ABSTRACT

which is one of the most active research areas that include a Number of disciplines including civil
engineering and construction materials. In this paper, nano–silica has been replaced in various
properties such as 2.5%, 3%, 3.5% to the weight of cement. Then the properties of concrete such as
compressive strength of respective specimens was tested after 7 & 28 days of curing. Result has been
obtained & compared with normal concrete mix. Nano concrete was concluded to have a higher
strength than the ordinary concrete. Nanotechnology is the understanding, control, and restructuring of
matter on the order of nano meters (i.e., less than 500nm) to create materials with fundamentally new
properties and functions. The main advances have been in the nano science of cementitious materials
with an increase in the knowledge and understanding of basic phenomena in cement at the nano scale.
 CONTENTS

CHAPTER – 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 DEFINE NANO CONCRETE
1-2
1.2 NANO TECHNOLOGY FOR CONCRETE
1.3 OBJECTIVES

CHAPTER – 2 3-4
LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPTER-3
NANO MATERIALS 5-7
3.1 CARBON NANO TUBES
3.2 POLY CARBOXYLATES
3.3 NANO-SILICA
CHAPTER-3 8-9
METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER-5
EXPERIMENTAL WORKS
5.1 TEST SPECIMENS
5.1.1 COMPRESSIVE STRESS OF CONTROLLED CONCRETE CUBES &
NANO SILICA CUBE 10-13
5.1.2 SPLIT TENSILE STRENGTH OF CONTROLLED CONCRETE
CYLINDERS AND NANO SILICA CONCRETE.
5.1.3 FLEXURE STRENGTH OF CONTROLLED CONCRETE PRISMS AND
NANO SILICA CONCRETE PRISM.

CHAPTER-6 14-15
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF NANO CONCRETE

CHAPTER-7 16-18
CASE STUDY
CHAPTER-8 19-22
CONCLUSION AND REFERENCES
 FIGURES
Fig:3.1 Carbon Nano tubes..................................................................................................5

Fig:3.2 Polycarboxylates.....................................................................................................6

Fig:3.3 Nano-silica...............................................................................................................7

Fig:5.1.1 shows the compressive stress of cube...................................................................11

Fig :5.1.2 shows the split tensile strength of cylinders.........................................................12

Fig:5.1.3 shows the flexural strength of concrete.................................................................13

Fig :6.3 (a) Decorative plate made of nano concrete with high-energy mixing (HEM)........15

Fig:6.3. ( b) Decorative plate made of nano concrete with high-energy mixing (HEM).......15

Fig:6.3 (c) Jubilee church.......................................................................................................16

Fig:7.1Philharmonia de pairs building...................................................................................17

Fig:7.2 Iowa bridge................................................................................................................18

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CHAPTER – 1
INTRODUCTION:

Nanotechnology is one of the most active research areas which has wide
applications in almost all the fields. As concrete is most usable material in
construction industry its been required to improve its quality. Improving concrete
properties by addition of nano particles have shown significant improvement than
conventional concrete. Nanotechnology encompasses main approaches: (i) the top
down” approach, in which larger structures are reduced in size to the nano scale
while maintaining their original properties order constructed from larger structures
in to their smaller, composite parts and
(ii) the bottom-up” approach, also called molecular nano technology” or molecular
manufacturing,” in which materials are engineered from atoms or molecular
components through a process of assembly or self-Traditionally nano technology
has been concerned with developments in the fields of micro electronics, medicine
and material sciences. However the potential for applications of many
developments in the nanotechnology field in the area of construction engineering is
growing. The evolution of technology and instrumentation as well as its related
scientific areas such as physics and chemistry is making the nanotechnology
aggressive and evolutional. There are many potential areas where nanotechnology
can benefit construction engineering like its applications in concrete, structural
composites, coating materials and in nano-sensors, etc. Nanotechnology products
can be used for design and construction processes in many area

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1.1 WHAT IS NANO?

The word “nano” come from “Greek” and its means “very small”
 1nm = 0.000000001m
 5000000 smaller than a pen line
 50000 smaller than a hair.
 100 smaller than the DNA molecule.

1.2 DEFINE NANO CONCRETE

. Nano concrete is concrete made by filling the pores in conventional concrete using nano
particals of size less than 500 nm. A concrete made with Portland cement particles that are
less than 500nm as a cementing agent Currently cement particle sizes range from a few
nano-meters to a maximum of about 100 micro meters.

