Name: testing aggregate impurities in concrete
Uploaded: 2024-11-07T14:48:25.000Z
Duration: 1 min 25 s
Channel: JoVE

La arena natural puede contener impurezas orgánicas, como materia vegetal en descomposición, que interfieren con la hidratación del cemento.
Se realiza una prueba colorimétrica para detectar la presencia de materia orgánica, que se puede juzgar por el color de la solución que contiene el agregado. Cuanto más oscura sea la solución, mayor será la materia orgánica que contenga.
Las impurezas finas, como la arcilla, el limo y el polvo de trituración, obtenidas de la trituración de piedras, recubren los agregados y dan como resultado una mala unión con la pasta de cemento.
Además, la presencia de impurezas finas aumenta la superficie a humedecer y, por lo tanto, requiere más agua para mezclar, colocar y terminar. Este exceso de agua aumenta la contracción por secado y la probabilidad de agrietamiento.
El método de tamiz húmedo se utiliza para determinar la presencia de impurezas finas en agregados gruesos. 
El exceso de sal en los áridos finos provoca la corrosión de los refuerzos de acero y absorbe la humedad del aire, provocando eflorescencias en el hormigón.
La presencia de materiales de baja densidad, como el esquisto, y las inclusiones blandas en los agregados, como los terrones de arcilla, el carbón o la madera, pueden descomponerse bajo las cargas, lo que provoca picaduras y desprendimientos en el hormigón.

sustancias nocivas en agregados

Las sustancias nocivas presentes en los agregados pueden ser perjudiciales para la calidad y la durabilidad del hormigón. Estas sustancias incluyen impurezas orgánicas como la marga, que interfieren con la hidratación del hormigón y suelen estar presentes en la arena. Estas impiden una buena unión entre el agregado y la pasta de hormigón. Las impurezas orgánicas se pueden detectar mediante la prueba colorimétrica, en la que la oscuridad de una solución después de la agitación indica el nivel de contenido orgánico.

Otro tipo de impureza es la arcilla y el material fino que puede recubrir las partículas de agregado y debilitar la unión con la pasta de hormigón. La presencia de contenido de arcilla y limo en el agregado a menudo se evalúa mediante métodos de sedimentación o tamizado húmedo. Las sales de ambientes marinos también se consideran sustancias nocivas, en particular si están presentes en una proporción superior al 6 % en masa, lo que provoca la corrosión de las armaduras incrustadas en el hormigón. Se recomienda lavar los agregados con agua dulce para reducir el contenido de sal.

Por último, los agregados que contienen partículas como esquisto, carbón o mica que no son duraderas o absorben agua pueden provocar la degradación del hormigón. La norma ASTM C 33-03 de la Sociedad Estadounidense de Pruebas y Materiales (American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM) establece los niveles permisibles para estas partículas nocivas en los agregados. La realización de pruebas adecuadas y el cumplimiento de las normas son fundamentales para garantizar la calidad de los agregados utilizados en la construcción, salvaguardando así la integridad y la longevidad de las estructuras de hormigón.

Sustancias nocivas en agregados

La arena natural puede contener impurezas orgánicas, como materia vegetal en descomposición, que interfieren con la hidratación del cemento.
Una prueba colorimétrica es ...

Education

Educación

JoVE Core

Civil Engineering

Ingeniería Civil

Unit 1

Unidad 1

Aggregates and Water

Áridos y agua

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

TÉRMINOS Y CONCEPTOS CLAVE

Deleterious Substances in Aggregate

testing aggregate impurities in concrete

Aggregate impurities can lower the quality and durability of concrete. Organic matter, such as loam in sand, can interfere with cement hydration and weaken the bond between the aggregate and the cement paste.

Organic impurities are often checked with a colorimetric test. In this test, the darkness of the solution after agitation shows the level of organic content. Clay and fine material can also coat aggregate particles and reduce the bond with the cement paste.

The amount of clay and silt in aggregate is commonly measured by sedimentation or wet-sieve methods. Salts from marine environments are another concern, especially when they exceed 6% by mass. These salts can cause corrosion in steel reinforcement inside concrete, so washing aggregates with fresh water is recommended to lower the salt content.

