University Of Vocational Technology

100, Kandawala Road, Ratmalana

Faculty Of Engineering Technology

Bachelor of Technology in Construction Technology & Resource Management

Construction Materials
CT 10505

Assignment 01
Resource Person: Mr. Jude Bernard Silva

Name : M.D.D.PEIRIS
Registration Number : CTRM/22/B2/23
Stream : Engineering Technology
Semester : 1st Year – 1st Semester
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No Description Page No

1 Briefly explain with all necessary sketches, how strength of concrete is

affected with doing sieve analysis for fine aggregate and course aggregate
while mixing the concrete.

2. Briefly explain with all necessary sketches how strength of concrete is

affected with variation of water cement ratio, while mixing the concrete and
doing compaction, while placing the concrete.

3 Find the material quantities required to cast twelve concrete cubes of Grade
(30+N) Concrete, 150mm x 150mm x 150mm in size, making the following
assumptions.
Q1) Briefly explain with all necessary sketches, how strength of concrete is affected with doing sieve
analysis for fine aggregate and course aggregate while mixing the concrete.

Sieve analysis is a method used to determine the particle size distribution of aggregates such as fine aggregates
and coarse aggregates. The strength of concrete is affected by the particle sizes of these aggregates. The
importance of using the right type and quality of aggregates cannot be overemphasized. The fine and coarse
aggregates generally occupy 60% to 75% of the concrete volume (70% to 85% by mass) and strongly influence
the concrete’s freshly mixed and hardened properties, mixture proportions, and economy.

Fine aggregates generally consist of natural sand or crushed stone with most particles smaller than 4.75 mm . A
well graded fine aggregate with a continuous particle size distribution will result in a denser and stronger concrete.
This is because a well graded aggregate will fill in the voids between the larger particles, resulting in a more
compact concrete. on the other hand, a poorly graded fine aggregate will result in a segregated concrete with a
low strength.

Coarse aggregates consist of one or a combination of gravels or crushed stone with particles predominantly larger
than 4.75 mm and generally between 9.5 mm and 37.5 mm . Some natural aggregate deposits, called pit-run
gravel, consist of gravel and sand that can be readily used in concrete after minimal processing. A well – graded
coarse aggregate with a continuous particles size distribution will result in a more compact and stronger concrete.
This is because a well graded aggregate will have a better interlocking effect and provide a better bond between
the aggregates and the cement paste.
The Shape of Aggregate
There are many shapes of aggregate like angular, cubical, elongated, elongated and flaky, flaky, irregular
and rounded.

Angular aggregates are rough textured, and rounded aggregates are smooth textured. Thus, the rounded
aggregates, create the problem of lack of bonding between cement paste and aggregate. Angular aggregates
exhibit a better interlocking effect in concrete, but the angular aggregate contains a larger amount of voids.
For this, you needed well-graded aggregate. The shape of aggregates becomes more important in case of
high strength and high-performance concrete where very low w/c ratio is used. In such cases, cubical shape
aggregates with uniform grading are required for better workability.

Grading of Aggregate
Grading of aggregates determines the particle size distribution of aggregates. It’s the most important factor
for concrete mix. There are three types of graded aggregate Gap Graded Aggregate, Poorly graded
aggregate and Well-graded aggregate.

Well-graded aggregate contains all size of particles of aggregate. So that, they have a less amount of voids.
The use of well-graded aggregates gives higher strength to the concrete.

The strength of concrete is affected by the grading of the fine aggregate and coarse aggregate used in the
concrete mix design.
Q2) Briefly explain with all necessary sketches how strength of concrete is affected with variation of water
cement ratio, while mixing the concrete and doing compaction, while placing the concrete.

Effect of water cement ratio on concrete

The water–cement ratio is the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of cement used in a concrete mix.
A lower ratio leads to higher strength and durability, but may make the mix difficult to work with and form.
Work-ability can be resolved with the use of plasticizers or super-plasticizers.

A
0.35
ratio
mix,

however, might not properly combine and might not flow well enough to be placed. As a result, more water is
utilized than is strictly necessary for cement to react. More frequently, water-to-cement ratios between 0.45 and
0.60 are utilized. Lower ratios are utilized for stronger concrete, combined with a plasticizer to improve
flowability.

The sand and aggregate components of the cement paste will separate if there is too much water present.
Additionally, as concrete solidifies, water that is not consumed by the hydration reaction may leave out, creating
microscopic pores (bleeding) that may lower the concrete's final strength. A mixture containing too much water
will experience more shrinkage as the extra water evaporates, leading to visible fractures and internal fissures
(particularly around inside corners), which will again lower the ultimate strength.

