CONCRETE

Glossary A-B
O AAC - Autoclaved Aerated Concrete - Exceptionally lightweight precast concrete with
high thermal qualities and Iire resistance. Suitable Ior cutting with ordinary hand tools.
Mix design is composed oI portland cement, sand or siliceous material, lime, gypsum,
Iinely powdered aluminum, and water. The initial mix is a combination oI portland
cement, sand, lime and gypsum as a slurry. Finely powdered aluminum (mixed into a
paste) is added prior to placement into large, rail-like Iorms. The Iinely powdered
aluminum reacts with the alkaline components oI the cement and lime to produce
hydrogen gas. This increases the volume approximately Iive times, producing a
uniIormly dispersed cellular structure. Units are cut to required shape, placed in an
autoclave (an enclosed pressurized chamber) and steam cured at 350
o
. About 80 oI the
ultimate volume consists oI air voids.
O Abrasion Resistance - Resistance oI a surIace to being worn away by Iriction or rubbing
process.
O Absolute Volume - The volume oI an ingredient in its solid state, without voids between
individual pieces or particles. In the case oI Iluids, the cubic content occupied. In
concrete, the actual volume occupied by the diIIerent ingredients determined by dividing
the weight oI each ingredient (in pounds) by its speciIic gravity multiplied by the weight
oI one cubic Ioot oI water (in pounds). For example, the Absolute Volume oI one sack oI
cement 94 divided by (3.15 x 62.4) 0.478 cubic Ieet.
O Absorbed Moisture - Moisture which is mechanically held in a material. In aggregates,
that water which is not available to become part oI the mixing water is designated
"absorbed" water.
O Absorption - The process by which water is absorbed -- or the amount oI water absorbed
under speciIic conditions, usually expressed as percentage oI the dry weight oI the
material.
O Accelerator - An admixture which, when added to concrete, mortar, or grout, increases
the rate oI hydration oI the hydraulic cement, shortens the time oI set and increases the
rate oI hardening or strength development.
O Adiabatic Curing - The maintenance oI ambient conditions during the setting and
hardening oI concrete so that heat is neither lost nor gained Irom the surroundings oI the
concrete.
O Admixture - A material other than water, aggregates, and portland cement that is used as
an ingredient oI concrete, and is added to the batch immediately beIore or during the
mixing operation.
O Adsorption Water - Water held on surIaces in a material by either physical and/or
chemical Iorces.
O Air Content - The amount oI entrained or entrapped air in concrete or mortar, exclusive
oI pore space in aggregate particles, usually expressed as a percentage oI total volume oI
concrete or mortar.
O Air Entraining Agent - An addition Ior hydraulic cement, or an admixture Ior concrete
or mortar which entrains air in the Iorm oI minute bubbles in the concrete or mortar
during mixing.
O Alkali-Aggregate Reaction - Older terminology Ior Alkali-Silica Reactivity (ASR).
O ASR - Alkali-Silica Reactivity - The reaction oI aggregates, which contain some Iorm oI
silica or carbonates with sodium oxides or potassium oxides in cement, particularly in
warm, moist climates or environments, causing expansion, cracking or popouts in
concrete.
O Aluminous Cement - A hydraulic cement in which the principal constituents are calcium
aluminates, instead oI calcium silicates which comprise the major ingredients oI portland
cement. (See Calcium Aluminate Cement)
O Autoclave - A chamber in which an environment oI steam and high pressure is produced.
Used in curing oI concrete products and in the testing oI hydraulic cement Ior soundness.
O ag (oI cement) - See Sack.
O arrel (oI cement) - A unit oI weight Ior cement: 376 lbs net, equivalent to 4 US bags oI
portland cement. The designation presently used is tons oI cement.
O laine Fineness - The Iineness oI granular materials such as cement and pozzolan,
expressed as total surIace area in square centimeters per gram, determined by the Blaine
air-permeability apparatus and procedure.
O last Furnace Slag - A non-metallic waste product developed in the manuIacture oI pig
iron, consisting basically oI a mixture oI lime, silica and alumina, the same oxides that
make up portland cement, but not in the same proportions or Iorms. It is used both in the
manuIacture oI portland blast Iurnace slag cement and as an aggregate Ior lightweight
concrete.
O leeding, leed Water - A Iorm oI segregation in which some oI the water in a mix
tends to rise to the surIace oI Ireshly placed concrete. Known also as water gain.
O ond - Adhesion oI concrete or mortar to reinIorcement, or to other surIaces.
