New Era University

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Department of Civil Engineering

Construction Materials and Testing (L)

LABORATORY MANUAL
(2012 Edition)

BY
GERMAN B. BARLIS, DT

Laboratory Exercises Nos. 14 -16 and 18

Preparation of Concrete Test Specimens

Name: IGNACIO, MARK DAVID Date Performed: 25 SEPTEMBER 2017

Course/Year: BSCE/4TH YEAR Date Submitted: 20 OCTOBER 2017

Subject Schedule: F 10:00 AM-1:00 PM Instructor: GERMAN B. BARLIS, DT

Name: Date Performed:
IGNACIO, MARK DAVID 25 SEPTEMBER 2017
Course/Year: Instructor:
BSCE/ 4TH YEAR GERMAN B. BARLIS, DT

SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS

ESTIMATING MASS OF MATERIALS IN MEASURED OR RECORDED SLUMP, S

PREPARING FRESH CONCRETE MIX
S = 71.12 mm or 2.8 in

Based from the Final Data Sheet (FDS), the
following raw data has obtained:
Ratio of Concrete = 1:2:3
Mass of Cement, MC = 11.00 kg
Mass of Water, MW = 5.00 kg
SOLVE FOR THE MASS OF SAND, MS
SOLVE FOR THE PROPORTION OF VOLUMES
Density of Water = 1000 kg/m3
Density of Cement = 1506 kg/m3
Density of Sand, dry = 1600 kg/m3
Density of Gravel, dry, = 1520 kg/m3
SOURCE:
http://www.rfcafe.com/references/general/density-
building-materials.htm

MS = MC x 2 = 11.00 x 2 = 22.00 kg 3
V 73 x m3
MS = 22.00 kg ρ 5 6

SOLVE FOR THE MASS OF GRAVEL, MG 22

VS 4 m3
ρ 6
MG = MC x 3 = 11.00 x 3 = 33.00 kg
MS = 33.00 kg 33
VG 2 m3
ρ 5 6
SOLVE FOR TOTAL MASS OF CONCRETE, MT.CONCRETE
5 3
V 5x m3
MT.CONCRETE = MC + MS + MG ρ
MT.CONCRETE = 11.00 + 22.00 + 33.00
MT.CONCRETE = 66.00 kg
FOR LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 15
SOLVE FOR WATER- CEMENT RATIO, RW-C

FOR LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 14

SOLVE FOR WATER- CEMENT RATIO, RW-C 5

45
5
MEASURED OR RECORDED AIR-CONTENT IN
AIR CONTENT METER, ACM
45
ACM = 3.7%
FOR LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 16 FOR LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 18
SOLVE FOR WATER- CEMENT RATIO, RW-C SOLVE FOR WATER- CEMENT RATIO, RW-C

5 5

45 45

MEASURED OR RECORDED AIR-CONTENT

IN VOLUMETRIC AIR METER, VAM
MEASURED OR RECORDED AIR-CONTENT
VAM = 3.75% IN BOTH METHODS (PRESSURE &
VOLUMETRIC)

Air Content = 3.70% and 3.75%, respectively

ADDITIONAL COMPUTATION FOR THE ESTIMATION OF BILL OF MATERIALS

For only to our group (Group 3),

DESCRIPTION QUANTITY PRICE PER QUANTITY AMOUNT PER SAMPLE

Portland Cement 1 Sack P220.00 P220.00 x 1 = P220.00
Sand 1 Sack P25.00 P25.00 x 1 = P25.00
Gravel 1 Sack P50.00 P50.00 x 1 = P50.00
TOTAL: P295.00

For each individual member = Total / Total No. of Members

For each individual member = P295.00 / 4

For each individual member = P73.75

NOTE:

Official receipt is not kept thus not available to attach herewith as evidence. Materials used are purchased
from a hardware store along Tandang Sora Avenue.
 Name: Date Performed:
IGNACIO, MARK DAVID 25 SEPTEMBER 2017
Course/Year: Instructor:
BSCE/ 4TH YEAR GERMAN B. BARLIS, DT

Laboratory Exercise No. 14

SLUMP TEST OF PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE

FINAL DATA SHEET

A. Proportion by Mass

Trial Numbers
Descriptions 1 2 3 4 5 6
Mass of Cement, kg 10.00 9.90 11.00 10.00 12.80 10.00
Mass of Sand, kg 20.00 19.80 22.00 20.05 25.50 20.00
Mass of Gravel, kg 30.00 29.70 33.00 30.00 38.20 30.00
Mass of Water, kg 5.00 5.20 5.00 5.90 5.90 5.50
Water-Cement Ratio 0.50 0.52 0.45 0.50 0.46 0.55
Slump, mm 72.90 79.00 71.12 74.00 74.00 81.28

