4/7/2021 Concrete Air Testing: An In-Depth Look - Gilson Co.

Concrete Air Testing: Why, When, & How: An In-Depth Look

Air Content in Concrete Mix Design

The primary purpose of entraining air in concrete is to increase its durability when exposed to freeze/thaw cycles with water
present. Air-entraining admixtures for concrete create small, uniform, and stable air bubbles from around 0.01mm to 1mm
diameter in the cement matrix throughout a concrete mix. The bubbles become air voids in the hardened concrete, creating a
relief system that allows expansion of water as it freezes without damaging the concrete.

Additional benefits include:

Water demand for mixing and curing decrease

Workability increases

Bleeding and segregation reduce

Pressure, Volumetric and Gravimetric Method for Testing for Air Content in Freshly Mixed Concrete

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Air Content Testing: Why is it Important

Even though concrete not exposed to freeze/thaw cycles may not require air-entraining admixtures, testing for air content is still
recommended to profile characteristics of the particular concrete batch. Most non-air-entrained concrete contains between 1%
and 2% entrapped air, and other admixtures may unintentionally entrain even more air. ACI 301-16 Specifications for Structural
Concrete and ACI 302.1R-15 Guide to Concrete Floor and Slab Construction indicate that air contents higher than 3% may
require extra effort when finishing some mixes, leading to surface defects and delamination. Air content tests on non-air-
entrained fresh concrete can prevent issues before they occur or be a valuable troubleshooting tool. One of Gilson’s previous blog
posts Why Complete Testing of Fresh Concrete Matters discusses the importance of complete testing of fresh concrete.

Air Content Testing: When and Where

Just as putting air-entraining admixtures into concrete creates beneficial air bubbles, mixing, transporting, pumping, and
handling the mix can take them out. So, not only is air content testing essential but so is testing at the right time and place. If
the testing agency were only confirming the properties of the concrete as delivered to the job site, an argument could be made
for testing only concrete sampled directly from the delivery truck. In truth, most stakeholders in a project are better served with
more complete information, and it is often specified that the concrete is sampled at the point of placement, such as at the
discharge end of a concrete pump. This can create difficulties in accurately sampling and testing fresh concrete and requires
planning by the testing agency and cooperation with other trades.

This blog post examines the differences between the three recognized types of air content test methods, and help you select
testing equipment best suited for each method.

1.) Pressure Methods for Air Content

Type A and Type B concrete air meters use different techniques to apply air pressure to a concrete specimen and compress the
air voids in the sample. Differences in volume before and after compression indicate apparent air content, which is corrected to
exclude air voids in aggregate particles. The pressure method cannot be used on mixes containing lightweight aggregates, blast
furnace slag, or other aggregates with high porosity. Detailed test procedures for both types of meters are detailed in ASTM C231
and AASHTO T 152. Both meters use similar methods to consolidate fresh concrete into the measuring bowl, or pot. Concrete is
deposited in three equal layers, and each layer is rodded 25 times with a tamping rod. The concrete gets struck off with a strike-
off bar or plate, so the volume in a given bowl is the same each time.

Type A meters are fitted with a sealed graduated cylinder in the cover. After the sample is consolidated, the cover is clamped into
place and filled with water. A specified pressure is applied to the assembly using an external pump or squeeze bulb, compressing
the air voids in the specimen and lowering the water level. After releasing the pressure, the water level in the cylinder rises. The
difference between the two levels is read from the cylinder graduations to determine the air content.

Pros

Fast, reliable results

Tests normal weight or lightweight concrete mixes

Air Meter Calibrators provide a convenient field-check of accuracy

Cons

Testing requires more time and water than Type B meters

Graduations are more challenging to interpolate than Type B gauge markings

Calibration is affected by changes in barometric pressure

Requires determination of an aggregate correction factor

Best for

Concrete mixes using lightweight aggregates

Type B concrete air meters incorporate an air chamber in the cover that is pressurized with an integral pump to a
predetermined initial pressure once the cover is placed on the pot. A small amount of water is added to the assembled unit to
displace free air, and the petcocks are closed. The pressurized air is released into the lower chamber and compresses the
concrete specimen. The calibrated gauge displays the pressure difference directly as the total percent air content.

Pros

Fast, reliable results

The test method is easy to perform and requires little training

The most widely used method has proven performance

Test results are unaffected by changes in barometric pressure

Air Meter Calibrators provide a convenient field-check of accuracy

Cons
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Cannot be used for concrete mixes using lightweight or porous aggregates
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Requires determination of an aggregate correction factor

Best for

Most concrete mixes using normal-density, low-porosity aggregates

Easy and efficient testing for any size

Gilson Concrete Pressure Meters (HM-30 and HM-30S)

Super Air Meter (SAM) is a modified Type B concrete air meter invented by Tyler Ley, Ph.D., PE, who promises the SAM will
change the way we view concrete’s freeze-thaw durability. (To read more about Tyler, see our Tyler Ley Interview blog post with
Dr. Ley himself).

