration. The slabs could be cast
without any problems. None of the slabs developed plastic or drying shrinkage cracks.

The slab for field trial was cast on the bridge over Interstate 287 on River Road in
Piscataway, New Jersey. Prematured constituent materials were taken to the job site.
The concrete was mixed and placed by the repair contractor. Surface preparation was
the same as the ones used for other mixes. The mix contained 611 lb/yd³ of cement and
water-cement ratio was 0.34. Based on the observation made during the placement, the
author recommends the following:
• The quality of fine aggregate should be well controlled. Particles passing through
No. 200 sieve influence the workability to a large extent. Fine powder or dust
presence in coarse aggregate should be avoided.
• There should be surface vibration. Vibro-screed might be a good solution.
• The finished surface should be covered with a wet blanket till the lane is opened to
traffic.
• Further improvements are suggested in the recommendation section.

CONCLUSIONS

• It is possible to formulate a workable concrete that can provide 2000 lbf/in²

compressive strength in 3 hours.
• A modulus of rupture of 350 lbf/in² can be easily achieved at 3 hours.
• The strength gain under flexure mode is more rapid than the strength gain under
compression loading.
• Retarding admixtures can be added to increase the workable duration to 25 minutes.
• The concrete flows well under vibrations.
• The concrete retains its flowable characteristics better if the mix was kept under
constant movement.
• The recommended mix proportions for sulphate cement manufactured by CTS
Cement company is as follows:
q Cement - 611 lb/yd3
q Fine Aggregate - 1625 lb/yd3
3
q Coarse Aggregate - 1425 lb/yd
3
q Water - 108 lb/yd

9
 q W/C - 0.34
q Latex - 194 lb/yd3
q Retarder - 2.4 lb/yd3
q Retarder% - 0.4%
- Retarder percent is based on cement.
- W/C: Water to Cement ratio, water in latex is included in the ratio.
• The recommended mix proportions for Ultamax Cement is as follows:
q Cement - 611 lb/yd3
q Fine Aggregate - 1625 lb/yd3
3
q Coarse Aggregate - 1425 lb/yd
3
q Water - 108 lb/yd
q W/C - 0.34
q Latex - 194 lb/yd3
q Retarder - 3.1 lb/yd3
q Retarder% - 0.5%
- Retarder percent is based on cement.
- W/C: Water to Cement ratio, water in latex is included in the ratio.

• For the cement manufactured by Five Star Products the recommended mix
proportions is as follows:
q Cement - 611 lb/yd3
q Fine Aggregate - 1575 lb/yd3
3
q Coarse Aggregate - 1575 lb/yd
q Water - 232.2 lb/yd3
q W/C - 0.38
q Retarder - 1.1 lb/yd3
q Retarder% - 0.18%
- Retarder percent is based on cement.
- W/C: Water to Cement ratio, water in latex is included in the ratio.

• Trail mixes are needed if the coarse aggregate is different from the 0.375 in
maximum size trap rock used for the investigation.
• If the ambient temperature is between 65 and 80°F the aforementioned mix
proportions will provide a workable mix for 25 minutes.
• If the ambient temperature is between 80 and 90°F, the retarder dose can be
increased by 20 percent. If there is no need for extended workable time, the
admixture dosage can be maintained at the same level.
• If the ambient temperature is between 50 and 65°F, the admixture dosage should be
reduced by 50 percent.
• If the ambient temperature is less than 50°F placement is not recommended, unless
heated water is used in the mix and heating blankets are used for curing for at least
3 hours.
• Rapid Set Concrete is more susceptible to plastic shrinkage cracking as compared
to ASTM Type I cement concrete. Therefore, the exposed surface should be

10
 protected with curing membrane or wet blanket to avoid any water loss. The surface
protection can be applied as soon as the surface becomes hard.
• Rapid Set Concrete shrinks less and therefore cracks less under restrained
conditions. It might be possible to formulate a mix that will not crack due to drying or
autogenous shrinkage.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH TO IMPROVE FIELD

APPLICATIONS

As mentioned in the conclusion section, the required strengths can be easily achieved.
The primary challenges for the field applications are:
i. Placement and finishing in 25 minutes.
ii. Curing for the first 3 hours, and
iii. Reduction of shrinkage to minimize or eliminate shrinkage induced cracking.

