COURSE UNIT TITLE

: MICROSTRUCTURE OF CEMENT AND CONCRETE

DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
CIE 5109 MICROSTRUCTURE OF CEMENT AND CONCRETE ELECTIVE 3 0 0 8

Offered By

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences

Level of Course Unit

Second Cycle Programmes (Master's Degree)

Course Coordinator

PROFESSOR DOCTOR KAMILE TOSUN FELEKOĞLU

Offered to

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Course Objective

Microstructure characterization methods became considerably important in the quality control of construction materials, damage control, diagnosis analysis, and development of new construction materials. Optical and electron- optical methods allow the analysis of microstructure details. The aim of this lecture is to introduce the fundamentals of microstructure analysis methods to the graduate students. The theoretical and experimental knowledge and skill of students will be improved by presenting research studies related with sample preparation, analysis methods and interpretation of results.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   to be able to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the methods used for the characterization of microstructure of clinker, cement mortar and concrete.
2   to be able to establish a relationship between the physical and chemical fundamentals wtih related microstructure investigation methods.
3   to be able to draw conclusions from the findings of the microstructure studies.
4   to be able to illustrate the criteria used in the selection of preparation methods on the microstructure by using examples.
5   to be able to diagnose the possible causes of durability problems by using the data obtained by microstructural analysis.

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction 1.1. Cement production and cement microstructure 1.2. Concrete production and concrete microstructure 1.3. Durability of concrete 1.4. Microstructural application on investigations of cement and concrete
2 History of clinker microscopy and sampling 2.1. Sampling, sample storage 2.2. Storage of prepared specimens 2.3. Stains and etches 2.3.1. Aluminates and free lime 2.3.2. Silicates 2.3.3. Calcium aluminate 2.3.4. Examination of stained cement 2.3.5. Photomicrographs of effects of stains and etches
3 Preparation of polished sections, thin sections 3.1. Basic steps for rapid polished section preparation 3.2. Encapsulation, impregnation, and particle mounting 3.3. Sawing, grinding, and polishing 3.4. Various polishing techniques 3.5. Preparation of thin sections
4 Microscopic characteristics of clinker phases 4.1. Silicate phases (alite, belite) 4.2. Alite and belite classification and polymorphic varieties 4.3. Solid liquid phases (aluminate and ferrit) 4.4. Alkali aluminate 4.5. Alkali sulfates 4.6. Free lime and periclase 4.7. Miscellaneous phases
5 Microscopical interpretation of clinkers 5.1. General features of clinkers 5.1.1. Photomicrographs of alite 5.1.2. Photomicrographs of belite 5.1.3. Photomicrographs of matrix phase ( aluminate and ferrite) 5.1.4. Photomicrographs of free lime 5.1.5. Photomicrographs of periclase 5.1.6. Photomicrographs of miscellaneous phases 5.2. Misinterpretations in clinker microscopy
6 Microscopical examination of clinker with scanning electron microscopy
7 Midterm exam
8 Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) , X-Ray microanalysis of concretes 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Optical microscopy-electron microscopy transition 8.3. Scanning electron microscopy 8.4. X- Ray microanalysis (EDXA)
9 Specimen preparation for SEM 9.1. Materials for sample preparation 9.2. Preparation of Cement Paste, Mortar, and Concrete Sections 9.2.1. Cutting and grinding 9.2.2. Polishing 9.2.3. Storage and coating of prepared specimens
10 Concrete under SEM and basic microstructure of concrete 10.1. Hydrated cement paste 10.2. C-S-H phase 10.3. Calcium hydroxide crystals 10.4. Calcium sulfoaluminate hydrates 10.5. Unhydrated cement paste 10.6. Porosity of hydrated cement paste 10.7. Aggregates
11 Interpretation of concrete deterioration from SEM/EDXA 11.1. Chemical deterioration from external agents 11.1.1. Efflorescence 11.1.2. Paste carbonation 11.1.3. Sulfate attack 11.1.4. Deicing salt attack 11.1.5. Corrosion of reinforcing steel 11.1.6. Concrete exposed to marine environment
12 X-Ray Diffraction 12.1. Basic principle 12.2. Qualitative analysis 12.3. Quantitative analysis 12.4. Developments in instrumentation 12.5. X-ray diffractometry of clinker and cement 12.6. Identification of major phases present in cement/clinker
13 X-Ray diffractometry of clinker and cement 13.1. Sample preparation and XRD study of hydrated specimens 13.2. X-Ray diffractometry in concrete chemistry 13.2.1. Cement paste-aggregate interface 13.2.2. Alkali silica reaction 13.2.3. Sulfate minerals 13.2.4. Other concrete damages
14 Thermal Analysis 14.1. Differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) 14.2. Cement clinker 14.3. Synthesis of cement phases 14.4. Polymorphisim in silicates 14.5. Hydration of calcium silicates 14.6. Hydration of C3A and C4AF 14.7. Hydration of cement 14.8. Durability

Recomended or Required Reading

Textbook(s): -Campbell D.H. (1999) Microscopical Examination and Interpretation of Portland Cement and Clinker, SP030, Portland Cement Association RD1754.
- John D. St, Poole A., Sims I. (1998) Concrete Petrography: A Handbook of Investigative Techniques. John Wiley &Sons, Inc. New York.
Supplementary Book(s): - Roy D.M., Idorn G.M. (1993) Concrete Microstructure. Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP-C-340) National Research Council, Washington, DC.
- Mehta P.K., Monteiro P.J.M. (1997) Concrete Microstructure, Properties and Materials. Indian Concrete Institute.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Slide presentations will be performed within the course.
Samples will be prepared for microstructural analysis of various building materials in the laboratory. Specimens will be examined in Metallurgical and Materials Laboratory with students. They will prepare a report from the findings. Additionally, students will provide two assignments as article translation and interpretation at the end of semester.

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MTE MIDTERM EXAM
2 ASG ASSIGNMENT
3 FIN FINAL EXAM
4 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MTE * 0.25 + ASG * 0.25 + FIN * 0.50
5 RST RESIT
6 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MTE * 0.25 + ASG * 0.25 + FIN * 0.50


*** Resit Exam is Not Administered in Institutions Where Resit is not Applicable.

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

*Homework and laboratory studies will be considered together.

Assessment Criteria

All learning outcomes will be evaluated by using the midterm, final exam questions and laboratory reports.

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Course Policies and Rules

Class and laboratory studies attendance requirements should be provided.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

Assoc..Prof.Dr.Kamile Tosun Felekoğlu (kamile.tosun@deu.edu.tr)

Office Hours

Will be announced at the beginning of semester.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 13 3 39
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 13 5 65
Preparation for midterm exam 1 25 25
Preparation for final exam 1 25 25
Preparing assignments 1 30 30
Midterm 1 2 2
Final 1 2 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 188

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11
LO.13342
LO.23342
LO.3334
LO.43
LO.53344

CONTACT INFORMATION
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Phone: +90(232) 412 12 12 - Fax: +90 (232) 464 81 35

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