The Use of Concrete in Construction - Research Proposal Example

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON CONCRETE PROTECTION By Name Course Instructor Institution Date Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 3 CONCRETE DURABILITY 4 Chlorides 5 Moisture 6 Achievement of concrete durability through hydrophobic impregnation 7 MEASURES TOWARDS COCNRETE PROTECTION 8 Appropriate water/cement ratio 8 Selection of effective type of cement 9 Selection of appropriate aggregates 9 Sufficient curing 9 METHODOLOGY 10 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 13 COSTING AND TIME CONSIDERATION 15 Costing considerations 15 Time consideration 16 PROJECT MILESTONES 16 BIBLIOGRAPHY 16 INTRODUCTION Most works of construction greatly depend on concrete. With this has risen the demand for durable, fully functional and stable structures due to the increasing need for connection between the market and people (Steffen 2006). Specifically, modern roads, industrial premises, bridges and business premises. With such needs, construction would not be viable if concrete was not used qualitatively. However, with the enhanced need for quality construction work, demands for concrete protection have been in order. In combination with steel, concrete rates as a versatile product which is an essential part of civil engineering. These products however are under the threat for vulnerability of penetration by destructive components such as moisture. In this way, costly damages are experienced with subsequent effects of corrosion to reinforcement material. Concrete protection is undertaken with the main objectives of achieving protection to reinforcement steel bars to avoid their corrosion which could be propagated by environmental factors, to provide adequate embedment to the reinforcing bars to enable them withstand stress exerted on them without slipping, and to enhance insulation against high temperatures and heat from fires. The degradation of concrete products has majorly been enhanced by environmental factors such as expansion of products of iron corrosion and action of steel reinforcements undergoing premature failure. Since interstitial water of concrete is at high levels of pH, the action of oxidation from atmospheric oxygen is sufficiently contained. It for the destructive effects on concrete that effective protective measures have to be devised. Such steps as hydrophobic impregnation are recommended measures. Techniques of high effectiveness and impregnation agents which achieve environmental compatibility have been developed with intent to ensure protection of both old and new constructions against damage and weathering as well as enhancing structure value preservation. Such developments have reduced the costs of premise maintenance as effective concrete protection ensures reduced repair costs. LITERATURE REVIEW CONCRETE DURABILITY Use of concrete in construction is projected to be exploited for long into the future. Over the past few years, the face of construction has undergone significant changes with the introduction of concrete as a building material (Eligehausen, Mallée& Silva 2006). Concrete as a building material has presented civil engineers and other buildingexperts with the ability to reshape the models built to suit their demands, as well as achieving perfect physical and mechanical features such as flexural and compressive abilities. Imposing and intricate structures have been built. Concrete will be in use in future as an important material in construction processes, a factor attributed to its durability and cost effectiveness. The durability of concrete and ability to withstand destruction and damage is deciphered in its content make up. Additives, sand aggregate and cement binders are the major components used in concrete preparation (Geo-Frontiers(Conference), Han &Alzamora, 2011). Tensile strength of reinforced concrete is achieved through use of steel reinforcement. Additionally, the use of water is vital towards realizing durable concrete. Water as a component realizes effectiveness through consistency in processing processes and ensuringadequate hardening of the cement. Concrete quality can be determined assessing the cement-water value. This system of quality assessment takes into consideration the ratio used in the mixing of these two components. Higher water ratios in concrete preparation results in unnecessarily many capillary pores which has subsequent effects of rigidity reduction in concrete. The durability of concrete is highly reduced if the mixing of concrete preparation ingredients is done haphazardly. Effective ingredient ratio determination for concrete preparation is necessary if resistance to aging and weathering are to be minimized in structures. Although concrete is a durable material for the purpose of construction, damage done to concrete has adverse effects on the lifetime and durability of structures. The most significant damaging agent to concrete is the corrosion of reinforcement steel which is propagated by the presence of harmful environmental factors. Herein discussed are the common causative agents to concrete damage. Chlorides Concrete has high alkalinity while fresh, which leads to passivation of reinforcement steel (Glass & Buenfeld 2000). Waterborne salts such as chloride ions are the most common salt ions that are responsible for the corrosion of reinforcement steel result in damage of great magnitudes. The concrete in question thus will absorb the waterborne salts leading to its massive destruction of highway passages and infrastructure and premises along coastal areas. Such salts get absorbed as either seawater or road salts. Subsequent corrosion of steel is inevitable. Absorption of the salt ions through the concrete to the reinforcement steel leads to dissolving of the