Concrete technology

1. National Diploma for Industrial Technician
Civil Engineering
Module : Concrete Technology
Module No : C 2-4
Module Value : 01
60 Hours (02 Hours per Week)
Pre-requisite Units :
Co-requisite Units :
Rational :
Assessment Method : AE
Aim of the Unit : To enable the students to
On completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
A Quality of Concrete
1. Develop an understanding on the factors affecting the strength and durability of
concrete
1.1 Explain the relationship between water/cement ratio, workability and strength.
1.2 Explain the importance of aggregate/cement ratio and fine, aggregate/course
aggregate ratio and the strength properties of concrete.
1.3 Discuss the importance of quality control in the production of Concrete, making
references to the various stages involved, such as, design stage, mixing stage,
etc.
1.4 Discuss the probable practical difficulties encountered in the construction
industry, in achieving desired high quality in concrete.
1.5 Describe the means that can be adopted to minimises these external influences.
e.g. contract administration and supervisory measures etc.
1.6 Discuss the importance of adhering to specifications and stipulated properties of
constituent materials.
CONCRETETECHNOLOGY Unit No: C 2-4
C

2. 2. Aware of the different types of test employed to assess the quality of concrete
2.1 Distinguish 'between the destructive testing and non-destructive testing as
applied to concrete.
2.2 Describe the testing procedures and the sampling of fresh concrete for tests.
2.3 Review slump test, and compacting factor test used to measure workability of
concrete.
2.4 Compare the workability of concrete based on the results of slump test and
compaction factor test
2.5 Discuss the importance the standard cube test, in ascertaining the compressive
strength of a concrete and use of the result in quality control.
2.6 Describe the apparatus and the testing procedure adopted for cube test, making
reference to the factors that need special attention.
2.7 Make test cubes of normal dense concrete, giving due concern for c….
2.8 Assess the quality of concrete, employing the statistical methods for the
concrete tested.
2.9 Review tensile and flexural testing of concrete describing the apparatus used
and the procedure.
2.10 Discuss the use of quality control charts in assessing qualities.
2.11 Describe apparatus and the procedure for measuring cover to reinforcement in
hardened concrete using cover meter.
2.12 Describe the rebound hammer and its application for non-destructive testing of
concrete.
2.13 Describe the Ultra-Sonic pulse velocity apparatus and its application for non
destructive testing of concrete.
2.14 Perform tests on hardened concrete structures, using the apparatus described
in 2.10, 2.11 and 2.12.
2.15 Discuss the probable defects that arise in concrete illustrating the remedial
measures to control them.
3. Develop awareness on the situations where special concrete mixes and admixtures
are required
3.1 Identify situations where special consideration must be given to the design of a
concrete mix.
e.g. Pumped concrete flow screeds
high strength concrete
Pavement quality concrete
. flowing Concrete.
3.2 Describe the effect of admixtures on the properties of fresh and hardened
concrete.

3. i.e. accelerators. retarders water reducing agents, pumping aids and air
entraining agents. ,
3.3 Discuss the dangers of over an under dosage or admixtures in concrete.
B MIX DESIGN
4. Understand the importance of mix design and the method
4.1 Differentiate between prescribed mix an designed mix.
4.2 Describe how the properties of concrete can be affected by the external factors,
associated with the volumetric proportionate mixing method.
4.3 Discuss the importance of designing a mix, for a specific situation. in
order to obtain required strength and other properties.
4.4 Explain the theoretical methods' of proportioning of mix constituents to give
required strength, and workability.
4.5 Explain the procedure for determining the yield of a mix.
4.6 Carry out a mix design exercise. to given specifications and make trial mixes.
4.7 Test, results of the mix design to assess its acceptability.
C Concrete Production
5. Develop an understanding on the mass production of concrete and the specific
important maters to be concerned in process.
5.1 Describe different types of mixers Used for concrete production. such as tilting
non-tilting drum type etc. ,
5.2 Discuss the important points to be considered in the selection of a mixer for a
particular situation.
5.3 Calculate the amount of constituent materials. to be fed in to the mixer, in the
production of concrete for prescribed mixes and designed mixes.
5.4 Discuss the need for site adjustments, such as commencement adjustment and
moisture content adjustment.
5.5 Discuss the importance of careful planning of location and layout of plan
and storage of materials in the site, for effectiveness and economy of production.
5.6 Prepare site lay out plan, for a given situation considering plant arrangement,
storage, accessibility and such other requirements.

