TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction:....................................................................................................2
Objectives........................................................................................................3
Theoretical Information:...................................................................................4
Materials/Apparatus:........................................................................................7
Experimental Procedures:................................................................................8
Sieve Analysis for Coarse and Fine Aggregates............................................8
Specific Gravity of Coarse and Fine Aggregates............................................8
Specific Gravity of Cement:...........................................................................8
Dry-rodded weight of Coarse Aggregates:....................................................9
Cube Test for the Mix 1:3:4 with Water Cement Ratio 0.67...........................9
Testing of the mortar cubes:.......................................................................10
Experimental Results:....................................................................................11
Sieve analysis of Fine Aggregates:..............................................................11
Table 1: Showing the results obtained from a sieve analysis test for fine
aggregates...............................................................................................11
Analysis:...................................................................................................11
Sieve analysis of Coarse Aggregates:.........................................................12
Table 2: Showing the results obtained from a sieve analysis test for
Coarse aggregates...................................................................................12
Analysis:...................................................................................................12
Specific Gravity FOr fine aggregates:..........................................................13
Analysis:...................................................................................................13
Specific Gravity FOr coarse aggregates:.....................................................14
Analysis:...................................................................................................14
0 |Page

Specific Gravity FOr Cement:......................................................................15

Analysis:...................................................................................................15
Dry Rodded Weight of Coarse Aggregate:...................................................15
Mix Design Calculations:................................................................................16
Compressive Strength:................................................................................19
Table 4 Showing Average Compressive Strengths with varying days.......19
Source Tables used for mix design calculations..........................................20
Discussion......................................................................................................22
Conclusion.....................................................................................................24
References.....................................................................................................25
Appendix........................................................................................................26

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INTRODUCTION:
Concrete is a composite engineering material that is composed of cement,
water and aggregates and/or admixtures. (Somayaji 2001) Concrete is an
expensive but yet durable building material provided that measures are
taken during and after its production. Engineers are frequently tasked with
the job of having to produce a concrete with required properties while
ensuring that the materials are proportioned so as to make the mix workable
in its plastic state and also as economic as possible. Extensive laboratory
work is conducted so as to produce a mix proportionally that will satisfy the
factors mentioned. This procedure is known as concrete mix design.
Mix designs vary with the job; such as size and shapes of structural
members, required strength of the concrete, exposure conditions and types
of cement. There are two broad categories of mix design: the D.O.E. (British
method) and the A.C.I. (American Concrete Institute) mix design. The most
preferred system of concrete design is the A.C.I. method. It allows
adjustment for the absorption capacity of coarse and fine aggregate,
maximum size of aggregates and even the water cement ratio. The A.C.I.
system entails ten steps, all of which are simple and equally effective. On the
other hand, the D.O.E. method is based on various assumptions and
requirements. The assumption of the mix depends primarily on the water
content, percentage of fine aggregates and maximum size of coarse
aggregates.
This exercise was done to investigate the compressive strength of a normal
weight concrete mix from a mix design created using a water cement ratio of
0.67. The mix design was created using A.C.I. method.

2 |Page

OBJECTIVES
To construct a mix design of a required strength for concrete to be
used in a foundation wall
To produce trial batches of the mix design to determine if the mix
achieves the specified strength
To discuss and evaluate the compressive strength of the concrete mix
achieved.

3 |Page

THEORETICAL INFORMATION:
Concrete mix design refers to the method by which the most economical
combination of materials for the desired quality with respect to strength,
durability, and workability is established. (Somayaji 2001)
The basis of concrete mix design is to produce a concrete with the required
properties, without a doubt utilizing a high proportion of cement would
produce the strength required but the effect that it would have on the cost of
materials significant since it is the most expensive of the constituents of
concrete.
A series of tests prior to mixing should be carried on the materials to aid in
the design. Some of these tests are:
i.

