SRI LANKA INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE3221 - CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND METHODS

ASSIGNMENT 01

Group Members-
Samarakoon H.M.M.P. - EN18364934
Thanthrige G.T.N.I. - EN18357486
Rajapaksha R.A.B.P.B. - EN18384116
Acknowledgement
With pleasure, we were able to complete our task within the given time period. Most importantly, this
is a group work. Our group members worked for this success with a great spirit of unity. And our biggest
thank goes to our lecturer Eng. Felix Weerakkody for guiding us correctly to this completion
successfully and for teaching us this module. Our last but not least thank goes to our batch reps, friends
and respondents who supported us willingly, specially by spending their valuable time to educate us
with our questionnaires.

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List of Figures

Figure 1 – Aggregate Grading Curve 15

Figure 2 – Batching Plant 16

Figure 3 – A Concrete Mix Design 16

Figure 4 – Slump Test 17

Figure 5 – Concrete Pumping 17

Figure 6 – Safety Signs 19

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List of Tables
Table 1 – Data Collection 6

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Table of Content
1. Introduction 5

2. Data Collection 6

3. Mixed design for the raft foundation 7

3.1 Volume Calculations 7

3.2 Mass Calculations per cubic meter 8

4. Total Quantity of Cement Required 9

5. Total Volume of Aggregate Required 9

6. Total Quantity of Water Required 9

7. Time for a Truck Mixer Cycle 9

8. Total time for placing concrete 10

9. Number of trucks required 10

10. Cost per cubic meter of concrete at the batching plant 11

10.1 Cost of materials 11

11. Cost of transporting and placing the concrete 12

12. Method statement for executing the entire operation 13

12.1 Purpose and scope 13

12.2 Materials 13

12.3 Equipment and tools 13

12.4 Working procedure 13

12.5 Health and Safety 15

13. Conclusion 16

14. References 17

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1. Introduction
The designated assignment was focused on investigating and designing various parameters in
executing a concerting process. Different mix design specifications such as finding the volumes,
quantities required, the cost and time estimated, different required resources and the method
statement for the process are included in this report.

Further optimization will be done on the design specifications from the given design parameters.
Some of the parameters will be assumed with accordance to the local standards.

Finally the report will be contained with a substantial practical characteristic which will conquer
the civil engineering aspects.

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 2. Data Collection

This report includes all the costs involved in the process of laying a raft foundation, from the
operation of batching plant up to the placing of concrete for the foundation.

Table 1 - Data Collection

BASIC PARAMETERS

Cement W/C Ratio % Of Voids Ratio Of Concrete Travel Travel

Content kg For Fine / Volume In Distance In Speed In
Concrete Coarse Raft km km/h
Aggregate. Foundation
in m3

370 0.4 4.5 0.35 300 5.5 7

The mix design parameters for concrete (grade 25-35) to be placed for a raft foundation;

 Truck mixer loading time at batching plant = 10 minutes

 The truck mixers available are of capacity. = 6 m3
 Truck mix placing time to pump car = 20 minutes
 Batching plant hire rate = Rs.200.00 per m3
 Truck mixer hire rate = Rs.100.00 per km
 Concrete pump hire rate = Rs.400.00 per m3
 Specific gravity of cement = 3.15
 Specific gravity of aggregates = 2.65
 Cost of cement = Rs.20.00 per kg
 Cost of fine aggregates = Rs.8500.00 per m3
 Cost of coarse aggregate = Rs.10000.00 per m3
 Cost of water = Rs.25.00 per m3
 Void ratio of aggregates = 0.4

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3. Mixed design for the raft foundation

3.1 Volume Calculations

Absolute volume of cement = 370Kg / (3.15×1000Kgm-3)

= 0.117m3
Water per cubic meter at a W/C ratio of 0.4 = (370×0.4) / 1000
= 0.148m3
Assume 4.5% of air voids for 1m3 = 0.045m3
Volume of coarse and fine aggregate = (1 – 0.117– 0.148 – 0.045) m3
= 0.69m3

Fine Aggregate
= 0.35
Coarse Aggregate

Fine Aggregate = 0.35 Coarse Aggregate

0.35Coarse Aggregate + Coarse Aggregate= Volume of Coarse and Fine Aggregate Required
= 0.69 m3

Volume of Coarse Aggregate = 0.69 / (0.35+1)

=0.511m3
Volume of Fine Aggregate = 0.35 × 0.511
= 0.178m3

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 3.2 Mass Calculations per cubic meter

