SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

LABORATORY
CONCRETE – MIX PROPORTIONING

MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION LABORATORY

LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 14

Performed by:

MARAVILLA, BENNY Y.
PAGARAN, JOHN HARVEY A.
PALMERA, EARL ROBERT M.

Submitted by:

PAGARAN, JOHN HARVEY A.

Submitted to:

ENGR. ROBERT A. ROMERO

 March 23, 2018
I. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this exercise are: (1) to use the trial mix method described hereinafter to
determine optimum proportions of aggregates, cement, and water for concrete to meet specified
strength requirements. (2) to learn concreting practice in laboratory environment, and (3) to observe
the characteristic properties of fresh concrete.

II. EQUIPMENTS

a. 15.50 cm× 16.00 cm×55.00 cm rectangular mold

b. 16.50 cm× 31.00 cm cylindrical mold

c. Two large containers for stocking aggregates.

d. Slump cone

e. Fiberglass measuring tape

f. 12” Tamping rod

g. 1 ply board, 2 shovels, and 2 large trowels

III. PROCEDURE

Trial Mix Design Procedure:

This procedure is for calculating the approximate quantities of coarse aggregate, fine
aggregate, cement and water to make up one cubic yard of non-air entrained concrete of a
specified compressive strength. This calculation should be done before starting the exercise.

1. The following information shall be provided to each party by the laboratory instructor:

a) 28-day compressive strength required for the concrete.

b) Properties of the coarse and fine aggregate including maximum aggregate size,
fineness modulus of the fine aggregate, effective absorption of the fine and coarse
aggregates.
c) Assume normal Type 1 Portland cement is to be used in the laboratory and slump of
the concrete mix will be ranged between 3 and 4 in.

2. Based on the 28-day compressive strength, obtain the water-cement ratio required from
the table for air-entrained concrete using Type 1 Portland cement.
 3. Based on the w/c, the maximum aggregate size and FM of the fine aggregate, and using
the table, compute the quantities of the coarse aggregate (ac), fine aggregate (af),
cement (C), water (Wc) for hydration, and water (W ac) and (Waf) needed to bring the
coarse aggregate and fine aggregate in the SSD conditions for one cubic yard of concrete
by ACI method. Record these results in the data sheet.

4. Divide all the quantities determined in step 3 by 27 to obtain the estimated quantities of
the materials (ac, af, C, W c, Wac, Waf) for one cubic ft. of concrete. In some instances,
concrete other than one cubic ft. may be needed.

Laboratory Batching Method:

5. Weigh the amount of coarse aggregate (ac) determined in Step 4, and store in a
container. Add the amount of water of for effective absorption (W ac) to the aggregate
and mix them thoroughly. Weigh the amount of the fine aggregate (af) (W af) mix them
thoroughly. Record all the weighs in the date sheet.

6. Weigh the quantity of cement (C) and put it in a larger mixing ply board. Weigh the
amount of water for absorption (Waf) mix them thoroughly. Record all the weights in the
date sheet.

7. Coarse and fine aggregate contained in step 5 area added into the mixing ply board to
produce a concrete mix with the desired slump of 3 to 4 in. and with good workability.
This can be done by first using only 2/3 of the coarse and fine aggregates and
thoroughly mixing the aggregates with the paste. Then test the slump. At this point, the
slump of the mixture should be greater than 4”. Gradually add small quantities of fine or
coarse aggregate (or both) and thoroughly remix the concrete and test the slump.
Repeat this process until the mix reaches the desired slump. As the limiting slump is
approaching, the batch should be carefully examined in order to judge which aggregate
to add. The correct amount of sand is the minimum which will produce enough mortar
to fill the space between pieces of coarse aggregate. In general understanding creates
harshness (lack of troweling ability) and show lack of cohesiveness whereas over
sanding decreases “yield” and may result in greater potential volume change. When the
batch is judged to be satisfactory, the remaining supplies of aggregates are weighed and
recorded in the data sheet.

8. In testing the slump, the mold shall be dampened and placed in the mixing pan. The
mold shall be firmly held down against the ply board. Fill the slump cone with concrete
in three layer, each approximately one-third of the volume of the mold. Each layer shall
be rodded with 25 strokes, distributed uniformly over the cross-section of the cone. The
rod shall lightly penetrate the previous layer. After the top layer has been rodded, the
surface of concrete shall be struck off with a trowel so that the cone is exactly filled. The
 cone shall be immediately removed from the concrete by raising it carefully in a vertical
direction. The slump shall be measured immediately by determining the difference
between the height of the mold and the height of the subsided concrete. After the
slump measurement is completed, the side of the concrete frustum should be tapped
gently with the tamping rod. The behavior of the concrete under this treatment is a
valuable indication of the cohesiveness. A well proportioned mix will gradually slump to
lower elevation and retain its original from while a poor mix will crumple. Segregate and
fall apart.

9. Fill the cylindrical mold and the rectangular mold with the freshly mixed concrete. Air-
dry the specimen for 24hrs and cure the after air-dry.

10. Test for compressive strength. Record the data.

IV. TABULATION OF DATA, CALCULATIONS, and ANALYSIS

SPECIMEN WATER-CEMENT PORTLAND FINE COARSE WATER EXPECTED STRENGTH OBTAINED

RATIO CEMENT (kg) AGGREGATE AGGREGATE (kg) (kg) STRENGTH
(kg)
Cylinder 0.64 07.00 14.00 28.00 04.60 14.70 MPa 3.196 MPa
(compressive) (5 days)
Beam 0.64 07.00 14.00 28.00 04.60 1850 psi (flexure) 450 psi
(4days)

4days (Rectangular Beam):

5 days (Cylindrical Specimen):
3−4 40−x
=
3−7 40−65 3−5 40−x
=
3−7 40−65
x=46.25 %
x=52.50 %
Expected Strength=1850 psi
Expected Strength=14.70 MPa

 From the obtained data, we have observed that we failed to reach the expected
compressive strength and flexure strength for a given time. We suspected that the
failure is due to the fact that we did not perform curing for our concrete.
V. DOCUMENTARY
VI. REMARKS

Before the experiment, the students were advised to calculate first the correct proportion of
ingredients to be used in order to obtain a specific compressive strength which is 28 MPa (4000 psi).
After obtaining the needed proportion, add 20%-30% of the calculated quantity since there are 2
specimens needed, the rectangular and cylindrical specimen. From our calculated proportion, we were
able to obtain a medium slump which is easily molded although some care required securing complete
compaction.

VII. CONCLUSION

The obtained strength from the testing failed to reach the expected strength values because if
we look for factors why this happened we think the major reason for this is that we have not performed
curing. We all know that curing prevents hydration and hydration is one of the reasons why concrete
won’t reach its desired strength. We also observed that when we tested the cylinder it didn’t break in
the center because the cylinder was not centered, causing the intensity of pressure not to be distributed
evenly. Another factor of why the values are small is for the aggregates we used were not too big as we
all know aggregates are the ones that gives the concrete its strength.