What is fc?

fc is the specified compressive strength.

What are the calibration tolerance limits on batching..

Weighing Scales Measuring Devices for concrete ingredients (Cement +0.4%, aggregates +0.4%,
admixture +3.0% & Water +0.1%)?
Ans: Calibration should be every 4 months.
What are the test to be conducted on fresh concrete before dispatching?
Ans: Slump, Temperature, Air Content & Cylinder
What are the test to be conducted on concrete aggregates?
Ans: Sieve analysis, Absorption, Moisture Content, LA, Soundness, specific gravity, clay lumps, ASSI, ASCI
& Flakiness Index.
What is free water in concrete mix?
Ans: The water free of Moister and absorption is call free water.
What is SSD?
Ans: Saturated Surface Dry
What are limits of Ph and TDS of mixing water?
6-8 and 500 ppm
How to find the W/C Ratio?
Ans: water/cement= Water to cement ratio.
How to check targeted compressive strength as per ACI 318?
Ans: 1.1 x design + 5
What happened when W/C ratio Increase?
Ans: Concrete becomes more workable and decreases in strength.
What is the major factor of ingredients in strength of concrete?
Ans: W/C Ratio, Size of Coarse aggregates, Grading of fine aggregates.
What is the major factor of ingredients in workability of concrete?
Ans: Ratio of course and fine aggregates.
What can be largest and smallest aggregates size in mix?
Ans: and 3/8.
What are the dimensions of cylinder?
Ans: 150mm Dia x 300mm Height
How we perform slump test by volume or mass?
Ans: by Volume.

Based on SSD condition calculate the following?

Material
Mix Design Batch
Moisture Content
Weight kg/m3
%
3/4
700
1.80
3/8
370
2.60
Sand
875
1.60
Water
150
Formula: Step 1= Absorption - moisture = ? 2.00-1.80 = .20
Step 2= 700xStep1 / 100 700x.20/100
Step 3= 700 1.4 = 698.6

Absorption %
2.00
2.20
0.50

Adjust Batch
Weight
698.6
371.48
884.62
Total= 1945.7

Note: if Absorption - moisture will come in plus. Than minus the result from weight (700)
If Absorption - moisture will come in Minus. Than plus the result in weight (700)
Water Adjustment: Step1= Total adjusted Batch weight= result, Step2= (water-result= adjusted water)

Define All Aggregate Tests, Standard and Passing Criteria?

S/No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Test Name
Sieve Analysis
Material finer than #200 Sieve
Los Angeles Abrasion
Clay Lumps
Specific Gravity
Absorption
Soundness
Flakiness Index
ACID Soluble Chloride (CI)
Acid Soluble Sulphate (SO3)

Passing Criteria
5% Max.
0.25% Max. ratio of 100/500
5% Max.
2.5% Max.
25% Max.
0.30% Max.
0.40% Max.

Standard
ASTM C 136 06
ASTM C 117 04
ASTM C 131 06
ASTM C 142 10
ASTM C 127 - 07
ASTM C 127-07
ASTM C 88 05
BS 812:105:1:89
BS 812:117:88
BS 812:118:88

Batch Plant QC Inspector Responsibilities:

12345678-

Check the Calibration of Plant (every 4 month renew) and Laboratory (every 6 month renew)
Check the TDS & Ph of mixing water (6-8, 500 ppm)
Check the temp. Of mixing water (less than 5%)
Check the Central Mix (No Hard Concrete, No water)
Check the Approved Mix Design
Check the daily moister content report.
Check the Daily Sieve analysis report.
Check the Mixer truck (Revaluation Counter, No hard Concrete, No water on mixer)

Some useful standards:

