Anda di halaman 1dari 1

Mineralogy

Overview

The Mineralogical and Petrographic


Analysis of Concrete Aggregates
Marc-André Bérubé

The aggregates used in concrete have to sion, and polishing are greatly affected
SPECIFICATIONS FOR
meet a number of specifications relating to by the nature, proportions, and indi-
CONCRETE AGGREGATES
mechanical performance, durability, chemi- vidual properties of minerals in the rock
cal stability, alkali reactivity, gradation, To ensure strength and durability of constituents, such as hardness, hardness
shape, surface texture, and the presence of the finished product, concrete aggregates contrast, tenacity, and cleavage (Figure
harmful substances. Numerous standard must generally satisfy a number of speci- 1). Performance also depends, to a great
tests are used to ensure aggregates meet fications relating to: extent, on textural characteristics such
those specifications. However, petrographic ∑ Mechanical performance—Resis- as porosity, size and shape of mineral
examination, despite being qualitative in tance to fragmentation, abrasion, grains or rock fragments, and organiza-
nature, remains the most valuable test for and polishing tion and cohesive forces between these
predicting the overall performance of con- ∑ Durability—Resistance to environ- grains or fragments (grain interlocking,
crete aggregates in any control test, and in mental conditions, particularly nature of cement, and degree of cemen-
service, as well. freezing/thawing cycles tation), and on the structural character-
∑ Chemical stability—Resistance to istics of the rock constituents which re-
INTRODUCTION
any deleterious reaction (e.g., dis- late to preferential planes of weakness
The performance of aggregates in con- solution, sulfatation) such as stratification, bedding fissility,
crete depends on their mineralogical and ∑ Alkali-aggregate reactivity—With schistosity, gneissosity, folding, and
petrographic characteristics. Before con- the highly basic and alkaline con- shearing, and to the discontinuities they
crete is prepared and through its service crete pore solution contain, such as joints, fractures, fissures,
life, aggregates may be exposed to me- ∑ Harmful substances—Soft and veins, and stringers (Figure 1).
chanical, physical, and chemical stresses, friable particles, organic matter, low-
Resistance to Fragmentation
which they must resist. They have then density matter
to satisfy a number of specifications, with ∑ Particle shape and surface texture— Resistance to fragmentation intro-
standard tests used to control compli- Sphericity and angularity, tough- duces the notion of brittleness under
ance. This paper emphasizes the perfor- ness and alteration impact or pressure (i.e. tenacity), and
mance evaluation of concrete aggregates ∑ Particle size distribution— depends on all properties previously
in relation to mineralogical and petro- Gradation and amount of fines listed, although less on hardness and
graphic characteristics. (% < 80 mm) porosity (Figure 1). It is especially sensi-
∑ Other useful (for concrete propor- tive to the cohesive forces between the
SOURCES OF CONCRETE
tioning) or specified properties (for mineral grains or rock fragments form-
AGGREGATES
special uses)—surface moisture, ing the rock constituents (i.e., degree of
Three major groups of rocks occur in water content, absorptivity, specific interlocking, and bonding) as well as to
nature: igneous, sedimentary, and meta- gravity, bulk density, and per- the planes of weakness and discon-
morphic, and within each group are a centage of voids tinuities they contain. For a given type of
wide variety of types. Almost all rocks The quality of aggregates is controlled rock, the coarser the grain size, the easier
are quarried or found in natural sand based on a series of standard tests. How- the rock will be to fragment, especially if
and gravel deposits, and used world- ever, the aggregates’ mechanical perfor- some minerals show cleavage. For ex-
wide as concrete aggregates, depending mance, durability, chemical stability, al- ample, coarse-grained metamorphic
on regional geology and availability, and kali reactivity, and harmful substance limestones are more friable and less re-
provided the aggregates derived from content are highly related to their com- sistant than fine-grained sedimentary
them satisfy the specifications. The most positional, textural, and structural char- limestones; volcanic rocks are much
common types of exploited igneous rocks acteristics. For this reason, mineralogy stronger than their plutonic equivalents,
are granite, syenite, nepheline syenite, and petrography constitute the main (for example, rhyolite as compared with
diorite, gabbro, porphyries (various com- subject of this paper. granite, even though both rock types
positions), rhyolite, phonolite, andesite, have very similar mineralogical compo-
MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE
basalt, and felsic (or rhyolitic) tuff. The sitions).
most commonly exploited sedimentary Mechanical stresses can occur before In Canada, the resistance to fragmen-
rocks are sandstone of various composi- (handling and transportation), during tation is determined by the Los Angeles
tion, grey-wacke, siltstone, argilite, lime- (mixing, placement, and compaction in test (Canadian Standards Association
stone (various types), and dolostone. The the case of compacted concrete), and CSA A23.2-16A or Bureau de Normal-
most commonly exploited metamorphic after aggregates are put in service (static isation du Quebec NQ 2560-400). In fact,
rocks are quartzite, calcitic, and dolo- and cycling loads and stresses, traffic this test deals more with tenacity than
mitic marbles, crystalline limestones and and friction by tires). Under such stresses, with hardness, as it involves more frag-
dolostones, amphibolites, some chlor- aggregates can crack and fragment by mentation (impact by steel balls) than
itic and quartz-mica-hornblende schists, pressure and impact, suffer abrasion by abrasion (friction between balls and par-
and various types of gneiss containing rubbing, and become polished by rub- ticles). Granitic rocks, for example, per-
quartz, feldspar, mica, hornblende, and/ bing (pavements and floors). The aggre- form relatively poorly in this test: gra-
or garnet. gate resistances to fragmentation, abra- nitic rocks are rich in quartz and feld-

2001 December • JOM 45

Anda mungkin juga menyukai