O ush-hammer - A tool having a serrated Iace, as rows oI pyramidal points, used to
develop an architectural Iinish Ior concrete surIaces.
Glossary C
O Calcareous - Containing calcium carbonate or, less generally, containing the element
calcium.
O Calcine - To alter composition or physical state by heating to a speciIic temperature Ior a
speciIic length oI time.
O Calcium Aluminate Cement - The product obtained by pulverizing clinker consisting
essentially oI hydraulic calcium aluminates resulting Irom Iusing or sintering a suitable
proportioned mixture oI aluminous and calcareous materials.
O Capillarity - A wick-like action whereby a liquid will migrate vertically through
material, in a upward direction; as oil in a lamp travels upward through the wick.
O Capillary - In cement paste, any space not occupied by anhydrous cement or cement gel.
Air bubbles, whether entrained or entrapped, are not considered as part oI the cement
paste.
O Carbonation - (1) Reaction between the products oI portland cement (soluble calcium
hydroxides), water and carbon dioxide to produce insoluble calcium carbonate
(eIIlorescence). (2) SoIt white, chalky surIace dusting oI Ireshly placed, unhardened
concrete caused by carbon dioxide Irom unvented heaters or gasoline powered equipment
in an enclosed space. (3) Carbonated, dense, impermeable to absorption, top layer oI the
surIace oI concrete caused by surIace reaction to carbon dioxide. This carbonated layer
becomes denser and deeper over a period oI time. Reaction with carbon dioxide which
produces a slight shrinkage in concrete. Improves chemical stability. Concrete masonry
units during manuIacturing may be deliberately exposed to carbon dioxide aIter reaching
80 strength to induce carbonation shrinkage to make the units more dimensionally
stable. Future drying shrinkage is reduced by as much as 30.
O Cellular Concrete - A lightweight product consisting oI portland cement, cement-
pozzolan, cement sand, lime-pozzolan, or lime-sand pastes, or pastes containing blends oI
these ingredients and having a homogenous void or cell structure, attained with gas
Iorming chemicals or Ioaming agents. For cellular concretes, containing binder
ingredients other than or in addition to portland cement, autoclave curing is usually
employed.
O Cement, Portland (ASTM C150) - A powdery substance made by burning, at a high
temperature, a mixture oI clay and limestone producing lumps called ?clinkers? which
are ground into a Iine powder consisting oI hydraulic calcium silicates. For non-portland
cements, see aluminous cement.
O Cement Content - A quantity oI cement contained in a unit volume oI concrete or
mortar, ordinarily expressed as pounds, barrels, or bags per cubic yard.
O Cement Gel - The colloidal gel (glue like) material that makes up the major portion oI
the porous mass oI which hydrated cement paste is composed.
O Cementitious - Having cement-like, cementing, or bonding type properties. Material or
substance producing bonding properties or cement-like materials.
O Chair(s) - In concrete Iormwork, the support Ior the reinIorcing steel.
O Change of State - The process whereby liquid is heated to the point oI evaporation
changing the liquid into a gas the condensation oI a gas on a cooler surIace returning it
Irom gaseous to liquid Iorm.
O Coarse Aggregate - Naturally occurring, processed or manuIactured, inorganic particles
in prescribed gradation or size range, the smallest size oI which will be retained on the
No. 4 (4.76 mm) sieve.
O Coefficient of Thermal Expansion - Change in unit length per degree change oI
temperature.
O Cold 1oint - A visible lineation which Iorms when the placement oI concrete is delayed.
The concrete in place hardens prior to the next placement oI concrete against it.
O Colloidal - A gel-like mass which does not allow the transIer oI ions
O Compressive Strength - The measured resistance oI a concrete or mortar specimen to
axial loading expressed as pounds per square inch psi) oI cross-sectional area. The
maximum compressive stress which material, portland cement, concrete, or grout is
capable oI sustaining.
O Concrete - A composite material which consists essentially oI a binding medium, within
which are embedded particles or Iragments oI a relative inert Iiller in portland cement
concrete, the binder is a mixture oI portland cement, possibly additional cementitious
materials such as Ily ash and water; the Iiller may be any oI a wide variety oI natural or
artiIicial, Iine and coarse aggregates; and in some instances, an admixture.
O Condensation - When a moisture-laden gas comes in contact with a cooler surIace, a
change oI state Irom gaseous to liquid occurs.
