CE 42A PRINCIPLES OF REINFORCED / PRESTRESSED CONCRETE DESIGN

Laboratory Exercise 2:
Concrete Mix - Cement Paste, Mortar and Concrete

Guilbert C. Fajardo Jr
BSCE 3A

Introduction

Guilbert C. Fajardo Jr. Laboratory No. 2 August 30, 2021

Student Date Given Score:
Engr. Richard J. Aquino Activity 1 – Concrete Mix September 13, 2021
CE 42A Instructor Cement Paste, Mortar and Concrete Date Due
A concrete mix is a combination of elements such as cement, water, aggregates and air. Concrete mix design is a
process of preparing a mixture of ingredients to give the concrete structure the strength and durability it needs
(GIATEC, 2020). It's difficult to make a great concrete mix because each ingredient has different properties.
There are a lot of factors to be considered and may vary in every applications.
Cement and water together combine to form a paste that coats the aggregates. The cement paste hardens and
increases strength as a result of a chemical reaction called hydration. The weight of the mixing water divided by
the weight of the cement is known as the water-cement ratio. High-quality concrete is made by reducing the
water-cement ratio as much as possible without affecting fresh concrete's workability, allowing it to be correctly
put, consolidated, and cured. The desirable workability for fresh concrete and the required durability and strength
for hardened concrete are both present in a properly designed mixture (Cement.org, 2019)

Objectives
1. To differentiate the workability for different water ratios (Cement Paste, Mortar)
2. To differentiate the Hardness for different water ratios (Cement Paste, Mortar)

Materials
1. Portland Cement
2. Sand (sundried)
3. Water
4. Paper cups
5. Stirrer
6. Weighing Scale
7. Palita
8. Mixing Container
9. Mixing Board
10. Hammer

Procedure
A. Cement Paste
1. 300 g of cement was weighted using weighing scale and was transferred to the mixing container.
2. For 0.3 water-cement ratio, 90 g was weighted to be added in the mixture.
3. The water was added in to the container and mixed using the stirrer.
Guilbert C. Fajardo Jr. Laboratory No. 2 August 30, 2021
Student Date Given Score:
Engr. Richard J. Aquino Activity 1 – Concrete Mix September 13, 2021
CE 42A Instructor Cement Paste, Mortar and Concrete Date Due
 4. The cement paste was placed on the mixing board to mix thoroughly using palita and to examine the
workability.
5. The cement paste was molded on a paper cup with respective label.
6. Light taps was applied outside the mold to close the voids on the cement paste.
7. The previous steps was repeated for the 0.4 and 0.5 water-cement ratio.
Note: 120 g and 150 g of water was used for the 0.4 and 0.5 water-cement respectively.
8. After completing the three mixtures, the samples were set aside on a safe, no-interruption place for
24 hours.
9. After 24 hours, the hardened cement paste samples was removed from the paper cups and were
subjected to pulverization using a hammer inside a container.

B. Mortar
1. 100 g of cement was weighted using weighing scale and was transferred to the mixing container.
2. 300 g of sundried-sand was weighted and was transferred to the mixing container together with the
cement. The dry mixtures was mixed inside the mixing container.
3. For 0.3 water-cement ratio, 90 g was weighted to be added in the mixture.
4. The water was added in to the container and mixed using the stirrer.
5. The mortar was placed on the mixing board to mix thoroughly using palita and to examine the
workability.
6. The mortar was molded on a paper cup with respective label
7. Light taps was applied outside the mold to close the voids on the mortar.
8. The previous steps was repeated for the 0.4 and 0.5 water-cement ratio.
Note: 40 g and 50 g of water was used for the 0.4 and 0.5 water-cement respectively
10. After completing the three mixtures, the samples were set aside on a safe, no-interruption place for
24 hours.
11. After 24 hours, the hardened mortar samples was removed from the paper cups and were subjected
to pulverization using a hammer inside a container.

Test Results
The workability/viscosity of the mixtures of every water cement ratio was observed from the fresh mixture.
Strength/hardness was observed from the hardened mixture using a hammer. The following data was the results
for the activity:
Cement Paste
Water-Cement Ratio Viscosity Hardness
0.3 Low High
0.4 Medium Medium
0.5 High Low
Hardness
Viscosity

Guilbert C. Fajardo Jr. Laboratory No. 2 August 30, 2021

Student Date Given Score:
Engr.
0.3 Richard J. Aquino
0.4 Activity 1 – Concrete Mix
0.5 September 13, 2021
CE 42A Instructor Cement Paste, Mortar and Concrete Date Due
Water-cement Ratio
 Figure 1a-1b: Viscosity-Water content, Hardness-Water content Relationship for Cement Paste

Mortar
Water-Cement Ratio Viscosity Hardness
0.3 Low Low
0.4 Medium High
0.5 High Medium
Hardness
Viscosity

0.3 0.4 0.5

Water-cement Ratio

Figure 2a-2b: Viscosity-Water content, Hardness-Water content Relationship for Mortar

Discussion of Results
The results shows that the water-cement ratio is proportional to the viscosity of the mixture in both cement paste
and mortar. For the hardness, the results shows that 0.3 w/c ratio for the cement paste, and 0.4 w/c ratio for the
mortar are the high-hardness mixtures. In medium-hardness, 0.4 and 0.5 w/c ratio for the cement paste and mortar
respectively. And for the low-hardness, 0.5 w/c ratio for cement paste, and 0.3 w/c for the mortar.

Conclusions and Recommendations

As shown in the results, the workability/viscosity of the concrete mixtures is directly proportional to the amount
of water. In other words, the higher the water content, the higher the workability/viscosity of the mixture. For the
cement paste, results shows that the strength/hardness of the cement paste is inversely proportional to the water
content. For the mortar, results shows that for 0.3 and 0.5, the water-cement ratio is proportional to the hardness,
but the 0.4 water-cement ratio got the highest strength. Ideally, around 0.4 to 0.5 is the maximum water-cement

Guilbert C. Fajardo Jr. Laboratory No. 2 August 30, 2021

Student Date Given Score:
Engr. Richard J. Aquino Activity 1 – Concrete Mix September 13, 2021
CE 42A Instructor Cement Paste, Mortar and Concrete Date Due
ratio (without admixtures) based on the data from ACPA, 2001. That makes the water-cement ratio of 0.4 higher
strength than 0.3 theoretically. The number of curing days might also be considered for the early strength
development since it only took 24 hours to cure before subjected for pulverization.
In conclusion, concrete mixes possess unique properties. The water-cement ratio plays very vital role in concrete
mixture. Lowering the water-cement ratio produces less air pores making the concrete more compact and firm
thus, it will have a significant effect on the strength of the concrete. Knowing the water content important as it
influences the strength and durability of the concrete when it is cured properly as well as the workability of the
fresh concrete mix.

References
Giatec Scientific Inc. (2020, December 8). Concrete Mix Design Just Got Easier.
https://www.giatecscientific.com/education/concrete-mix-design-just-got-easier/How Concrete is
Made. (n.d.). PCA. Retrieved September 11, 2021, from https://www.cement.org/cement-concrete/how-concrete-is-made
(n.d.). ACI Mix Design – Pavement Interactive. Pavement Interactive. Retrieved September 11, 2021, from
https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/design/mix-design/aci-mix-design/

Guilbert C. Fajardo Jr. Laboratory No. 2 August 30, 2021

Student Date Given Score:
Engr. Richard J. Aquino Activity 1 – Concrete Mix September 13, 2021
CE 42A Instructor Cement Paste, Mortar and Concrete Date Due