Concrete Test Report

Paul Osborne HNC Civil Engineering

The Mix Design: Cement: Water: Sand:

10.75Kg 4.5 Litres 17.65Kg

Course Agg (10mm): 26.4Kg The mix was designed to achieve 40N/mm at 28 days, with a slump of 10mm 30mm. What we did: Firstly we zerod the scales with the bucket provided we then set about measuring out the constituents with the aid of a metal scoop, the aggregate was added to the mixer followed by the sand and allowed to mix for a couple of minutes. The water was then measured up using a 2 litre measuring jug, 4 litre of water was added then the cement, we held back 0.5 litre of water to allow observation to trying gauge the workability of the concrete we then decided that to trying achieve a 10 30 mm slump the water we had added would be adequate to achieve this so we filled a conical mould (300mm high x 200mm dia. Reducing to 100mm) which was wiped with water prior to use to stop the mix sticking to the mould upon removal this mould had a conical collar to help with the ease of filling, the mould was filled up in 3 layers each layer being tamped 25 times by the use of a 16mm tamping rod the collar was then removed and any excess concrete was struck off so that the concrete level was flush with the top of the cone, the cone was then raised swiftly, inverted next to the concrete and the tamping rod placed on the top, a measurement was then taken from the highest point of the concrete to the underside of the tamping rod this measurement is known as the slump it recorded 55mm. The concrete from the slump test was then used to make a 150mm x 150mm x150mm cube this was carried out by firstly by filling a 150mm x 150mm x 150mm steel cube mould up in 3 layers, using a 25mm square tamping bar each layer was tamped 35 times to compact the concrete evenly and to reduce air voids in the cube, once again the excess concrete was removed and finished flush with top of the steel mould this cube was labelled mix 1. The same process was carried out for mix 2 except 2 cubes were made opposed to the 1 made with mix 1 the extra 0.5 litre of water was added and the result of this was a 155mm slump measurement being taken. One of the mix 2 cubes was then crushed at 7 days the result was 19.77N/mm (24N/mm expected) cubes mix 1 & mix 2 were then crushed at 28 days the results being mix 1 - & mix 2 Materials:

26.4 kg (1 bags) Mixture of Crushed & uncrushed 10mm aggregate (Observation: 1 bag was open which meant that the moisture had dried out, this could have a knock on effect as the quantity of water estimated to be in the aggregate has been reduced thus the quantity of water needed in the mix would need to be increased to compensate although in this case it didnt prove to be a big factor as the mix was to wet even with a reduced water content). 10.75kg Ordinary Portland Cement which was stored in a plastic bin and appeared to be dry and free from any moisture. 17.65kg Sand ( ) this was stored in a plastic bin but appeared to be saturated and cohesive indicating that it may contain addition moisture. 4.5 litres Water this was taken straight from the tap in the lab. Tests: Slump test this is designed to test the workability of the concrete. Cube test this is designed to test the compressive strength of the concrete. Slump Test: Target slump 10-30 mm Achieved slump Mix 1 55mm Mix 2 155mm Cube test: Target 28 days 40 N/mm Achieved Mix 1 Mix 2 Tools used: Bucket, metal scoop, digital scales, 2L measuring jug, measuring tape, concrete mixer, wheel barrow, steel float, pointing trowel, 16mm tamping rod, conical mould and collar, metal tray, 3no 150mm x 150mm x 150mm steel cube moulds, 25mm tamping bar. Verdict: The mix did not achieve the expected slump because the amount of water in the mix was too much ideally 3.8 litres would have given us a 10-30 mm slump also a stronger compressive strength due to reduced water content (Water/Cement ratio), also the target strength of 24N/mm at 7 days wasnt achieved but Target 7 days 24 N/mm Mix 1 N/A Mix 2 19.77 N/mm