O Consistency - The degree oI plasticity oI Iresh concrete or mortar The normal measure oI
consistency is slump Ior concrete and Ilow Ior mortar.
O Consolidation - Compaction usually accomplished by vibration oI newly placed concrete
to minimum practical volume, to mold it within Iorm shapes and around embedded parts
and reinIorcement, and to eliminate voids other than entrained air.
O Construction 1oint - The contact between the placed concrete and concrete surIaces,
against or upon which concrete is to be placed and to which new concrete is to adhere,
that has become so rigid that the new concrete cannot be incorporated integrally by
vibration with that previously placed. UnIormed construction joints are horizontally
placed or nearly so.
O Cure - Method oI maintaining suIIicient internal humidity and proper temperature Ior
Ireshly placed concrete to assure proper hydration oI the cement, and proper hardening oI
the concrete.
Glossary D-E-F
O ensity - Weight per unit volume.
O ispersing Agent - An admixture capable oI increasing the Iluidity oI pastes, mortars, or
concretes by reduction oI interparticle attraction.
O ry Rodded Weight - The weight oI dry aggregate rodded into a cylindrical container oI
diameter approximately equal to the height, each oI 3 layers rodded 25 times, and the
excess aggregate struck oII level with the top oI the container
O rying Shrinkage - A decrease in the volume oI concrete upon drying.
O urability - The ability oI concrete to resist weathering action, chemical attack, and
abrasion
O Efflorescence - A crystalline deposit oI salts which leach Irom the concrete as soluble
calcium hydroxides and within a short period oI time will combine with the atmospheric
carbon dioxide to Iorm insoluble calcium carbonates, usually white in color, appearing on
the surIaces oI masonry, stucco or concrete.
O Elastic Shortening - The shortening oI a member in pre-stressed concrete which occurs
on the application oI Iorces induced by prestressing.
O Entrained Air - (See air entrainment) Microscopic air bubbles intentionally incorporated
in mortar or concrete, to improve workability and durability (usually imparting a higher
degree oI resistance to Ireezing and thawing).
O Entrapped Air - Air in concrete which is not purposely en-trained, Entrapped air
bubbles are normally much larger and more irregular than entrained air bubbles.
O False Set - The rapid development oI rigidity in a mixed portland cement paste, mortar,
or concrete without the evolution oI much heat. This rigidity can be dispelled and
plasticity regained by Iurther mixing without addition oI water. Premature stiIIening, and
rubber set are terms reIerring to the same phenomenon, but Ialse set is the preIerred term.
O Fine Aggregate - Aggregate passing the 3/8" sieve and almost entirely passing the No. 4
(4.76 mm) sieve and predominantly retained on the No. 200 (74 micron) sieve
(ASTM125).
O Fineness Modulus - An index oI Iineness or coarseness oI an aggregate sample. An
empirical Iactor determined by adding total percentages oI an aggregate sample retained
on each oI a speciIied series oI sieves, and dividing the sum by 100. Note: U S Standard
sieve sizes are used: No. 100, No.50, No. 30, No. 16, No. 8, and No. 4, and 3/8", 3/4", 1",
2", 3", and 6".
O Flash Set - The rapid development oI rigidity in a mixed portland cement paste, mortar
or concrete usually with the evolution oI considerable heat, which rigidity cannot be
dispelled nor can the plasticity be regained by Iurther mixing without addition oI water
Also reIerred to as quick set or grab set.
O Flexural Strength - A property oI a solid that indicates its ability to withstand bending.
O Fly Ash - The Iinely divided residue that results Irom the combustion oI ground or
powdered coal, transported Irom the Iirebox through the boiler by Ilue gases.
O Foam Concrete - See Cellular concrete.
Glossary G-H-I
O Gap-graded Aggregate - Aggregate containing particles oI both large and small sizes, in
which particles oI certain intermediate sizes are wholly or substantially absent.
O Gas Concrete - See Cellular concrete.
O GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) - Concrete panels, usually architectural
designs, reinIorced with a high zirconia (16 minimum), alkali-resistant glass Iiber.
Optimum glass Iiber content oI 5 by weight. Lower Iiber content results in lower early
ultimate strengths, higher Iiber content can produce composite compaction and
consolidation diIIiculties.
O Gillmore Needle - A device used in determining time oI setting oI hydraulic cement,
described in ASTM 0 266. Gradation The sizing oI granular materials; Ior concrete
materials, usually expressed in terms oI cumulative percentages larger or smaller than
each oI a series oI sieve openings or the percentages between certain ranges oI sieve
openings.