The SAM uses an extended test procedure to determine air content and characterize the size and distribution of air bubbles in the
concrete mix. The SAM and test method are an important step forward to increase freeze/thaw durability prediction in exposed
concrete. It gets used in several U.S. states and foreign countries. The first part of this method meets all the requirements of
ASTM C231. The SAM can be used in place of the standard Type B meter for this application. After completion of the air content
test, additional increments of pressure are applied in two sequences. Pressure differences are recorded and used to correlate
average air void spacing. The complete SAM method is detailed in AASHTO TP 118, and an ASTM method is pending.

Pros

Characterizes air content and air void size and distribution for freeze/thaw durability performance predictions

Test results in 10 minutes versus weeks or months for other air void evaluations, such as ASTM C457

Determines standard C231 air content in the same testing sequence

Cons

Equipment cost is higher

Cannot be used for concrete mixes using lightweight or porous aggregates

Requires determination of an aggregate correction factor

Best for

Exposed concrete in cold-weather climates

Infrastructure projects requiring freeze/thaw performance predictions

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2.) Volumetric Methods

Volumetric air content tests start with a concrete specimen of known volume consolidated into a container. A cover with integral
graduated markings is sealed on the top and filled to a zero point with either water, isopropyl alcohol, or both. The entire
assembly is then agitated vigorously, and the air voids are effectively washed out of the specimen. The difference in fluid levels
before and after agitation is recorded as the air content.

Roller meters are usually constructed of aluminum (Roll-A-Meter), plastic (Volumetair Air Meter), or brass with a measuring
bowl of at least 0.075ft³ (2.0L). The top section clamps to the bowl and includes a transparent graduated scale. Concrete is
consolidated into the bowl, and the top section clamped in place. The assembly is then filled with combinations of water and
measured amounts of isopropyl alcohol, as detailed in ASTM C173 and AASHTO T 196. Some concrete mixes produce large
amounts of foam after agitation, and the alcohol disperses the foam to allow more accurate fluid level readings.

Pros

The method can be used for all concrete mixes, regardless of aggregate type

Calibration of the apparatus is easier and required less frequently

No need for an aggregate correction factor

Cons

The test is time-consuming, requiring repeated cycles of agitation and resting until readings stabilize

The agitation method is physically demanding

Scale graduations are less precise than Type B gauge

Carrying enough alcohol for repeated testing at high concentrations can be inconvenient

Best for

Concrete mixes using lightweight, porous, or slag aggregates

Less expensive plastic meters are best suited for occasional use

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Chace Air Indicator Kit is a bit like a miniature roller meter, but the size of the specimen limits them to testing just the mortar
portion of concrete mixes. There is no published standard for the kits. However, they are still useful for gauging the uniformity of
fresh concrete during a pour when correlated to a conventional concrete air meter. A brass cup mounted on a rubber stopper is
filled with mortar. A glass vial with a graduated neck is pushed onto the stopper and filled to zero with isopropyl alcohol. The
assembly is then agitated, and the difference in fluid level noted before and after agitation is observed for correlation with
standard air meters.

Pros

Pocket-sized portability

Fast and easy checks for uniformity

Good companions to conventional concrete air meters

Cons

Test results are not precise

Chace test results should not be the basis for acceptance or rejection

Best for

Correlating with a calibrated pressure meter or roller meter for field estimates

Quick, on-the-spot estimates to check uniformity of batches during a pour

3.) Gravimetric Method

The gravimetric method for calculating air content is part of a procedure in ASTM C138. AASHTO T 121 also determines unit
weights and yield of a concrete batch. Equipment for performing this test includes unit weight measures, strike-off plates,
tamping rods, and field weighing scales. Fresh concrete consolidates into a unit weight measure, then carefully struck off and
weighed. From there, a series of calculations are performed using the specimen weight and actual batch weights of the mix to
determine the unit weight, density, yield, air content, cement content, and other properties of the mix.

Pros

Results provide information and data for a wide range of concrete properties using just one procedure

Cons

Calculations can be time-consuming

The accurate result requires complete knowledge of exact batch quantities

Slight variations in test procedures, mix proportions, or specific gravities cause relatively larger errors

Best for
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We hope this discussion of methods and equipment for air content testing of fresh mixed concrete has been helpful to you.
Please contact us if you have any questions about your application.

Tags: Concrete Testing , Air Content Testing , Testing Insights , Concrete Air Meter , Resource Guide , Fresh Concrete , Air Void , Field Testing

Categories: Concrete
Related blog posts:
Why Complete Testing of Fresh Concrete Matters, Air Meter Calibration: A Step-By-Step Guide,
The Gray Pages: ASTM’s How-To for Concrete and Aggregates Testing,
Construction Materials Testing Certifications: an Overall Compilation,
The Road to Earning a Technical Certification in Concrete,
Construction Material Testing: 7 Things to Know About Certification, What is Workability of Concrete?,
Tyler Ley, Inventor of the Super Air Meter: The Interview, Super Air Meter [Infographic],
How To Set Up A Field Lab For Construction Materials Testing: The Essentials

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