Result and Discussion

CHAPTER 5

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

5.1 Workability
A high-quality concrete is one which has acceptable workability (around 6.5 cm slump
height) in the fresh condition and develops sufficient strength. Basically, the bigger the
measured height of slump, the better the workability will be, indicating that the concrete
flows easily but at the same time is free from segregation. Maximum strength of concrete
is related to the workability and can only be obtained if the concrete has adequate degree
of workability because of self-compacting ability. The workability of A and B series
concrete are presented in table.

5.1.1 Slump cone test results

Table 5.1 Slump of Different Concrete Mix Combinations

Type of Concrete % of Fly-ash % of Fibres % of Nano Slump

particles (mm)
A 0 0 0 98
C-1 30 0 0 100
C-2 30 0.25 0 96
C-3 30 0.25 0.5 92

Table 5.2 Slump of Different Concrete Mix for Optimisation of Nano Particle
Sr.No. Sample designation nano SiO2 particle % Slump height(mm)

1. A 0 98

2. B1 0.5 87

3. B2 1 85

4. B3 2 81

5. B4 3 78

42
 Result and Discussion

5.2 Compressive strength of concrete cube

Compressive strength of concrete with proportions of various materials mentioned above
Cubes:

Table 5.3 Compressive strength of concrete with proportions of various materials

7 Days 28 Day
Concrete Cube Cube Cube
Average Average
Mix Nos. Strength Strength
N/mm² fck N/mm² fck
1 25.5 36.6
A 2 25.1 24.7 37.5 37.26
3 23.5 37.7
1 23.0 34.5
C-1 2 22.5 22.96 33.4 33.9
3 23.4 33.8
1 26.5 38.5
C-2 2 26.0 26.5 39.0 38.56
3 27.0 38.2
1 28.5 43.0
C-3 2 29.0 29.0 44.5 44.4
3 29.5 45.7

50
45
Compressive Strength (Mpa)

40
35
30
25
7 Days
20
28 days
15
10
5
0
A C-1 C-2 C-3
Mix Proportion

Fig. 5.1 Compressive strength of concrete cube with proportions of various materials

43
 Result and Discussion

5.3 Compressive strength of concrete cubes with different proportions of

nano particles:

5.3.1 Optimization of Nano SiO2

To find the optimum percentage of nano SiO2 to be added on the mix, series of compressive
test are conducted for various percentage of nano SiO2.

Table 5.4 Optimization of nano SiO2

nano SiO2 Compressive strength

Sample
Sr. No. particle (Mpa) fck
designation
% 7 days 28 days

1. A 0 25.5 36.6

2. B1 0.5 30.4 41.1

3. B2 1 31.7 42.3

4. B3 2 31.9 42.8

5. B4 3 27.5 37.7

45

40
Compressive Strength (Mpa)

35

30

25

20 7 days

15 28 days

10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
SiO2 particle in %

Fig. 5.2 Optimization of Nano SiO2

44
 Result and Discussion

5.3.2 Flexural strength of concrete beam at 7 & 28 days and deflection on dial gauge
with two-point load

Table 5.5 Flexural Strength Results along with Deflection

7 Day 28 Day Analytical

Experimental Experimental
Flexural Flexural Deflection
Concrete Deflection Deflection
strength of Strength At Centre
Mix with Dial with Dial
Beam of Beam (mm.)
Gauge (mm.) Gauge (mm.)
N/mm² fcr N/mm² fcr
A 4.47 3.5 3.8 3.6 8.5
C-1 4.16 4.7 5.62 3.8 8.7
C-2 4.52 3.7 6.82 2.5 4.7
C-3 5.17 2.8 7.93 1.7 3.4

7
Flexural strength (Mpa)

4 7 days
28 days
3

0
A C-1 C-2 C-3
Mix Proportion

Fig. 5.3 Flexural Strength of beam with proportions of various materials

45
 Result and Discussion

10
9
8
7
Deflections
7 Days
6
5
4 28 Days
3
2 Analytical Central
1 Deflection
0
A C-1 C-2 C-3
Mix Proportions

Fig. 5.4 Deflection of beam with proportions of various materials

Table 5.6 Flexural Strengths Results Along with Deflection for Optimisation

Sr. Sample Nano SiO2 Flexural Strength Deflection

No. Designation Particle % N/mm2 fcr
1 A 0 3.8 3.6
2 B1 0.5 4.92 4.51
3 B2 1 5.76 4.27
4 B3 2 3.96 6.28
5 B4 3 3.91 8.99

7
Flexural strength (Mpa)

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
SiO2 particle in %

Fig. 5.5 Flexural Strength with different SiO2 %

46
 Result and Discussion

10
9
8
Deflection (mm) 7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
SiO2 particle in %

Fig. 5.6 Deflection with different SiO2 %

The flexural test shows that the deflection in nanoSiO2 concrete increases in a gradual
manner until the ultimate load occurs whereas in conventional concrete the deflection is
irregular due to lack of pore filling effect.

Comparison of the results from the 7, and 28 days samples shows that the
compressive strength increases with nano-SiO2 particles up to 2% replacement (B3) and
then it decreases, although the results of 3.0% replacement (B4) is still higher than those
of the plain cement concrete (A). It was shown that the use of 2.0% nano-SiO2 particles
decreases the compressive strength to a value which is near to the control Concrete. This
may be due to the fact that the quantity of nano-SiO2 particles present in the mix is higher
than the amount required to combine with the liberated lime during the process of hydration
thus leading to excess silica leaching out and causing a deficiency in strength as it replaces
part of the cementitious material but does not contribute to strength.

The flexural and compressive strength at the age of 7 days, and 28 days were shown.
Comparison of the data of the 7 days, and 28 days samples showed that the flexural strength
varied with the nanoSiO2 contents. When the content of nanoSiO2 was 1%, the flexural
strength of hardened cement paste reached its maximum. Result showed that the

47
 Result and Discussion

compressive strength at two ages increased with the content of nanoSiO2 until it reached
an optimal content of 2% and then it decreased. Optimal contents of nanoSiO2 were
different for the flexural and compressive strength which were 1% and 2%, respectively.
However, when content of nanoSiO2 was 2%, the compressive strength didn’t increase very
much compared with 1%. So it could be regarded that 1% was the optimal content of
nanoSiO2.

5.4 FEM Modelling Results

Analysis results for all beams with different mix proportion as mention above are shown
in Table 5.7 and Table 5.8.

Table 5.7 Deflection comparison

Concrete Deflection (mm)

Mix Experimental SAP
A 3.6 3.52
C-1 3.8 3.71
C-2 2.5 2.43
C-3 1.7 1.65

Table 5.8 Deflection (mm) comparison for different SiO2 %

Sr. Sample Nano SiO2 Experimental SAP

No. Designation Particle % Deflection
1 A 0 3.6 3.52
2 B1 0.5 4.51 4.42
3 B2 1 4.27 4.08
4 B3 2 6.28 6.15
5 B4 3 8.99 8.23

48