Title

AS 1012.4.3-1999 Methods of testing concrete - Determination of air content of

freshly mixed concrete - Measuring air volume when concrete dispersed in water

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 1 AS 1012.4.31999

TM
Australian Standard

Methods of testing concrete

Method 4.3: Determination of air content of
freshly mixed concrete Measuring air volume
when concrete is dispersed in water

1 SCOPE
This Standard sets out the method for determining the air content of freshly mixed concrete
using the volumetric method.
This Standard is suitable for concrete made with any type of aggregate, whether it be dense,
cellular or lightweight.
NOTES:
1 This Standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. The Standard
does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. The user of this
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Standard should establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2 Data on the precision of the test method were not available at the time of publication. This
information will be included when available.

2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
The following documents are referred to in this Standard:
AS
1012 Methods of testing concrete
1012.1 Method 1: Sampling of fresh concrete
1012.2 Method 2: Preparation of concrete mixes in the laboratory
1012.4.1 Method 4.1: Determination of air content of freshly mixed concreteMeasuring
reduction in concrete volume with increased air pressure

3 PRINCIPLE
The air content of freshly mixed concrete is determined by measuring the volume of water
required to fill the air voids in the concrete.

4 APPARATUS
4.1 Volumetric air meter
4.1.1 General
The air meter used shall comply with Clauses 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 and shall consist of a bowl
and a top section, as shown in Figure 1. (See Appendix A for calibration.)

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 AS 1012.4.31999 2
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FIGURE 1 APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AIR CONTENT OF FRESH CONCRETE BY

VOLUMETRIC METHOD

4.1.2 Measuring bowl

The bowl of the air meter shall be made from machined metal and shall have a flange at or
near the top surface. The metal used shall be of such thickness as to be sufficiently rigid to
withstand normal field use and of such composition as not to react with cement paste.
The bowl diameter shall be equal to 1 to 1.25 times the height of the bowl.
For testing concrete with aggregates of nominal maximum size not exceeding 20 mm the
capacity of the bowl shall be not less than 2 L.
For testing concrete with larger aggregates, a larger air meter shall be used; e.g. for
concrete with 75 mm maximum nominal size aggregate, a bowl capacity not less than 10 L
shall be used.
4.1.3 Top section
The top section of the air meter shall be constructed of machined metal of thickness
sufficiently rigid to withstand normal field use and of such composition as not to react with
cement paste. The capacity of the top section shall be approximately the same as the bowl.
It shall have a flange and be fitted with a flexible gasket and hooks or lugs to attach to the
flange of the bowl to make a watertight connection.
The top section shall be equipped with a glass-lined or transparent plastics neck, graduated
downwards from 0% to at least 9% of the volume of the bowl in increments not greater than
0.5%. The upper end of the neck shall be threaded and fitted with a screw cap having a
gasket to make a watertight seal.

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 3 AS 1012.4.31999

4.2 Funnel
The funnel shall be constructed from metal and shall have a spout of such a diameter and
length that will permit it to be inserted through the neck of the top section and will allow it
to be extended to a point just above the bottom of the top section. The discharge end of the
spout shall be so constructed that when water is added to the air meter there will be a
minimum disturbance of the concrete.
4.3 Measuring cup
The measuring cup shall be constructed from metal and shall have a capacity equal to
precisely 1.0% of the volume of the bowl of the air meter.
4.4 Syringe
The syringe shall be a rubber bulb type, having a capacity at least equal to the measuring
cup.
4.5 Other apparatus
The rod, mallet, vibrator (if required for compaction), strike-off bar, pouring vessel and
scoop shall be as specified in AS 1012.4.1.

5 SAMPLING
Concrete shall be sampled in accordance with AS 1012.4.1.
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6 GENERAL PROCEDURE
The general procedure described in AS 1012.4.1 shall be followed except that the air
content shall be determined in accordance with Clause 7.
NOTE: Care should be taken in the use of an immersion vibrator within a small measuring bowl.