passivation layers of the metal component. After the protective layer of the steel metal has been dissolved, pitting corrosion and rust occur on the metal surface. The rust is as a result of the contact with salt ions, moisture and oxygen. Such confirmations have defied human perception of concrete as the most effective building material and resistant every form of destructivehumanaction. Moisture Although sea and road salt ion components are identified as major agents of concrete destruction, moisture also has been identified for its damage capabilities. Water forms a vital component in the early stages of concrete preparation as it ensures sufficient rigidity to the concrete (Kim 2009). However, water is destructive to already hardened concrete. Water has components that can cause massive damage to concrete if they come into contact with concrete. Chloride ions are aggressive agents of concrete destruction, and they are common substances in water. Through moisture, such salt ions are easily transferred to concrete. Water provides a favourable medium for reactions between salt ions and reinforcement steel. Such reactions lead to corrosion of the reinforcementsteel which damages concrete. Depending on the concrete porosity, building materials and concrete will absorb variant amounts of water. Such absorption of water is behind the structural destruction of concrete. Growth of lichen, algae, moss and fungi occurs on such concrete. Stains of rust, pick-up of dirt and lime leaching accompany such water absorption. Crystallization and hydration damages by salts efflorescence, freeze destruction by road salt ions, shrinking and swelling of walls made of concrete realize cracks on concrete. In addition, corrosion of steel and chemical corrosion enhanced by gases that are acidic in nature further propagate concrete damage as a result of presence of water or moisture on the surface of concrete. Achievement of concrete durability through hydrophobic impregnation It is worth noting that the destructive impacts of moisture on concrete can either be minimized, avoided for a longer period or even be prevented. Hydrophobic impregnation is such a technique that can be implemented to realize minimal concrete destruction due to contacts made with water or moisture (Alhosseni et al, 2014). Contact between water and concrete enhances destructive substance absorption. Such water uptake occurs through capillary moisture absorption or water splashing on de-icing salt ions. It for this reason that development of a layer that is hydrophobic is great importance towards minimizing concrete damage as the technique hinders moisture and water from coming into contact with concrete thereby reducing the absorption of salt components into concrete. The hydrophobic layer leads to dryness of the fabric of the building material, reducing its vulnerability to damage from the action of destructive substances found in water. Prevention of absorption of water is the most effective means of ensuring concrete protection. Silane compounds have been identified as the most effective material that can realize reduced uptake of water. Silanes with chains of alkyl that are long make the most ideal of silanes for prevention of water absorption. Such silanes have been applied in the field of masonry protection due to their exceptional abilities to in resistance to penetration by moisture. They are characteristically durable as they have higher resistance capabilities towards microbial, chemical and physical attacks. Proper selection of products coupled up with silane protection enhances product durability if it uses concrete. Water repulsion works as an effective means of protecting concrete (Woodson 2009). The pores on concrete are not sealed up. The essence of leaving the pores open traces to avert the measurement of diffusion of gases and vapour. This helps to retain the inherent features of the concrete and to ensure sufficient concrete protection even after formation of cracks onto the surface of the concrete. The treatment aimed at repulsion of water thus realizes significantly longer life on the concrete. Coating of concrete through film formation has been applied in concrete protection although this method raises questions of quality as the coatin falls of as moisture and water are not afforded exit from the pores. Concrete protected through formation of film is prone to easy and quick damage as the fall off of the coating formed gives way to penetration of moisture and destructive agents as salts. Although hydrophobic impregnation and formation of films on concreteseek to achieve different objectives, the two major ways of concrete protection basically aim at protection of concrete against the destructive impacts of moisture as water is the major medium for concrete destruction and transportation of salt ions which in turn propagate the process of corrosion (Nawy 2008;Littmann 2001). However, modern techniques of concrete protection have incorporated features which enable them enhance concrete protection through effective compatibility with the environment, safety upholding, efficient alkali and ultraviolet resistance, extensive penetration, increased impermeability to water vapour, resistance to chlorideions to minimize corrosive effects and significant water uptake reduction. MEASURES TOWARDS COCNRETE PROTECTION Appropriate water/cement ratio For effective results, it is advisable that the ration for mixing of water to cement (water/cement) by weight should not be greater than 0.45, and 0.40 if the concrete to be prepared is to function as a protection to reinforcement metals (Antons, Raupach&Weichold2015). If the concrete is to be used in areas where there is expected contact with highly severe and destructive chemical elements, the ratio should range between 0.40 and 0.25. Such