1.3 WHY NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR CONCRETE?

a) Improves the materials’ bulk properties.
b) Ability to control or manipulate materials at the atomic scale. Nano scale attack
on ASR (Alkali Silicate Reaction)
c) To obtain thinner final products and faster setting time.
d) It is having cost effectiveness.
e)Lowered levels of environmental contamination

1.4 OBJECTIVES
 To achieve the desired compressive strength in concrete.
 To elaborate the study over nano technology field.
 To focus on effects of nano concrete on other materials.
 To focus on effects of nano concrete on environment health etc.
 To analyse the economic difference of nano concrete and ordinary
routine concrete.
 To elaborate study over the types of nano concrete.

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CHAPTER – 2
LITERATURE
REVIEW
1. R. Sakthivel .(2017) Research Scholar Karpagam University, Coimbatore studied he influence
of Nano-Silica on various properties of concrete is obtained by replacing the cement with various
percentages of Nano-Silica. Nano-Silica is used as a partial replacement for cement in the range of
2.5%, 3%, and 3.5% for M25 mix. Specimens are casted using Nano-Silica concrete. Laboratory
tests were conducted to determine the compressive strength, split tensile and flexural strength of
Nano-Silica concrete at the age of 7 and 28 days. Results indicate that the concrete, by using Nano-
Silica powder, was able to increase its compressive strength. However, the density is reduced
compared to standard mix of concrete. The replacement of cement with 3% Nano-Silica results in
higher strength and reduction in the permeability than the controlled concrete. The replacement of
cement with Nano-Silica more than 3% results in the reduction of various properties of Nano-Silica
concrete.

2. P.Vasanthi and S .Senthilselvan (2018) said the use of nano materials in concrete is gaining
increasing attention in the construction industry. Studies have shown that concrete containing nano
particles has demonstrated increased strength, durability and reduction of pores in the concrete due
to the pore filling properties of the nano materials. This also results in increased resistance to
corrosion of the steel reinforcements. Hence, the nano materials are useful to improve the life of the
building. The use of large quantity of cement produces increasing CO2 emissions and also
consequents the greenhouse effect. The nano materials are used in order to reduce the cement
content in the concrete mix. Nano material represents one of the most outstanding advances in
concrete technology during the last decade. Due to its specific properties, nano materials may
constitute the significant improvement of the quality of the concrete structure and open up new
fields for the application of concrete. Nano material is spread all over the world with a steady
increase in number of applications. Nano materials are intentionally produced and designed with
very specific properties related to shape, size and surface properties. The main use of nano
materials in concrete is to increase the strength. Nano Silica produces high compressive strength

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concrete. It also provides high workability with reduced water cement ratio.

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3. Mani M. and Dr. G. Nandini Devi (2019) studied over nano technology and said it is one of
most active research areas which have wide application in all construction fields. In this paper, a
study is carried out about Nano materials used like nano silica, nanoTio2, and carbon nanotubes
which are less than 500 nano meter. Nano silica has heat transfer. Nano Tio2 also has heat transfer
and UV absorption character. By the addition of nano silica, durability and strength performance is
increased than conventional concrete.

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CHAPTER – 3
NANO MATERIALS

Following are the nano materials which are used in concrete to improves the nano structures.
3.1. Carbon Nano
tubes.
3.2.Polycarboxylates
3.3 Nano-silica

3.1 CARBON NANOTUBES:

Carbon nanotubes are molecular-scale tubes of graphitic carbon with outstanding properties. They
can be several millimeters in length and can have one “layer” or wall (single walled nanotube) or
more than one wall (multi walled nanotube).

Fig:3.1 Carbon Nano tubes.

Properties of carbon nano tube-

 CNT are also highly flexible

 Mechanically, CNT appear to be the strongest material.
 The smaller diameters.
 Stiffest and strongest fibers.

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3.2 POLYCARBOXYLATES

Polycarboxylates or polymer based concrete admixtures are High Range Water Reducing admixture
(HRWR).Low dosage-reduce water as much as high dosage of conventional admixtures. Higher
dosage-produce Self Compacting Concrete (SCC). This admixture type is very suitable for
underwater anti-washout concrete.

Fig:3.2 Polycarboxylates

Properties of Polycarboxylates-

 Resistance to compression - 40 to 90MPa in 1 day. Resistance to compression from 70 a

100 MPa (or more) in 28 days.
 Produces high resistance even with low addition (1 to 1.5 % of the cements weight)
and gives self compacting characteristics with higher proportions (2.5 %).

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3.3 NANO-SILICA.
It is the first nano product that replaced the micro silica. Advancement made by the study of
concrete at nano scale have proved nano silica much better than silica used in conventional
concrete.