Note that durability is adversely affected by induced cracking. Therefore, it is proposed

to conduct addition in the following areas.

Task 1 – Self Compacting Concrete

The principle of self-compacting concrete has been successfully used in Europe in

actual construction of bridges. The authors believe the mix proportion that provide a
slump of at least 8 in can be modified with addition of high range water reducing
admixture and lime powder to produce self compacting concrete.

Flow test used for normal concrete to assure self-compaction and absence of
segregation will be used for the current evaluation.

Large prisms 6 X 6 X 24 in will be cast without using external vibration, except for power
screed. The hardened prisms will be cut to study the aggregate and void distribution.

It is expected that at least 9 mixes will be evaluated for the three cement types. For the
successful mix formulation, workability variation with time and drying shrinkage
characteristics will be evaluated.

Task 2 – Curing Blanket

A number of sponges like materials that can retain large amount of water are available
in the market. These blankets can hold much more water than the commercially
available burlaps. It is proposed to develop blankets using this material and
polyethylene sheet.

Blankets will be made using the commercially available foam sheet and polyethylene
sheet. The blankets used for drying cars and industrial spills are very durable. The
study will consist of the following steps:

11
 i. Quantify the amount of water that can be retained for square foot.
ii. Evaporation loss – The wet material will be subjected to high velocity wind to
quantify the water loss.
iii. Durability of blanket – The blanket will be put through wet - dry cycles to estimate
the number of uses that can be obtained using a single blanket.

Task 3 – Reduction of Shrinkage

As mentioned in the conclusion section, rapid set concrete has low shrinkage. If the
shrinkage can be reduced to 277 x 10-6 in/in, for most cases cracking due to shrinkage
can be eliminated. The autogenous shrinkage can be reduced by providing internal
water through the use of water saturated lightweight aggregate. The other option is to
use more latex that will reduce the permeability further. Furthermore, additional latex
will also increase the tensile strengths and strain.

It is proposed to test about 6 lightweight aggregate formulations (for 3 cement types) to

assure strength development. The lightweight aggregate will also reduce the weight of
concrete and known for their durability. These aggregates have been used with normal
cements to reduce autogenous shrinkage.

In the case of latex, 10 and 20 percent will increase the dosage over the current levels.
The water/cement ratio will be kept the same.

In both the cases, compressive strengths, modulus of rupture, and long term behavior
under restrained conditions will be obtained.

FIELD IMPLEMENTATION
The following provides a short summary of the proposal for field implementation.

Field implementation of Rapid Hardening Concrete

Problem statement
Rapid repair of bridge decks is a common occurrence allover the country. For typical
rapid repair, a durable rapid hardening concrete is needed that can generate a
reasonable compressive strength and modulus of rupture in about 3 hours.

Background Information

Various forms of rapid hardening concrete are being used in the field. The mixture
composition pertaining to this proposal is proportioned to obtain at least 2000 lbf/in²
comprehensive strength at 3 hours and 350 lbf/in² modulus or rupture. The time period of
3 hours allows for 7 to 10 hour window for preparation, placement, curing, and opening
to traffic. Typical lane closures occur between 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Study conducted at Rutgers University, field and research experience of DOT team at
Virginia Commonwealth lead to formulations that can be used in the field. These
mixtures have an initial slump of 7 to 8 in and workable up to 25 minutes.

12
Proposed Work

The proposed work involves field demonstration. The research team will work with a
contractor who is installing the repair patches.

Task 1 – Selection of Sites

Identify at least 5 bridges where the new patching material can be used. Selection of
locations will be based on exposure and geography of the state. Locations where deicing
salts are used frequently are preferred.

Task 2 – Placement

The research team will assist the contractor for the successful placement. The
constituent materials are readily available. The mix proportions are self-compacting. Only
a vibrating screed is needed to ensure compete compaction. Field experience will be
used to make minor changes in the mix composition.

Task 3 –Evaluation

The condition of the patches will be evaluated over a period of 4 years. Small site cores
will be taken and tested for tensile bond strength between old and new concrete and
chloride penetration. The amount of chloride ingress will be established using chemical
analysis.