Specific gravities of the constituent materials, namely the cement, fine

and coarse aggregate. Specific gravity which is the ratio of the mass of
any volume of it to the mass of an equal volume of water, i.e. the
mass of the body is proportional to its weight. Determining the
densities of various materials proves useful when calculating the dead
load of the structure. For the density of the various construction
materials, the volume of any part of the structure multiplied by the
density of the materials give the mass and hence the weight of the
structure. The weight of the structure proves useful as this can aid in
efficiently designing a foundation suitable to withstand the load of the
structure.

ii.

Sieve analysis of the fine and coarse aggregates. Sieve is a simple test
of dividing a sample of aggregates into fractions of similar sizes,
tabulating them and representing the results graphically. Sieve
analysis is used to grade aggregates of which the grade should be
within a predetermined zone which defines the permissible grading of
aggregates. This aggregate grading gives an indication of the
workability, stability, economic, durable aggregate proportion as well
as the cement and water requirement for a concrete mix as this is an
important factor in the concrete mix design. The sieve analysis
indicates if the aggregates have large deficiencies or excess of any
size, aggregates that have a uniformed grain size distribution are
generally appreciated. Also, from the fineness modulus of the fine
aggregates the volume of dry rodded coarse aggregates can be

4 |Page

estimated and hence the weight can be calculated provided that the
density is known.
iii.

Slump test is a measure of the workability of a mix. The choice of

slump is actually a choice of mix workability. Workability also gives an
insight to the ease of mixing, ease of placing, ease of compaction and
ease of finishing the fresh concrete.

It must be noted that the amount and quality of water has more or less the
greatest effect on concrete properties since cement is a hydraulic material,
thus, water utilized in mixing concrete should be free of contaminants which
will allow the intended products of hydration to be produced and not be
affected by impurities.

Fineness Modulus , F . M .=

Specific Gravity=

Where

cumulative percentage retained

100

A
A( BC )

A = weight of fine aggregate

B = weight of Pycnometer + Water + Aggregate

C = weight of Pycnometer + Water

W
( 2W 1)( W 3W 4 ) 0.79
W W 1
Specific Gravity for cement= 2

Where W1 = weight of empty Le Chatelier Flask

W2 = weight of flask + Cement
W3 = weight of Flask + Cement + Kerosene
5 |Page

W4 = weight of Flask + Kerosene

Dry rodded unit weight=

Where

M CA
w

M CA w
Mw

= Mass of coarse aggregate

= Density of water

M w=Massof water

V T =V FA +V CA +V C +V W

Where

VT

= volume of concrete

VFA = volume of fine aggregates

VCA = volume of coarse aggregates
VC = volume of cement
VW = volume of water

Absolute Volume=

WS
W S.GS

Where WS = weight of substance

6 |Page

= density of water

S.GS = specific gravity of substance

Stress ( Compressive Strength )=

Force
Area

7 |Page

MATERIALS/APPARATUS:
The equipment used to conduct the preliminary tests and also to test the
compressive strengths of the cubes are as follows:
For the sieve analysis:
I.
II.
III.
IV.

A.S.T.M. Sieves
Electronic Scale
1000g Fine Aggregates
1000g Coarse Aggregates

For the specific gravity of coarse and fine aggregates:

I.
II.
III.
IV.

Electronic Scale
Pycnometer
100g Fine Aggregates
500g Coarse Aggregates

For the specific gravity of cement:

I.
II.
III.

Le Chatelier Flask
Electronic Scale
50g Cement

For the dry-rodded weight of coarse aggregate

I.
II.
III.
IV.

Tamping Rod
Sample of Coarse Aggregate
Metal Cup from Aggregate Impact Tester Apparatus
Electronic Scale

For the compressive strength test:

I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

Six (6) concrete moulds(4x 4 x 4)

Electronic Scale
Trowel
Mixing Pan
Versa Loader
Tamping Rod

8 |Page

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES:
SIEVE ANALYSIS FOR COARSE AND FINE AGGREGATES
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

v.

vi.