effective ratio with regard to the purpose of concrete preparation are vital toward concrete protection. Selection of effective type of cement The type of cement dedicated for concrete protection ought to be of favourable form. Here, the cement should have features which will enable it to overcome the effects of the chemicalsand factors it is to be exposed to. Cement thus should be resistant to salt ions and acids present in water. Selection of appropriate aggregates Aggregates that are characteristic of high qualities are not subject to chemical attack or freeze-thaw destruction. Through historical performance of a chosen aggregate or empirical testing of the aggregate reveals that the aggregate is vulnerable to AAR, aggregate alkali reaction, then it is necessary that certain measures are put in place to ensure that the ingredient ratios in the manufacture of concrete are used so as to minimize aggregate vulnerability to identified damaging reactions. It is noteworthy that the aggregate selected will differ accordingly depending on the chemicals that will be in contact with the concrete prepared (Abdullah et al, 2012). In addition, the water used must be pure and free of components which will affect the ability of the resultant concrete to resist certain chemical effects. Sufficient curing It important to sum up the process of concrete preparation with adequate curing procedures(Brito &Saikia2013). Two main steps which are alternative to each other should be efficiently carried out to ensure that there is adequate curing of the concrete. Supply of extra moisture during the process of concrete hardening is recommended. Otherwise, the concrete ought to be covered during the hardening process using material that retains water. It is not recommended to use compounds or substances that are used in curing processes since concrete is expected to undergo processes meant to protect its surface. However, if it n necessary to use curing substances on the surface of concrete, the curing substances must be removed prior to concrete surface protection is undertaken (Bertolini et al, 2013). Other instances of compatibility between the curing substance and the concrete treatment material so as to avoid reduced efficiency of the protective material. Further, it is recommended that the concrete is kept at a temperature of above 10 °C and constantly moist till adequate hardness is realized. The essence of ensuring that concrete undergoes longer periods of curing is to attain concrete that is durable and resistant to agents of destruction such as salts, water and acids. High concrete permeability to substances is also associated with longer curing periods. Avoidance of hydrostatic pressure is equally discouraged for effective drying and higher resistance to chemical components during concrete life. METHODOLOGY This chapter seeks to give insight into the research approached to be adopted in seeking answers to the objective of the research. The kind of data to be collected and the processes of analyzing the data to give easily comprehensible results. The study uses a scientific approach as its objective is todetermine the protection of concrete and identify the potential factors that are behind the damage experienced in concrete structures. The determination of the most effective components in the preparation of concrete is undertaken. The various components identified must be verified with regard to their potential effects on the overall [[protection of concrete for building purposes. Numbers will be a vital part of the research as determination of the ratios used in the ingredient quantity specification for concrete preparation is a key step. The research is classified into two broad types. At one point, the research assumes a basic (fundamental) form, and at another time it is an applied type of research. In this regard, the general research uses the arguments and knowledge that has been presented in journals, books, periodicals and reports, the research thus draws its justification through theoretical arguments which are generally accepted in the field of civil engineering as valid statements on the topic on concreteprotection. Such theoretical understandings have received wide ranges of applications in an attempt to realize better quality, long lasting and chemical substance resistant concrete. Further, the research assumes a deductive approach as I intend to narrow down my study to analysis of the structures whose concrete could be damaged, with effort to determine whether the theoretical arguments for concrete protection were adhered to during the initial stages of concrete preparation. It is worth noting that a research practice which identifies as being applied might assume a qualitative, quantitative or a combination of both qualitative and qualitative natures(Creswell 2003). If the research identifies as being quantitative, then it necessarily assumes a numerical approach with minimal or total lack of descriptive arguments, and usually uses mathematical considerations or applies statistical packages for analysis of data. Such a research design carries out an investigation of when, what and where information with regard to the research study for informed decision making process. It therefore is justifiable that this kind of research is likely to give reliable results for this kind of investigative study since its main focus lies on the factors, whether chemical, human and environmental, which are responsible for degradation of concrete, and further looks at the scientific explanations for the impacts of these factors on concrete protection. The research assuming a quantitative nature is further justified as the research seeks to determine the ingredients by their ratio in concrete preparation. For effective results, the research generates reasonable