LAB

:
LAB
: Mini Project (Mix Design with admixture) DATE : 25th
March
NO.
TITLE
2016
LEVEL OF OPENNESS
: Level 3
CLASS
: EC110 4J
GROUP LEADER: Nurin Adlina Binti Mohd Roslan
STUDENT NO: 2014686014
GROUP MEMBERS
NO.
NAME
STUDENT NO.
SIGNATURE REMARK
1.
Zarifa Izzati Binti Zamri
2014230238
2.
Nurin Adlina Binti Mohd Roslan
2014686014
3.
Muhammad Syafwan Hafiz Bin Noor Shiam
2014672364
4.
Muhamad Asyraf Bin Mohtar
2014850862
5.
Muhammad Amir Miqdad bin Mohammad
2014652014
Aidid
ASSESSMENT OF THE LAB ACTIVITIES
NO. ELEMENT TO ASSESS
STUDENT
1
2
3
4
5
INDIVIDUAL IN-LAB ACTIVITIES
1
PUNCTUALITIY
2
DISCIPLINE
(DRESS
CODE,SAFETY
SHOES,SAFETY
REGULATIONS)
3
KNOWLEDGE ON OPEN ENDED LABORATORY
GROUP IN-LAB ACTIVITIES
4
LEADERSHIP SKILL
5
COMMUNICATION
6
ORGANISATION/TEAMWORK
LAB REPORT
7
INTRODUCTION
8
BASIC CONCEPTS
9
SUMMARY OF PROCEDURES/ METHODS
10
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
11
DISCUSSION OF RESULT
12
CONCLUSION
LECTURERS
SIGNATURE:

REMARKS:

UiTM Pahang

THE
MUST BE SUBMITTED 1 WEEKAFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE LAB.
Faculty
ofREPORT
Civil
Engineering

ECS 256 CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

1.0 TITLE
Concrete Mix Design, Workability Test, Compacting Factor Test For Fresh Concrete
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The need for an open-ended laboratory activity is emphasized in enhancing
independent learning activities and inculcating creativity and innovation of students.
This open-ended laboratory activities is created to provide a platform for students (as a
group) to determine the objectives and scopes of the laboratory assignment, identify the
necessary apparatus and prepare step by step methodology to carry out the task to address the
given problem. The group will be required to analyse all the technical data obtained and
present them in a technical format.
Concrete is a versatile construction material, adaptable to a wide variety of
agricultural and residential uses. It is a composite material composed of coarse granular
material (the aggregate or filler) embedded in a hard matrix of material (the cement or binder)
that fills the space among the aggregate particles and glues them together with water.
Engineers usually specify the required strength of concrete, which is normally given
as the 28 day compressive strength in megapascals (MPa). Strength gain depends on the type
of mixture, its constituents, the use of standard curing, proper testing and care of cylinders in
transport, etc. It is imperative to accurately test the fundamental properties of concrete in its
fresh, plastic state.
1.2 OBJECTIVE
To expose the students to the real situation on how to prepare and testing for fresh and
hardened concrete. Subsequently, find the suitable methods to establish the strength of
concrete.

2.0 APPARATUS
Mix Design
Mould (100mm x 100mm x 100mm), vibrating table, trowel, buckets, spanar, brush, oil,
miscelleneous .
Slump Test
Frustum, rod, base plate, slump cone, ruler.
Compaction
Compaction factor test apparatus consists of two conical hoppers, A and B, mounted
vertically above a cylindrical mould C. The upper hopper A has internal dimensions as: top
diameter 250 mm; bottom diameter 125 mm and height 225 mm. The lower hopper B has
internal dimensions as: top diameter 225 mm; bottom diameter 125 mm and height 225 mm.
The cylinder has internal dimensions as: 150 mm diameter and 300 mm height. The distances
between bottom of upper hopper and top of lower hopper, and bottom of lower hopper and
top of cylinder are 200 mm in each case. The lower ends of the hoppers are fitted with quick
release flap doors. The hoppers and cylinders are rigid in construction and rigidly mounted on
a frame. These hoppers and cylinder are rigid easily detachable from the frame.
Compression
Compressor Testing Machine.