B. Proportion by Volume

Trial Numbers
Descriptions 1 2 3 4 5 6
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Cement, m 4.46 x 10 4.78 x 10 7.30 x 10 5.30 x 10 5.30 x 10 3.38 x10
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Sand, m 8.93 x 10 9.56 x 10 0.014 10.00 x 10 10.00 x 10 6.76 x 10
3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Gravel, m 13.39 x 10 14.34 x 10 0.02 15.00 x 10 15.00 x 10 0.010
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Water, m 5.00 x 10 5.20 5.00 x 10 2.44 x 10 2.44 x 10 5.50 x 10
Water-Cement Ratio 0.50 0.52 0.45 0.50 0.46 0.55
Slump, mm 72.90 79.00 71.12 74.00 74.00 81.28
 Name: Date Performed:
IGNACIO, MARK DAVID 25 SEPTEMBER 2017
Course/Year: Instructor:
BSCE/ 4TH YEAR GERMAN B. BARLIS, DT

Laboratory Exercise No. 15

AIR CONTENT OF FRESH CONCRETE BY THE PRESSURE METHOD

FINAL DATA SHEET

A. Proportion by Mass

Trial Numbers
Descriptions 1 2 3 4 5 6
Mass of Cement, kg 10.00 9.90 11.00 10.00 12.80 10.00
Mass of Sand, kg 20.00 19.80 22.00 20.05 25.50 20.00
Mass of Gravel, kg 30.00 29.70 33.00 30.00 38.20 30.00
Mass of Water, kg 5.00 5.20 5.00 5.90 5.90 5.50
Water-Cement Ratio 0.50 0.52 0.45 0.50 0.46 0.55
Air content, % 4.00 3.43 3.70 4.00 4.00 3.90

B. Proportion by Volume

Trial Numbers
Descriptions 1 2 3 4 5 6
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Cement, m 4.46 x 10 4.78 x 10 7.30 x 10 5.30 x 10 5.30 x 10 3.38 x10
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Sand, m 8.93 x 10 9.56 x 10 0.014 10.00 x 10 10.00 x 10 6.76 x 10
3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Gravel, m 13.39 x 10 14.34 x 10 0.02 15.00 x 10 15.00 x 10 0.010
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Water, m 5.00 x 10 5.20 5.00 x 10 2.44 x 10 2.44 x 10 5.50 x 10
Water-Cement Ratio 0.50 0.52 0.45 0.50 0.46 0.55
Air content, % 4.00 3.43 3.70 4.00 4.00 3.90
 Name: Date Performed:
IGNACIO, MARK DAVID 25 SEPTEMBER 2017
Course/Year: Instructor:
BSCE/ 4TH YEAR GERMAN B. BARLIS, DT

Laboratory Exercise No. 16

AIR CONTENT OF FRESH CONCRETE BY THE VOLUMETRIC METHOD

FINAL DATA SHEET

A. Proportion by Mass

Trial Numbers
Descriptions 1 2 3 4 5 6
Mass of Cement, kg 10.00 9.90 11.00 10.00 12.80 10.00
Mass of Sand, kg 20.00 19.80 22.00 20.05 25.50 20.00
Mass of Gravel, kg 30.00 29.70 33.00 30.00 38.20 30.00
Mass of Water, kg 5.00 5.20 5.00 5.90 5.90 5.50
Water-Cement Ratio 0.50 0.52 0.45 0.50 0.46 0.55
Air content, % 3.50 3.50 3.75 3.25 3.25 3.50

B. Proportion by Volume

Trial Numbers
Descriptions 1 2 3 4 5 6
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Cement, m 4.46 x 10 4.78 x 10 7.30 x 10 5.30 x 10 5.30 x 10 3.38 x10
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Sand, m 8.93 x 10 9.56 x 10 0.014 10.00 x 10 10.00 x 10 6.76 x 10
3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Gravel, m 13.39 x 10 14.34 x 10 0.02 15.00 x 10 15.00 x 10 0.010
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Water, m 5.00 x 10 5.20 5.00 x 10 2.44 x 10 2.44 x 10 5.50 x 10
Water-Cement Ratio 0.50 0.52 0.45 0.50 0.46 0.55
Air content, % 3.50 3.50 3.75 3.25 3.25 3.50
 Name: Date Performed:
IGNACIO, MARK DAVID 25 SEPTEMBER 2017
Course/Year: Instructor:
BSCE/ 4TH YEAR GERMAN B. BARLIS, DT

