How to determine
concrete yield
oncrete yield is an important consideration on
C many jobs. An engineer may compute the
number of cubic yards of concrete needed for
a 500,000 square foot floor, and the ready mix
producer may deliver the concrete in complete accor-
dance with the specifications. Yet when the specified
number of cubic yards of concrete has been delivered,
the floor may be far from completed. Since this shortage
can result from a number of factors, it will be helpful to
take a look at the methods of calculating yield, the fac-
tors which will cause variations in yield and the tech-
niques for policing yield.
CALCULATING YIELD
Yield is defined in ASTM C 138 as the volume of con-
crete (per unit volume of cement) delivered to the job-
site in response to a request for a specified number of
cubic yards of concrete.
The volume of concrete produced per batch can be
figured out with this formula:
S =__(NX94)
_______+__W_f_+__W
__c _+_W
__w__
W design stage. It is not unusual to encounter mix designs
Where:
s = volume of concrete produced per batch, in cubic
feet;
n = number of bags of cement, in the batch;
94 = net weight of a bag of cement, in pounds;
Wf = total weight of fine aggregate in batch in condi-
tion used, in pounds;
Wc = total weight of coarse aggregate in batch in con-
dition used, in pounds;
Ww = total weight of mixing water added to batch, in
pounds; and
W = weight of concrete, in pounds per cubic foot.
To calculate yield the following formula should be
used:
Y =___
s , in which
n
Y = yield of concrete produced per 94-pound bag of
cement, in cubic feet;
S = volume of concrete produced per batch in cubic
feet;
N = number of bags of cement in the batch.
Relative yield, which is the ratio of actual volume of
concrete obtained to the volume as designed for the
batch, can be calculated with the following formula:
Ry = _________
S
Vd x 27
, in which
Ry = relative yield;
S = volume of concrete produced per batch in cubic
feet;
Vd = volume of concrete which the batch was de-
signed to produce in cubic yards.
NOTE: A value for Ry greater than 1.00 indicates an ex-
cess of concrete being produced, whereas a value less
than this indicates the batch to be short of its designed
volume.
The accompanying “Yield Determination” table can
be used as a guide in determining yield.
FACTORS AFFECTING YIELD
Yield can be affected while the structure is still in the
which simply will not yield 27 cubic feet of concrete per
cubic yard of concrete ordered. When the concrete pro-
ducer receives the approved mix design, he should
check it for yield. This can be accomplished by applying
the formulas in the preceding section. If the mix design
is incompatible with correct yield, this fact should be
called to the attention of the appropriate party and a re-
vised design obtained which will produce correct yield.
Usually, the concrete producer is in an excellent position
to advise on alterations in the mix design to get the best
results with his materials and equipment. The following
information is necessary for a workable mix design:
(1) Dry weights per cubic yard of cement and each ag-
gregate used in the mix.
(2) Total weight of water in dry aggregate mix.
(3) Loose dry unit weights or free moisture in aggre-
gate used in the mix.
(4) Admixture and/or air-entraining agent used in the
mix in pounds or ounces per cubic yard.
(5) Plastic unit weight of concrete in pounds per cu-
bic foot, as determined in the laboratory.
(6) Slump in inches.
(7) Entrained air content of concrete (volumetric).
 (8) 7- and 28- day compressive strengths as deter-
mined in the laboratory.
(9) 28-day air dry unit weight of concrete, if required
by specifications.
(10) Temperatures of fresh concrete and of air when
sampled.
After the correct mix design has been prepared and
approved, problems with yield can develop at the batch-
ing plant. Contamination of the aggregates by materials
of different weight may result in changes in yield, since
in batching by weight the volume of aggregates will
change. For example, if lightweight organic material was
to contaminate regular weight aggregates, a given weight
of the aggregates would produce a greater volume than
anticipated. Although complaints are rarely voiced for
receiving more concrete than bargained for, strength will
inevitably be affected. When the cement content is kept
constant and yield increases, the cement factor is, in ef-
fect, lowered and the result will be lowered strength.
Conversely, if aggregates are contaminated with materi-
al of greater weight, yield will be reduced and strength
increased. As an example, assume that a stockpile of
structural lightweight aggregates accidentally becomes
contaminated with regular weight aggregates. When the
aggregates are batched, the weight will not supply near-
ly the volume anticipated and the yield will be reduced.
In addition, if yield is reduced to 25 cubic feet and ce-
ment content maintained, 564 pounds of cement will
be equal to 610 pounds in 27 cubic feet. This is, of
course, an uneconomic use of cement.
If yield is to be maintained, the moisture content of
both the fine and coarse aggregates must be carefully
watched. If weights in the mix design are predicated on
aggregates in one condition of saturation and they are
batched in some other condition (without appropriate
adjustments), the result will be a change in aggregate
volume batched and, therefore, in yield. Failure to adjust
the amount of water in the mix will also cause loss of
slump and workability or lowered strength.
This matter is especially critical in lightweight aggre-
gate concrete where absorption can run as high as 12
percent. Unwatched, this can spell major variations in
yield. For example, assume the following lightweight
concrete mix design is based on bone-dry aggregates:
564 lb. cement
1300 lb. normal weight sand
900 lb. lightweight coarse aggregate
29 gal. water
6 percent entrained air
4 in. slump
In the field, however, we find that the sand has a mois-
ture content of 5 percent and the lightweight aggregate
has a total of 15 percent absorbed and surface moisture
content. Applying a compensating adjustment, the mix
should be batched with 564 pounds of cement, 1365
pounds of sand, 1035 pounds of lightweight aggregate
and 15 gallons of water. However, if the mix is batched
adhering to the weights given in the mix design—564,
1300 and 900—the actual cement and aggregate weights
would be 564, 1235 and 765. This would occur because
there would be 65 pounds of water in the sand, and 135
pounds in the lightweight aggregate—a total of 200
pounds or 24 gallons of extra water. Only about 12 addi-
tional gallons of water would be needed to produce the
required 4-inch slump. In terms of yield, we would end
up with a batch totaling 25 cubic feet rather than 27—a
loss of 8 percent.