Firstly a sample of aggregates was taken from the stockpile and

cleaned to remove all impurities.
The sample was then passed through the riffle box to have an equal
distribution of the aggregates in terms of size and quantities.
One half of the aggregates which was passed through the riffle box
was weighed and recorded as the initial weight.
The sieves were then arranged in the correct order and the sample was
poured into the highest sieve then the setup of sieves was hand
shaken for four (4) minutes to ensure that all the retained was carefully
passed.
The sieves were then taken out and weighed with great care to ensure
no loss of aggregates; the weight was recorded with respect to its
sieve number.
The results were tabulated and the fineness modulus was calculated.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF COARSE AND FINE AGGREGATES

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

The bottle with the stopper was cleaned, weighed and dried.
The bottle was then filled with freshly boiled/de-aired water, wiped dry
of excess water and weighed (weight C).
A known weight A of oven dried aggregates was then placed into the
bottle.
The bottle was filled with de-aired water to the same level as the first,
to the rim of the Pycnometer, and then weighed (weight B).

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF CEMENT:

i.
ii.
iii.

The Le Chatelier Flask with its stopper was cleaned, dried and weighed
(W1).
A sample of cement of known weight was placed into the flask and
weighed with its stopper (W2).
Kerosene was added to the cement in the flask until it was half full. It
was mixed thoroughly to remove entrapped air. More kerosene was
added until it was flush with the graduated mark, stirring was
continued.
9 |Page

iv.
v.

The flask was dried and weighed (W3).

The flask was emptied and cleaned. It was then refilled with kerosene
until it was flush with the graduated mark. The flask was then dried
and weighed (W4).

DRY-RODDED WEIGHT OF COARSE AGGREGATES:

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

The metal cup was filled to about 1/3 its maximum capacity with
aggregates and was tamped 25 times using a tamping rod.
The steps were repeated with the cup 2/3 full and then completely
filled.
The excess aggregates were strike off from the overflowing cup with
the rod.
The weight of the metal cup and aggregates was measured. The
weight of the empty metal cup was measured.
The weight of the metal cup filled with water was measured.
The volume of the metal cup was calculated.

CUBE TEST FOR THE MIX 1:3:4 WITH WATER CEMENT RATIO 0.67
i.
ii.

iii.

iv.

v.

vi.

The six (6) moulds were prepared and the release agent (grease) for
the removal of the cubes was applied.
The mix was done using the aggregates from the stockpile from which
was tested for the sieve analysis and specific gravity, the mix was
hand mixed to homogeneity with the addition of the water (using the
0.67 water/cement ratio).
Using a trowel the concrete was then poured into the moulds as three
layers, each 1/3 the volume of the mould. Each layer was fully
compacted by applying 25 blows of a tamping rod, with the top of the
mould being struck off leveled with the tamping rod and finished with a
trowel.
The concrete cube was left to harden for twenty four (24) hours then
the cubes were removed from their moulds and placed in the curing
tank to encourage hardening.
At the end of this curing period the cubes were removed and air dried,
the saturated surface dry weight of each cube was then taken and the
dimensions of the moulds/cubes recorded.
The cubes strengths were tested at seven (7), fourteen (14) and
twenty-eight (28) days.

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TESTING OF THE MORTAR CUBES:

i.

ii.
iii.
iv.

Each cube was placed on the platform of the compression testing

machine (versa loader), so as to allow its smooth side to be in contact
with the machine, without any packing between the cube and the steel
plates of the testing machine.
The cube was then loaded steadily and uniformly starting from zero lbf.
The crushing/failure loads were recorded.
The compressive strength of each cube was calculated by dividing
crushing load by cross-sectional area of the cube. The compressive
strength shall be the average strength of the two cubes for the period
of curing.

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EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS:
SIEVE ANALYSIS OF FINE AGGREGATES:

Sieve No.

Weight of
Sieve
(kg)

0.770

Weight of
Sieve +
Aggregate
(kg)
0.000

0.555

0.560

0.005

0.5

0.5

16

0.665

0.700

0.035

3.5

4.0

30

0.600

0.815

0.215

21.5

25.5

40

0.565

0.765

0.200

20.0

45.5

50

0.555

0.790

0.235

23.5

69.0

100

0.530

0.785

0.255

25.5

94.5

Pan

0.490

0.545

0.055

5.5

100.0

1.000

100

239

Total

Weight
Retained
(kg)

Percent
Retained

Cumulativ
e Percent
Retained

0.000

0.0

0.0

TABLE 1 : SHOWING THE RESULTS OBTAINED FROM A SIEVE ANALYSIS

TEST FOR FINE AGGREGATES

ANALYSIS:

Fineness Modulus , F . M .=

cumulative percentage retained

Fineness Modulus , F . M .=

100

239
100

FinenessModulus, F. M.=2.4

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SIEVE ANALYSIS OF COARSE AGGREGATES:

Sieve No.