2.1 PROCEDURES
The proportion and material for making these test specimens are from the same concrete used
in the field.
SPECIMEN
9 cubes of 100mmx100mm x 100mm size
MIXING
(i) Mix the cement and fine aggregate on a water tight none-absorbent platform until the
mixture is thoroughly blended and is of uniform colour
(ii)Add the coarse aggregate and mix with cement and fine aggregate until the coarse
aggregate is uniformly distributed throughout the batch
(iii)Add water and mix it until the concrete appears to be homogeneous and of the desired
consistency
SAMPLING
(i) Clean the mounds and apply oil
(ii) Fill the concrete in the moulds in layers approximately 50mm thick.
(iii) Compact each layer with vibrator for 5 seconds.
(iv) Level the top surface and smoothen it with a trowel.
CURING
The test specimens are stored in moist air for 24hours and after this period the specimens are
marked and removed from the moulds and kept submerged in clear fresh water until taken out
prior to test.
PRECAUTIONS
The water for curing should be tested every 7 days and the temperature of water must be at
27+-20C.

MIX DESIGN
Experimental Procedure
1. The water to cement ratio was selected by weight for strength requirements.
2 The mixer has been buttered with a mixture of cement, sand and water before mixing
concrete.
3. Water was divided into two buckets, one with about of the water. Half the coarse and
aggregate and the bucket of water was put.
4. The mixer was started.
5. About half the fine aggregate was added.
6. All the cement was carefully added with the mixer running.
7. All the cement was mixed until blended in.
8. The rest of the coarse and fine aggregate was added.

SLUMP TEST
1. The representative sample (about 15 kg) was took from the fresh concrete. (Note: a
scoop will hold about 3.5 kg to 5.0 kg when full).
2. Make sure the mould is clean and dry inside. Damp the inside of the mould and the
base with a clean rag at the beginning of every test. (This is to reduce friction between
the fresh concrete and the mould.)
3. The mould was stood on the smooth hard plate, and our feet stood on the foot rests.
4. The mould was filled with the three equal layers, with each layer approximately one
third of the height of the mould with the concrete to be tested. Each layer was
compacted in turn 25 times with the rounded end of the steel rod. Each rodding should
pass through one layer into the layer beneath.
5. After the top layer has been tamped, the fill was smooth off by passing the rod over
the mould and leveled with a trowel.
6. The base of the mould was wiped to clean it from concrete and mortar which may
have dropped or leaked out and the metal plate it stands on.
7. Very carefully and slowly, the mould was lifted in a vertical direction keeping it quite
straight. The mould was inverted and placed down on the plate close to the mould of
concrete. As soon as the mould is lifted, the concrete will slump to some extent.
8. The rod was rested across the top of the inverted empty mould, so that it touch over
the mould of concrete.
9. The highest point of the concrete was measured to the underside of the rod.
10. The measured slump was recorded to the nearest 5mm.

COMPACTING FACTOR
1. Keep the compaction factor apparatus on a level ground and apply grease on the inner
surface of the hoppers and cylinder.
2. Fasten the flap doors.
3. Weigh the empty cylinder accurately and note down the mass as W1 kg.
4. Fix the cylinder on the base with fly nuts and bolts in such a way that the central points of
hoppers and cylinders are on one vertical line. Cover the cylinder with a plate.
5. Four mixes are to be prepared with water cement ratio (by mass) 0.50, 0.60, 0.70 and 0,80
respectively. For each mix take 9 kg of aggregate, 4.5 kg of sand and 2.25 kg of cement. With
each mix proceed as follows:
(a) Mix sand and cement dry, until a mixture of uniform colour is obtained. Now mix the
coarse aggregate and cement-sand mixture until coarse aggregate is uniformly distributed
throughout the batch.
(b) Add the required amount of water to the above mixture and mix it thoroughly until
concrete appears to be homogenous.
6. Fill the freshly mixed concrete in upper hopper gently and carefully with hand scoop
without compacting.
7. After two minutes, release the trap door so that the concrete may fall into the lower hopper
bringing the concrete into standard specimen.
8. Immediately after the concrete has come to rest, open the trap door of lower hopper and
allow the concrete to fall into the cylinder bringing the concrete into standard compaction.
9. Remove the excess concrete above the top of the cylinder by a pair of trowels, one in each
hand, with blades horizontal slide them from the opposite edges of the mould inward to the
centre with a sawing motion.
10. Clean the cylinder from all sides properly. Find the mass of partially compacted concrete
thus filled in the cylinder, say W2 kg.
11. Refill the cylinder with the same sample of concrete in approx. 50 mm layers, vibrating
each layer heavily so as to expel all the air and to obtain full compaction of concrete.
12. Struck off level the concrete and weigh the cylinder with fully compacted concrete. Let
the mass be W3 kg. The compacting factor is defined as the ratio of the weight of partially
compacted concrete to the weight of fully compacted concrete. It is normally stated to the
nearest second decimal place.