O Grout - A Iluid mixture oI (1) cement, sand, and water or (2) cement and water: the
hardened equivalent oI such mixtures.
O Gunite - A term sometimes used to designate dry-mix shotcrete.
O eat of ydration - The quantity oI heat expressed in calories per gram, evolved upon
complete hydration oI portland cement at a given temperature.
O olding Period - Period In the manuIacture oI concrete products, the period between
completion oI casting and the introduction oI additional heat or the steam curing period.
O RM (igh Reactivity Metakaolin) - ReIined Iorm oI an ASTM C618, Class N
(natural) pozzolan. A high perIormance mineral admixture, similar in perIormance to
silica Iume, additionally comparable in cost. Pure white powdered in Iorm will not eIIect
the natural color or darken concrete as silica Iume does. Suitable Ior high-perIormance
color matching in architectural concrete. Dosage at 5 to 10 oI cement by weight. No
bleed water, better Iinishability, more creamy, cleanup is easier with slightly higher 28
day strengths and 25 - 35 less plasticizer is required than silica Iume. Process:
Produced by heating a puriIied kaolinite clay to a speciIic high temperature to alter the
physical composition (calcined). Through a careIully controlled reIining process,
impurities are removed producing an almost 100 reactive, pure white, pozzolanic
powder, very evenly distributed in particle size and results in a mineral admixture which
is consistent in appearance and perIormance Irom lot to lot.
O ydration - Formation oI a compound by the union oI water with some other substance.
In concrete it is the chemical reaction between water and the cement. A concrete slab
needs to completely hydrate prior to the application oI paints, coatings, and Ilooring
materials.
O ydraulic Cement - A cement that is capable oI setting and hardening under water due
to interaction oI water and the constituents oI the cement (ASTM 219).
O ydrogenesis - Another term Ior condensation. The term is especially applied to base
and soil substrates under highway pavements, where the barometric pump causes the
inhalation oI humid air, which then condenses in those structures, causing an ever
increasing moisture content and sometimes instability.
O ydrologic Cycle - The Hydrologic Cycle consists oI the evaporation oI water Irom
oceans and other bodies oI open water; condensation to produce cloud Iormations;
precipitation oI rain, snow, sleet or hail upon land surIaces; dissipation oI rain or melted
solids by direct run-oII into lakes and by seepage into the soil. Thereby producing a
continuing endless source oI water in the sub-grade.
O mpermeable - The ability oI a material or product to reduce or eliminate gaseous
transmissions through it's mass; measured as the rate oI Water Vapor Transmission
(WVT). Note: Not all materials that are waterprooI are vaporprooI; all materials that are
vaporprooI are inherently waterprooI.
O nitial Set - A degree oI stiIIening oI the cement and water mixture. This is a degree lees
than Iinal set and is generally stated as an empirical value, indicating the time in hours
and minutes required Ior a cement paste to stiIIen suIIiciently to resist to an established
degree the penetration oI a weighted test needle. (ReIer to ASTM C191 or C286 Ior
weight and penetration data.)
O nitial stress - In prestressed concrete, the stresses occurring in the prestressed members
beIore any losses occur.
Glossary J-K-L
O 1acking Equipment - In prestressed concrete, the device used to stress the tendons.
O 1acking Force - The temporary Iorce exerted by the jacking device which introduces
tension into the tendons.
O 1acking Stress - In prestressed concrete, the maximum stress occurring in a tendon
during stressing.
O eene's Cement - A Iinely ground high density plaster composed oI anhydrous,
(calcined or "dead burned") gypsum, the set oI which is accelerated by the addition oI
other materials.
O elly all - A device Ior determining the consistency oI Iresh concrete. It is sometimes
used as an alternative to the slump test.
O aitance - A residue oI weak and non-durable material consisting oI cement, aggregate,
Iines, or impurities brought to the surIace oI overwet concrete by the bleeding water.
O ift - Layer oI concrete.
O iquefaction - The change oI state to a liquid. Term used instead oI condensation in
reIerence to substances, which are usually gaseous.
Glossary M-N-O
O Magnetite - An aggregate used in heavy weight concrete, consisting primarily oI Ierrous
metaIerrite (Fe304). A black magnetic iron ore with a speciIic gravity oI approximately
5.2 and a Mohs hardness oI about 6.
O Marl - A calcareous clay, containing approximately 30 to 65 percent calcium carbonate
(05003), Iound normally in extinct Iresh waIer basins, swamps, or bottoms oI shallow
lakes.