Some aggregates contain unsound particles such as shale, coal, or mica. These materials may be non-durable or absorb water and can lead to concrete damage over time. ASTM C 33-03 sets limits for these particles, so testing and following standards help protect the strength and service life of concrete structures.

Testing Aggregate Impurities in Concrete

unsoundness of aggregate due to volume change

unsoundness-of-aggregate-due-to-volume-change

Aggregate Durability in Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Aggregate durability can decline when volume changes damage the particles. Freezing and thawing, thermal change, and wetting and drying all place stress on aggregates. When unsound aggregates break down under these conditions, they can contribute to scaling, pop-outs, and cracking in concrete. Some aggregates are more vulnerable than others. Porous flints, cherts, and aggregates that contain clay minerals are especially prone to this kind of damage. Their internal structure can make them...

deleterious substances in aggregate

Aggregate impurities can lower the quality and durability of concrete. Organic matter, such as loam in sand, can interfere with cement hydration and weaken the bond between the aggregate and the cement paste. Organic impurities are often checked with a colorimetric test. In this test, the darkness of the solution after agitation shows the level of organic content. Clay and fine material can also coat aggregate particles and reduce the bond with the cement paste. The amount of clay and silt in...

sieve analysis and grading curves

Aggregate Size Testing with Sieve Grading

Aggregate size testing with sieve grading measures the particle size distribution of aggregate materials. It starts with a dried sample of aggregate that is weighed first. The sample is then sorted through a stack of square-opening sieves arranged from largest opening on top to smallest opening below. The sieve stack is shaken or vibrated so the particles move through the openings by size. After a set time, the material left on each sieve is weighed. That weight is then written as a percentage...

fineness modulus

Fineness Modulus from Sieve Analysis

Fineness modulus is a numerical index used to describe how coarse or fine aggregate particles are. For sand, it is found from sieve analysis using a standard set of ASTM sieves. The result helps show whether the sample is finer or more coarse. To calculate fineness modulus, first record the weight of aggregate retained on each sieve and in the pan at the bottom. Then find the cumulative weight retained on each sieve. Next, express each cumulative weight as a percentage of the total sample...

types of aggregate grading

Aggregate Grading for Strong Concrete Mixes

Aggregate grading describes the particle size distribution in a sample of aggregate. It is important for making a concrete mix that has enough strength, reasonable workability, and minimal segregation. The right grading also helps concrete stay economical. There are four main types of aggregate gradation: well-graded, uniformly graded, gap-graded, and open-graded. Each type has a different pattern on a gradation curve, which shows how particle sizes are spread across sieve sizes. These...

maximum size of aggregate

How Aggregate Size Affects Concrete Mix

Aggregate size affects how concrete is mixed, placed, and strengthened. The maximum size of aggregate is defined by the sieve aperture that retains 15 percent or more of the particles in the sample. This size choice helps determine the concrete’s water demand, workability, and final strength. Larger aggregate particles reduce the surface area that must be covered by cement paste. As a result, they can lower the water needed in the mix. When the desired workability and richness are kept, this...

quality of water

Water Standards for Concrete Mixing

Water standards for concrete mixing help control strength and durability. Potable water is usually preferred. Even so, it should not contain too much sodium or potassium, because these salts can weaken concrete integrity. Water quality is judged by impurities such as dissolved solids, chlorides, and sulfates. The pH value is ideally between 6 and 8. Slightly acidic natural water may still be acceptable if it does not contain harmful organic matter or algae. Limits for these impurities depend...

testing water quality

Water Tests for Concrete Performance

Water tests for concrete performance help determine whether an uncertain water source is safe to use in cement and mortar. The main checks compare the water against de-ionized or distilled water benchmarks. Engineers look at both setting time and the compressive strength of mortar made with the test water. Standards set clear limits for these results. ASTM C1602 requires setting times to stay within 90 minutes of the control. BS 3146:1980 allows a 30-minute change in initial setting, while BS...

