EXPERIMENT-1

1.4. APPARATUS

a, Le Chatelier apparatus (Figure 1)

b. Water bath

c. Weighing balance

d. Mixing pan

¢. Thermometer

f. Room or humidity cabinet OR Proper curing

techniques

Relative humidity > 90%

Temperature = 20°C + 1

Glass plate,
a

oa

}e-30 mma]

oa

at

Elevation

8 plate

Brass mould.
[Thickness 0.50. mm

pois Indicators with pointed ends

(FS i

‘X
SS
qe ‘Spt nat more than 0.50 mm

165 m_m——___>}
Pian

Figure 1 Le- Ch-atelier's Apparatus

1.5, PROCEDURE

Prepare a cement paste of standard consistence. Place a

lightly oiled Le Chatelier mold on the lightly oiled base-
plate and fill it immediately without undue compaction
or vibration using only the hands and a straight-edged
implement, if desired, to level the top surface. During

1.7. OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS

Standard Consistency of Cement:

SOUNDNESS TEST ON CEMENT

filling, prevent the split in the mold from accidentally

opening, e.g. by gentle pressure with the fingers or by
use of a suitable rubber band.

Cover the mold with the lightly oiled cover plate, add
the additional mass, if necessary, and then immediately
place the complete apparatus in the humidity room or
cabinet. Maintain it for 24 h + 30 min at (20 + 1) °C and
not less than 90 % relative humidity. OR Place it in the
water bath for 24 hours.

At the end of the 24 h + 30 min period measure the

distance (A) between the indicator points to the nearest
0.5 mm. Then heat the mold gradually to boiling during
(30 + 5) min and maintain the water bath at boiling
temperature for 3 ht 5 min.

At the end of the boiling period the distance (B) between

the indicator points may be measured, to the nearest 0.5
mm.

Remove from the heat and allow the mold to cool to

laboratory temperature. Measure the distance, C,
between the indicator points, to the nearest 0.5 mm.

Calculate the difference between A and C. If it is lesser

than prescribed value then cement is sound, else it is
‘unsound.
1.6. IMPORTANT

Important points to study are;

a. Relative humidity
b. Standard consistency of cement
c. Limit on soundness of cement

Amount of Cement (kgs):

Amount of water (ml):
Group Distance after Distance after Distance after C-A Average
No. curing, A boiling, B bringing to (iain) Sica
(mm) (mm) room temp., C

(mm)

ACI CONCRETE MIX DESIGN

STANDARD PRACTICE FOR SELECTING PROPORTIONS FOR NORMAL, HEAVY WEIGHT
AND MASS CONCRETE
Concrete is a mix of binding material (cement), fine aggregates (sand) and coarse aggregates (crush)
and water. These are mixed in particular proportions to achieve required workability and strength.
American concrete institute committee 211 in its first report shared a sequential method to calculate
these proportions for normal strength concrete using ordinary portland cement. This report does not
limit the type and number of cementitious materials or type of fillers. But there are other methods
available to calculate concrete proportion depending on type of cementitious materials, high strength
requirements and high performance/self-compaction requirements
SCOPE OF EXPERIMENT:
This Standard Practice describes methods for selecting proportions for hydraulic cement concrete made
with and without other cementitious materials and chemical admixtures. This concrete consists of
normal and/or high density aggregates (as distinguished from lightweight aggregates) with a
workability suitable for usual cast-in-place construction (as distinguished from special mixtures for
concrete products manufacture). Also included is a description of methods used for selecting
proportions for mass concrete. Hydraulic cements referred to in this Standard Practice are portland
cement (ASTM C 150) and blended cement (ASTM C 595).
The methods provide a first approximation of proportions intended to be checked by trial batches in the
laboratory or field and adjusted, as necessary, to produce the desired characteristics of the concrete.
PROCEDURE
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) mix design method is but one of many basic concrete mix
design methods available today. This section summarizes the ACI absolute volume method because it
is widely accepted in the U.S. and continually updated by the ACL Keep in mind that this summary and
most methods 17 designated as "mix design” methods arc really just mixture proportioning methods.
Mix design includes trial mixture proportioning (covered here) plus perfonnancc tests
This section is n general outline of the ACI proportioning method with speeifie emphasis on PCC fbr
pavements. It emphasizes general conecpts nnd rationale over speeifie procedures. Typical procedures
are available in the following documents:
A.The American Concrete Institute’s (AC!) Standard Practice for Selecting Proportions for Normal,
Heavyweight, and Mass Concrete (ACI 211.1-91) as found in their ACI Manual of Concrete Practice
2000, Part 1: Materials and General Properties of Concrete.
B.The Portland Cement Association’s (PCA) Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 14th edition
(2002) or any earlier edition.