Laboratory Exercise No. 18

MAKING AND CURING CONCRETE TEST SPECIMENS
IN THE LABORATORY

FINAL DATA SHEET

A. Proportion by Mass

Trial Numbers
Descriptions 1 2 3 4 5 6
Mass of Cement, kg 10.00 9.90 11.00 10.00 12.80 10.00
Mass of Sand, kg 20.00 19.80 22.00 20.05 25.50 20.00
Mass of Gravel, kg 30.00 29.70 33.00 30.00 38.20 30.00
Mass of Water, kg 5.00 5.20 5.00 5.90 5.90 5.50
Water-Cement Ratio 0.50 0.52 0.45 0.50 0.46 0.55
Air content, % 3.50 3.50 3.75 3.25 3.25 3.50

B. Proportion by Volume

Trial Numbers
Descriptions 1 2 3 4 5 6
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Cement, m 4.46 x 10 4.78 x 10 7.30 x 10 5.30 x 10 5.30 x 10 3.38 x10
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Sand, m 8.93 x 10 9.56 x 10 0.014 10.00 x 10 10.00 x 10 6.76 x 10
3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Gravel, m 13.39 x 10 14.34 x 10 0.02 15.00 x 10 15.00 x 10 0.010
3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Volume of Water, m 5.00 x 10 5.20 5.00 x 10 2.44 x 10 2.44 x 10 5.50 x 10
Water-Cement Ratio 0.50 0.52 0.45 0.50 0.46 0.55
Air content, % 3.50 3.50 3.75 3.25 3.25 3.50
 Laboratory Exercise No. 14
SLUMP TEST OF PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE

PHOTOS OF THE SET UP

FIGURE 14-1: The aggregates used FIGURE 14-2: The concrete sample FIGURE 14-3: The fresh concrete as
in preparation for the concrete sample as it mixed manually in mixing pan it placed and rodded inside the mold

Recorded a slump of
71.12 mm or 2.8 in

FIGURE 14-4: In filling top layer, as it FIGURE 14-5: The Group 3 as they FIGURE 14-6: Actual photo in
rodded 25-times over its cross section lifted the mold from concrete measuring the slump using metric scale
 Laboratory Exercise No. 15
AIR CONTENT OF FRESH CONCRETE BY THE PRESSURE METHOD

PHOTOS OF THE SET UP

FIGURE 15-1: The first layer of fresh FIGURE 15-2: The first layer of fresh FIGURE 15-3: Rodding of second layer
concrete as it rodded inside the ACM concrete as it tapped using rubber mallet as it distributed over the cross section

FIGURE 15-4: The third layer of fresh FIGURE 15-5: The ACM as it fixed and FIGURE 15-6: The sample after
concrete as it rodded carefully organized in preparation for the test cleaning exteriors and ready for the test
 Laboratory Exercise No. 16
AIR CONTENT OF FRESH CONCRETE BY THE VOLUMETRIC METHOD

PHOTOS OF THE SET UP

FIGURE 16-1: The first layer as it FIGURE 16-2: The second layer of fresh FIGURE 16-3: The sample after
rodded 25-times over cross section concrete as it followed similar procedure cleaning exteriors of bowl

Recorded the total

air content of 3.75%

FIGURE 16-4: The Group 3 in motion FIGURE 16-5: The moment while FIGURE 16-6: The VAM in examining its
while inverting & agitating the VAM adding isopropyl alcohol using syringe calibration after removing obscured foam
 Laboratory Exercise No. 18
MAKING AND CURING CONCRETE TEST SPECIMENS
IN THE LABORATORY

PHOTOS OF THE SET UP

FIGURE 18-1: Sample of aggregates FIGURE 18-2: The aggregates as they FIGURE 18-3: The fresh concrete as it
used in making specimens poured and mixed in the mixing pan pour inside the cylindrical mold

FIGURE 18-4: The Group 3 while FIGURE 18-5: The specimen for FIGURE 18-6: Presenting cylindrical and
rodding the concrete for final layer concrete beam as we heaped excesses rectangular beams ready for curing
 Laboratory Exercises Nos. 14-16 and 18
PREPARATION OF CONCRETE TEST SPECIMENS

ABSTRACT

This report covers four laboratory exercises from the Slump Test of Portland
Cement Concrete, Air Content of Freshly Concrete by Pressure and Volumetric
Methods, and Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Laboratory. The
objectives are to test the consistency of the concrete mix, to determine its entrained air
via Pressure Method applying pressure-to-volume relationship of Boyle’s Law and via
Volumetric Method, and curing cylindrical and rectangular specimens. This is subjected
to the preparation of concrete test specimens for the third and second to the last
experiments (nos. 19-20).