Weight of
Sieve
(kg)

3
4
1
2
3
8
3
4
9
16
1
8
Pan
Total

Weight
Retained
(kg)

Percent
Retained

Cumulativ
e Percent
Retained

1.450

Weight of
Sieve +
Aggregate
(kg)
0.000

0.000

0.0

0.0

1.460

1.515

0.055

5.5

5.5

1.430

1.710

0.280

28

33.5

1.310

1.560

0.250

25

58.5

1.325

1.585

0.260

26

84.5

1.300

1.395

0.095

9.5

94.0

1.630

1.675

0.045

4.5

98.5

0.835

0.850

0.015

1.5

100.0

1.000

100

374.5

TABLE 2 : SHOWING THE RESULTS OBTAINED FROM A SIEVE ANALYSIS

TEST FOR COARSE AGGREGATES

ANALYSIS:
The maximum size of coarse aggregate is defined as the smallest sieve
opening through which an entire sample passes. (Somayaji 2001)

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As seen in Table 2, in sieve no. 1 (1) there is no mass of aggregate retained

therefore the max size of aggregate to be used for the mix is 1.

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SPECIFIC GRAVITY FOR FINE AGGREGATES:

Weight of Pycnometer + Water (C) = 1.455kg
Weight of Fine Aggregate (A) = 0.100kg
Weight of Pycnometer + Water + Aggregate (B) = 1.520kg

ANALYSIS:

Specific Gravity=

A
A(BC)

Specific Gravity=

0.100 kg
0.100 kg(1.520 kg1.455kg)

Specific Gravity=

0.100kg
0.100 kg(0.065 kg)

Specific Gravity=

0.100kg
0.035kg

SpecificGravity=2.86

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SPECIFIC GRAVITY FOR COARSE AGGREGATES:

Weight of Pycnometer + Water (C) = 1.425kg
Weight of Fine Aggregate (A) = 0.500kg
Weight of Pycnometer + Water + Aggregate (B) = 1.760kg

ANALYSIS:

Specific Gravity=

A
A(BC)

Specific Gravity=

0.500 kg
0.500 kg(1.760 kg1.425kg)

Specific Gravity=

0.500kg
0.500 kg(0.335 kg)

Specific Gravity=

0.500kg
0.165kg

SpecificGravity=3.03

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SPECIFIC GRAVITY FOR CEMENT:

Weight of empty Le Chatelier Flask (W1) = 144g
Weight of flask + Cement (W2) = 193.4g
Weight of Flask + Cement + Kerosene (W3) = 400g
Weight of Flask + Kerosene (W4) = 361.6g
Specific Gravity of Kerosene = 0.79
ANALYSIS:

W
( 2W 1)( W 3W 4 ) 0.79
W W 1
Specific Gravity= 2

Specific Gravity=

(193.4 g144 g)
( 193.4 g144 g )( 400 g361.6 ) 0.79

Specific Gravity=

49.4 g
( 49.4 g ) ( 38.4 g ) 0.79

Specific Gravity=

49.4 g
49.4 g30.3.6 g

Specific Gravity=

50g
19.1g

SpecificGravity=2.62
DRY RODDED WEIGHT OF COARSE AGGREGATE:
Mass of coarse aggregate, MCA = 1.815lbs
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Mass of water, Mw = 1.056lbs