aggregates classification

Aggregate Types by Size, Weight, and Source

Aggregate types are grouped by size, petrographic characteristics, weight, and source. These categories help describe how different aggregates are identified and used in concrete. Size is one of the most common ways to classify them. Based on particle size, aggregates are either coarse or fine. Coarse aggregates are particles that do not pass through ASTM sieve No. 4. Fine aggregates are the particles that do pass through that sieve. Petrographic classification looks at shared mineral features.

shape and texture of coarse aggregate

How Aggregate Form Changes Concrete

Aggregate form affects how concrete mixes, packs, and bonds. Coarse aggregate is classified by the sharpness or roundness of its edges and corners. The main shapes are rounded, angular, elongated, and flaky. These shapes help show how the particles will behave in concrete. Rounded aggregates are fully shaped by attrition, which means they have been worn down by rubbing and impact. River gravel and seashore gravel are common examples. Angular aggregates, such as crushed rock, have clear edges...

bonding and strength of aggregate

How Aggregate Shape Affects Concrete Bond

Aggregate shape and surface texture affect how well concrete holds together. Rough, angular aggregates usually bond more strongly with the cement matrix than smooth, rounded ones. This stronger adhesion can help produce high-strength concrete. Angular aggregates also have a larger surface area. That gives the cement paste more area to grip, which improves the bond. Bond quality is hard to measure directly, and there is no single test that is accepted everywhere. A broken concrete sample can...

toughness and hardness of aggregate

Testing Aggregate Impact and Abrasion

Aggregate toughness and hardness are important for concrete used on pavement surfaces and industrial floors that must carry heavy loads. Toughness means an aggregate can resist failure from impact. Hardness means it can resist wear.

specific gravity of aggregate

Aggregate Pore Effects on Specific Gravity

Aggregate specific gravity depends on the pores inside the material. These pores may be permeable or impermeable, so the same aggregate can be described in more than one way. For this reason, specific gravity is grouped into bulk or gross specific gravity, apparent specific gravity, and absolute specific gravity. Bulk or gross specific gravity uses the mass of aggregate in the saturated surface-dry state. It is compared with the total volume of the aggregate, including both the solids and the...

bulk density of aggregate

How Aggregate Size Affects Bulk Density

Bulk density describes the mass of aggregate that fills a unit volume, including the empty spaces between particles. Those void spaces remain because aggregate particles cannot be packed so tightly that every gap disappears. In practice, bulk refers to the total volume of both the particles and the spaces around them. This measurement matters when aggregates are batched by volume. It also helps convert materials measured by mass into a volume-based quantity. Natural mineral aggregates such as...

porosity and absorption of aggregate

Aggregate Pore States and Water Uptake

Aggregate contains pores of different sizes, and those pores may be sealed inside the particle or open to the surface. Open pores let water enter the aggregate. Because aggregate makes up about three-quarters of concrete by volume, its porosity strongly affects the porosity of the finished concrete. Aggregate can also be described by its moisture state. When water fills every pore, the material is saturated and surface-dry. If it sits in dry air, some water evaporates and the aggregate becomes...

moisture content and bulking of aggregate

moisture-content-and-bulking-of-aggregate

How Aggregate Moisture Affects Concrete Mixes

Aggregate moisture affects concrete mixing by changing how much water must be added to the batch. Moisture content is the water coating the outside of aggregate that is in a saturated and surface-dry state. The total water in moist aggregate includes both moisture content and water absorption. When aggregates sit in stockpiles or are exposed to rain, they can take in moisture. That extra water must be counted during concrete batching so the water-to-cement ratio stays correct. The moisture...

key terms and concepts

Learn how organic matter, clay, salts, and unsound particles in aggregate are tested, and why they matter for concrete strength and durability.

Testing Aggregate Impurities in Concrete | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Civil Engineering provides a foundational exploration of essential construction materials in civil engineering, focusing on bricks, stones, steel, wood, and concrete through easy-to-understand animated videos. This collection covers the properties, manufacturing processes, and practical applications of these materials. Additionally, the accompanied science-in-action videos demonstrate the research experiments performed in laboratories.

civil engineering

Testing Aggregate Impurities in Concrete

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