Fig:3.3 Nano-silica

Properties of nanosilica-
 It increases strength and durability of concrete.
 High workability with reduced water/cement ratio.
 Use of super plasticizing additives is unnecessary.
 Fills up all the micro pores and micro spaces.

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CHAPTER -4
METHODOLOGY
The main aim of this project is to determine experimental investigation on behavior of Nano
material with various ratios. The following steps are involved.

 Initially the materials used are tested and the test results are shown in table 1.

 Cubes, cylinders and prisms are casted for varying percentage of Nano silica and they are
used for determining the compressive strength split tensile strength and flexural strength of
concrete using varying percentage of Nano silica.

 Tests are conducted using compression testing machine and also cylinders are tested using
split tensile testing machine.

 After determining the test results suitable percentage of Nano silica is determined to cast
the Nano silica.

 The replacement of cement with 3% Nano-Silica results in higher strength and reduction in
the permeability than the controlled concrete.

 The experimental works were conducted on concrete laboratory by applying load.

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The following flow chart shows the methodology of this project.

Collection of literatures

Collection of Materials

Mix design of Concrete

Casting of Cubes, Cylinder, Prism

Casting of Cubes, Cylinder, Prism

Curing and Testing

Results and discussions

4.1 Nano-silica methodology flow chart

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CHAPTER -5
EXPERIMENTAL WORKS

The nano silica used in making of nano concrete by partial replacement of cement in various
properties such as 2.5%, 3%,3.5% and to study the properties of it. Then compared with normal
concrte. The preliminary tests were conducted on cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate and the
test results were obtained. Based on the results obtained the mix proportion for M 25 concrete is
done.
The properties of materials tested are as follows,
Property Cement FA CA
Fineness 1% 4.72 8.21
Consistency 30%
Initial Setting Time 35mins
Specific Gravity 3.15 2.67 2.78

Table 5.1: Properties of Cement, FA, CA

Mix Proportion For M25 Concrete:

Cement = 320 Kg/m3
Fine aggregate = 794 Kg/m3

Coarse aggregate = 1204

Kg/m3

Water-cement ratio = 0.45 Water content = 140

Kg/m3 C: FA: CA = 1:1.52:2.75

The mix proportion for M25 concrete is calculated using IS 456:2000, IS

10262:2009. Superplastisizer is also added to increase the workability of concrete.

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5.1 Test Specimens:

The compressive stress, split tensile strength and flexural strength of concrete are determined by
casting cubes of size 150x150x150 mm, cylinders of size 300x150 mm and prisms of size
500mmx100mmx100mm and allowed for 7 and 28 days curing and the test results were obtained
for various percentage of Nano silica.

5.1.1. Compressive stress of controlled concrete cubes and nano silica cube

Specimen Compressive stress in 7 Compressive stress in 28

Compressive stress in days (N/mm2 )

days (N/mm2)

CC 18.99 27.60

NS 2.5% 25.95 29.15

NS 3% 27.75 34.80

NS 3.5% 26.66 32.50

Table 5.1.1: Compressive stress of controlled concrete cubes and nano silica cube

Figure 5.1.1 shows the compressive stress of

cube Note: CC-controlled concrete, NS-Nano

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silica

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5.1.2. Split Tensile Strength Of controlled concrete Cylinders and Nano

silica concrete cylinders.

Specimen Compressive stress in 7 Compressive stress in 28

Compressive stress in days (N/mm2 )

days (N/mm2)

CC 2.87 3.51

NS 2.5% 3.26 3.98

NS 3% 3.82 4.64

NS 3.5% 3.45 4.31

Table 5.1.2: Split Tensile Strength Of controlled concrete Cylinders and Nano silica concrete
cylinders.

Figure 5.1.2 shows the split tensile strength of

cylinders Note: CC- controlled concrete, NS- Nano
silica

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5.1.3 Flexural Strength Of controlled concrete prisms and Nano silica

concrete prism.

Specimen Compressive stress in 7 Compressive stress in 28

Compressive stress in days (N/mm2 )

days (N/mm2)

CC 2.08 2.61

NS 2.5% 2.78 3.12

NS 3% 3.94 4.92

NS 3.5% 3.81 4.21

Table 5.1.3 Flexural Strength Of controlled concrete prisms and Nano silica concrete prism.

Figure 5.1.3 shows the flexural strength of

concrete Note: CC- controlled concrete, NS-
Nano silica
 Based on the test results obtained the strength of the concrete increases from 2.5% to
3% and it decreases gradually to 3.5%. The replacement of cement with 3% Nano-Silica
results in higher strength and reduction in the permeability than the controlled concrete.
The replacement of cement with Nano-Silica more than 3% results in the reduction of
various properties of Nano-Silica concrete.