COMPRESSION
1. The specimen was removed from water after specified curing time and excess water was
wiped out from the surface.
2. The dimension of the specimen was take to the nearest 0.2m
3. The bearing surface of the resting machine was cleaned.
4. The specimen was placed in the machine in such a manner that the load shall be applied to
the opposite sides of the cube.
5. The specimen was aligned centrally on the base plate of the machine.
6. The movable portion was rotated gently by hand so that it touches the top surface of the
specimen.
7. The load was applied gradually without shock and continuously at the pace rate of 0.2 to
0.4MPa/sec until the specimen falls.
8. The maximum load was recorded and any of the unusual features in the type of failure was
noted.
9. It was mixed for a while.
10. Enough water was added from the final quarter of the water to produce a workable mix.
11. It was mixed for three minutes followed by a three minutes rest and followed by two
minutes final mixing.
12. A slump test was performed using the procedure given. Results are satisfactory and the
next step was skipped.

3.0 DATA ACQUISITION

MIX DESIGN
Volume = 9 mould (0.1 x 0.1 x 0.1) m3 + Slump ( 7 x 10-3 m3) + compacting Factor (7 x 10-3
m3) + wastage 70%
= 0.015 m3

SLUMP TEST
Type of slump: Collapse Slump
The highest point of the concrete to the underside of the rod: 110 mm
COMPACTING
Mass of cylinder(W1) : 5.9 kg
Sr.
No.

Water/
cemen
t
Ratio

0.5

Mass of
cylinder with
partially
compacted
concrete W2
(kg)
17.15

Mass of
cylinder
with fully
compacted
concrete W3
(kg)
17.50

Calculations
Mass Of Partially Compacted Concrete
W 2W 1

= 17.15 5.9
= 11.25 kg
Compacting Factor

=
=

W 2W 1
W 3W 1
17.155.9
17.50 5.9
11.25
11.60

Mass of
partially
compacted
concrete
(W2 W1),
(kg)
11.25

Mass of fully
compacted
concrete
(W3 W1)
(kg)

C.F. =

11.60

0.970

W2 W1

W3 W1

=0.97

COMPRESSION
Day 7
Cube

Mass before (kg)

Mass after (kg)

A
B
C

2.40
2.35
2.40

2.45
2.40
2.45

Maximum
Load (N)
212.3
110.0
196.4

Stress (kPa)

Pace Rate

21.23
11.00
19.64

3.00
3.00
3.00

Maximum
Load (N)
244.2
246.7
158.0

Stress (kPa)

Pace Rate

24.42
24.67
15.80

3.00
3.00
3.00

Stress (kPa)

Pace Rate

23.39
20.38
15.01

3.00
3.00
3.00

Day 14
Cube

Mass before (kg)

Mass after (kg)

A
B
C

2.30
2.40
2.40

2.38
2.48
2.48

Cube

Mass before (kg)

