Course detail

Concrete Rheology

FAST-DJB053Acad. year: 2025/2026

Rheological models. Rheology of non-Newtonian liquids. Equation of flow. Mixing of non-Newtonian liquids.
Measurement of consistency in concrete technology. Isostatic pressing.
Particular substances. Shape and surface of grains. Grain composition. Connections between particles of particular systems. Water and air pressure in pores.
Cement paste. Compacting. Theory of vibration compacting, factors influencing the rheological behaviour of cement paste. Problematic rheological behaviour of cement paste (Bleeding and sedimentation of cement paste). Chemical admixtures for adaptation of rheological properties (properties, acting principle, compatibility of cement and plasticizing admixture).
Rheology of fresh concrete. Effect of fresh concrete composition on consistency. Technological effects on concrete rheology.
High performance concrete.
Design of self compacting concrete composition, testing methods and practical utilization of self compacting concrete. Porous structure of hardened concrete.
Concrete properties, such as porosity, improvement of cement concrete properties, intensification of their microstructure formation.
Improvement of cement concrete properties by treatment and regulation of rheological properties of concrete mixtures.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. Ing. Rudolf Hela, CSc.

Department

Institute of Technology of Building Materials and Components (THD)

Entry knowledge

Basic knowledge of the concrete technology, chemistry and binders.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Aims

Explanation of fresh concrete and of cement composite regularities from the view of non Newtonian liquids behaviour theory. Introduction to problems of non-Newtonian liquids testing (rheology of non-Newtonian liquids). Obtaining a survey about advantages and disadvantages of available testing methods for determination of rheological behaviour of fresh concrete and cement composites. Introduction to the influence of concrete components properties (for instance aggregates properties, cement compatibility and admixtures into concrete) on rheological behaviour of fresh concrete and concrete composites. Obtaining theoretical fundamentals in the field of compacting. Rheological behaviour of special types of concrete.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

MACOSKO,C.: Rheology, Principles, Measurements and Applications, Wiley 1994, ISBN 0471185752 (EN)
HELA,R.,De SCHUTTER,G.,Bartos,P.,GIBBS,J.,DOMONE,P.: Samozhutnitelný beton, ČBS Praha 2008, ISBN 978-80-87158-12-8 (CS)
KOMLOŠ,K.: Reológia čerstvého betónu, SAV Bratislav, 1984, ISBN 71-055-84 (SK)
SPIRATOS,M.PAGÉ,M.,MALHOTRA,V.M.: Superplasticizers for Concrete, Marquis Quebec 2006, ISBN: 0-9731507-1-8 (EN)

Recommended reading

BARTOS,P.:Fresh Concrete, Elesevier Publishers Amsterdam, 1992, ISBN 0-444881-41-7 (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme DKA-M Doctoral 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme DPC-M Doctoral 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme DPA-M Doctoral 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme DPC-M Doctoral 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

39 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Rudolf Hela, CSc.

Syllabus

  • 1. Introduction into problems. Definition of rheological phenomena. Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids. Stream laws. Description of rheological behaviour of the cement paste.
  • 2. Rheometry of cement pastes. Types of viscosimeters and rheometers. Advantages and disadvantages.
  • 3. Rheological model of concrete. Components of concrete and effect of their properties on rheological behaviour of fresh concrete and of cement composites.
  • 4. Compatibility of cement and plasticizing admixtures in concrete. Models of plasticizing admixtures influence.
  • 5. Technological effects on concrete rheology. Problems with fresh concrete rheological behaviour (bleeding, sedimentation). Consistency measuring in concrete technology.
  • 6. Processing of fresh concrete. Pumping of concrete.
  • 7. Water and air pressure in pores. Compacting. Theory of compacting by vibration. Isostatic pressing.
  • 8. Self compacting concrete. Self leveling putty paste.
  • 9. Particular substances. Shape and surface of grains. Grain size composition. Connections between particles of the particular system.
  • 10. Concrete properties as function of porosity, improving of cement concrete by intensification of microstructure. Porous structure of hardened concrete.
  • 11. High performance concrete.
  • 12. Post-forming of concrete.
  • 13. Fibre – concrete. Light concrete. Pumping of light concrete. Self compacting light concrete.