O Masonry Cement - Hydraulic cement manuIactured Ior use in mortars Ior masonry
construction. Normally a blend oI two or more oI the Iollowing materials: portland
cement, natural cement, portland-pozzolan cement, hydraulic lime, slag cement, hydrated
lime, pulverized limestone, talc, chalk, pozzolan, clay or gypsum; also may include air
en-training additions.
O Mass Concrete - Any large volume oI concrete cast in place intended to resist applied
loads by virtue oI mass. Generally a monolithic structure incorporating a low cement
Iactor with a high proportion oI large coarse aggregate.
O Mass Curing - Adiabatic curing, using sealed containers.
O Maximum Size Aggregate - Aggregate whose largest particle size is present in suIIicient
quantity to aIIect the physical properties oI concrete; generally designated by the sieve
size on which the maximum amount permitted to be retained is 5 or 10 percent by weight.
O Mixer - Equipment used Ior mixing or blending the materials used in the manuIacture oI
concrete, grout or mortar.
O Mixing Speed - Rate oI mixer drum rotation or that oI the paddles in a pan, open-top, or
trough type mixer, when mixing a batch; expressed in revolutions per minute (rpm) or in
peripheral| Ieet per minute oI A point on the circumIerence at maximum diameter.
O Mixing Time - For stationary mixers, mixing time is calculated in minutes Irom the
completion oI charging the mixer until the beginning oI discharge; Ior truck mixer, time
is calculated in total minutes at a speciIied mixing speed. the period during which
materials used in a batch oI concrete are combined by the mixer.
O Modulus of Elasticity - A measure oI the resistance oI material to deIormation. the ratio
oI normal stress corresponding strain Ior tensile or compressive stresses below the
proportional limit oI the material; elastic modulus is denoted by the symbol "2".
O Moist Room - A room used Ior storing and curing cementitious test specimens. The
atmosphere oI this room is maintained at a temperature oI 73.4 3.0'F or 23.0*1.7'0 and
relative humidity oI at least 98 percent. These Iacilities must be adequate to continually
maintain Iree moisture on the exteriors oI test specimens.
O Monolithic - A plain or reinIorced mass oI concrete cast as a single, one piece, integral
structure.
O Mortar - A mixture oI cement, sand and water. When used in masonry construction, the
mixture may contain masonry cement, or standard portland cement with lime or other ad-
mixtures which may produce greater degrees oI plasticity and/or durability.
O Neat Cement - Unhydrated hydraulic cement.
O Neat Cement-Paste - A mixture oI water and hydraulic cement, both beIore and aIter
setting and hardening.
O No-Fines Concrete - A concrete mixture in which only the coarse gradation (3/8' to 3/4'
normally) oI aggregate issued.
O Non-agitating Unit - A truck-mounted unit Ior transporting ready-mixed concrete short
distances, not equipped to provide agitation (slow mixing) during delivery.
O Non-evaporable Water - The water in concrete which is irremovable by oven drying;
chemically combined during cement hydration.
O Ottawa Sand - A sand used as a standard in testing hydraulic cements by means oI
mortar test specimens. Sand is produced by processing silica rock particles obtained by
hydraulic mining oI the orthoquartzite situated in open-pit deposits near Ottawa, Illinois;
naturally rounded grains oI nearly pure quartz.
O Overvibration - Excessive vibration oI Ireshly mixed concrete during placement-causing
segregation.
Glossary P-Q
O Particle-Size istribution - Particle distribution oI granular materials among various
sizes; Ior concrete material normally designated as gradation. Usually expressed in terms
oI cumulative percentages smaller or larger than each oI a series oI sieve openings or
percentages between certain ranges oI sieve openings.
O Pea Gravel - Portion oI concrete aggregate passing the 3/8' sieve and retained on a No.4
sieve.
O Peeling - A process in which thin Ilakes oI matrix or mortar are broken away Irom
concrete surIace; caused by adherence oI surIace mortar-to Iorms as Iorms are removed,
or to trowel or Iloat in portland cement plaster.
O Pining - Development oI relatively small cavities in a concrete surIace, due to
phenomena such as cavitation or corrosion.
O Plane of Weakness - The plane along which a structure under stress will tend to Iracture;
may exist because oI the nature oI the structure and its loading, by accident, or by design.
