Concrete mix design for reconstruction of northwest breakwater in the Tripoli harbour - Libya

Abstract

Reconstruction of Northwest breakwater in the Tripoli Harbour - Libya (about 4500 m long) required manufacture of various concrete elements (cubes and accropodes) in total amount of 550 000 m(3). Volumes of cubes were 6,3 m(3), 8,5 m(3) and 12,7 m(3), volumes of accropodes were 6,3 m(3) and 9,0 m(3). After preliminary trials and trial production, an optimum mix proportion was chosen, in compliance with technical specification requirements. One of the main causes for concrete blocks cracking is the temperature difference between core and external surface of the blocks, so new blocks with new mix proportions were made (three variations in cement content). Temperature was measured at three characteristic points: in the middle of the cube, in the middle of vertical outer surface and in the middle of horizontal upper edge. Finally, optimal proportions of the constituent materials were adopted.