and easy to use quantities and reliable ratios in the determination of the effects of ingredient combinations on the quality of resultant concrete. The research process will also look at the variant levels of acidity and alkalinity in water to investigate the various levels against the effective aggregates effective for concrete preparation. However, the research does not entirely assume a quantitative nature. Arguments presented through literature obtained from previous studies on concrete protection give a vital view on the form of research to be carried out and efficiently guides on the materials, ratios projected and modes of data collection which give most reliable results. The collection of data for research study purposes can either be classified as primary or secondary. Such classification is arrived at with due consideration of the constraints that the researcher could be facing and the kind of information that the research needs(Walliman 2011). Secondary date is defined by data that is readily available after prior collection and utilization by another researcher or body. In this research, such secondary is attainable from the databases of construction firms and other civil engineering bodies. Secondary data has basic advantages to the research since it is already tested and its reliability can be easily ascertained. Secondary data is efficient in obtaining historical data on the progress of concrete protection over time, which might be hard to collect at the moment for such data would not characteristically be reliable since its collection is not on real-time. The secondary data will as well be affordable as it saves of time and financial resources, rendering effectiveness to data analysis since more time is saved and dedicated to analysis. However, secondary data collection has the main disadvantage of lack of control of data collection thus results obtained from secondary data are prone to errors. This necessitates the use of primary data through sampling in order to validate the data collected from secondary sources. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS The research study makes ethical considerations in a number on ways. On completion of this study, my proposal is forwarded to the building and construction, and civil engineering departments in the university for analysis and consideration and subsequent recommendation for carrying out the research which aims at general effective decision making with regard to incorporation of concrete protection in building works to avert the conditions of rust and degradation of concrete which leads to less durable structures. Data obtained from various sources is treated with utmost confidentiality with regard to necessity for such. The findings are to be forwarded to interested bodies for adoption of findings to their construction works, with due explanation for the need to undertake concrete protection every time structure is to be built. COSTING AND TIME CONSIDERATION Costing considerations Time consideration Year:2015 Activity Undertaken January February March April May Identification and justification of selected topic. Literature review compiling. Writing of proposal. Submission of the proposal. Collection of data. Analysis of data. Writing of the report. Submission and presentation and of the report. PROJECT MILESTONES Although all the steps in the project are important towards the realization of the overall objective of the research, there are notable milestones in the process, which include; Access of theoretical arguments from past related studies Preparation for practical analysis of concrete protection through sample concrete preparation and result analysis. BIBLIOGRAPHY Abdullah, M. M. A. B., Jamaludin, L., Razak, R. A., Yahya, Z., &Hussin, K. (2012). Advanced Materials Engineering and Technology. Zurich, Trans Tech Publishers. http://public.eblib.com/choice/PublicFullRecord.aspx?p=1873026. Alhosseni, S. N., Niroumand, H. N., & Zain, M. N. (2014). Earth Building Materials, Production, and Construction Techniques. Antons, U., Raupach, M., &Weichold, O. (2015). Durability of Hydrophobic Treatments on Concrete. Bertolini, L., Elsener, B., Pedeferri, P., Redaelli, E., & Polder, R. (2013). Corrosion of Steel in Concrete Prevention, Diagnosis, Repair. Weinheim, Wiley. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1138979. Brito, J. D., &Saikia, N. (2013). Recycled aggregate in concrete: use of industrial, construction and demolition waste. London, Springer. Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches. Thousand Oaks, Calif, Sage Publications. Eligehausen, R., Mallée, R., & Silva, J. F. (2006). Anchorage in concrete construction. Berlin, Ernst &Sohn. Geo-Frontiers (Conference), Han, J., &Alzamora, D. A. (2011). Geo-Frontiers 2011 advances in geotechnical engineering. Reston, VA, American Society of Civil Engineers. http://ascelibrary.org/isbn/978-0-7844-1165-0. Glass, G. K., &Buenfeld, N. R. (2000). Chloride-induced corrosion of steel in concrete. Progress in Structural Engineering and Materials. 2, 448-458. Kim, Y. R. (2009). Modeling of asphalt concrete. Reston, VA, ASCE Press. Littmann, K. (2001). Surface technology with water repellent agents: proceedings of Hydrophobe III. Freiburg, Aedificatio Publishers. Nawy, E. G. (2008). Concrete construction engineering handbook. Boca Raton, CRC Press. Steffen, A. (2006). Worldchanging: a user's guide for the 21st century. New York, Abrams. Walliman, N. S. R. (2011). Research methods the basics. London, Routledge. http://www.dawsonera.com/depp/reader/protected/external/AbstractView/S9780203836071. Woodson, R. D. (2009). Concrete structures protection, repair and rehabilitation. Amsterdam, Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann. http://www.books24x7.com/marc.asp?bookid=37827. Read More