Deliverables

A video will be part of the final report. The final report will contain long-term performance
of the repair system and a model specification that can be used by the departments of
transportation.

13
REFERENCES

1. Jackson, R., “ Rapid Repair Techniques Save Time “, Roads & Bridges, October
1998, Page 14.

2. Sprinkel, M.M., “ Very – Early – Strength Latex – Modified Concrete Overlays “,

Report No. VTRC99 – TAR3, Virginia Department of Transportation, Richmond, VA,
December 1998, 11 pages.

3. CTS Cement Co., “ Rapid Set Latex Modified Concrete Overlay; Interstate Route I
395 Bridge at George Washington Parkway “, October 1998, 10 pages.

4. North Carolina Department of Transportation, “ Repairs of Bridges Over Crabtree

Creek and Approaches on US 70 in Raleigh “, March 1997, Private Communication.

5. Neville, Adam, Properties of Concrete, Pitman, 1981, 779 pages.

6. Mehta, P.K., Concrete Structure, Properties and Materials, Prentice – Hall, 1986,
450 pages.

7. Balaguru, P, and Shah, S. P., Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites, MC Graw –

Hill, 1992, 535 pages.

8. Balaguru, P, “ Contribution of Fibers to Crack Reduction of Cement Composites

during the Initial and Final Setting Period “, American Concrete Institute Materials
Journal, Vol. 91, 1994, pp. 280 – 288.

9. Al – Manaseer, A, Aquino, E. B., and Kumbargi, H., “ Properties of Concrete

Containing Ultimax Rapid – Setting Hydraulic Cement “, American Concrete Institute
Materials Journal, Vol. 96, 1996, pp. 529 – 535.

10. Kraai, P.P., “ A Proposed Test to Determine the Cracking Potential due to Drying
Shrinkage of Concrete “, Concrete Construction, September 1985, pp. 775 – 778.

14
Table 1 A - Summary of Mix
Proportions, Cement Type A

Constituent Quantity,lb/y
Material d3
A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 A12 A13 A14 A15
Cement 517 564 611 658 658 658 564 611 658 611 517 564 611 658 705
Fine 1625 1650 1625 1600 1600 1600 1650 1625 1600 1625 1675 1650 1625 1600 1575
Aggregate
Coarse 1525 1450 1425 1400 1400 1400 1450 1425 1400 1425 1475 1450 1425 1400 1375
Aggregate
Water 196.5 293 318 250 224 116 100 108 116 108 92 100 108 116 124
W/C 0.38 0.52 0.52 0.38 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34
Latex - - - - - 208.0 178 194 208 194 162 178 194 208 222
0
Retarder - - - - 13.2 6.6 1.4 1.5 1.6 2.0 2.6 2.8 3.1 3.3 3.5
Retarder% - - - - 2.0 1.0 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.32 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Note :
n Retarder percent is
based on cement.
n W/C : Water to Cement ratio, water in
latex is included in the ration

15
Table 2 A - Compressive Strength, lbf/in²,
Cement Type A

Mix Design. Compressive Strength, Slump, in

lbf/in²
2 hrs 3 hrs 4 hrs 24 hrs 7 days 28 days
A1 915 2600 3105 3420 5490 - 1
A2 1545 1830 2200 - - - 2
A3 1485 1885 1985 - - - 3.5
A4 1595 2030 2150 2640 - - 3.5
A5
A6
A7 920 1330 1430 1910 2030 3170 5.5
A8 1765 2126 2990 3200 3500 4775 7
A9 1170 2050 2850 3150 3510 4500 7.5
A10 1750 2125 2775 3855 - - 7.5
A11 940 1505 1655 2745 3005 3995 4.5
A12 1405 2265 2690 3695 3810 4585 6
A13 1600 2145 2750 3870 4050 4865 6.5
A14 1665 2230 2650 3885 4095 4920 8
A15 2085 2305 2755 4000 4150 5120 9