Density of water, w = 62.4 lbs/ft3

Dry rodded unit weight=

M CA w
Mw
3

1.815 lbs 62.4 lb/ft

3
Dry rodded unit weight=
=107.25lbs /ft
1.056lbs
MIX DESIGN CALCULATIONS:
Concrete is used for foundation walls mild exposure
Specified compressive strength 2500psi
Cement: Type 1 Portland
Maximum Size of Course Aggregate = 1
Specific Gravity of Course Aggregate = 3.03
Specific Gravity of Fine Aggregate = 2.86
Specific Gravity of Cement = 2.6
Dry-Rodded weight of Course Aggregate per ft3 = 107.25lb/ft3
Fineness Modulus of Fine Aggregate = 2.4

[(

''

0.222ft +0.0222ft
=

''

''

)]

4
4
4
6

+ 10
12 ft 12ft 12ft

Volume of concrete =

0.2442ft

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STEP 1: SELECTING SLUMP (SEE TABLE 3.5)

Slump range: 1 to 3

STEP 2: SELECT MAXIMUM SIZE OF AGGREGATE

Max size = 1 (see Table 2 in Experimental Results)

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STEP 3: ESTIMATE THE MIXING WATER AND AIR CONTENT (SEE TABLE
3.7)
(Using non-air entrained concrete) ; Slump = 3 ; max size coarse agg.
= 1
From table 3.7 the approximate mixing water for the mix = 325lbs/yd3
of concrete
3

325 lbs 1 yd
Mixingwater=

0.2442 ft 3
3
3
1 yd 27 ft
= 2.939lbs or 1.336kg

STEP 4: SELECT W/C RATIO (SEE TABLE 3.9)

For non-air-entrained concrete & compressive strength of 2500psi
w/c ratio = 0.67

STEP 5: CALCULATE THE CEMENT CONTENT

Weight of water
weight of cement

= water cement ratio

Weight of cement =

2.939 lbs
0.67

= 4.386lbs or 1.994kg

STEP 6: ESTIMATE COARSE AGGREGATE CONTENT (SEE TABLE 3.12)

From table 3.12 we can see that the volume of coarse aggregate per unit
volume of concrete
= 0.71 ft3/ ft3
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Approximate Weight of Coarse aggregate = Dry-rodded weight

Volume

of coarse aggregate

lbs
ft 3
107.25 3 0.71 3
0.2442 ft 3 of concrete
ft
ft of concrete

18.595lbs8.452kg
STEP 7: ESTIMATE THE FINE AGGREGATE CONTENT

V T =V FA +V CA +V C +V W
V T =0.2442ft 3
V CA =Volume=

V C =Volume=

V W =Volume=

18.595 lbs
18.595lbs
3
=
=0.0983 ft
3
lbs
62.4 3 3.03 189.072 lbs/ft
ft

4.387 lbs
4.387 lbs
3
=
=0.0270 ft
3
lbs
62.4 3 2.6 162.24 lbs/ft
ft

2.939lbs
2.939 lbs
3
=
=0.0471
ft
3
lbs
62.4 3 1 62.4 lbs/ft
ft

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Therefore

V FA =V T (V CA +V C +V W )
3

V FA =0.2442ft (0.0471ft +0.0270ft +0.0983ft )

3

V FA =0.2442ft 0.1724ft
V FA =0.0718ft
Volume=

V FA =

WS
W S. GS

WS
W S .GS
3

0.0718 ft =

WS
lbs
62.4 3 2.86
ft
3

W S =0.0718 ft 62.4

lbs
2.86
3
ft

W S =12.814lbs

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STEP 8: CALCULATING THE FIELD MIX PROPORTIONS

Cement : fine aggregate : coarse aggregate : water = C : FA : CA : W
Field mix proportions = 4.387C : 12.814FA : 18.595CA : 2.939W
= 1C : 2.92FA : 4.24CA : 0.67W
= 1 : 3 : 4 for a 0.67 w/c ratio

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH:

Cube No.

7 Day Strength (psi)

1250

1100

14 Day Strength

28 Day Strength

(psi)

(psi)

1800

2000

2563

2200

Average Strength of
Cubes

1175

1900

2381.5

TABLE 4 SHOWING AVERAGE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTHS WITH

VARYING DAYS.

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SOURCE TABLES USED FOR MIX DESIGN CALCULATIONS

(Source: Civil Engineering Materials; Table 3.5, revised 2001.)