O Plastic - A condition oI Ireshly mixed concrete. mortar or cement -paste indicating that it
is workable and readily re-moldable, is cohesive, and has an ample content oI Iines and
cement but is not over wet.
O Plastic Consistency - Condition in which concrete, mortar, or cement paste will sustain
deIormation continuously in any direction without rupture.
O Plasticity - Property oI Ireshly mixed concrete, cement paste or mortar which determines
its ease oI molding or resistance to deIormation.
O Plasticizer - A material that increases the workability or consistency oI a concrete
mixture, mortar or cement paste.
O Porosity - The ratio oI the volume oI voids in the material to the total volume oI the
material, including the voids, usually expressed as a percentage.
O Portland last- slag Cement Furnace (ASTM C 595) - The product obtained by
intimately intergrinding or an intimate and uniIorm blending a mixture oI granulated blast
Iurnace slag and portland-cement clinker.
O Portland Cement (ASTM C 150) - The product obtained by pulverizing clinker
consisting essentially oI hydraulic calcium silicates.
O Portland-Pozzolan Cement (ASTM C 595) - The product obtained by intimately
intergrinding a mixture oI portland-cement clinker and pozzolan, or an intimate and
uniIorm blend oI portland cement and Iine pozzolan.
O Post-tensioning - A method oI prestressing concrete in which the tendons are tensioned
aIter the concrete has hardened.
O Pozzolan (ASTM C 618) - A siliceous, or siliceous and aluminous material, which in
itselI possesses little or no cementitious value but will, in a Iinely divided Iorm, such as a
powder or liquid and in the presence oI moisture, chemically react with calcium
hydroxide at ordinary temperatures to Iorm permanent, insoluble compounds possessing
cementitious properties.
O Precast - A concrete unit, structure or member that is cast and cured in an area other than
its Iinal position or place.
O Preplaced Concrete - Concrete manuIactured by placing clean, graded coarse aggregate
in a Iorm and later injecting a portland cement-sand grout under pressure, to Iill the
voids.
O Proportioning - Selection oI proportions oI material Ior concrete to make the most
economical use oI available materials to manuIacture concrete oI the required strength,
placeability, and durability.
O Prestressed Concrete - Concrete in which stresses have been introduced which are
opposite in sense to those that the structural member will be expected to carry during its
use.
O Pretensioning - A method oI prestressing reinIorced concrete in which the steel is
stressed beIore the concrete has hardened and restrained Irom gaining its unstressed
position by bond to the concrete.
O Pumping (oI Pavements) - The ejection oI a mixture oI water and solid materials such as
clay or silt along cracks, transverse or longitudinal joints, and along pavement edges
caused by downward slab movement due to the passage oI heavy loads, machinery or
equipment over the pavement aIter Iree water has accumulated in or on the subbase,
subgrade or basecourse.
Glossary R-S
O Reactive Aggregate - See Alkali-Aggregate Reaction.
O Rebound - Wet shotcrete or sand and cement which bounces away Irom a surIace again
at which pneumatically applied mortar is being projected.
O Refractory Concrete - Concrete having reIractory properties, suitable Ior use at high
temperatures. Calcium-aluminate cement and reIractory aggregates are normally used Ior
the manuIacture oI this product.
O Reinforced Concrete - (1) Concrete in which reinIorcement, other than that provided Ior
temperature changes Ior shrinkage, has been embedded in such a manner that the two
materials act together in resisting Iorces. (2) Concrete in which steel bars have been
placed to sustain the tensile stresses.
O Retardation - Delaying the hardening or strength gain oI Iresh concrete, mortar or grout.
O Retarder - An admixture which extends the setting time oI cement paste, and thereIore
oI mixtures such as concrete, mortar, or grout.
O Retempering - The addition oI water and remixing oI concrete which has started to
stiIIen: usually not allowed as it may aIIect the ultimate strength.
O Revibration - Delayed vibration oI concrete that has already been placed and
consolidated. Most eIIective when done at the latest time a running vibrator will sink oI
its own weight into the concrete and make it plastic and workable again.
O Rock Pocket - Area or portion oI hardened concrete which is deIicient in mortar and
consisting primarily oI coarse aggregate and open voids; caused by insuIIicient
consolidation or separation during placement, or both; by leakage Irom Iorm.
O Rod (tamping) (ASTM C 241) - A round, straight steel rod, 5/8" in diameter and
approximately 24" in length, having the tamping end rounded into a hemispherical tip,
the diameter oI which is 5/8".