Compaction of Concrete
Concrete is denser when it has been compacted because this procedure eliminates air gaps from freshly put
concrete, making the concrete solid and compact. Concrete loses a significant amount of strength when air spaces
are present. An average of 5% of air gaps might cause a 30–40% reduction in strength. As shown in the
accompanying chart, even at a constant water to cement ratio, strength varies depending on the degree of
compaction accuracy. Strength is greater in thoroughly compacted concrete than in inadequately compacted
concrete.
Compaction machines: poker
Q3) Find the material quantities required to cast twelve concrete cubes of Grade (30+N) Concrete,
150mm x 150mm x 150mm in size, making the following assumptions.

(N is last digit of admission no. of the student.)

Ex: - If your registration no is 16, N = 6 therefore, grade to be taken as 36.)

• 5% defective proportion can be allowed.

• Cement strength class is 42.5 N.
• A slump value of 150 mm to be achieved.
• Maximum aggregate size specified is 20mm.
• River sand with a water absorption of 1% that sieves 60% through 0.6mm sieve is to be used.
• Maximum aggregate size of the coarse aggregate is 20mm and the water absorption is 1.2 %
• Relative density of combined aggregate can be assumed to be 2.65.
• Sand is observed to have a moisture content of 1.5 %, while coarse aggregate having a moisture content
of 0.8 %
 Concrete Mix Design Form (REG NO: CTRM/22/B2/23) ●N = 3

stage item Reference or Values

calculation

1 1.1 Characteristic strength Specified (30 + N)=( 30 + 3) = 33 N/mm2 at 28 days

Proportion defective 5 %
1.2 Standard deviation Fig. 3 8 N/mm or no data ................... N/mm2
2

1.3 Margin C1 (k= 1.64 ) 1.64 x 8 = 13.12 N/mm2

Specified 13 N/mm2
1.4 Target mean strength C2 33 + 13 = 46 N/mm2
1.5 Cement strength class Specified 42.5/52.5
1.6 Aggregate type: coarse Crushed/Uncrushed
Aggregate type: fine Crushed/Uncrushed
1.7 Free‐water/cement ratio Table 2, Fig. 4 0.52 .
Use the lower value 0.52 .
1.8 Max. Free water/cement ratio Specified 0.60 .
2 2.1 Slump or Vebe time Specified Slump 150 mm or Vebe time 0-3 s
2.2 Max. Aggregate size Specified 20 .mm
2.3 Free‐water content Table 3 𝟐⁄ x195 + 𝟏⁄ x 225 = 205 kg/m3
𝟑 𝟑
3 3.1 Cement content C3 205 ./ 0.52 .= 394 kg/m3
3.2 Maximum Cement content Specified - .kg/m3
3.3 Minimum Cement content Specified 290 kg/m3
Use 3.1 if ≤ 3.2 394 kg/m3
3.4 Modified free‐water/cement Use 3.3 if > 3.1
- .
ratio
4 4.1 Relative density of
aggregate (SSD) 2.65 .known/assumed
4.2 Concrete density Fig. 2375 kg/m3
4.3 Total aggregate content C4 2375 ‐ 394 ‐ 205 = 1776 kg/m3
5 5.1 Grading of fine aggregate Percentage passing 600 micron sieve 60 %
5.2 Proportion of fine aggregate Fig. 6 37 %
5.3 Fine aggregate content 1776 x 37 % = 657 kg/m3
C5
5.4 Coarse aggregate content 1776 ‐ 657 = 1119 kg/m3

Cement water Fine aggregate Coarse aggregate (kg)

Quantities
(kg) (kg or litres) (kg) 10 mm 20 mm 40 mm
Per m3 (to 395 205 660 1120
nearest 5 kg)
Per trial mix 17.8 9.2 29.7 50.4
Of 0.045 m3

Volume of 12 cubes : 12nos x 0.150m x 0.150m x 0.150m = 0.041 m3

Total volume of cubes with 10% wastage = 0.041 m3 + 0.041m3 x 10% = 0.045m3
 Quantities Cement Water Fine Coarse w/c ratio Remarks.
Aggregate Aggregate
Kgm-3 395 205 660 1120 0.52 Initial
Quantity.
Kgm-3 395 206.47 =660 + 3 =1120 – 4.47 =206.47/395 Corrected
=663 =1115.53 =0.52 Quantity

Moisture content of sand = 1.5%

Water absorption of sand = 1.0%

Surface moisture content = ( 1.5-1.0) = 0.5%

free moisture content
Mass of dry fine aggregate = mass of fine aggregate ( 1 + )
100

0.5
= 1120 x (1 + 100)

= 1125.6 kg

Additional water content = 1126 -1120

= 3kg

Moisture content of coarse aggregate = 0.8%

Water absorption of coarse aggregate = 1.2%

Extra water content for absorption =( 1.2-0.8) = 0.4%

𝟏𝟏𝟐𝟎
Mass of dry cause aggregate saturation = 0.4 = 1115.53kg
1+
100

additional water needed for = 1120-1115.53 =4.47 kg

saturation.

corrected Water content = 205-3 + 4.47

for saturation and hydration reaction. =206.47kg
 Table - 02

Determination of free water content.[table 3)

 33

49
46

0.52
2375

2.65

205
37

0.52