Mass of Fine Aggregate = volume × density

= 0.178× 2.65 × 1000

= 471.7 kg
Mass of Coarse Aggregate = 0.511 × 2.65 × 1000
= 1354.15 kg
Mass of Cement = 370kg
Mass of Water = 0.148m3

= 148liters
= 148 kg
Total weight = (471.7+1354.15+370+148) Kg
= 2343.85kg

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4. Total Quantity of Cement Required

Total Quantity of Cement Required = 300m3 × 370 kg per m3

= 111000 kg

5. Total Volume of Aggregate Required

Total Volume of Fine Aggregate Required = 300 m3 × 471.7kg per m3

= 141510kg
= 141510 / (2.65 × 1000)
= 53.4 m3
Total Volume of Coarse Aggregate Required= 300 m3 × 1354.15 kg per m3
= 406245kg
= 406245 / (2.65×1000)
= 153.3 m3

6. Total Quantity of Water Required

Total Quantity of Water Required = 300m3×0.148 m3 per m3

= 44.4 m3
= 44.4 ×1000
= 44400 Kg

7. Time for a Truck Mixer Cycle

Loading time at batching plant = 10 minutes

Travelling time from batching plant to site = 5.5 km / 7 km/h
= 0.785 hours
= 47.1minutes
Placing time of concrete to the pump at site = 20 minutes

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Total time for the truck mixer cycle = 10 + 47.1 +20
= 77.1minutes

8. Total time for placing concrete

Total volume of concrete

Number of times concrete must be placed =
Volume of truck mixer

= 300m3/ 6m3
=50 times
Time required for placing concrete = No of times× Time for single placement
= 50×20
= 1000 minutes
=16.66 hours

9. Number of trucks required

𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑

Number of trucks =
Concrete placing time

= 50 / 20
= 2.5, therefore 3 trucks

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10. Cost per cubic meter of Concrete at the Batching Plant

Required solid volume of aggregates, Vs. = 0.69m3

Volume of voids, Vv
Vv
0.4 =
0.69
Therefore, Vv =0.276 m3
Therefore, the volume of aggregates to be ordered = vs. + Vv
= 0.69 m3 + 0.276 m3
= 0.966 m3
Fine Aggregate
= 0.35
Coarse Aggregate

0.35 Coarse Aggregate + Coarse Aggregate = 0.9296 m3

Coarse Aggregate = 0.966 / (1+0.35)
= 0.715 m3
Fine Aggregates = 0.715 × 0.35
= 0.250 m3

10.1 Cost of materials

1 cube ( 100 ft3) = 2.832 m3

Fine Aggregate = Rs. 8,500 × (0.250/2.832) m3

= Rs. 750.35
Coarse Aggregate = Rs. 10,000 ×(0.715 / 2.832) m3
= Rs. 2524.71
Cement = Rs. 20× 370 kg
= Rs. 7400.00
Water = Rs. 25 ×0.148 m3
= Rs. 3.70
Batching plant hire rate per m3 = Rs. 200
Therefore, the cost of a m3 of concrete at the batching plant = Rs. 10878.76

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11. Cost of Transporting and Placing the Concrete

The truck mixer hire rate per km = Rs. 100

Number of cycles = Total Volume / Truck Capacity
= 300 / 6
= 50
Travelling distance = 5.5 km×2
= 11 km
(Assume the same distance travel when truck mixture travelling to plant)
Hire of the truck mixer = Rs. 100 ×11 km ×50cycles
= Rs. 55000.00
Hire rate for the concrete pump per m3 = Rs. 400
Hire of the concrete pump = Rs. 400 per m3 ×300 m3
= Rs. 120000.00
Therefore, the total cost of transporting and placing the concrete
= 120000 + 55000
= Rs. 175,000

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12. Method statement for executing the entire operation

12.1 Purpose and Scope

The main purpose of the method statement is to explain the proper and systematic process of how to
construct a raft foundation that is highly complaint with standard engineering practices.

12.2 Materials

1. C25/35 concrete with additives

2. Approved drawing

12.3 Equipment and tools

 Batching plant
 Truck mixers
 Concrete pump
 Concrete vibrators
 Wheel barrow
 Rubber hammer
 Surveying instruments
 Concrete cylinders/cubes
 Shovels
 Slump tray
 Slump cone and other tools

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12.4 Working Procedure

Batching Plant

Materials

Cement

 Cement should be in an enclosed shell or building with dry weather. But, in the batching plants,
the cement is stored in the silos. The silos should be clean and the cement should be fresh to
avoid the lowering of quality of cement.

Aggregates

 Make sure that the coarse and fine aggregates are clean. Prevent from segregation and store in a
hard clean base with free drainage. If the ambient temperature is high, water should be sprayed
on the aggregates. Aggregate must be clean and conform to the required grading curve.

