The suitability of water for concrete mixing depends on many factors including the source of water, the quality of the water, and the intended use of the concrete. Some of these factors are more important than others, and some may not be relevant at all depending on the specific project.
The most important factor to consider when determining the suitability of water for concrete mixing is the source of the water. Surface water, such as from lakes, rivers, and streams, is generally not suitable for concrete mixing because it contains suspended particles that can affect the quality of the concrete. Groundwater, such as from wells, is generally much cleaner and is therefore more suitable for concrete mixing.
Another important factor to consider is the quality of the water. Water that is too hard or too soft can also affect the quality of the concrete. Hard water contains high levels of minerals that can react with the cement in concrete and cause it to be less strong. Soft water, on the other hand, can make the concrete weaker. The best water for concrete mixing is water that is neither too hard nor too soft.
Finally, the intended use of the concrete must also be considered when determining the suitability of water for concrete mixing. Concrete that will be used for structural purposes, such as for foundations or walls, needs to be stronger than concrete that will be used for decorative purposes. Therefore, water that is too soft may not be ideal for concrete that will be used in a structural capacity.
In general, the best water for concrete mixing is clean groundwater that is neither too hard nor too soft.
How To Check Suitability Of Water For Concrete Mixing? Concrete is a chemically combined mass made of binding materials and inert materials combined with water. Due to its unique durability and reasonable strength, it is the most popular construction material; more interestingly, it can be modified and designed for a wide range of strength requirements and set under a variety of environmental conditions.
Cement is the most important component of concrete, and it is produced at a high cost in terms of CO2 emissions; nearly 900 kg of CO2 is released into the atmosphere to produce one tonne of cement.
Objective
To Determine whether water is suitable for use in concrete mixes. OR To assess suitability of water for use in concrete mix.
Equipment
- Cube Molds
- Measuring cylinder
- Tamping rod
- Testing machine
- Trowel
- Vibrating table
Procedure
- Analyze the chemical compositions of water according to IS 3025-1964 and compare them to the permissible limits specified in IS 456-2000.
- The suitability of water is tested by making concrete cubes if it does not meet the permissible limits or obtaining chemical analysis data is difficult. Concrete of the desired grade is mixed with available water in the proportions specified, and cubes are cast for testing.
- Make the same concrete mix with distilled water and cast the cubes in the same way you did with unidentified water.
- Cure both samples in the same water and under the same conditions.
- Both cube specimens were tested in the same way after 7 and 28 days. Compare the strength and surface conditions of cubes prepared with available water and distilled water in the test results.
- If the strengths are not significantly lower and no deterioration is observed in concrete prepared with unknown quality available water, it is considered suitable.
Precautions
- To determine whether water is suitable for mixing and curing concrete, a concrete cube specimen should be prepared and tested under similar conditions with both available water of unknown quality and distilled water.
- In both cases, the proportions of the mixture should be the same.
- All appliances should be in good working order.
- The cement, sand, and coarse aggregate used on site should be the same.
Conclusion
Calculate the average compressive strength of concrete made with unknown water compared to distilled water.
