Course Title: Apply knowledge of concrete technology
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2010
Course Code: CIVE5664
Course Title: Apply knowledge of concrete technology
School: 130T Vocational Engineering
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6093 - Advanced Diploma of Engineering Design
Course Contact: Program Manager
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4468
Course Contact Email: vocengineering@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teaching Staff
Mr W.R. (Bill) Harding
School of Engineering TAFE
Tel. 9925 4443
fax. 9925 4377
Email: w.harding@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 40
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Nil
Course Description
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to understand the science and technology of concrete and relate these to the uses of concrete in civil construction.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
EDC110B Apply knowledge of concrete technology |
Element: |
01. Apply knowledge of the principle properties of the constituents of normal Portland cement concrete and special concrete mixes. |
Element: |
02. Identify the effects of admixtures in concrete and the basic reason for placing steel reinforcement. |
Element: |
03. Conduct appropriate tests on a range of concrete design mixes using Portland cement and local aggregates. |
Element: |
04. Identify properties of concrete in the plastic and hardened states. |
Element: |
05. Evaluate the methods of transporting, placing and compacting concrete. |
Element: |
06. Apply understanding of the methods of finishing and the effect of curing concrete. |
Learning Outcomes
Refer to the elements
Details of Learning Activities
Teacher Directed:
• Teacher–led face to face lectures for each element in designated areas of underpinning knowledge, including workplace scenarios and the use of overheads, videos and notes from local web page and covering:
• Cement & Concrete technology
• Properties and Durability of Concrete
• Concrete mix design to AS 3600
• Concrete testing to AS 3600
• Special Concretes.
• Handling, Placing, Compacting and Finishing of Concrete.
Student-based problem-solving:
• Participate in individual and team problem solving activities completed to industry standard related to typical engineering workplace problems and covering:
• Cement & Concrete technology
• Properties and Durability of Concrete
• Concrete mix design to AS 3600
• Concrete testing to AS 3600
• Special Concretes.
• Handling, Placing, Compacting and Finishing of Concrete.
Group-based:
• Participate in individual or small group research using Self Help Questions/Answers for each element in designated areas of underpinning knowledge, accessed via local web site for this unit.
Student-based research:
• Participate in an individual major written research project undertaken on a construction site addressing the designated areas of underpinning knowledge for each element.
Teaching Schedule
Refer to the Learning Hub and the Learning Guide -
"Planning and Time Management Guide" for the
Schedule for this course.
Refer also to the weekly program on the Learning
Hub for the current year.
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
HB 2.2 Australian Standards for Civil Engineering Students, Part 2: Structural Engineering. |
References
CACA & Standards Australia, 2002, Guide to concrete construction, 2nd edn., Cement and concrete association of Australia and Standards Australia |
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment are conducted in both theoretical and practical aspects of the course according to the performance criteria set out in the National Training Package. Students are required to undertake summative assessments that bring together knowledge and skills. To successfully complete this course you will be required to demonstrate competency in each assessment tasks detailed under the Assessment Task Section.
Your assessment for this course will be marked using the following table:
NYC (<50%) Not Yet Competent
CAG (50-59%) Competent - Pass
CC (60-69%) Competent - Credit
CDI (70-79%) Competent - Distinction
CHD (80-100%) Competent - High Distinction
Assessment Tasks
Test/Quiz 1 is based on learning outcome 1
Test/Quiz 2 is based on learning outcome 2
Test/Quiz 3 is based on learning outcome 3
Project 1 is based on learning outcome 4
Project 2.1 is based on learning outcome 5
Project 2.2 is based on learning outcome 6
Test/Quiz 4 is based on learning outcome 7
Test/Quiz 5 is based on learning outcome 8
Project 3 is based on learning outcome 9
Test/Quiz 6 is based on learning outcome 10
Assessment Matrix
Assessment matrix 9 week Course
| Element Covered | Assessment Task | Proportion of Final Assessment | Submission Time |
| 1 & 2 | Test 1:Concrete and its constituents Test 2:Special cements |
5%
5% |
Week 1 |
| 3 | Test 3 Admixtures | 5% | Week2 |
| 4 | Project 1:Testing | 20% | Week 5 |
| 5 | Project 2.1: Reinforced concrete | 15% | Week 7 |
| 6 | Project 2.2: Reinforcement | 15% | Week 7 |
| 7 | Test 4: Chemical reactions | 5% | Week 6 |
| 8 | Test 5: Transport and placement | 5% | Week 7 |
| 9 | Project 3: Finished concrete | 20% | Week 9 |
| 10 | Test 6: Curing | 5% | Week 9 |
For submission dates and times for assessments
for the current year refer to the Learning Hub for the weekly
program along with the Learning Guide and
Part B; Assessment for this course.
Assessment matrix 18 week Course
| Element Covered | Assessment Task | Proportion of Final Assessment | Submission Time |
| 1&2 | Test 1:Concrete and its constituents Test 2:Special cements |
5% 5% |
Week 5 |
| 3 | Test 3: Admixtures | 5% | Weel 7 |
| 4 | Project 1:Testing | 20% | Week 10 |
| 5 | Project 2.1: Reinforced concrete | 15% | Week 13 |
| 6 | Project 2.2: Reinforcement | 15% | Week 13 |
| 7 | Test 4: Chemical reactions | 5% | Week 12 |
| 8 | Test 5: Transport and placement | 5% | Week 15 |
| 9 | Project 3: Finished concrete | 20% | Week 17 |
| 10 | Test 6: Curing Feedback |
5% | Week 17 & 18 |
For submission dates and times for assessments
for the current year refer to the Learning Hub for the weekly
program along with the Learning Guide and
Part B; Assessment for this course.
