STRENGTH ASSESSMENT OF NO-FINES CONCRETE PAVEMENT

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this project work is to assess the strength of No-fines concrete pavement. No-Fines concrete is use in low traffic volume, pathways, sidewalk and parking lots. No-fines concrete is produced by using ordinary Portland cement, coarse aggregates, and water. In this study, Two (2) batches of no-fines concrete each with two different water – cement ratio 0.36 and 0.45 and cement – coarse aggregate 1:4 and 1:6 were prepared to find the mix that generated high compressive strength and splitting tensile strength. This concrete is tested for its properties, such as slump value, porosity, void ratio, permeability, splitting tensile strength and compressive strength. High strength was achieved with water – cement ratio of 0.36, coarse aggregate passing sieve 20 mm and retained on sieve 10 mm and with cement to coarse aggregate ratio of 1:4. Its compressive strength and splitting tensile strength were observed to be 12.52 N/mm2 and 2.00 N/mm2. Also its porosity, void ratio, density and permeability were observed to range from 20 to 31 %, 25 to 44 %, 1820 to 2200 kg/m3 and 3.48 to 3.77 mm/s. The results showed that No-fines concrete can be use low volume traffic areas, pathways, sidewalks and parking lots. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page – – – – – – – –  – i

Certification – – – – – – – –  – iii

Declaration – – – – – – – –  – iv

Dedication – – – – – – – –  – v

Acknowledgements – – – – – – – –  vi

Abstract – – – – – – – ––vii

Table of Content – – – – – – – –viii

List of figures – – – – – – – ––xii

List of Tables – – – – – – – ––xiii

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction – – – – – – – –1

Background – – – – – – – ––1

Statement of the Problem– – – – – – 3

Aim and objectives – – – – – – – 3

Aim – – – – – – – ––3

Objectives – – – – – – – ––3

 Justification – – – – – – – –4

 Scope of the study – – – – – – – 4

LITERATURE REVIEW

 Introduction – – – – – – – ––5

 Previous studies on porous concrete – – – – – – 7

 Application of no-fine (Porous) concrete – – – – – 12

 General engineering properties of no-fines concrete  – – – – 12

Structure – – – – – – – –13

Shape – – – – – – – ––13

Mix proportions – – – – – – – 13

Water content – – – – – – – –14

Aggregate grading – – – – – – – –14

Density – – – – – – – ––14

Air-void content – – – – – – – –15

Shrinkage – – – – – – – ––15

Slump test – – – – – – – ––15

 Advantage and disadvantage of using no-fines concrete – – 16

Advantage – – – – – – – ––16

Economical benefits – – – – – – – 16

 Environmental benefits – – – – – – – 16

Water hazards – – – – – – – –17

Disadvantage – – – – – – – –17

 Initial cost – – – – – – – ––17

 Irregular smooth surface and cohesiveness problem  – – – 17

General difficulty pertaining to the use of no-fines concrete – – – 18

Lack of experience – – – – – – – –18

Lack of public awareness – – – – – – – 19

Guidelines and materials use in No-fines concrete pavements – – – 19

Sub-grade and sub-base requirements – – – – – 20

Sub-grade permeability – – – – – – – 20

Sub-grade treatment – – – – – – – 20

Filter fabric – – – – – – – ––20

Sub-base material – – – – – – – –21

Mixing, placing and finishing requirements – – – – 21

Mix time – – – – – – – ––21

Concrete discharge method – – – – – – – 22

Jointing requirements – – – – – – – 22

Placing and finishing equipment – – – – – – 22

Curing requirements – – – – – – – 23

No-fines concrete pavement maintenance – – – – – 23

Hydrocarbon clean-up – – – – – – – 23

Organic build-up – – – – – – – –24

Signage – – – – – – – ––24

Pavement specifications – – – – – – – 24

Footpaths and bikeways – – – – – – – 24

Standard pavements – – – – – – – 25

Heavy traffic pavement – – – – – – –  27

CHAPTER THREE

Materials and Methods – – – – – – – –29

Materials – – – – – – – ––29

3.1.1 Cement – – – – – – – ––29

3.1.2 Coarse aggregate – – – – – – – –29

3.1.3 Fine aggregate – – – – – – – –29

3.1.4 Portable water – – – – – – – –30

Test methodology – – – – – – – –30

Properties of cement – – – – – – – 31

Consistency Test in accordance with IS 4031, part 4(1988)– – 31

Initial Setting Time in accordance to Indian standard IS: 4031, 

Part 5 (1988) – – – – – – – –31

 Final Setting Time – – – – – – – –32

Properties of coarse aggregate – – – – – – 32

Moisture Content Test (India Standard “IS” 2386 (1963)) – – – 32

Sieve analysis ((India Standard “IS” 2386 (1963a)) – – – 33

Specific gravity (India Standard “IS” 2386 (1963b)) – – – 34

Aggregate impact value (AIV) (India Standard “IS” 9377 (1979)) – 35

Aggregate crushing value (India Standard “IS” 9377 (1979)) – – 36

Bulk density (BS 812; part 21975) – – – – – – 38

Porosity – – – – – – – ––39

Void Ratio – – – – – – – ––39

Mix design – – – – – – – ––39

No-fines concrete – – – – – – – –40

Trial mix – – – – – – – ––40

Apparatus – – – – – – – –41

Mixing process – – – – – – – –41

Workability test – – – – – – – –42

Compacting and curing – – – – – – – 43

Porosity of harden concrete – – – – – – – 43

Compressive strength test (Australian Standard “AS” 1012.9 – 1999) – 44

Indirect tensile strength (Australian Standard “AS” 1012.10 – 2000) – 44

Permeability test – – – – – – – –45

Photograph– – – – – – – –46

CHAPTER FOUR

Analysis of result and discussion – – – – – – – 47

summary tables – – – – – – –47

Moisture content of coarse aggregate – – – – – 48

Specific gravity of coarse aggregate – – – – – 48

Aggregate impact/crushing values – – – – – – 48

Bulk density of coarse aggregate – – – – – – 48

Porosity and void ratio of coarse aggregate – – – – 49

Slump tests result – – – – – – – –49

Permeability test result – – – – – – – 50

Void ratio and porosity of harden concrete – – – – – 51

Indirect tensile (Brazil or Splitting) tests results – – – – 52

Result of test on concrete cube – – – – – – 54

Summary – – – – – – – ––55

CHAPTER FIVE

Conclusion and Recommendation – – – – – – – 59

Conclusion – – – – – – – ––59

 Recommendations – –– – – – – 60

References – – – – – – – ––61

Appendix A– – – – – – – ––64

Appendix B – – – – – – – ––69