1.

C-30 mix design

The main objective of exercising this mix design is:
1) To know the processes involved during mix design
2) To know the properties of concrete ingredients
3) To know the advantage and effect of conducting material quality test
for concrete mix design
4) To check the quality of local material to attain the required strength
through conducting continuous research on local material quality.
5) To notify all the consequence to the responsible personnel and loss of
life and economic crisis due to poor quality material supply.
6) To minimize risk of structural failure due to poor quality of local
material.
7) To supply the customer with adequate cost effective and good quality
and long life service.

First we bought the required materials from shop containing thus materials
around the campus EiABC.

The quantity of the materials were:

 One bag of Portland pozzolana cement

 One box coarse aggregate, using box size of 60*60*50 cm
 One box fine aggregate(sand), using box size of 60*60*50 cm

How did we know the quantity of materials? We knew by taking the ratio of C-30
concrete mix at normal condition which is 1:1.5:3 and we have calculated the
required amount of material for the required volume. Generally it was rough
estimation; this rough estimation was used only to buy the ingredients not to mix
them.

We have used Portland-pozzolana cement grades 32.5 and that was available in
the Addis Ababa open market.

Why we choose Portland pozzolana cement?

 Pozzolana cement has very good resistance against sulphate

attack hence is used in hydraulic structures, marine
 structures, construction near the sea shore, dam construction
etc.
 As the pozzolano materials are very fine, it can fill gaps between
the reinforcement and aggregate , thus reducing the shrinkage,
honeycomb formation and bleeding can be reduced, which in
turn increases the strength and durability of concrete.

Having bought these materials we have conducted different tests to know the
quality of these materials according to ASTM C-33 class 125. The tests we
conducted were:

1) Sieve analysis of fine and coarse aggregate

2) Moisture content of fine and coarse aggregate
3) Fines modules of fine aggregate
4) Specific gravity and water absorption of fine and coarse
aggregate
5) Unit weight of fine and coarse aggregate
6) Silt content of fine aggregate
Sieve analysis

Objective of the test: this test is conducted to check the particle size distribution
of the fine and coarse aggregate (gradation of the aggregates).

Description: Aggregates are the filler materials which make up a large

portion (roughly 65-80%) of the concrete volume. Considerable care should
be taken to provide the best aggregates available. Aggregates should be well
graded to strengthen the bond of concrete mix.

The apparatus used to conduct the test:

 Riffling apparatus
 Sieve size 50mm-9.5mm for coarse aggregate
 Sieve size 9.5mm-75 micro-meter for fine aggregate
 Weighing balance to take the required sample weight
Procedure: first, we prepared both the fine and coarse aggregates and taken the
required samples(8000g for coarse aggregate, 500g for fine aggregate) using riffling
for fine aggregate and quartering for coarse aggregate.

Having taken the required amount of samples; we inserted the sample in to the
specified sieves. The sample sieved for about 8-10 minutes.

Finally, we have recorded the weight of aggregate from each sieve on the given
table format and calculated as follows.

Fines modules of fine aggregate

 The fineness modulus (FM) for both fine & coarse aggregates is obtained by
adding the cumulative %age by mass retained on each of a specified series of
sieves and dividing the sum by 100.

 The FM is an index of the fineness of the aggregate. The higher the FM, the
coarser the aggregate.

 FM of fine aggregate is useful in estimating proportions of fine and coarse

aggregate in concrete mixtures.

Moisture content

Objective: to determine the amount of water contained by fine and coarse

aggregates.

Description: aggregates give to the mix and absorb water from the mix. In both
cases the design W/C ratio, workability and concrete strength will be affected.
Therefore, we have to determine the moisture content of aggregates and we have to
adjust the water content of the mix finally.

 Two types of moisture are recognized in aggregates:

A. Absorbed moisture: is that which is taken in by the voids in aggregate

particles and may not be apparent on the surface.

B. Surface moisture: is that which fit tightly to the surface of the particle.
  Total moisture content is the total amount of water present on the
external and internal surfaces of aggregates.

 Total Moisture = Surface moisture + absorbed moisture

Used apparatus: weighing balance

 Oven-dry
 Pan
 Trowel

Procedure: first, we took 500gm fine aggregate and 2000gm coarse aggregate
sample by measuring its weight using the balance. Next each sample had been
inserted to the oven @ a temperature of 1500c for 24hrs. Then we had measured
the oven dry sample and then the moisture content is calculated by percentage
value for both fine and course aggregate.

Specific gravity and water absorption of fine and coarse aggregate

Objective: to determine bulk and apparent specific gravity and absorption
capacity of both fine and coarse aggregate.
Description: specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a substance to that of the
same volume of water. This definition assumes the substance is solid throughout
the aggregates used. However, have pores that are both permeable and
impermeable whose structure (size pattern and continuity pattern) affects water
absorption permeability and specific gravity of the aggregates.
Apparatus used

i. balance
ii. continuer
iii. picknometer
iv. oven dry
v. basket
vi. socking can
vii. sieve

Procedure: first we had socked a rough sample of both fine and coarse aggregate
and after 24hrs we made the socked sample @ ssd state. Next we took two sample
from both fine and coarse aggregate weighting 4000gm and 500gm each
respectively. Then we had inserted each of the measured sample to an oven with a
temperature of 1500c for about 24hrs. Finally we had measured the oven dry
sample and then we had calculated the specific gravity and absorption capacity
and recorded on the specified table.