Research Information System
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, vol.35, no.4, pp.379-383, 2008 (SCI-Expanded)
The fine granular structure and surface activity of clay minerals increase the amount of mixing water needed to provide workability in concrete. Even when the microfine material percentage in fine aggregate is low, the methylene blue value of the fine aggregate increases when materials of clay origin are present. In this study, methylene blue values were determined in fine aggregate samples used to produce ready-mixed concrete. Samples were taken from four different aggregate quarries, and relationships between methylene blue values of the concrete samples produced with these aggregates and some of their properties were investigated. Tests were done to determine the quality of microfine material (i.e., passing 0.063 mm sieve). Slump, ultrasonic pulse velocity, compressive strength, and surface abrasion resistance tests were performed on concretes made with these aggregate fines. It is shown that clay content, as indicated by the methylene blue value test, affects the concrete properties, but the microfine material percentage does not give any hint about clay content.