A
B
C

2.45
2.45
2.40

Day 28
Mass after (kg)
Maximum
Load (N)
2.54
233.9
2.50
203.8
2.45
150.1

Day

Day 7

Day 14

Day 28

Average

20.44

24.55

23.39

Graph

Graph of compressive strength against day

Plasticizers
Comp ressive Strength,
N/mm2

Day

4.0 DISCUSSION
Mix Design
Concrete is the most widely used as construction material. It is obtained by mixing
cement, water and aggregate and sometimes admixture in required proportion. These mixture
then placed in forms and allowed to cure and becomes hard like stone. The hardening is
caused by chemical reaction between water and cement and it continues for a long time, and
consequently the concrete grows stronger with age. The strength, durability and other
characteristic of concrete depend upon the properties of its ingredients, the proportion of the
mix, the method of compaction and other controls during placing, compaction and curing.
The purpose of a mix design is to group the aggregate in different proportions to
achieve the desired strength. The characteristic strength is said to be 30N/mm2 at 28 days. The
proportion defective is 5%. The cement type used is Ordinary Portland Cement which
followed the BS 12:1971. The maximum aggregate size was determined to be 20mm in size.
The coarse aggregate is the crushed type while the fine aggregate is the uncrushed type. The
slump was required to drop about 30-60mm from the top. The relative density of aggregate is
2.7. The grading of fine aggregate which pass 600 m

sieve is determined as 35%. Our

experiment use 9cubes with the size of 100mmx100mmx100mm for each cube After adding a
wastage of 70% to the calculated volume, a final volume of per trial mix is gained which is
0.015 m3. The weight per trial mix is calculated and determined. For cement it is 5.7 kg,
water is 2.622 L, fine aggregate or sand is 12.075 kg, for coarse aggregate which was
separated into 10mm and 20mm in size is 5.325 kg and 10.65 kg respectively and additional
of admixture which is plasticizer, 0.228L which was 8% of water.
The amount of plasticizer used is 8% out of 2.85L water. The percent used is not
suitable for the concrete mixture. Supposingly, we should use only 1-2% of plasticizer per
unit weight into the concrete mix. Adding an excessive amount of plasticizer will result in
excessive segregation and bleeding.

Compaction
Compaction factor test is adopted to determine the workability of concrete mixes. It is more
sensitive and precise than slump test and is particularly useful for concrete mixes of low
workability as are normally used when the concrete is to be compacted by vibration, such
concrete may constantly fail to slump. The compaction factor test is able to indicate small
variations in workability over a wide range. The aim of this experiment was to establish the
effects of water to cement ratio on the fresh properties of concrete (workability), and its effect
on the hardened properties of concrete. Furthermore, to increase the understanding in making
a concrete mixture and working out the water content that needs to be added to the mixtures
and to expand on the understanding of the importance of fresh and hard properties of
concrete.
From the experiment, the weight of empty cylinder partially and fully compacted
cylinder was weighed and recorded which are 5.90kg, 17.15kg and 17.50kg respectively.

Using Compacting Factor

Mass of partially compacted cylinder

Mass of fully compacted cylinder

formula, we have

determine the compacting factor which is 0.97. This shows that the fresh concrete mixes have
high workability. Our group have used 8% plasticizer out of total 2.85L water. However, the
amount of plasticizer used should be 1-2% per unit weight. This mistake had caused in high
workability of the concrete mix.
One type of test is not enough to indicate the workability of the concrete as a whole.
The use of various tests bring out various properties that determine workability, for example,
the compacting factor can indicate how workable in the concrete will be in terms of how
easily can the concrete be vibrated and compacted. It is also a good indicator of the mobility
and flow ability of concrete. It shows how easily the concrete can be pumped from a concrete
skip into shutters, how easily the concrete will pass through the skip trap door when on
casting real structure on site.
On the other hand, the slump best indicates how workable the concrete is in terms of
its cohesive nature and segregation of its aggregates. It is important to carry more than one of
these tests to indicate various workability factors. These tests can also be carried out at
various stages between concrete production and casting. The common construction site test is
the slump test, it serves as the last point of quality check prior to casting, and all other
workability factors are normally carried out on the concrete production sites. But, the
compactability factor will be most useful on production as other mobility enhancing

