1. Concrete Construction (CoTM 6022)
MSc Program in Construction Technology and Management
College of Engineering & Technology
Department of Construction Technology & Management,
Wachemo University
Behailu Z. (Ph.D. Candidate)
December, 2023
2. COURSE CONTENTS
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Behailu Z. (Ph.D. Cand.)
1 Methods of Specifying Concrete
2 Non Destructive Tests on Concrete
3 Cold & Hot Weather Concreting
4 High-performance Concrete
5 Special Types of Concrete
3. 1. Methods of Specifying Concrete
Concrete Construction (CoTM 6022)
MSc Program in Construction Technology and Management
College of Engineering and Technology, Wachemo University
Department of Construction Technology & Management
Behailu Z., (Ph.D. Candidate, BiT, BDU)
June, 2023
4. Engineers and Architects are Experts in Design
Natchez Trace Bridge, Franklin, TN
Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin, USA
NBC Tower, Chicago, USA
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Methods of Specifying Concrete
5. Contractors are Experts in Construction
High-rise Tilt-up
Post-tension
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Methods of Specifying Concrete
6. Producers are Experts in Mix Design
Product Development
Testing Labs
Material Handling
Behailu Z. (Ph.D. Cand.)
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Methods of Specifying Concrete
7. Types of Specification
Behailu Z. (Ph.D. Cand.)
1) Performance – based Specification
2) Prescription Specification
3) Mixed Specification
4) Proprietary Specification
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Methods of Specifying Concrete
8. • states requirements in terms of the required results with criteria
for verifying compliance, but without stating the methods for
achieving the required results to the contractor.
• the designer to describe what they need and the contractor to
determine the best way to get there.
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1. Performance – Based Specifications
Methods of Specifying Concrete
9. It focuses on the outcome and shifts the selection of materials and
methods, as well as a portion of the design work, onto the shoulders of the
contractor.
For example,
if you're writing performance specifications for an office building, you
may include the intended height and width of the building, the expected
locations for utility connections and the materials you plan to use.
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1. Performance – Based Specifications
Methods of Specifying Concrete
10. 1. Performance – Based Specifications
Focus on performance and function
Assignment of responsibility
Flexibility to adjust mixture ingredients and proportions
to achieve consistent performance
Measurable and enforceable
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Methods of Specifying Concrete
11. Advantages
Innovative construction means and methods
Improved construction schedules
More efficient structural designs
Simplified specifications and submittal process
Optimized mix designs
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1. Performance – Based Specifications
Methods of Specifying Concrete
12. Help Control Construction Cost
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1. Performance – Based Specifications
Methods of Specifying Concrete
15. • Plant and Truck Certification
• Plant Manager Certification
• Concrete Technologist Certifications
• Certified Delivery Professional (drivers)
• Concrete Certified Sales Professional
• Under development
• Concrete technologist responsible for
performance mixes
• Concrete producer certification based on
quality system
Behailu Z. (Ph.D. Cand.)
Encourages Training and Certifications
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1. Performance – Based Specifications
Methods of Specifying Concrete
16. Behailu Z. (Ph.D. Cand.) 16
2. Prescription (Detailed – Design) Specifications
Types of Specification
written documents that give details about the project's
materials and instructions for their installation.
Architects and engineers usually determine prescriptive
specifications. Therefore, they are responsible for the
proper installation of materials, not the contractor.
17. Prescriptive specs put a greater burden on the
Engineer or Architect (as opposed to the
general contractor) to ensure proper
installation.
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2. Prescription (Detailed – Design) Specifications
Methods of Specifying Concrete
18. It usually involves three key components:
i. General provisions: requirements surrounding codes and standards
ii. Required products: the type of products required based on
performance and structural stipulations of each product
iii. Execution procedures: how to do the install and measure its
effectiveness
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2. Prescription (Detailed – Design) Specifications
Methods of Specifying Concrete
19. Prescriptive specifications are just recipes/guidelines/instructions: do
this, then do this, then do this, etc.
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2. Prescription (Detailed – Design) Specifications
Limit the cost, types and quantities of ingredients
Identify mixture proportions
Detail construction means and methods
Example,
specifying 40 MPa as compressive strength for substructures in a salty
soil, perhaps in accordance with a ASTM or ACI.
Methods of Specifying Concrete
20. Do not always cover intended performance, & may conflict with it.
Example: Low w/c for durability could increase thermal and shrinkage
cracking
Requirements are generally not directly enforceable
Producer held responsible for performance and defects, even though he lacks
the freedom to make changes
Prevents mixture optimization for performance
No incentive for quality control / batch uniformity
Behailu Z. (Ph.D. Cand.)
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2. Prescription (Detailed – Design) Specifications
Methods of Specifying Concrete
21. W/c alone does not
control strength
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
0.40 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.70
Water-Cementitious Ratio (w/cm)
Compressive
Strength,
psi
Mix 1
Mix 2
Mix 3
Source: ACI 211
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2. Prescription (Detailed – Design) Specifications
Methods of Specifying Concrete
22. Initiative of the ready mixed industry
Allow performance specifications as an alternative to current prescriptive
specifications
Leverage expertise of all parties to improve quality and reliability of
concrete construction
Assist architects/engineers to address concrete specifications in terms of
functional requirements
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3. Mixed (Performance & Prescriptive) specification
Methods of Specifying Concrete
23. 3. Mixed (Performance & Prescriptive) specification
Allow flexibility on the details of concrete mixtures and construction means
and methods
Better establish roles and responsibilities based on expertise
Continue to elevate the performance level of the ready mixed concrete
industry
Foster innovation and advance new technology at a faster pace
Behailu Z. (Ph.D. Cand.)
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Methods of Specifying Concrete
24. Purchaser specifies:
• Compressive strength
• Cement content
• Admixture type and content
Concrete producer selects mix proportions.
Ready Mix Concrete: ASTM C 94
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3. Mixed (Performance & Prescriptive) specification
Methods of Specifying Concrete
25. 4. Proprietary specification
Proprietary specifications are those that require the use of a single approved
product type for any particular installation or services.
They are often used in two cases, where there is an existing equipment or
installations already on site. In these cases the owner may want to maintain
consistency of materials or possibly simply prefers a specific type of product.
or, in highly complex installations where there is only one specific piece of
equipment that will accomplish a specified task, a proprietary specification is
required.
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Methods of Specifying Concrete
26. 4. Proprietary specification
Architects and engineers typically try to avoid utilizing proprietary
specifications except when absolutely necessary, and will usually allow the
contractor to select from a list of approved suppliers.
Requiring the use of one specific product type can lead to the perception of
favoritism towards a certain manufacturer and may eliminate competition
during the bid phase, which may increase the project cost.
A common example would be a specification by brand name, or for a patented
product, which excludes consideration of proposed “equals” or “equivalents”.
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Methods of Specifying Concrete