(Source: Civil Engineering Materials; Table 3.7, revised 2001.)

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(Source: Civil Engineering Materials; Table 3.9, revised 2001.)

(Source: Civil Engineering Materials; Table 3.10, revised 2001.)

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DISCUSSION

The main focus of this mix design lab was obtaining the specified
compressive strength of concrete through a trial batch. It is seen through
experiments done in laboratories that as the water content ratio decreases,
the compressive strength increases. On the other hand, if the water content
ratio decreases, the workability will also decrease. Workability is the ease at
which the cement paste can be spread. Hence, it can be concluded that as
the compressive strength increases, the workability will decrease. (Somayaji
2001)
It can be seen in the results obtained that as the days of curing progresses
the compressive strength of the concrete increases. Curing is the process
whereby the proper moisture and temperature is maintained to ensure that
hydration is continuous. (Somayaji 2001) Hydration is a slow continuous
process; therefore curing has to be done for a period of time. Usually, at the
28th day of curing, hydration would be completed and the concrete would
have obtained 80% of its strength.
As seen in table 3.10 (under Source Tables Used For Mix Design
Calculations) the average compressive strength that should be obtained
from this trial batch would be equal to the specified strength of the concrete
+ 1200psi. This gives us 3700psi average compressive strength. This value
was clearly not obtained as seen in Table 4 which gives us 2381.5psi on the
28th day of curing. This may be due to several factors such as poor
compaction of the cement paste, integrity of stockpile being compromised
due to uncontrollable weather conditions, and the neglecting of the step in
the ACI method which caters for moisture content of aggregates.
The first factor which involves poor compaction of the cement paste
was as a result of human error. This lead to an increase of the voids in
concrete and ultimately lowering the compressive strength of the cube.
The next factor which influenced the compressive strength was the
poor storage of the aggregates and cement used in the making of the trial
batch. This may have lead to the absorption of surrounding moisture by the
aggregates and cement which was not considered in the calculation of
mixing water for the mix design. An increase in water would again increase
the number of voids present in the concrete thus lowering the durability,
watertightness and clearly the compressive strength.

26 | P a g e

In the mix design used, a step involving the consideration of moisture

contents of the constituent materials (cement and aggregates) was
neglected and thus lead to a surplus in mixing water. Overall lowering the
compressive strength of the concrete. Furthermore the water cement ratio
chosen was already of a high value (being 0.67), so this caused the
unacceptable value obtained for the compressive strength on the 28th day of
curing which is when the concrete should have gained about 80% of its
strength.
Improvements for the lab include the altering of the mix design to
accommodate for the moisture absorption of aggregates and using this to
create six (6) new cubes for testing to obtain the average compressive
strength of 3700psi, using fresh materials from a replenished stockpile, and
taking more care when using the tamping rod to compact the plastic
concrete.

27 | P a g e

CONCLUSION
The compressive strength of the 28th day cured cube was found to be 2381.5
psi which is lower than the expected strength of 2500psi for the foundation
wall. In conclusion, the lab should be redone with care, this time considering
the moisture content of aggregates thus decreasing the mixing water and
increasing the compressive strength.

REFERENCES
1. Somayaji, Shan. "Civil Engineering Materials." 161-175. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2001.

28 | P a g e

APPENDIX

Appendix A: Picture Showing

the weighing of the empty
sieves (Photo taken by Kevin
Budan 23/10/2013)

Appendix B: Picture Showing the

shaking of the stack of sieves
(Photo taken by Jason Linton
23/10/2013)

Appendix C: Picture
Showing the apparatus used
to de-air the water (Photo
taken by Taise Seepaul
24/10/2013

29 | P a g e

Appendix D: Picture Showing the

apparatus used to determine the S.G. of
cement (Photo taken by Afazal
Baksh(aka Harry) 24/10/2013

Appendix E: Picture Showing the

apparatus used to determine the dryrodded weight of coarse aggregate
(Photo taken by Damien Monize)
24/10/2013

Appendix F: Picture Showing the

versa loader being used to crush
one of the concrete cubes (Photo
taken by Mahendra Lalbachan)
24/11/2013

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