Other Information
Underpinning Skills and Knowledge
Concrete Materials
Briefly describe concrete-ingredients, hydration, setting, strength.
Reinforced concrete-steel bars, wires, tendons.
Cement
• briefly, ingredients, production
• mineral content and properties
• heat of hydration, setting time, strength development
• shrinkage
• resistance to aggressive agents-porosity, acid, sulphates,
seawater, frost, heat
• types of cement
Aggregates
• briefly, importance of
• properties-rock type, artificial aggregates, grading, shape and
texture, bond, strength, resistance to wear, SG, porosity
• deleterious substances-organic matter, surface coatings, salt,
unsound particles, alkali/ aggregate reaction
• aggregate crushing test
Water
• quality-portable, pH range, salt content, silt
• effect of quality on-setting, strength, corrosion alkali/agg
Steel
• types of bars, fabric
• tempcore bars-bending, joining
• galvanized bars, prestressing tendons and wire
• bond
Admixtures
• behaviour, application, effect, air-entraining, set-occel., setretarding,
water-reducing, superplasticisers, expanding,
permeability-reducing
Pozzolans
• effects on-porosity, workability, strength
• types: fly-ash, others
Tests
• make cylinders for crushing
• moisture content of sand
• silt test
• organic content of sand
• aggregate crushing
• slump test
Properties and Durability of Concrete
Properties of Plastic Concrete:
• workability, define
• factors affecting workability: w/c ratio, water content, % airentrainment,
aggregate grading, agg./cement ratio,
superplasticisers
• measuring workability: slump test and its usefulness on site
• effects of time and temperature on workability
• segregation: define, types, effects of aggregate grading
• bleeding: define, causes, remedies
Properties of Hardened Concrete:
• strength: tensile, compressive, w/c ratio, age, bonding of reinf.,
curing time and temperature, cement type, water quality,
aggregate type, density, porosity, admixtures
• elasticity, shrinkage: stress/strain, drying shrinkage, effects of
aggregate, admixtures, curing and storage, shrinkage induced
cracks, external moisture effects, carbonation shrinkage
• creep: define, relaxation of stress, creep recovery: factors
influencing creep-vol. of cement paste, aggregates, strength of
concrete, type of cement, admixtures, humidity, relation
between creep and time: effects of creep – deflection of
beams/slabs, stress redistribution, loss of prestress
Durability of Concrete:
• define: requirements of AS3600 – corrosion of reinforcement,
abrasion, freeze/thaw
• corrosion: mechanics of corrosion: corrosion of concrete and
prevention-quality of concrete, cement type, cover cracks:
corrosion of steel and prevention-special steels, coating steel ex.
epoxy and galvan., corrosion inhibitors in concrete, cathodic
protection
• abrasion: define: factors affecting – strength, aggregates,
surface finish, curing, AS3600
• freeze/thaw: frost action: factors affecting frost action –
moisture content, w/c ration, entrained air, AS3600
• other factors: alkali/aggregate reaction, seawater and AS3600,
acids, sulphates
Concrete Mix Design
• define
• methods: ex. American Concrete Institute method, British Road
Note 4 method
• factors affecting mix proportions: characteristic compressive
strength, target strength, durability, workability and cohesion,
max. size of aggregate, grading and size of aggregates,
agg./cement ratio, w/c ration, admixtures
• design a trial mix of given strength and workability in
accordance with AS3600 exposure classifications
• produce the trial mix in the lab. and adjust ingredients if
necessary. Test cylinders at 28 days
• prepare concrete cylinder (for Brazil test) and beam for tensile
strength tests
Transporting, Placing and Compacting Concrete
Transporting: delay, drying out, segregation, methods of transporting,
pumping
• delay: factors affecting stiffening, effect on slump
• drying out: humidity, mix, cover
• segregation: cohesive mix, methods of avoiding
• methods of transporting: ready-mix trucks, concrete pumps,
other
• pumping concrete: types of pumps and performance, props. of
concrete for easy pumping, pumping procedures
Placing: form work and reinforcement, avoiding segregation, methods
of handling for good practice, deep lift placing, cold weather placing,
hot weather placing, placing concrete under water, shotcrete, placement
of mass concrete
Compacting
• objectives and importance, methods
• immersion vibrators, external vibrators, surface vibrators,
vibrating tables
• effects of vibrators on mix design
• effects of prolonged vibration and revibration
• surface defects and causes
• good practice
• segregation and bleeding
Curing, Finishing and Special Concretes
Curing concrete
• importance of curing
• methods and effects of curing: water or damp cover: *ponding,
sprinkling, damp covers – impermeable mediums: *waterproof
material, shuttering, curing compounds – accelerated curing:
*low pressure steam curing, high pressure steam curing
(autoclaving), infra-red curing, electrical curing
• problems: plastic shrinkage cracks, effects on hydration, loss of
strength, abrasion resistance, effects of delayed curing
Surface finishing:
• summary
• untreated concrete surfaces
• shuttering types
• tooled surface finishes
• exposed aggregate finishes, miscellaneous methods
• abrasion resisting finishes
Special concretes:
• concrete for water-retaining structures, AS3735 requirements
• light weight concrete
• high density concrete
• fibre and glass reinforced concrete
• roller compacter concrete (RCC)
Course Overview: Access Course Overview