S/No
1
2
3

Material Name
Concrete
Aggregates
Plant Calibration

SAMSS Standard
SAMSS-097
SAMSS-088

SAES Standard
SAES-Q-001

ASTM Standard
ASTM C94
ASTM C33
ASTM C94

SAMSS-097:
1- Ordinary Portland cement (Type I) shall be in accordance with SSA 143 and the optional chemical
requirements of ASTM C150.
2- Type V sulfate resistant Portland cement shall be in accordance with ASTM C150.
3- Silica fume shall be in accordance with ASTM C1240. Silica fume, when used as a mineral additive,
it shall not be less than 7% by weight of cement as replacement and it shall not exceed 10% by weight
of cement.
4- Natural Pozzolans can be used as partial replacement of cement. The amount of the Natural Pozzolan
(ASTM C618) used as cement replacement shall be established based on the compressive strength
requirements but shall not exceed 50% replacement for the cement.
5- Mill test certificates shall be provided for each shipment of cement.
6- Aggregate shall conform to 09-SAMSS-088
7- TDS & Ph

Test

Frequency of Test

Min.

Max.

TDS

Weekly

N/A

500ppm

Ph

Weekly

8- High range water reducers (Superplasticizers) type F or G only, conforming to ASTM C494, can be
used for high workability.
9- Calcium chloride or admixtures containing chloride salts are not permitted and shall not be used.
10- Admixture manufacturers technical data sheet, including dosage range for slump/temperature range,
and storage requirements shall be submitted to the Purchaser with proposed mix designs.
11- The maximum water soluble chloride ions in concrete shall not exceed 0.15% for reinforced concrete
and 0.06% for prestressed concrete by weight of cement. The maximum Sulfate ions as SO3 shall not
exceed 4%. Tests shall be in accordance with ASTM C1218, BS 1881 124

12- Water/Cement Ratio and Cement Quantity:

item

Structural Concrete

Cement Content (kg/m3)

W/C Ratio

Non- Structural Concrete

Max.

Min.

Max.

Min.

370

350

250

0.40

28 Days Compressive Strength

Astm c39

0.60
4000 Psi

2000 Psi

(28 Mpa)

(14 Mpa)

Commentary Note:
This table covers cast in place concrete. However for water retaining structure, precast/prestressed
concrete, cement content is more than 370 Kg/M of concrete can be used in the mix, and the
minimum 28-Days Design Compressive Strength shall be 5000 psi (35 MPa).
13- Plant scales shall be calibrated no less than three times a year and shall be certified as conforming to
ASTM C94 09.
14- Plant scales shall be calibrated no less than three times a year and shall be certified as conforming to
ASTM C94 09.
15- Concrete delivered at a temperature in excess of 32C or that fails to maintain a temperature of 32C
until used, shall be rejected and replaced at the expense of the Manufacturer.
16- The minimum required number of concrete test cylinders for strength tests shall be:

Age (Days)

No. of Cylinders

28

17- The test report shall include the following data for each test sample of concrete taken at the placement
site:
Name of Project and Job Order (JO) for the Project
Slump in millimeters
Ambient air temperature in C
Concrete temperature in C
% Air, when air entrainment is used.

 SAMSS-088:
1- Aggregate stockpiles shall be arranged and used in a manner to avoid excessive segregation and to
prevent contamination with other materials or with other sizes of like aggregate. The ground or
foundation on which aggregates are stockpiled shall be sloped, hard and free of foreign materials,
which could cause contamination of aggregates.
2- A minimum stockpile of 500 m of each aggregate size shall be committed by the suppliers and
accepted.
3- No additional materials shall be permitted to be stockpiled thereon.
4- No equipment shall operate on the stockpile.
5- Samples shall be taken at random and at a frequency of at least one sample per 200 m of aggregate to
be shipped, but not less than one sample per month.
6- The ground on which the aggregates are stockpiled shall be hard and free of foreign materials.
7- sand shall be washed prior to batching with water that contains no more than 3500 parts per million
(ppm) of total dissolved solids (TDS) and 1000 ppm of chlorides.
8- Only magnesium sulfate shall be used for the soundness test.
9- The limits of deleterious substances in coarse aggregates shall conform to the requirements shown in
following Table.
Test Name
Course
Fine
Frequency of Test
Clay Lumps & Friable Particles and
5.0
5.0
Monthly
Chert
Materials finer than No. 200 Sieve
5.0
5.0
Weekly
RAW 1 and 2 Combined
6.0
6.0
Abrasion (LA)
40
N/A
Monthly
Water Absorption
2.5*
Monthly
Soundness
25
25
Bi-Monthly
Commentary Note:
Coarse aggregates can be cleaned from dust in order to meet Table A by water, vacuum suction or air
blast. Total dissolved solids in the washing water shall not exceed 3500 ppm and chlorides shall not
exceed 1000 ppm.