7 PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AIR CONTENT

7.1 Adding water
On completion of compacting the concrete, and after cleaning the flange of the bowl,
proceed as follows:
(a) Clamp the top section of the air meter into position on the bowl.
(b) Insert the funnel and add water until it appears in the neck.
(c) Remove the funnel and adjust the water level using the rubber syringe until the
bottom of the meniscus is level with the zero mark of the graduated scale.
(d) Attach and tighten the screw cap.
7.2 Agitating and rolling
The procedure shall be as follows:
(a) Invert the air meter and agitate so that the concrete settles free from the base and
becomes dispersed in the water.
(b) Roll and rock the meter, with the neck elevated, so that the displaced air rises from the
settling concrete.
(c) Set the apparatus upright. Tap lightly to free air adhering to the sides, and allow to stand until
the bubbles cease to rise.
(d) Repeat the operation of inverting, agitating and rolling to check that no further significant
drop in the water column is obtained.

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 AS 1012.4.31999 4

7.3 Dispelling bubbles

To permit a more accurate reading of the water level at the completion of the agitation and
rolling operation, remove the screw cap and add a measured quantity of isopropyl alcohol to
dispel the foam. This should be added in one-cup increments, using the syringe.
7.4 Reading
Read the level of the liquid in the neck at the bottom of the meniscus and estimate the
reading to the nearest 0.2%.

8 CALCULATION OF AIR CONTENT

The air content of the concrete shall be calculated in percent by adding to the reading
obtained in accordance with Clause 7.4 the number of measuring cups of isopropyl alcohol
added in accordance with Clause 7.3.

9 RECORDS
The following information shall be recorded:
(a) Identification of the concrete.
(b) Job site or laboratory where tested.
(c) Date and time of test.
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(d) Temperature of concrete.

(e) Whether compacted by vibration or by hand: if by hand, the number of strokes per
layer; if by vibration, the number of insertions per layer.
(f) Meniscus reading.
(g) Quantity of isopropyl alcohol added.
(h) Air content percent to the nearest 0.2.
(i) Identification of testing operator.
(j) Reference to this Standard, i.e. AS 1012.4.3.

10 REPORT
In the event of a report being prepared, the method used shall be identified and the
following information shall be included:
(a) Identification of the concrete.
(b) Date and location of test.
(c) Whether compacted by vibration or by hand: if by vibration, the number of insertions
per layer; if by hand, the number of strokes per layer.
(d) Air content percent to the nearest 0.2.
(e) Such other information contained in the records as may be requested.
(f) Reference to this Standard, i.e. AS 1012.4.3.
(g) Such other information contained in the sampling records (see AS 1012.1) as may be
requested.

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 5 AS 1012.4.31999

APPENDIX A
CALIBRATION OF APPARATUS
(Normative)

A1 VOLUME OF BOWL
The volume of the bowl of the air meter, in litres, shall be determined by accurately
weighing the amount of water at 23 2C required to fill it, and dividing this mass by the
unit mass of water at 23 2C, namely 997.5 kg/m3 . A glass plate shall be used to cover the
bowl to remove excess water and to ensure that the container is full.

A2 GRADUATIONS
The accuracy of the graduations on the neck of the top section of the air meter shall be
determined by filling the assembled measuring bowl and top section with water to the level
of the mark for any air content. A quantity of water at 23 2C, equal to 1.0% of the
volume of the bowl, shall be added to the water already in the neck. The height of the water
column shall increase by an amount equivalent to 1.0% of air.

A3 MEASURING CUP
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The volume of the measuring cup shall be checked by adding one cupful of water to the
assembled apparatus in the manner described in Clause 8. Such addition shall increase the
height of the water column by an amount equivalent to 1.0 percent of indicated air.

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AS 1012.4.31999
6

NOTES
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NOTES

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AS 1012.4.31999
 AS 1012.4.31999 8

This Australian Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee BD/42, Methods of Testing Concrete. It was approved on behalf of the
Council of Standards Australia on 4 June 1999 and published on 5 July 1999.

The following interests are represented on Committee BD/42:

The Association of Consulting Engineers of Australia

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Australian Pre-mixed Concrete Association
AUSTROADS
Cement and Concrete Association of Australia
Concrete Institute of Australia
CSIRO, Division of Building, Construction and Engineering
National Association of Testing Authorities Australia
University of New South Wales
University of Technology, Sydney
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Originated as part of AS A1091972.

Final edition AS 1012.41983.
Revised and redesignated in part as AS 1012.4.31999.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 98188.

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