Step 1: Required properties:

Concrete mix design procedure begins with determining the physical/mechanical properties of
materials used. The required properties are;
a. Bulk density of coarse and fine aggregate in loose and compacted state. ASTM C29 / C29M -
17a should be used for this test.
b. Fineness modulus of aggregates should be detennined following ASTM C136.
c. Specific gravity of aggregates,
d. Water absorption by aggregates.
Cement used should confonn to C150 ASTM specifications.
Step 2: Slump Value:
The choice of slump is actually a choice of mix workability. Workability can be described as a
combination of several different, but related, PCC properties related to its rheology:
■ Ease of mixing
■ Ease of placing
■ Ease of compaction
・ Ease of finishing
Generally, mixes of the stifTest consistency that can still be placed adequately should be used (ACI 2000).
Typically, slump is specified, but table 6.3.1 o Appendix 1, ACI 211.1 (Pg.7) shows general slump ranges for
specific applications. Slump specifications arc different for fixed fonn paving and slip fonn paving. Table 1
Slump Ranges for Specific Applications
Type of Construction
Slump
(mm) (inches)
25-75 1-3
Reinforced foundation walls and
footings
25-75 1-3
Plain footings, caissons and
substructure walls
25 -100 1-4

Beams and reinforced walls

Building columns 25 -100 1-4
Pavements and slabs 25-75 1-3
 Mass concrete 25-50 1-2

Step 3: Maximum Aggregate Size:

Maximum aggregate size will affect such PCC parameters as amount of cement paste, workability and
strcngtli. In general, ACI recommends that maximum aggregate size be limited to 1/3 of the slab depth
and 3/4 of the minimum clear space between reinforcing bars. Aggregate larger than these dimensions
may be difficult to consolidate and compact resulting in a honeycombed structure or large air pockets.
Pavement PCC maximum aggregate sizes are on the order of 25 mm (1 inch) to 37.5 mm (1.5 inches)
(ACPA, 2001).

Step 4: Mixing Water and Air Content

Estimation: Slump is dependent upon nominal maximum aggregate size, particle shape, aggregate
gradation, PCC temperature, the amount of entrained air and certain chemical admixtures. It is not
generally affected by the amount of cementitious material. Tlierefore, ACI provides a table relating
nominal maximum aggregate size, air entrainment and desired slump to the desired mixing water
quantity. Table-2 is a partial reproduction of Table 6.3.3, Appendix 1, ACI 211.1 (keep in mind that
pavement PCC is almost always air-entrained so air¬entrained values are most appropriate). Typically,
state agencies specify between about 4 and 8 percent air by total volume (based on data from ACPA,
2001).

Table 2 Approximate Mixing Water and Air Content Requirements for Different Slumps and
Maximum Aggregate
Sizes (adapted from ACI, 2000)

Mixing Water in kg/m3 (Ib/yd3) for the listed Nominal Maximum

Quantity
9.5 mm 12.5 mm 19Aggregate
mm 25 Size
mm 37.5 mm 50 mm 75 mm 100 mm
Slump
(0.375 (0.5 In.) (0.75 In.) (1 In.) (1.5 in.) (2 in.) (3 in.) (4 in.)
Non-Air-Entrained
PCC 207 199 190 179 166 154 130 113
25-50 (1-2)
(350) (335) (315) (300) (275) (260) (220) (190)
75-100 (3 • 4) 228 216 205 193 181 169 145 124
(385) (365) (340) (325) (300) (285) (245) (210)
243 228 216 202 190 178 160
150-175 (6 - 7)
(410) (385) (360) (340) (315) (300) (270) -,
Typical entrapped air
3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0.3 0.2
(percent)

Slump 9.5 mm 12.5 19 mm 25 mm 37.5 50 mm 75 mm 100 mm

(0.375 mm (0.75 (lin.) mm (1- (2 in.) (3 in.) (4 in.)
 Air-Entrained PCC
25-50 (1 - 2) 181 175 168 160 148 142 107
(s)
(305)
202 (295)
193 (280)
184 (270) (250)
165 (240)
157 133 (180)
75-100 (3 - 4) s
(340)
216 (325)
205 (305)
197 184(265)(275)
166 (225)
174
154
150-175 (6-7) -
(365) (percent)
Recommended Air Content (345) (325) (310) (290) (280) (260)
Mild Exposure 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0
Moderate Exposure 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0
Severe Exposure 7.5 7.0 6.0 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0

