Special Type of Concrete - Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM)

Dnyan Deshmukh

Staff member
Special Type of Concrete - Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM)

Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) used for trench backfill and for filling abandoned culverts, pipes, other enclosures, and for other uses as indicated on the drawings, Standard Details or as approved by the Engineer or designated representative.

CLSM is a low strength, self-compacting, flowable, cementitious material used in lieu of soil backfill. It is intentionally prepared at low strength to allow for future removal using conventional excavation equipment.

The CLSM shall be composed of Portland cement or fly ash, or both, filler aggregate and water. The CLSM, specified for use in filling abandoned culverts, pipes, or other enclosures, shall contain a settlement compensator, in addition to the other ingredients, to minimize settlement of the CLSM within the enclosure.

Normal Set CLSM shall be specified whenever the material will remain uncovered or will not be subjected to traffic or other loads within 24 hours after placement. Fast Set CLSM shall be specified whenever the material will be covered, subjected to traffic or other loads within 24 hours, or needed to expedite construction.


CLSM can be used for permanent subgrade repairs below the base layer, but shall not be used for permanent pavement repairs. For temporary traffic applications, a minimum 2 inch (50 mm) cap composed of Hot Mix-Cold Laid Asphaltic Concrete (TxDoT Standard Specification Item 334) shall be placed on the CLSM.


Materials

A. Cement.

Portland cement shall conform to IS 269/IS 8112/ IS 12269/ ASTM C 150, Type I (General Purpose).

B. Fly Ash

Fly ash shall conform to the requirements of IS 3812

C. Filler Aggregate.

Filler aggregate shall consist of sand, stone screenings, pavement milling cuttings or other granular material that is compatible with the other mixture components. The filler aggregate shall be fine enough to stay in suspension to the extent required for proper flow without segregation, and in the case of filling of enclosures, for minimal settlement. Filler aggregate shall have a Plasticity Index less than 15 and shall conform to the following gradation:

Sieve DesignationUSISPercentage Passing



No. 200​

75µm​

0 - 10​

D. Mixing Water.

Mixing water shall conform to the requirements of IS 456-2000.

E. Settlement Compensator

An air entraining admixture with a higher than usual dosage, which meets the requirements of IS 9103 Specification for admixtures for concrete "Concrete Admixtures", shall be used as a settlement compensator. The settlement compensator may be introduced to the CLSM at the job site by placement of prepackaged admixture in capsules or bags in the mixing drum in accordance with the admixture manufacturer's recommendations.

Mix Design

The proportioning of CLSM shall be the responsibility of the Contractor. The Contractor shall furnish a mix design conforming to the requirements herein, for review and approval by the Engineer or designated representative. The mix design shall be prepared by a qualified commercial laboratory and then reviewed and signed by a registered Professional Engineer.

The Mix Design submittal must include:

A. Test results for unconfined compressive strength, air entrainment (if applicable), flow consistency, hardened unit weight and timed Ball Drop (ASTM C-360) and corresponding Penetrometer tests (with a concrete pocket penetrometer).


B. Certifications and test results for the cement, fly ash, and admixtures and,


C. Results of particle-size gradation and specific gravity tests on the filler aggregate. The submittal shall include Penetrometer tests performed every thirty minutes until the Ball Drop test shows a 2-inch (50 mm) indentation, as well as the predicted Penetrometer reading that corresponds to a 3-inch (75 mm) Ball Drop indentation. Particle-size gradation shall be determined using a series of sieves that gives no fewer than five uniformly spaced points for graphing the entire range of particle sizes larger than a No. 200 sieve (75-µm).

At the end of one year, the mix design may be submitted for renewal, provided that:

A. field tests of the CLSM during the year have been satisfactory,

B. there have been no changes in type or source of the materials of the mix and,

C. the characteristics of the materials have not changed significantly since the original submittal.


Strength

The CLSM mix designs shall meet the unconfined compressive strength requirements outlined in the table below. The compression tests shall be conducted in accordance with TxDOT Method Tex-418-A, using approved unbonded caps on specimens with four-inch (100 mm) diameter and eight-inch (200 mm) height [or three-inch (75 mm) diameter by six-inch (150 mm) high specimens if a smaller capacity loading device gives more accurate results.