16
Table 1 B - Summary of Mix Proportions,
Cement Type B

Constituent Quantity, lb/yd 3

Material
B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8
Cement 658 658 658 517 564 611 658 705
Fine Aggregate 1550 1600 1600 1675 1650 1625 1600 1575
Coarse 1550 1400 1400 1475 1450 1425 1400 1375
Aggregate
Water 250.0 116 116 92 100 108 116 124
W/C 0.38 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34
Latex - 208 208 162 178 194 208 222
Retarder - 3.3 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.6 2.8
Retarder% - 0.50 0.32 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40

Note :
n Retarder percent is based on
cement.
n W/C : Water to Cement ratio, water in latex is
included in the ration

17
Table 2 B - Compressive Strength, lbf/in²,
Cement Type B

Mix Design. Compressive Strength, Slump, in

lbf/in²
2 hrs 3 hrs 4 hrs 24 hrs 7 days 28 days
B1 1592 - - - - - -
B2 1500 1890 2075 - - - -
B3 2025 2225 2725 3655 4575 - 7.5
B4 1115 1565 1990 2975 3240 3875 4
B5 1590 2440 2630 3745 4010 4710 5
B6 1815 2125 2645 3795 4445 4900 6.5
B7 1845 2200 2665 3605 4565 4875 7.5
B8 2125 2215 2750 3825 4700 5215 8

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Table 1 C - Summary of Mix Proportions,
Cement Type C

Constituent Quantity,
Material lb/yd3
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15
Cement 517 564 611 658 680 705 564 611 658 705 564 611 658 705 517
Fine Aggregate 1625 1600 1575 1550 1540 1525 1600 1575 1550 1525 1600 1575 1550 1525 1650
Coarse 1625 1600 1575 1550 1540 1525 1600 1575 1550 1525 1600 1575 1550 1525 1850
Aggregate
Water 196 214 232 250 258 268 214 232 250 268 214 232 250 268 196
W/C 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38
Retarder - - - - - - 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.8 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 -
Retarder% - - - - - - 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 -
Super - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10
Plastisizer

Note :
n Retarder percent is based
on cement.
n W/C : Water to Cement ratio, water in latex is
included in the ration

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Table 2 C - Compressive Strength, lbf/in²,
Cement Type C

Mix Design Compressive Strength, Slump, in

lbf/in²
2 hrs 3 hrs 4 hrs 24 hrs 7 days 28 days
C1 1695 3960 4465 5340 5510 7015 2.00
C2 2435 3600 4000 5270 5825 7955 2.25
C3 1505 3080 3405 4375 5095 7365 2.50
C4 2045 3995 4315 5170 5530 7640 3.25
C5 3225 4295 4755 5370 5965 8335 4.00
C6 4130 5050 5410 5985 6465 8660 4.50
C7 850 1385 1990 4220 5005 6535 2.50
C8 475 1460 2220 4515 5435 6985 3.00
C9 690 1820 2720 5030 5990 7615 4.00
C10 1145 2455 3680 5235 6310 8590 5.00
C11 1005 1650 2965 5170 5685 6665 2.50
C12 505 2005 3265 4855 5850 7080 3.00
C13 955 2320 3595 5270 6245 7735 4.25
C14 1310 2755 4005 5510 6580 8545 4.75
C15 2330 3005 3545 4470 - - -

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Table 3 A - Flexural Strength, lbf/in² -
Cement Type A

Mix Design Modulus of

Rupture, lbf/in²
4 X 4 in. prisms, center 6 X 6 in. prisms, third point
load loads
3 hrs 6 hrs 7 days 3 hrs 6 hrs 7 days
A8 1105 1150 - 718.25 747.5 -
A9 680 765 830 442 497.25 539.5
A10 810 1110 - 526.5 721.5 -
A12 720 950 1180 468 617.5 767
A13 500 730 1095 325 474.5 711.75
A14 860 960 1275 559 624 828.75
A15 895 1005 1280 581.75 653.25 832

Table 3 B - Flexural Strength, lbf/in²-

Cement Type B

Mix Design Modulus of

Rupture, lbf/in²
4 X 4 in. prisms, center 6 X 6 in. prisms, third point
load loads
3 hrs 6 hrs 7 days 3 hrs 6 hrs 7 days
B4 690 765 830 449 497 540
B5 725 835 915 471 543 595
B6 770 875 1035 501 569 673
B7 880 960 1115 572 624 725
B8 890 1005 1140 579 653 741

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