UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

DEPARTMENT OF
CIVIL ENGINEERING
150 Jaguar Drive, Shelby Hall 3142
Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002

Telephone: (251)460-6174
Facsimile:(251)
(251)461-1400
461-1400
Facsimile:
http://www.southalabama.edu
http://www.southalabama.edu

October 29, 2015

John Cleary, Ph.D., P.E.
University of South Alabama
Department of Civil Engineering
Mobile, AL 36688
Subject: CE 315 Civil Engineering Materials Lab #5: Concrete Mix Design and Trial Batching

Introduction and Objective

The experimental procedure described in this report consists of the development of a concrete
mix design and measurement of fresh mixed concrete properties. When designing a concrete
mix, the values of the component properties are used as input parameters for determining the mix
proportions. Once the design is completed, a trial batch of concrete is prepared for testing. The
design specifications being considered for testing include the average compressive strength, air
content, and slump; however, the average compressive strength will be evaluated and reported at
a later date. Eight cylindrical samples were produced for future testing.
Contained herein is the requested concrete mix design and the measured values for the slump,
unit weight, and air content of the trial batch. Included is a summary of the parameters used in
the proportioning of the material components of the mix and the calculations for the adjusted
weights of the components. The trial batch was mixed on Wednesday, October 14 th in the
Construction Materials Lab at the University of South Alabama. The mix was designed for an
average compressive strength of 4500 psi and a slump of 3 in.

Engineering Team Members

Concrete batching and measurement of fresh mix properties were performed by the following
individuals: Connor Griffin, Musaad Albaiji, and Thomas Calhoun.
The primary author of the report is Connor Griffin. The secondary author of the report is Thomas
Calhoun.

Description of the Experiment

Proportioning of the components for the concrete mix design followed the absolute volume
method set up by the American Concrete Institutes Committee 211 (Michael S. Mamlouk 2011).
This method uses the specific gravity of each component and other coarse and fine aggregate
properties to calculate the volume that each component will occupy. The mix components
included coarse and fine aggregate, cement, and water. Once the correct proportions were
obtained, a trial batch was mixed using a mechanical mixer. The components were added to the
mixer in small increments to ensure that the mix is a uniform consistency. For the trial batch, it
was determined that a gross volume of approximately 0.022-ft 3 of concrete was needed to yield
eight (4-in diameter x 8-in height) samples and thirty percent waste.
Immediately after mixing, the slump of the mix was measured following the ASTM C143
standardized procedure (ASTM International 2015). Slump is a measure of the consistency of
freshly mixed concrete. For this test, a mold is filled with concrete mix in three layers and
rodded twenty-five times between each. Once the mold is completely filled, the top surface is
struck off using a trial. The mold is then slowly removed and set beside the resulting pile with
the tamping rod set atop. A tape is then used to measure the vertical distance that the concrete
settles with respect to the bottom of the tamping rod.
Next, the unit weight and air content of the mix was calculated following the ASTM C138 and
C231 standardized procedures respectively (ASTM International 2014). The unit weight is found
by measuring the weight of a container of known volume which is filled flush to the top surface
of the container. The container is filled in thirds and rodded twenty-five times between
consecutive layers. It is also necessary to tap around the outside of the container between
roddings in order to release any trapped air. The unit weight of a mix is given by:

Unit Weight=

Net weight of concrete

.
Volume of measure

(1)

The air content of the mix was determined by the pressure method which utilizes a Type B air
meter. The procedure for filling the meter is the same as described for the unit weight. Once the
container is levelly full, the top is secured and the remaining space in the container is filled with
water. The container is then compressed and the gauge reading recorded.

Results and Discussion

2

Table 1 contains a summary of the coarse and fine aggregate properties which are the essential
parameters used in proportioning of the material components for the mix design. The absorption
and moisture content of the aggregates are used to adjust the design component weights in order
to ensure that an accurate water to cement ratio is attained.
Fine Aggregate

Coarse Aggregate
Maximum Size (in)
Nominal Max. Size (in)
Bulk SG-Dry
Bulk Density (lb/cf)
Absorption (%)
Moisture Content (%)

3/4
1/2
2.57
101.
5
1.3
0.1

Bulk SG-Dry
Absorption (%)
Fineness Modulus
Moisture Content (%)

2.6
2
0.5
5
2.7
2
0.1
2

Table 1: A summary of the coarse and fine aggregate properties used to determine mix proportions.
.

