1. What are the main components of concrete manufacture process?

I. Choice of ingredients
II. Estimating quantities of material needed
III. Batching
IV. Mixing concrete
V. Transportation
VI. Placing
VII. Compacting
VIII. Finishing concrete
IX. Curing concrete

2. Estimate the quantities of concrete materials (by volume) required for casting a plain
concrete road of length 2 km and cross dimensions of 12x0.3 m2 considering the mix
proportion by volume is 1:2:4 and the w/c ratio is 0.52

 Volume of road = 2000×12×0.3 = 7.2 m3

 Volume adjusted = 7.2 ×1.65 = 11.88 m3
 Cement Volume =11.88 × 1/7 = 1697 m3 ÷ 0.0332 m3 = 5112 bags
 Cement Weight = 5112 × 50 kg = 2555933.735 kg
 Sand volume = 11880 × 2/7 = 3394.3 m3
 C.A volume = 1188 × 4/7 = 6790 m3
 Water volume = 0.52 × 2555933.735 = 1329085 kg = 1329085 liter

3. Draw the curves describing the relationships between concrete strength and each of
cement content, water content, w/c ratio, and aggregate content.

Strength Strength

Cement content Water content

 Strength
Strength

W/C 25 cm2/gm S.S.A

4. On the slide number 17 of the handouts, point on the picture each item mentioned in the
text down the picture.

5. What are the factors influencing the mixing time of concrete? What is the onset signal of
mixing time?

a. Mixing time depends on:

- Type and size of mixer

- Speed of rotation
- Quality of blending of ingredients during charging.

b. Time being reckoned from the time when all solid materials have been charged.
6. What are the particular requirements for pumpability of a concrete mix?

1. Workability 2. Good time estimating during transportation

3. Admixtures content

4. Time from mixing to cast

7. How is the mixing efficiency of a mixer assessed?

 Capacity of the mixer

 Speed
 Manufacturer
 Horsepower

8. What is the difference between agitating and mixing?

- Mixing: complete blending of the materials which are required for the production of a
homogeneous concrete. (70 to 100 revolutions of the drum at 6 to 18 rpm)

- Agitating: at 2 to 6 rpm to avoid stiffening of concrete

9. Is “remixing” acceptable prior to casting at the job site? Mention the conditions to accept
“remixing”.

- Yes, to prevent stiffening

- Conditions:
 Maximum allowable w/c ratio not exceeded
 Maximum allowable slump is not exceeded
 Maximum allowable mixing and agitating time (or drum revolutions) are not
exceeded.
 Concrete is remixed for a minimum of 3 revolutions at mixing speed or until the
uniformity of the concrete.

10. What are the types of concrete mixers? Mention the suitability of each type

 Tilting drum mixer: revolving drum mixer that discharges by tilting the axis of the drum
 Non-tilting drum mixer: revolving drum mixer which is charged, mixes and discharges with axis of
the drum horizontal.
  Vertical shaft mixer: rotating blades or paddles, mounted on a vertical shaft, in either a stationary
pan or one rotating in the opposite direction to the blades,
 Puddle mixer: horizontal blades and is suitable for harsh, stiff concrete mixtures ( concrete block
units)
 Truck mixers: revolving drum with rear discharge
 Continuous mixing equipment: spiral blade rotated at a relatively high speed.

11. Note down the drawbacks to be avoided during transportation of concrete.

1. Delay , to avoid delay:
 Plan ahead
 Check that all labor, tools and containers are ready
 Check all preparations for placing

2. Segregation, to avoid the segregation.

 Check the concrete is not “too wet” or “ too dry”

 Make sure the concrete is properly mixed
 Concrete is mixed at the correct speed in a transit mixer for at least two minutes
immediately prior to discharge
 The concrete should be placed as soon as possible
 When transporting the mix, load carefully
 If placing concrete straight from a truck, pour vertically and never let the concrete fall from
more than one-and-a-half meters.
 Always pour new concrete into the face of concrete already in place

3. Wastage.
 Wastage can be costly, especially on small jobs. To minimize wastage; mix, load, transpot,
and place carefully.

12. What are types of “Truck body” used in transportation of concrete?

I. Truck body with and without an agitator
 An open-top body mounted on a truck, although bottom dump trucks have been used successfully
 A discharge gate and vibrators mounted on the body should be provided at the point of discharge
for control of flow

13. Mention the different tools and equipment used in placing concrete explaining the
differences between them.
I. Casting using wheelbarrows : used to convey and cast concrete
 II. Swing arm on a conveyor belt
III. Curb machines continuously extrude low-slump concrete into a shape that
immediately stands without support of formwork
IV. Dump trucks deposit concrete ahead of a slipform paver that places the entire width
of a street in one pass.
V. Shotcrete: Pneumatically applied concrete