Step 5: Water-Cement Ratio:

The water-cement ratio is a convenient measurement whose value is well correlated with PCC strength
and durability. In general, lower water-cement ratios produce stronger, more durable PCC If natural
pozzolans are used in the mix (such as fly ash) then the ratio becomes a water-cementitious material
ratio (cementitious material == portland cement + pozzolonic material). The ACI method bases the
water-cement ratio selection on desired compressive strength and then calculates the required cement
content based on the selected water-cement ratio. Table-3 is a general estimate of 28-day compressive
strength vs. water¬cement ratio (or water-cementitious ratio). Values in this table tend to be
conservative (based on table 6.3.4(a) & table 6.3.4(b); Appendix 1, ACI 211.1).
Step 6: Cement Content:
Cement content is determined by comparing the following two items:
・ The calculated amount based on the selected mixing water content and water-cement ratio.
■ The specified minimum cement content» if applicable. Most state DOTs specify minimum cement
contents in the range of 300 • 360 kg/m3 (500 -600 lbs/yd3).
An older practice used to be to specify the cement content in tennsofthe number of 94 lb, sacks
ofportlaiid cement per cubic yard of PCC. This resulted in 19
specifications such as a "6 sack mix" or a ”5 sack mix". While these specifications are quite logical to a
small contractor or individual who buys portland cement in 94 lb. sacks, they do not have much
meaning to the typical pavement contractor or batching plant who buys portland cement in bulk. As
such, specifying cement content by the number of sacks should be avoided.
Step 7: Coarse Aggregate Content:
Selection of coarse aggregate content is empirically based on mixture workability. ACI recommends
the percentage (by unit volume) of coarse aggregate based on nominal maximum aggregate size and
fine aggregate fineness modulus. Tliis recommendation is based on empirical relationships to produce
PCC with a degree of workability suitable for usual reinforced construction (ACI, 2000). Since
pavement PCC should, in general, be stiffer and less workable, ACI allows increasing their
recommended values by up to about 10 percent. Table- 4 shows ACI recommended values based on
Table 6.3.6, Appendix 1, ACI 211.1.
Step 8: Fine Aggregate Content
At this point, all other constituent volumes have been specified (water, Portland, cement, air and coarse
aggregate). Thus, the fine aggregate volume is just the remaining volume:
Volume of fine aggregate = Unit volume (1 m3 or yd3) —(Volume of mixing water + Volume of air +
Volume of portland cement + Volume of coarse aggregate).
Step 9: Adjustments for Aggregate Moisture
Unlike HMA, PCC batching does not require dried aggregate. Therefore, aggregate moisture content
must be accounted for. Aggregate moisture affects the following parameters:
Aggregate weights. Aggregate volumes are calculated based on oven dry unit weights, but aggregate is
typically batched based on actual weight. Therefore, any moisture in the aggregate will increase its
weight and stockpiled aggregates almost always contain some moisture. Without correcting for this, the
batched aggregate volumes will be incorrect.
Amount of mixing water. If the batched aggregate is anything but saturated surface dry it will absorb water (if oven dry or air dry) or give up water (if wet)

to the cement paste. This causes a net change in the amount of water available in the mix and must be compensated for by adjusting
the amount of mixing water added.
Table 3 Water-Cement Ratio and Compressive Strength Relationship
28-Day Water-cement ratio by
Non-Air- Air-
Compressive
Entrained
Strength in Entrained
41.4 (6000) 0.41 -
34.5 (5000) 0.48 0.40
27.6 (4000) 0.57 0.48
20.7 (3000) 0.68 0.59
13.8 (2000) 0.82 0.74

Table 4 Volume of Coarse Aggregate per Unit Volume of PCC for Different Fine Aggregate Fineness
Moduli for Pavement PCC (m3).
Nominal Fine Aggregate Fineness
Maximum Modulus
2.40 2.60 2.80 3.00
9.5 mm
Aggregate 0.50 0.48 0.46 0.44
(0.375
12.5 in)mm 0.59 0.57 0.55 0.53
(0.5
19 mmin) (0.75
0.66 0.64 0.62 0.60
in)
25 mm 0.71 0.69 0.67 0.65
37.5 mm 0.75 0.73 0.71 0.69
(1.5mm
50 in) (2 in)
0.78 0.76 0.74 0.72

These values can be increased by up to about 10 percent for pavement applications.

Coarse aggregate volumes are based on oven-dry- f°dded weights obtained in accordance with ASTM C.