Experiment No.
2:
Compaction Factor Test
Objective:
To perform the compacting factor test to determine the workability of concrete.
Scope & significance:
This test also gives the workability of concrete indirectly. This test is appropriate for concrete
with the maximum aggregate size of 40mm.
Apparatus:
Apparatus consists of two hoppers each in the shape of frustum of a cone and one cylinder. The
hoppers have hinge door at the bottom and all the surfaces are polished to reduce friction.
Related theory:
Compacting Factor
The degree of compaction is also called the compacting factor and is measured with the help
of density ratio that is the ratio of density actually achieved in the test to the density of same
concrete when it is fully compacted. Its maximum answer is 1 but practically it is lesser than
1.
Calculation of Compaction Factor Value:
The compaction factor is defined as the ratio of the weight of partially compacted concrete to
the weight of fully compacted concrete.
Compacting Factor = (weight of partially compacted concrete) / (weight of fully Concrete
Concrete)
= W2 – W1 / W3 - W1
Here,
W1 = Weight of empty cylinder.
W2 = Weight of partially compacted concrete.
W3 = weight of fully Concrete.
Relation Between Workability And Compacting Factor
Workability Compacting Factor Slump (mm)
Very Low 0.78 0 – 25
Low 0.85 25 – 50
Medium 0.92 50 – 100
High 0.95 100 – 175
Note: More is the compacting factor more will be the workability.
Procedure:
• First the concrete is placed gently at the upper hopper so that no work is done on
concrete to produce compaction.
• The bottom door of the upper hopper is then released and the concrete falls into the
lower hopper.
• The bottom door of the lower hopper is then released and the concrete falls into the
cylinder.
• Excess concrete is then removed from the cylinder.
• The density of concrete in now calculated and this density divided by the density of
fully compacted concrete is known as compacting factor.
More is the compacting factor more will be the workability.
Observations & Calculations:
Weight of empty cylinder = …………5.4………… kg
Weight of partially compacted concrete = m1 = …………11.4……… kg
Weight of fully compacted concrete = m2 = …………13.4……… kg
Compacting Factor = =11.3/13.4 = 0.843
The Compaction factor values ranges from 0.7 to 0.95.
Comments:
For the normal range of concrete the compaction factor lies between (0.8 – 0.92).
The value of compactness factor tells us that the workability of concrete is Low but the slump
value tells us that the workability is Medium. This variation was due to the reason that when
the first test was performed the then apparatus was not made wet which made the reading
slightly more. The sensitivity of the compaction factor is reduced outside the normal range of
workability and is generally unsatisfactory for compacting factor greater than 0.92.