O Sack - A quantity oI cement: 94 Ibs. in the United States, 87.5 Ibs. in Canada, Ior
portland or air entraining portland cement, or as indicated on the sack Ior other kinds oI
cement.
O Sacking - Removing or alleviating deIects on a concrete surIace by applying a mixture oI
sand and cement to the moistened surIace and rubbing with a coarse material such as
burlap.
O Sand (ASTM C 125) - That portion oI an aggregate passing the No. 4 (4.76 mm) sieve
and predominantly retained on the No. 200 (74 micron) sieve.
O Sand last - A system oI abrading a surIace such as concrete by a stream oI sand, or
other abrasive, ejected Irom a nozzle at high speed by water and/or compressed air.
O Saponification - The deposit oI a gray scum or gray dust on the inside surIace oI a
subgrade wall or Iloor; as the result oI moisture moving through the concrete and
washing certain chemicals Irom the concrete mass.
O Scaling - The breaking away oI a hardened concrete surIace, usually to a depth oI 1/16"
to 3/16".
O Screed - (1) Firmly placed grade strips or side Iorms which are set as guides Ior a straight
edge to bring the surIace oI concrete to the required elevation. (2) To strike oII concrete
above the desired level.
O Screen (or Sieve) - A metallic sheet or plate, woven wire cloth, or similar device, with
regularly spaced openings oI uniIorm size, mounted in a suitable Irame or holder Ior use
in separating material according to size.
O Segregation - The tendency Ior the coarse particles to separate Irom the Iiner particles in
handling. In concrete, the coarse aggregate and drier material remains behind and the
mortar and wetter material Ilows ahead. This also occurs in a vertical direction when wet
concrete is over vibrated or dropped vertically into the Iorms, the mortar and wetter
material rising to the top. In aggregate, the coarse particles roll-to the outside edges oI the
stockpile.
O Set - A term used to describe the stiIIening oI cement paste; a condition reached by a
concrete, cement paste, or mortar when plasticity is lost to an arbitrary degree, usually
measured in terms oI resistance to penetration or deIormation. nitial set reIers to Iirst
stiIIening; final set reIers to attainment oI signiIicant rigidity.
O Setting Time - The time required Ior a specimen oI cement paste, mortar or concrete,
prepared and tested under standardized conditions to attain a speciIied degree oI rigidity
with particular reIerence to initial and Iinal setting time.
O Shotcrete - Mortar or concrete conveyed through a hose and projected pneumatically at
high velocity onto a surIace; dry-mix shotcrete (gunite), and wet-mix shotcrete.
O Sieve - See Screen.
O Sieve Analysis - Determination oI the proportions oI particles oI The granular material
lying within certain size ranges on sieves oI diIIerent size openings.
O Slip Form - A Iorm which is raised or pulled as concrete is placed; may move vertically
to Iorm wails, stacks, bins or silos, usually oI uniIorm cross section Irom bottom to top;
or a generally horizontal direction to lay concrete evenly Ior highways, on slopes and
inverts oI canals, tunnels, and siphons.
O Slump - A measure oI the consistency oI plastic concrete relative to the amount it Ialls
when a slump cone Iilled with concrete is liIted vertically. The slump cone is then placed
beside the specimen oI concrete and the number oI inches Irom the top oI the cone to the
top oI the oI specimen oI concrete is the slump (see ASTM C 143).
O Slump Cone - A metal mold in the Iorm oI a truncated cone with a top diameter oI 4", a
bottom diameter oI 8", and a height oI 12", used to Iabricate the specimen Ior a slump
test.
O Slurry - A mixture oI water and such Iinely divided materials, such as portland cement,
slag, or soil in suspension.
O Spall - A Iragment, usually oI Ilaky shape, detached Irom a larger mass by pressure,
expansion Irom within the larger mass, a blow, or by the action oI weather.
O Specific Gravity - The ratio oI the weight oI a material at a stated temperature to the
weight oI the same volume oI gas-Iree distilled water at a stated temperature.
O Stucco - A portland cement mortar material that can be applied to the surIace oI any
building or structure to Iorm a hard and durable covering Ior the exterior wails or other
exterior surIaces.
O Sulfate Attack - Deleterious chemical and/or physical re-action between sulIates in
ground water or soil and certain constituents in cement, which result in expansion and
disruption oI the concrete.
O Sulfate Resistance - Ability oI cement paste, aggregate, or mixtures thereoI to withstand
sulIate attack.