Although the effect of aggregate moisture content on
yield in normal weight concrete would not be as dra-
matic, it could nevertheless be substantial enough to
cause complaints.
Air entrainment can also cause variations in yield. In
regular weight concrete each percent of air entrained
causes one pound per cubic foot reduction in concrete
weight. It also causes an increase in yield. When prepar-
ing a mix design for regular weight concrete, the effect
of air entrainment on yield should be considered.
Generally speaking, the ready mix producer is held
responsible for supplying 27 cubic feet of concrete for
every cubic yard ordered. Howe ve r, when trucks are
forced to wait long periods before they can discharge
concrete, there is bound to be a reduction in yield due
to loss of air and water. In this case, the contractor must
assume the responsibility for loss in yield, as well as the
other degradations of quality that accompany overly
long waits at the jobsite.
Other practices that can result in loss of yield are: over-
vibration— this drives out air; soupy mixes—these tend
to lose air content readily; and allowing concrete to be-
come hot—this drives out entrained air. Any practice
which affects the water content of a mix—such as
adding water at the job, or allowing concrete to dry out—
will affect yield.
Certain types of concrete castings will result in loss of
yield, even with excellent practices. For example,
columns, high walls, mass concrete and other structural
applications involving considerable concrete pressure
will result in loss of yield, often as much as 10 percent.
This loss is due to the high degree of density achieved in
such work and the attendant loss of air content. If the
loss of intentionally entrained air is not excessive, this
will naturally produce superior concrete. However, the
loss of yield should be kept in mind and the order for
concrete should take this into consideration.
To minimize problems with yield, contractors should
observe the following rules:
(1) Make sure that the mix design is consistent with a
yield of 27 cubic feet of concrete per cubic yard of de-
signed mix.
(2) Order enough concrete to accommodate unavoid-
able losses in yield for certain types of placements.
(3) Schedule deliveries so delays in discharging con-
crete from trucks will be minimized.
(4) Do not add water to the mix at the jobsite.
 (5) Be sure forms are not leaking.
(6) Select transporting and placing equipment and YIELD DETERMINATION
techniques that will avoid over-vibration, segregation Concrete is ordered on the basis of cement content; the
and other problems. saturated, surface-dry condition of the aggregates and
(7) Do not use an excessively wet mix. Excessively wet the total water content. Free moisture content of aggre-
concrete will settle, and a settlement of 1/8 inch in a 4- gates is compensated for at the ready mix plant. In the
inch slab would constitute a loss in volume of 3 percent. following example, 6 bags of cement and 6 gallons of
water per bag of cement were used.
Responsibility for variations in yield can be traced to
conditions or practices before and/or after delivery of
Weights for 1 cubic yard batch (pounds)
the concrete. In almost every case, the change in yield
will be accompanied by changes in such important char- Weights Moisture Adjusted
acteristics as concrete strength and durability. SSD. Percent Pound Weights
6 bags Cement 564 lb. 564
CHECKING YIELD lb.
Yield of the concrete as delivered at the jobsite can be Sand* 1250 lb. 5% 62.5 lb. 1312.5
checked by the contractor by regular measurement of lb.
unit weight. If this varies more than 2 percent, an inves- Coarse Agg* 1940 lb. 1% 19.4 lb. 1959.4
tigation should be made into such factors as air content, lb.
aggregate weight or batch weights. When the unit weight 36 gal. Water 300 lb. less 81.9 lb. 218.1
varies considerably, it will often be found that yield is lb.
_________ _______
varying (as well as other concrete properties).
To check the actual volume of concrete being deliv- Total 4054 lb. 4054.0
lb.
ered to the job, divide the plastic unit weight of the con-
crete into the total number of pounds of all the mix in-
gredients. * Specific gravity of aggregate is 2.65
If the proper volume of concrete was delivered to the
jobsite, and if suitable allowances have been made for Check yield on the job by determining the unit weight of
unavoidable yield losses in placement, and a sizeable plastic concrete. For calculation purposes, use the mate-
rial weights per batch provided by the ready mixed con-
shortage of concrete still turns up, the contractor can be crete producer.
certain that he has his own practices to blame. Or if it de-
velops that the job is completed before a good deal of the
Batch weights for 5 cubic yard batch (pounds)
anticipated concrete is delivered, the contractor cannot
Cement 2,820 pounds
rest easy; there’s always the knowledge that over-yield
means lowered strengths. Sand 6,560 pounds
Obviously, it is of the greatest importance to maintain Coarse aggregate 9,800 pounds
yield correctly. All parties benefit when yield is kept in Added water 1,000 (120 gal.) pounds
_________________
bounds, and all stand to lose when it is allowed to vary Total 20,180 pounds
substantially.
Determined unit weight: 148.7 pounds per cubic foot
Yield = _______
20,380 136.3
= 136.3 cu. ft. _____ = 5.04 cu. yd.
148.7 27
Cement
per cu. yd = _____
2820 = 559 lb.; ____
559 = 5.95 bags
PUBLICATION#C680361 5.04 94
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