IJCE, Volume 2, Issue 2 (September, 2015)
e-ISSN: 1694-2280 | p-ISSN: 1694-2396
EFFECT OF HYDROCHLORIC ACID IN
MIXING AND CURING WATER ON
STRENGTH OF CONCRETE
Himanshu Sharma¹, Dr. Hemant Sood²
¹Civil Engineering Department, Quest Group of Institutions, Mohali, Punjab, India
²Head, Civil Engineering Department, NITTTR, Chandigarh, India
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[email protected], [email protected]
ABSTRACT: This paper presents the result of the
experimental investigation carried out to study the effect of
hydrochloric acid in mixing and curing water for M30 and
M20 grades of concrete. The concrete mix on M25 and
M30 grade is prepared in addition with Hydrochloric acid
in curing and mixing water in various concentrations. In
addition to this a controlled specimen without HCL were
prepared for comparison. The compressive strength was
evaluated for 14, 28 and 90 days. The results show that the
samples with different concentration of HCL achieves a
little higher compressive strength on 28 days strength but
the 14 days and 90 days strength remains lower as per
comparison with the normal water design mix of same
grade.
Key words: HCL, compressive strength, pH
1. INTRODUCTION
Romans used concrete for a span of more than seven
hundred years from 300 BC to 476 AD. From past two
decades there has been a remarkable development in the
quality of ingredients of concrete and the production of
concrete. In roman times the structures were made by hand
laying concrete together with the placement of the concrete.
But now a day’s modern structures are different from
roman structures as the mix consistency of concrete is fluid
and homogeneous allowing it to pour into forms. There are
three main ingredients of concrete i.e. cement, sand,
aggregate in addition to water. Water is the most important
and cheapest ingredient of concrete. It is the most active
ingredient of concrete which not only participates in the
hydration of cement but also participates in the workability
of fresh concrete. As per IS 456:2000 normal drinking
water is considered fit for making concrete. IS 456:2000
recommends a fixed pH value as 6 for the water to be used
for making concrete. But drinking water may not always be
available in abundance for construction activities like
mixing and curing of concrete. Naturally occurring water
other than drinking water may also not be considered good
for making concrete, as it may contain impurities like
sulphates, chlorides, various acid and salts which may
affect the strength and durability of concrete. Various
studies have shown that HCL is a not only a naturally
occurring chemical compound but also affects the strength
and durability of concrete. In many areas the naturally
occurring ground water contains impurities more than the
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specified limit as per IS 456:2000. So as due to scarcity of
water in many areas this impure ground water is used for
construction activities. So an attempt has been made to
study the behaviour of effect of HCL on the strength of
concrete when added in mixing and curing water.
2. RESEARCH ELABORATIONS
Cement:
Type: OPC (53 grade)
Brand: Ambuja
Cement was tested for its properties as per Indian standards
specifications.
Fine aggregate:
Locally available river sand was used. It was tested for its
specification as per Indian standards.
Coarse aggregates:
Machine crushed stones of maximum size 20mm. It was also
tested as per Indian standards.
Water:
Normal tap water with HCL of different concentrations i.e.
35mg/l and 65mg/l was used for mixing and curing of
concrete.
Variable studies
a) Concrete mix:
Design mixes for two grades of concrete were made i.e.M25
and M30.
b)
Mixing and curing water:
Two different concentrations of HCL i.e. 35mg/l and 65mg/l
was added in normal tap water to be used in mixing and
curing of both the grades of concrete.
c) Exposure period:
The specimens were periodically tested for a period of 14,
28 and 90 days after proper curing for both the grades of
concrete.
d) Size of specimen:
150mm x 150mm x 150mm size of cubes were made for
compressive strength of concrete for both the grades of
concrete.
Experimental Procedure:
All the ingredients of concrete were tested for its
specifications as per Indian standards. A design mix was
prepared with normal tap water for two different grades of
concrete i.e. M25 and M30. These grades of concrete were
tested for its compressive strength after 14, 28 and 90 days.
Now the cubes were made for both the grades of concrete
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with addition of HCL in two different proportions i.e.
35mg/l and 65mg/l. All there cube specimens were again
tested for its compressive strength for 14, 28 and 90 days.
3. RESULTS AND FINDINGS
Effect of HCL on compressive strength of concrete
of grade M25
It was observed that the
Samples with HCL water
concentration achieves a little higher compressive strength
on 28 days strength but the 14 days and 90 days strength
remains lower as per comparison with the normal water
design mix of same grade.
Table 3.1.1
Dose of HCl in
Compressive strength
water for mixing
(N/mm²)
and curing of M25 14 days 28 days 90 days
grade of concrete
0 mg/l
26.88 30.33
37.47
35mg/l
26.00 35.11
36.37
65mg/l
25.33 30.66
36.27
Table 3.1.2
Dose of HCl in
Compressive strength
water for mixing
(N/mm²) Percentage
and curing of M25
variation
grade of concrete 14 days 28 days 90 days
3.1
35mg/l
65mg/l
-3.27
-5.76
+2.84
+1.08
3.2
Effect of HCL on compressive strength of concrete
of grade M30
It was observed that the samples of M30 grade of concrete
also follows the same pattern as of M25 grade of concrete
with increase in concentration of HCL in mixing and curing
water. Samples with HCL water concentration achieves a
little higher compressive strength on 28 days strength but the
14 days and 90 days strength remains lower, when compared
to compressive strength of samples with normal water of
same grade.
Table 3.2.1
Dose of HCl in
Compressive strength
water for mixing
(N/mm²)
and curing of M30 14 days 28 days 90 days
grade of concrete
0 mg/l
33.05 41.84
48.34
35mg/l
32.82 43.63
47.58
65mg/l
31.54 42.18
47.02
Table 3.2.2
Dose of HCl in
Compressive strength
water for mixing
(N/mm²) Percentage
and curing of M30
variation
grade of concrete 14 days 28 days 90 days
35mg/l
65mg/l
-0.69
-4.56
+4.27
+0.78
-1.57
-2.73
-2.93
-3.20
Figure 3.1
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Figure 3.2
4.CONCLUSION
Based on the above results of the study conducted on the
effect of HCL of various proportions in mixing and curing
water of concrete following conclusion can be made:
a. The compressive strength of concrete decreases on
initial 14 days strength in comparison with normal
water concrete mix.
b. The compressive strength for 28 days concrete with
HCL concentration increases slightly as compared with
normal water concrete mix.
c. The compressive strength of concrete for 90 days again
decreases as comparison with normal water concrete
mix.
d. The compressive strength of concrete decreases with
the increase in concentration of HCL.
e. The study shows the same pattern of effect of various
concentration of HCL on compressive strength of
concrete for both the grades of concrete i.e. M25 and
M30.
10. International Journal Of Civil Engineering And technology
(IJCIET)
11. A book on Concrete technology by M L Gambhir.
12. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
13. Indian journal on engineering and material sciences.
14. Water use in Indian industry survey, water risk in Indian
industry survey, FICCI water mission, New Delhi, September,
2011.
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