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CHAPTER -6
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF NANO
CONCRETE

6.1. Advantages of Nanoconcrete

 Lower cost per building site.

 Cessation of contamination caused by micro silica solid particles.
 Concrete with high initial and final compressive and tensile strengths.
 Concrete with good workability.
 Cessation of super plasticizing utilization.
 Cessation of silicosis risk.

6.2. Disadvantages of Nanoconcrete

 Time to implement is large , Concrete needs at least 21 days to cure

 Most concrete roads don’t have a proper drainage systems built, so is likely
to disintegrate over time.
 Preliminary cost is very high for construction.
 Low shear resistance may make it unsuitable in areas of high shear forces.
 A lot increase in tyre pressure.

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6.3 APPLICATIONS

Decorative plate made of nano concrete with high-energy mixing

(HEM) figure -6.3 (a)

two-layered pavers, pigmented top layer made of HEM

nanoconcrete figure -6.3. ( b)

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⚫ Name : Jubilee church .
⚫ Location : Tor Tre Teste, Rome .
⚫ Construction year : 2003 .

figure - 6.3 (c) Jubilee church

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CHAPTER- 7
CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY
 Name : Philharmonia de Paris building.
 Location : Paris.
 Construction year : 2015 .

figure 7.1 Philharmonia de paris building

Description : Perhaps this explain the Nouvel designed sign age that rises above the buildings
37meters were Nano concrete using Tio2 (3%) mix was used.

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CASE STUDY

Name : Iowa bridge

Location : Buchanan Country .
Construction year : 2006

figure 7.2 Iowa bridge

Description : Iowa bridge Concrete mix of cement ,and nano silica (1% of volume ), low
watercement ratio (0.15) mix. Compressive strength of 18,000 psi to 30,000 psi was be
achieved
,Beam capacity was verified by flexure and shear tests on 71 ft (21.6m) long prestressed
bulb-teebeam that was tested by the Bridge Engineering Center at Iowa state university .

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CHAPTER - 8

CONCLUSION
 Well dispersed Nano particles increase the viscosity of the liquid phase , improves
the segregation resistance and workability of the system.
 Accelerates the hydration.
 Better bond between aggregates and cement paste.
 Improves the toughness, shear, tensile strength and flexural strength of concrete.
 That the compressive strength of concrete initially increased up to 3% of Nano-Silica
and with further increase in the Nano-Silica content the compressive strength of
concrete decreases
 Concrete containing lower percentages (3%) of Nano-Silica possess higher values of
compressive strength than that of controlled concrete.
 A considerable increase in flexural strength and split tensile strength of Nano-Silica
concrete was observed compared to controlled concrete.

FUTURE SCOPE :-
a) If portland cement can be formulated with nano-size cement particles, it will
open up a large number of opportunities.

b) It can be use in concrete for stopping leakages through dams and canals as its
minimizes pores percentage.

c) The cement will not only be more economical than organic polymers but also
will be fire resistant.

d) A number of investigations have been carried out for developing smart concrete
using carbon fibers.
e) This will become a reality with nano-cement because nano – carbon tubes are
much more effective than carbon fibers. The thickness of the composite can be
reduced to microns and hence flexible and smart cement composite can be
manufactured.

f) As with most developing technologies, a major number of challenges exit during

the initiation of the application of technology in to reality.

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g) It is important to be realistic and identify and plan for the limitations and
challenges inherent in this technology. The challenges and limitations affecting
applications of nano technology in construction engineering are therefore considered
and studied with great importance.

REFERENCES
1. Edit Tiwari, AK; Chowdhury, Subrato (2013). “An over view of the application of
nanotechnology in construction materials”. Proceedings of the International
Symposium on Engineering under Uncertainty: Safety Assessment and Management
(ISEUSAM-2012).
2. M. M. Saravanan*, M. Sivaraja (2016-05-10). “STUDY AND DEVELOPMENT OF
THE PROPERTIES OF NANO-CONCRETE”. Doi:10.5281/zenodo.51258.
3. Vladlen Fridman at al. Method of producing nanoconcrete with High-Energy Mixing.
Patent No US 10,843,976 B2 Nov. 24 2020
4. Raki, Laila; Beaudoin, James; Alizadeh, Rouhollah; Makar, Jon; Sato, Taijiro (2010).
“Cement and Concrete Nanoscience and Nanotechnology”. Materials. 3 (2): 918–
42. Bibcode:2010Mate 3..918R. doi:10.3390/ma3020918. ISSN 1996- 1944

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