How to determine concrete yield

oncrete yield is an important consideration on 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 accordance 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 factors which will cause variations in yield and the techniques for policing yield.

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 = _________ , in which S Vd x 27 Ry = relative yield; S = volume of concrete produced per batch in cubic feet; Vd = volume of concrete which the batch was designed to produce in cubic yards. NOTE: A value for Ry greater than 1.00 indicates an excess 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.

CALCULATING YIELD
Yield is defined in ASTM C 138 as the volume of concrete (per unit volume of cement) delivered to the jobsite 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)____f_+ _____Ww__ ______ + W _ Wc + __ W 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 condition used, in pounds; Wc = total weight of coarse aggregate in batch in condition 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 =___ , in which s n Y S N = yield of concrete produced per 94-pound bag of cement, in cubic feet; = volume of concrete produced per batch in cubic feet; = number of bags of cement in the batch.

FACTORS AFFECTING YIELD

Yield can be affected while the structure is still in the design stage. It is not unusual to encounter mix designs which simply will not yield 27 cubic feet of concrete per cubic yard of concrete ordered. When the concrete producer 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 revised 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 aggregate used in the mix. (2) Total weight of water in dry aggregate mix. (3) Loose dry unit weights or free moisture in aggregate 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 cubic 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 determined 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 batching 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 effect, lowered and the result will be lowered strength. Conversely, if aggregates are contaminated with material 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 nearly the volume anticipated and the yield will be reduced. In addition, if yield is reduced to 25 cubic feet and cement 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 aggregate 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. 1300 lb. 900 lb. 29 gal. 6 percent 4 in. cement normal weight sand lightweight coarse aggregate water entrained air slump

In the field, however, we find that the sand has a moisture 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 design564, 1300 and 900the 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 aggregatea total of 200 pounds or 24 gallons of extra water. Only about 12 additional 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 27a loss of 8 percent. Although the effect of aggregate moisture content on yield in normal weight concrete would not be as dramatic, 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 preparing 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: overvibration this drives out air; soupy mixesthese tend to lose air content readily; and allowing concrete to become hotthis drives out entrained air. Any practice which affects the water content of a mixsuch 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 designed mix. (2) Order enough concrete to accommodate unavoidable losses in yield for certain types of placements. (3) Schedule deliveries so delays in discharging concrete 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 techniques that will avoid over-vibration, segregation and other problems. (7) Do not use an excessively wet mix. Excessively wet concrete will settle, and a settlement of 1/8 inch in a 4inch slab would constitute a loss in volume of 3 percent. Responsibility for variations in yield can be traced to conditions or practices before and/or after delivery of the concrete. In almost every case, the change in yield will be accompanied by changes in such important characteristics as concrete strength and durability.

YIELD DETERMINATION
Concrete is ordered on the basis of cement content; the saturated, surface-dry condition of the aggregates and the total water content. Free moisture content of aggregates is compensated for at the ready mix plant. In the following example, 6 bags of cement and 6 gallons of water per bag of cement were used. Weights for 1 cubic yard batch (pounds) Weights Moisture SSD. Percent Pound 6 bags Cement 564 lb. lb. Sand* 1250 lb. lb. Coarse Agg* 1940 lb. lb. 36 gal. Water 300 lb. lb. _______ _________ Total 4054 lb. lb. Adjusted Weights 564 5% 1% less 62.5 lb. 19.4 lb. 81.9 lb. 1312.5 1959.4 218.1

CHECKING YIELD
Yield of the concrete as delivered at the jobsite can be checked by the contractor by regular measurement of unit weight. If this varies more than 2 percent, an investigation should be made into such factors as air content, aggregate weight or batch weights. When the unit weight varies considerably, it will often be found that yield is varying (as well as other concrete properties). To check the actual volume of concrete being delivered to the job, divide the plastic unit weight of the concrete into the total number of pounds of all the mix ingredients. If the proper volume of concrete was delivered to the jobsite, and if suitable allowances have been made for unavoidable yield losses in placement, and a sizeable shortage of concrete still turns up, the contractor can be certain that he has his own practices to blame. Or if it develops that the job is completed before a good deal of the anticipated concrete is delivered, the contractor cannot rest easy; theres always the knowledge that over-yield means lowered strengths. Obviously, it is of the greatest importance to maintain yield correctly. All parties benefit when yield is kept in bounds, and all stand to lose when it is allowed to vary substantially.

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* Specific gravity of aggregate is 2.65 Check yield on the job by determining the unit weight of plastic concrete. For calculation purposes, use the material weights per batch provided by the ready mixed concrete producer. Batch weights for 5 cubic yard batch (pounds) Cement 2,820 pounds Sand 6,560 pounds Coarse aggregate 9,800 pounds Added water 1,000 (120 gal.) pounds _________________ Total 20,180 pounds 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 = _____ = 559 lb.; ____ = 5.95 bags 2820 559 5.04 94

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