The initial and adjusted mix design weights are displayed below (Table 2). The mix is given in
units of pounds per cubic yard of concrete. Notice that the adjusted weight for the water is
twenty-five pounds higher than the initial value but the water to cement ration did not change.
This indicates that the aggregates were in a dry state. If this were not accounted for, the resulting
design properties may have been severely compromised.
Mix Design
Material
Coarse Aggregate
Fine Aggregate
Cement
Water
Air (%)
Water/Cement

Initial Design (lb./cy)

1535
984
961
365
2.5
0.38

Adjusted Design (lb./cy)

1540
990
960
390
2.5
0.38

Table 2: The center column shows the initial mix design. The right column is the final trial design with corrections for the absorption and
moisture content of the aggregates.

The individual component weights for the trial batch are shown (on the next page) in Table 3.
Preparation of the anticipated quantity of eight 4x8 inch cylindrical samples was accomplished.
The measured values for the slump and air content of the mix were found to be 3-in and 2.7
percent respectfully. The unit weight of the trial batch was found to be 97.4 lbs/ft3.
Trial Batch Weight (lbs.)
Coarse Aggregate
Fine Aggregate

34.51
22.19

Cement
Water

21.51
8.74

Table 3: A table of the trial material batch weights required to yield eight samples and thirty percent waste.

Conclusion
The experimental results for the calculation of air content, unit weight, and slump were
consistent with the design specifications and other published data. Additional reports for the
seven and twenty-eight day compressive strengths will follow. Since no historical data was
available, the proportioning of the material components was based on conservative values for
attaining an acceptable average compressive strength. For this reason, it is expected that the
compressive strength will exceed the design specifications.

References

ASTM International. 2014. ASTM C138 / C138M-14, Standard Test Method for Density (Unit
Weight), Yield, and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete . West Conshohocken, PA:
www.astm.org.
2015. ASTM C143 / C143M-15, Standard Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement
Concrete. West Conshohocken, PA: www.astm.org.
2015. ASTM C231 / C231M-14, Standard Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed
Concrete by the Pressure Method, West Conshohocken, PA: www.astm.org.
Michael S. Mamlouk, John P. Zaniewski. 2011. "Proportioning of Concrete Mixes." In Materials
for Civil and Construction Engineers, by Michael S. Mamlouk and John P. Zaniewski,
247. Upper Saddle River, New Jersy: Pearson Education.

Appendix A: Measurements and data collected during experimentation

Fine Aggregate

Coarse Aggregate

Maximum Size (in)

Nominal Max. Size (in)
Bulk SG-Dry
Bulk Density (lb/cf)
Absorption (%)
Moisture Content (%)

3/4
1/2
2.57
101.
5
1.3
0.1

Bulk SG-Dry

Absorption (%)
Fineness Modulus
Moisture Content (%)

2.6
2
0.5
5
2.7
2
0.1
2

Table 1: A summary of the coarse and fine aggregate properties used to determine mix proportions.

.
______________________________________________________________________________

Mix Design
Material
Coarse Aggregate
Fine Aggregate
Cement
Water
Air (%)
Water/Cement

Initial Design (lb./cy)

1535
984
961
365
2.5
0.38

Adjusted Design (lb./cy)

1540
990
960
390
2.5
0.38

Table 2: The center column shows the initial mix design. The right column is the final trial design with
corrections for the absorption and moisture content of the aggregates.

Trial Batch Weight (lbs.)

Coarse Aggregate
Fine Aggregate
Cement
Water

34.51
22.19
21.51
8.74

Table 3: A table of the trial material batch weights required to yield eight samples and thirty percent waste.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Measurements and data collected

during experimentation
Air Content
Weight of measure with concrete
Weight of measure
Volume of measure
Slump

2.7%
44.14 lbs
7.714 lbs
0.374 ft3
3 in

Table 4: Measurements and data collected during experimentation

Appendix B: Relevant calculations and resulting values

Unit Weight=

Net weight of concrete

.
Volume of measure
6

(1)

o Unit Weight =

44.14 lb7.144 lb
= 97.4 lbs/ft3.
3
0.374 ft

Appendix C:
Lab 5: Concrete Mix Design and Trial Batching

October 29, 2015

7

CE 315 Group # 8 Wednesday Section

Task
Introduction and
objective
Description of the
experiment
Results
Conclusions
References
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Data collection tasks
Tables and Graphs

Thomas Calhoun
70

Connor Griffin
30

100

50
60
100
0
0
50
50
80

50
40
0
100
100
50
50
20