admixtures may be added prior to transporting concrete to site, hence saving time, money and
other complications that may arise from delaying site programmes.
Slump Test
The slump test was conducted to determine the workability of the sample from fresh
concrete. After the material was mix inside the concrete mixer for about 5-7 min, the concrete
was quickly used in the slump test. The slump mould was fill in three equal layers, with each
layer approximately on third of the height of the mould with the concrete to be tested. Each
layer was compacted 25 times with the rounded end of the steel rod. The force of the
compaction should be in free fall. The highest point of the concrete to the underside of the
rod was measured after fully fill the mould and lifted the mould in vertical direction, keeping
it quite straight.
From the experiment, the slumped concrete takes various shapes and according to the
profile of slumped concrete that we have done, the result is collapse slump with the value of
110 mm drop from the top. Collapse slump indicates that the concrete mix is too wet. Based
on the water-cement ratio, the slump obtained have a very high workability which in the
range of 100-175mm with compacting factor of more than 0.95.
Based on the experiment, the plasticizer have increased the workability. However, the
amount of plasticizer used is incorrect, therefore, it had cause in very high workability. As
mentioned before, the amount of plasticizer should be used only 1-2% out of total water.

Compression
One of the important properties of concrete is its strength in compression. The
strength in compression has a definite relationship with all the other properties of concrete,
example, the other properties are improved with the improvement in compressive strength.
The compressive strength is taken as the maximum compressive load it can carry per
unit area. The compressive strength of cube for day 7, 14 and 28, we take the average value
which is 20.44N/mm2, 20.55 N/mm2 and 23.39N/mm2 respectively. For day 7, we only take
the average strength value for sample cube A and C. This is because at day 7, the strength that
we should achieve is 70% of 30N/mm 2. Sample cube A and C have reached 70%. For day 14,
we take the average value of sample cube A and B. Meanwhile, for day 28, we take the
strength value of sample cube A only.
In order to obtain good concrete, the placing of an appropriate mix must be followed
by curing in a suitable environment during the early stages of hardening. The purpose of
curing is to promote the hydration of cement, thus, the development of strength and durability
of concrete. With proper curing, the concrete strength should increase. However, there are
some factors that had caused the strength to be low. The presence of air voids inside the cube
is one of the major factor affecting low in strength. It is said that the presence of one air void
will reduce 5% of its strength. Honey combing also does affect the strength. Honey combing
happens when the cube is not compacted properly. This is due to the shape of aggregate used
that have angular and rough surface. When the shape of the aggregate is angular, it will cause
in low workability. Hence, that is why the cube can not be properly compacted.
Therefore, at day 28, the cube compressive strength does not reach more than
30N/mm2 was caused by some of the factors mentioned.

5.0 CONCLUSION
As for conclusion, water, cement and aggregates are mixed to form fresh concrete.
Slump test and compacting factor test are done to determine the workability of the fresh
concrete. In addition, to find the compressive strength of the concrete, a compression test was
done. Curing was done to promote the hydration of cement. All in all, the experiment can be
considered successfully done as all the procedures have been followed properly. However, the
amount of admixture added is incorrect which caused in segregation and bleeding of concrete
mixes. Practically in real life situation, the strength of the concrete at day 28 should be about
34N/mm2. Our group didnt manage to achieve this strength may be cause from our
inexperience in using the apparatus and some errors. The experiment should be done
accurately to get the appropriate strength. We can conclude that the workability and the
strength of concrete is depends on the water/cement ratio. More water content gives higher
workability but lower the strength. Therefore, to recapitulate, we have achieved the objective
of this experiment which is to expose the students to the real situation on how to prepare and
testing for fresh and hardened concrete. Subsequently, find the suitable methods to establish
the strength of concrete.

6.0 REFFERENCE
1. http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete-mix-design/
2. http://www.engineeringcivil.com/concrete-mix-design-as-per-indian-standard-code.html
3. http://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-procedure-example/6005/
4.http://www.proceq.com/products/concrete-testing.html?
L=0&pqr=1&gclid=CjwKEAiAo7C2BRDgqODGq5r38DsSJAAv7dTPKZz87obiOkSuTnn9kyRSQBhLCavdHzqbVnR2w1jFBoCShnw_wcB
5. http://www.thestudentphysicaltherapist.com/slump-test.html
6. http://theconstructor.org/concrete/compaction-factor-test/1565/
7.http://www.engineeringcivil.com/workability-of-fresh-concrete-by-compacting-factortest.html
8. http://www.linnbenton.edu/auto/perform/compress.html
9. http://concrete.union.edu/

7.0 APPENDIX