Figure 1- Aggregate Grading Curve

Water

 The water should be drinking water. If water is stored, it should be kept cool. The water should
be prevented from mixing with debris and chemicals.

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 Admixtures

 Store the other materials like admixtures and pigments separately in order to identify easily and
do not become mixed together or contaminated.

Procedure
 Batching should be done according to the mixing plan given in the mix design. The right
materials should be always be selected. Cement and aggregates are to be batched by mass and
mass by volume. Adding admixtures should follow the instructions given by its manufacturer.
Always work for accurate measurements. The batching plant should be cleaned after each use.
 The same sequence should be followed for each batch otherwise the consistency of the concrete
produced may vary.
 If the coarse aggregate is put into the hopper firstly, this prevents the cement and sand caking on
the hopper surface.
 Mixing time is 1.5 - 2 minutes.
 Concrete mixing should be done at the batching plant approved by the engineer and it should be
transported by truck mixer as per the specifications, codes and approved design mixing
requirements.
 Laboratory tests will be carried on the concrete mix materials for classification as defined in the
specification and ensure that during the course of concrete mixing and preparation.

Figure 2 – Batching Plant

Figure 3 – A Concrete Mix Design
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Transport
Procedure
 First, the vehicle must be driven carefully. There should be no separation of materials.
 The vehicle should not be stationary for more than one hour during the run. If so, treatments
should be done for the concrete.
 Before releasing the concrete, the stirring cylinder should rotate at a rate of about 10 rev/min.
 The relevant slump and cube tests should be inspected before reaching the site.
 The truck mixer should be cleaned after the concrete is released.

Pumping
Procedure

 First, it is to be ensured that formwork and reinforcement are completed before concreting.
 All pieces must be inspected before laying pipes.
 Support and protection must be provided.
 Then the clamps must be inspected.
 After checking formwork concreting can be conducted.
 Before that the temperature and slump should be checked and approved.
 when the concrete is being supplied to the pump, two truck are allowed to supply concrete to the
pump. the reason is that one truck can discharge concrete continuously even though other truck
can't discharge concrete due to finishing of concrete. according to that, the concreteing can be
done without a brake the continuity.
 Pump should be operated according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Figure 4 - Slump Test Figure 5 - Concrete Pumping

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Placing
Make sure that the faces are stable and accurate before placing the foundation against the faces of
excavations.

Finishing

Finishing of exposed surfaces must be done before the concrete has hardened.

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12.5 Health and Safety

 Safety measurements should be strictly followed.

 All labors, engineers and other staff member should ensure proper PPE.
 Signs, barricades must be provided.
 All equipment and machineries are used according to user manuals and operator should be a
skilled person.
 Equipment and machineries which are not suitable for use and risky should be repaired to avoid
accidents.

Figure 6 - Safety Signs

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13. Conclusion

Through this assignment we were able to gain a better understanding of mix design for a raft foundation.
A mix design includes a variety of materials, such as volume, quantity of materials required, estimated
cost, and calculation of time spent on various processes.

Our main task in the future is to complete the task assigned to us as professional engineers accurately,
systematically, efficiently and sustainably. Therefore, this assignment helped us a lot to design the
required specifications correctly. It helps us to complete the whole process sustainably with less
environmental impact.

Finally, through this assignment, we will be able to enhance our skills, knowledge and technology in
the field of civil engineering, as well as enhance our communication skills and work together as a team
to further our professional work in the field of civil engineering in the future.

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14. References

Lecture Notes [Accessed 01- Aug- 2020].

"Method statement for concrete work", www.civilnconstruction.com, 2020. [Online]. Available:

http://www.civilnconstruction.com/project-execution-planning/method-statement-for-concrete-work.
[Accessed: 01- Aug- 2020].

C. Works, "Construction Method Statement For Concrete Works", Sites.google.com, 2020. [Online].
Available: https://sites.google.com/view/yhnmawiwxm/Construction-Method-Statement-For-
Concrete-Works. [Accessed: 04- Aug- 2020].

M. Pdf, "Method Statement Raft Foundation Pdf", Sites.google.com, 2020. [Online]. Available:
https://sites.google.com/view/czchfzygbw/Method-Statement-Raft-Foundation-Pdf. [Accessed: 07-
Aug- 2020].

K. Guzder and K. Guzder, "What is a Method Statement? | Free Downloadable Template", The Hub
| High Speed Training, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/what-is-
a-method-statement/. [Accessed: 10- Aug- 2020].

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