In general, the concrete mix used satisfies the needed requirements and
specifications in order to prepare specimens for test consolidated from the slump test, to
air content via pressure and volumetric methods up to its curing.

Specifically, there are two proportions used for the materials: by Mass and by Volume.
The ratio used is 1:2:3 thus for 11-kg of Portland cement, sand and gravel obtained 22
and 33 kg of mass, respectively. For Volume, we obtained cement, sand and gravel
volumes of 7.30 x 10-3 m3, 0.014 m3 and 0.02 m3 respectively. The water which have 5
kg mass and 0.005 m3 of volume, computed 0.45 W-C ratio. It measured the slump of
71.12 mm or 2.8 inches, air content from the two methods of 3.70% and 3.75%,
respectively. We can further elaborate this in Analysis and Interpretation section.

I therefore conclude here that the concrete mix used in preparation for test
specimens met its requirements. The right amount of water is added in the mix, hence
consistent. With this regards, air content is in right percentage. This makes our concrete
workable, strong and obtained its other mechanical properties under curing. These are
determined in the exercises 19 and 20.
 Laboratory Exercises Nos. 14-16 and 18
PREPARATION OF CONCRETE TEST SPECIMENS

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA AND RESULTS

As what the Final Data Sheet presented, it was determined the parameters of
concrete mix used of all groups via mass and volume proportions. Under Trial 3, our
concrete mix followed a 1:2:3 design ratios which are obtained mass of cement of 11.00
kg, sand of 22.00 kg, and gravel of 33.00 kg. The mass of water procured 5.00 kg; this
allowed having 0.45 water-cement ratio. Similarly, we calculated each material through
volume proportion.

Under Laboratory Exercise No. 14, it measured the slump value of 71.12 mm or
equivalent to 2.8 inches. Referring to the table shown below, we can determine that our
concrete mix sample is within the range from 2-6 inches.

Source: http://www.qsarticle.com/how-to-determine-the-slump-of-concrete-by-slump-test/

Thus, our freshly mixed concrete testified that it can be used in normal RCC sections
such as for beams such as used in Laboratory Exercise Nos. 19-20.

The finding is that the concrete mix used is consistent i.e., right amount of water is
added in our hydraulic cement concrete.
 Under Laboratory Exercise No. 15, it measured the air content of 3.70%. It means
that 3.70% of air is entrained in the mix. The findings are the air content of hardened
concrete may be either higher or lower than that determined by this test method. This
depends upon the methods and amount of consolidation effort applied to the concrete
from which the hardened concrete specimen is taken; uniformity and stability of the air
bubbles in the fresh and hardened concrete; accuracy of the microscopic examination, if
used; time of comparison; environmental exposure; and other factors as well.

Under Laboratory Exercise No. 16, it is measured the total air content of 3.75%. This
has 0.05 difference compared to the previous method. In this test, it determined that the
addition of sufficient amount of isopropyl alcohol removes foam after agitation. Through
this, we can determine the air contained in the mortar fraction of the concrete.

Under Laboratory Exercise No. 18, we determined the air content of 3.70% by mass
proportion which based from the pressure method air content. From the date of making
up to curing and omitting the specimens from our DIY cabinet, it took only 18 days. This
is not met the required 28 days so that to attain its approximate 99% strength. We can
further elaborate the results the testing specimens in Laboratory nos. 19 and 20.

Therefore, in general, it can interpret that the concrete mix used satisfies the needed
requirements and specifications in order to prepare specimens for test consolidated
from the slump test, to air content via pressure and volumetric methods up to its curing.
 Laboratory Exercises Nos. 14-16 and 18
PREPARATION OF CONCRETE TEST SPECIMENS

CONCLUSION

I hereby conclude that after performing necessary tasks in order to finish the
exercises, the concrete mix used in preparation for test specimens met its requirements.
The right amount of water is added in the mix, hence consistent. With this regards, air
content is in right percentage. This makes our concrete workable, strong and obtained
its other mechanical properties under curing. These are determined in the exercises 19
and 20.

Above, I learned that the requisite skills are important to perform well for all of the
activities. I learned that these difficult but interesting tasks are needed when we are
already practicing our profession. Truly, it merely prepares us for the real world, for
more challenging works. I realize that although our class standing sometimes seems
unsure and vague, justice is justice. Our efforts will bring us on the place we would
deserve. Therefore, this exercise is once again a success.