Unconfined compressive strength Psi (Mpa)

Age​

Normal Set CLSM​

Fast Set CLSM​

3 hours​

-​

35 (0.24) minimum​

24 hours​

35 (0.24) minimum​

-​

28 days​

300 (2.0) maximum​

300 (2.0) maximum​

Flow Consistency

Flow consistency shall be established in tests involving the use of a six-inch (150 mm) length by three-inch (75 mm) diameter open-ended straight tubing made of steel, plastic or other non-absorbent material that is non-reactive with cement or fly ash. The tube shall be placed with one end on a horizontal flat surface and held in a vertical position. The tube shall then be filled to the top with CLSM. The top surface shall be struck off with a suitable straight edge and any spillage shall be removed from the base of the tube. Within five seconds thereafter the tube shall be raised carefully, using a steady upward lift with no lateral or torsional motion. The entire test, from the start of filling until removal of the tube, shall be completed within 1½ minutes without interruption.

After removal of the tube, the spread of the CLSM shall be measured immediately along two diameters that are perpendicular to one another. The average of those two measurements is defined as the flow consistency of the mix. The flow consistency of the CLSM shall be considered satisfactory if a circular-type spread of the mix occurs without segregation and a flow consistency (average diameter of spread) of inches (200 mm) or more is achieved.

Air Entrainment

Air entraining admixture shall be added as a settlement compensator, whenever the CLSM will be used to fill an enclosure (Section 402S-1). The dosage shall be sufficient to result in an air content of 15 to 25 percent (as determined by TxDOT Method Tex-416-A) at the time of placement of the CLSM.

Field Strength Tests

Ball Drop or Penetrometer tests shall be used to determine, when the CLSM has developed sufficient strength to be covered or subjected to traffic or other loads as approved by the Engineer or designated representative.

The Ball Drop test shall be performed according to the latest version of ASTM C-360. An indentation diameter of three inches (75 mm) or less, and the absence of a sheen or any visible surface water in the indentation area shall indicate that the CLSM has achieved the desired strength. Because trench width and depth may affect the test results, the Contractor may perform this test on a control sample of CLSM in a two-foot (600 mm) square by six-inch (150 mm) deep container.

Penetrometer tests using a hand-held, spring reaction-type device commonly called a concrete pocket Penetrometer, shall be performed on the surface of the CLAMS. A Penetrometer reading, equal to or greater than the value established in the mix design for a Ball Drop test indentation of 3-inches (75 mm), shall indicate that the CLSM has achieved the desired strength.



Contruction Methods

A. General

The height of free fall placement of the CLSM shall not exceed four feet (1.2 meters). Since CLSM is considered to be self-compacting, a vibrator shall not be allowed. The CLSM shall not be covered with any overlying materials or subjected to traffic or other loads until the Ball Drop test or the Penetrometer test shows acceptable results or until the CLSM has been in place a minimum of 24 hours for Normal Set CLSM and a minimum of 3 hours for Fast Set CLSM. Curing of the CLSM will not be required.

B. Utility Line Backfill

After the utility pipe has been placed and the proper bedding material placed in accordance with the details on the drawings, the trench may be immediately backfilled with the CLSM to the subgrade level shown on the drawings as directed by the Engineer or designated representative.


C. Culvert Backfill

Care shall be taken to prevent movement of the structure. If the pipe or structure moves either horizontally or vertically, the CLSM and the structure shall be immediately removed and the pipe or structure re-laid to proper line and grade.


D. Other Backfill CLSM may be used for backfill material in lieu of soil as shown on the drawings, Standard Details or as approved by the Engineer or designated representative.


E. Filling Abandoned Culverts, Pipe, or other Enclosures

The CLSM shall be placed in a manner that allows all air or water, or both, to be displaced readily as the CLSM fills the enclosure.
 
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