O Surface Moisture - Free moisture retained on the surIaces oI aggregate particles which
becomes part oI the mixing water in the concrete mix.
Glossary T-U-V
O Temper - The addition oI water to the cement mix whether at the batch plant, during
transit or at the jobsite to achieve the speciIied water to cement ratio.
O Temperature Reinforcement - ReinIorcement used to carry temperature stresses.
O Temperature Rise - The increase oI concrete temperature caused by heat oI hydration
and heat Irom other sources.
O Tilt-up - A method oI concrete construction such as where members are cast horizontally
near their eventual position, usually on a recently placed slab, and then tilted into place
aIter removal oI Iorms.
O Transit-Mixed Concrete - Concrete produced Irom a central-batching plant, where the
materials are proportioned and placed in truck-mixers Ior mixing enroute to the job or
aIter arrival there.
O Tremie - A pipe through which concrete may be placed under water, having at its upper
end a hopper Ior Iilling, and a bale which permits handling oI the assembly by a derrick.
O Truck Mixer - A concrete mixer capable oI mixing concrete in transit when mounted on
a truck chassis.
O Ultimate Strength - The maximum resistance to loads that a structure or member is
capable oI developing beIore Iailure occurs, or, with reIerence to cross sections oI
members, the largest axial Iorce, shear or moment a structural concrete cross section will
support.
O Unit Water Content - The quantity oI water per unit volume oI Ireshly mixed concrete,
oIten expressed as gallons or pounds per cubic yard. This is the quantity oI water on
which the water cement ratio is based, and does not include water absorbed by the
aggregate.
O Vapor Pressure - The pressure exerted by a vapor that is calculated based upon relative
humidity and temperature. The higher the humidity and higher temperature, in degrees
Fahrenheit, the greater the vapor pressure exerted.
O Vapor - When a liquid changes to a gaseous Iorm. The ability oI the gas to hold moisture
will reduce as temperatures reduce; more moisture can be contained in the gas as the
temperatures increase.
O Vaporproof - A material that is totally immune to the passage oI a gas under pressure.
Any material that is truly vaporproof will inherently be waterproof.
O Vibration - Energetic agitation oI concrete to assist in its consolidation, produced by
mechanical oscillating devices at moderately high Irequencies. (1) External vibration
employs a device attached to the Iorms and is particularly applicable to the manuIacture
oI precast items and Ior the vibration oI tunnel lining Iorms. (2) Internal vibration
employs an element which can be inserted into the concrete; and is more generally used
Ior cast-in-place construction.
O Vicat Apparatus - A penetration device used to determine the setting characteristics oI
hydraulic cements.
Glossary W-X-Y-Z
O Wagner Fineness - The Iineness oI materials such as portland cement expressed as total
surIace area in centimeters per gram as determined by the Wagner turbidimeter apparatus
and procedure.
O Water-Cement Ratio - The ratio oI the amount oI water, exclusive oI that absorbed by
the aggregates, to the amount oI cement in a concrete mix. Typically expressed as
percentage oI water, by weight in pounds, to the total weight oI portland cement, Ily ash,
and any other cementitious material, per cubic yard, exclusive oI any aggregates.
O Waterproof - A material or surIace that is impervious or unaIIected by water in its liquid
Iorm will repel water in its liquid Iorm, but may not necessarily be vaporproof.
O Water Vapor Pressure - The pressure exerted by water vapor. Air that contains higher
amounts oI water vapor exerts a higher vapor pressure than air which has a lower amount.
Water molecules will migrate Irom areas oI high water vapor pressure (or high relative
humidity) towards areas oI lower water vapor pressure (lower humidities). In concrete,
water vapor pressure is calculated by the diIIerence between the vapor pressure oI the
concrete and the ambient relative humidity and temperature. The greater the diIIerence
between the water vapor and ambient humidity and temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit),
the greater the water vapor pressure exerted.
O Wetting Agent - A substance capable oI lowering the surIace tension oI liquids,
Iacilitating the wetting oI solid surIaces and permitting the penetration oI liquids into the
capillaries.
O Workability - The ease with which a given set oI materials can be mixed into concrete
and subsequently handled, transported, placed and Iinished with a minimum loss oI
homogeneity.
O ield - The amount oI concrete produced by a given combination oI materials, the total
weight oI ingredients divided by the unit weight oI the Ireshly mixed concrete; also, The
cubic test oI concrete produced per sack oI cement; also, the number oI product units,
such as block, produced per batch oI concrete or sack oI cement.