4. 6. Develop awareness on the transport and placing of concrete
6.1 Discuss the importance of careful planning of concrete transport explaining how
the properties$ can be affected during handling transporting and placing stages.
6.2 Identify different methods of concrete transport making reference to their specific
uses and features wheel barrows, dumpers, fork-lift skips, crane skips, hoists,
remix hoppers, pumps etc.
6.3 Describe the following types of concrete pump, outlining the methods of
operation:
Mechanically driven piston pumps.
Hydraulically driven piston pumps.
Peri static pumps.
6.4 State typical pumping performance in terms of horizontal and vertical distances
and out put.
6.5 Describe factors which affect efficiency of concrete pumping mix design such as,
length and diameter of pipe line.
changes in cross section.
bends in pipeline etc.
6.6 Describe the factors affecting the Choice and application of the aforementioned
methods of transporting concrete.
6.7 Describe methods normally used for prod~ ready mixed concrete.
6.8 Discuss the .requirement of under water concreting, explaining the important
aspects to be considered.
6.9 Describe different methods employed for placing concrete in under water
construction.
7. Develop Understanding on the methods of compacting concrete
7.1 Discuss reason for compacting concrete.
7.2 Describe different methods of compaction adopted and the types of vibrators
such as immersion form vibrator, beam vibrator, par vibrator and vibrating
hammers, vibrating rollers, vibrating tables etc.
7.3 Describe the process of vibration mentioning important aspects to be concerned
specially.
7.4 State the criteria for assessing satisfactory compaction/unsatisfactory
compaction.

5. 8. Understand the purpose, and method of curing and the remedial measures for the
problems that may emerges
8.1 Discuss the reasons for curing concrete and its importance.
8.2 Describe different methods employed to achieve the objectives of curing giving
special aspects of concern.
8.3 Discuss the problems associated with curing. such as formation of different types
of crack.
8.4 Describe crack induction techniques.
8.5 Describe alternate bay construction, typical construction joints and their
preparation.
8.6 Discuss curing under activity hot weather and under cold weather, condition.
D FORM WORK
9. Understand the use of form work in concreting with reference to the importance,
designing erection and removal.
9.1 Discuss the importance of form work in concrete work with reference to the
method of construction and accuracy of finial products.
9.2 Discuss the important features and requirements expected of form work, such as
strength, safety, cost, handling, erection etc.
9.3 Compare different types of form work materials in firms of ease or use and
reuse.
9.4 Sketch details of form work used fur beams upper flow slabs columns etc.
9.5 Discuss the need for inspection of form work and the main points to be
considered.
9.6 State the striking times for different locations in construction.
9.7 Discuss the importance of cleaning and storage of form work for re-uses.
9.8 Discuss the use of pre-cast concrete items in construction, comparing with in-situ
concrete. in terms of cost of construction, speed of construction etc.
E REINFORCED CONCRETE
10. Appreciate the function of reinforcement in structural concrete elements
10.1 Explain the function of reinforcement with respect to resisting tension,
compression, shear, shrinkage, cracking etc.
10.2 Sketch typical arrangement of reinforcement steel in
(a) columns.
(b) walls
(c) different types of beams
(d) different types of slabs
(e) retaining walls

6. 10.3 Explain the importance of providing correct cover to reinforcing bars illustrating
how this can be achieved. in a variety of structural elements.
10.4 Discuss the lapping of reinforcement.
11. Understand the important matters associated with bar bending and the related
documentation needed
11.1 Examine the limits of bending radius, bob lengths. Hook and cranks for various
grades of steel.
11.2 Assess the practical limitations in producing and fixing of bend reinforcement.
11.3 Explain the value of using standard bar shapes.
11.4 Illustrate the importance of bending schedules in respect of their uses in the
constructions.
12. Understand the behaviour and production of pre-stressed concrete
12.1 Explain the principle of pre.-stressed concrete performance, illustrating the ways
in which it differ form normal reinforce concrete.
12.2 Describe the production of pre-tensioned, pre-stress concrete, structural
elements.
12.3 Describe the production of post-tensioned, pre-stressed concrete, structural
elements.
12.4 Explain the pre-stressing techniques used in common practice , emphasising the
factors need to be considered in production.
12.5 Sketch details of the production of pro-tensioned elements.
12.6 Explain general safety precaution to be followed in the productions of pre-
stressed concrete elements.