 SAES-Q-001
Design
1. Structural Concrete: All reinforced concrete including concrete with minimum reinforcement for
temperature and shrinkage control. The 28 day design compressive strength (ASTM C39) shall be 28
MPa (4000 psi) and 35 MPa (5000 psi) for water retaining structures.
2. Non-Structural Concrete: Unreinforced concrete of no significant structural value such as lean
concrete for sub-slabs. The minimum 28 day design compressive strength (ASTM C39) shall be 14
MPa (2000 psi).
Concrete Materials:
The concrete materials shall be in accordance with 09-SAMSS-097, Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete
and as follows:
1- Portland Cement/Reinforcements
Exposure
I
II
III
IV
V

Cement Type
I (OPC)
V (SRC)
I (OPC) + Silica Fume
V
I/V

Steel
FBE
FBE
FBE
Uncoated
Uncoated

1- Sulfates and Chlorides shall be determined in accordance with AASHTO T290 and AASHTO T291
respectively or equivalent test methods.
2- If the sulfate content is less than 1500 ppm and the chloride is more than 500 ppm, then Type I cement
and FBE coated rebars shall be used.
3- Surrounding environment could be air, soil or water. Interior floor slabs can be classified as exposure
V.
4- Silica Fume shall be tested prior to use and on monthly basis or when changing the source of the
materials to confirm its compliance to ASTM C1240.
5- Ultra fine fly ash (type S in accordance with BS EN 450 - 1) can be used in lieu of Silica Fume
provided that
The minimum cement replacement is 10% in lieu of 7%
The maximum water /cement ratio is 0.35 in lieu of 0.4
Amount retained when wet-sieved on sieve no. 325 (0.045 micron meter) is less than 3.5%
Maximum particle size is less than 5 microns
Ultra fine fly ash shall be tested prior to use and on monthly basis or when changing the
source of the materials to confirm its compliance to ASTM C618 and BS EN 450 - 1 and the
above requirements.

Some Important Admixtures:

Superplasticizer: SP is a high performance water reducer and superplasticizer for micro silica concrete.
a- Pump able concrete
b- High strength & early strength
c- High workability
Calcium Nitrate: CN is a corrosion inhibitor and also used for early strength.
Retarder: Water reducer and delays the hydration in cement.
Flyash: fly ash can improve many of the properties of concrete, including workability and
consolidation, compressive strengths, pumpability, and decreased permeability.
Micro Silica: it reduces cracking caused by the heat of hydration and can improve durability to attack by
sulphate and acidic waters.

As per Project Specification:

Material
Cement Content
Micro Silica
Fly Ash
W/C Ratio
Slump
ASSI
WSCIC
Exposure Type
Cement Type

C40

C50

370kg min.
7-10%
< 50%
0.40 max.
175 + 25
4.0% max
0.15% max.
3
1

370kg min.
7-10%
< 50%
0.40 max.
190 + 40
4.0% max
0.15% max.
3
1

Some Basic Aggregate Tests:

Flakiness Index: We check percentage by weight of particles init. If aggregate size is larger than 6.3mm than
we determine the FI test.
Soundness: to check the resistance of aggregates to weathering and to check the durability of aggregate.
Los angles Abrasion: to check the toughness and abrasion of aggregates.