Architecture：Introduction to Portland Cement Concrete.pdfVIP

35 2 Introduction to Portland Cement Concrete Concrete, made from cement, aggregates, chemical admixtures, mineral admixtures, and water, comprises in quantity the largest of all synthesized materials. The active constituent of concrete is cement paste and the performance of concrete is largely determined by the nature of the cement paste. Admixtures are chemicals that are added to concrete for obtaining some beneficial effects such as better workability, strength, durability, acceleration, retardation, air entrainment, water reduction, plas- ticity, etc. Mineral admixtures, such as blast furnace slag, fly ash, silica fume, and others, are also incorporated into concrete to improve its quality. The performance of concrete depends on the quality of the ingre- dients, their proportions, placement, and exposure conditions. For example, the quality of the raw materials used for the manufacture of clinker, the calcining conditions, the fineness and particle size of the cement, the relative proportions of the cement phases, and the amount of mixing water influence the physico-chemical behavior of the hardened cement paste in concrete. In addition, the cement type, nature of fine and coarse aggregates, water, temperature of mixing, admixture, and the environment will deter- mine the physical, chemical, and durability aspects of concrete. Thermal analysis techniques are widely applied to investigate the physico-chemical behaviors of cement compounds, cement, and concrete subjected to various conditions. 35 36 Chapter 2 - Introduction to Portland Cement Concrete Although added in small amounts, admixtures may influence many of the properties of concrete, from the time water comes into contact with the dry ingredients of concrete, to its