Lab 05

Please answer the following question:   

Below were the ingredients used in a concrete mixing lab to make sixteen 4” (diameter) x
8” (height) concrete specimens. 

 Cement: 26.5 lb

 Water: 13.5 lb

 Fine Aggregates: 50.0 lb

 Coarse Aggregates: 63.8 lb

What’s the unit weight of the concrete? Please show your calculations. 

Solution:

Circular Column, Volume = πr2 h= 3.141256 X (2) ^2 X 8 = 100.52 in^3

For Cement, Sand and Coarse Aggregate.

This is a Volumetric Calculation.

Assuming we need 200 in3 of concrete for M20 Concrete Mix, (Mix Ratio, M20 = 1: 1.5: 3)

Total Part of the Concrete = 1+1.5+3 = 5.5 Parts

Therefore, Cement Quantity = (Cement Part / Concrete Parts) * Concrete Volume

= (1/5.5) * Concrete Volume = (1/5.5) *200 = 36.36 in3

Density of Cement = 0.2636 lb./ in3 = 36.36 X 0.2636 = 9.584496 lb.

Sand Quantity = (Sand Part / Concrete Parts) * Concrete Volume = (1.5/5.5) * 200 = 54.54 in3

Coarse Aggregate = (Coarse Aggregate Part / Concrete Parts) * Concrete Volume

 = (3/5.5) * 200 = 109 in3

According to IS 10262 (2009), Assuming Water-Cement Ratio for the Concrete as 0.45

Required Amount of Water = W/C Ratio X Cement Volume

Therefore, Water = 0.45 X 36.36 in3 =16.362 in3

Unit Weight of water = 0.01639 liters/in3

Required Amount of Water = 16.362 X 0.01639 = 0.2682 litres

Therefore, we need 10.5 bags of cement, 54.54 in3 of sand, 109 in3 of Coarse aggregates and
0.2682 litres of water.
 Post lab Assignment
Discussions

d. Did the 28-day stress reach the specified strength (3000 psi)? If not, what could be the reasons?

As this case shows, it is often useful to extrapolate 28-day strengths from seven-day strengths.
Of course, the amount of strength gain varies between the seven-day and the 28-day tests.
Cement type and curing conditions are two factors that affect the amount of strength gain to be
expected. Concrete, by Mindness and Young, gives a general rule: The ratio of 28-day to seven-
day strength lies between 1.3 and 1.7 and generally is less than 1.5, or the seven-day strength is
normally between 60% to 75% of the 28-day strength and usually above 65%. The cylinder that
broke at 1980 psi is 66% of the specified 3000 psi. According to Mindness and Young's rule, it
should meet the specified strength at 28 days. Most likely, the mix wasn't designed for 3000 psi
but for a higher compressive strength to account for variability. By adding the additional mix
water, you raised the water-cement ratio which, in turn, reduced the strength. The piers placed
before the water was added will probably have strengths higher than the specified 3000 psi. The
pier in question, however, will most likely meet the specified strength. If after 28 days the
cylinders still do not meet specified strength, take cores to verify the strength before
implementing a costly pier removal.

e. Compare the final strength of the uncompact specimen with the strength (mean) of the
compacted specimens tested on the 28th day and discuss the results.

Final Strength of the uncompact specimen is higher than the mean of compacted specimen tested
on 28th day this shows that concrete stabilizes after 28th day.