CE 201: Engineering Materials

Assignment Solution

Dr. Sheikh Mokhlesur Rahman

Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE
Contact: [email protected]
 Assignment 01 2

Problem 1: Estimate the mix ratio of Aggregates 1, 2, 3, and 4 to obtain the

aggregate blend to meet the specification. Also determine the % passing for
the combined aggregate in each sieve and the FM of the combined aggregate.
Sieve Size % passing Specification
mm inch Aggregate 01 Aggregate 02 Aggregate 03 Aggregate 04 % Passing
175 7 100 - - -
150 6 98 - - -
100 4 30 100 - -
75 3 10 92 - - 55
50 2 2 30 100 -
37.5 1.5 0 6 94 - 28
25 1 0 4 36 100
19 3/4 0 0 4 92 13
9.5 3/8 0 0 2 30
4.76 No. 4 0 0 0 2
January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Assignment_solution
 Assignment 01 3

Solution:
Sieve Size % passing Specification
mm inch Aggregate 01 Aggregate 02 Aggregate 03 Aggregate 04 % Passing
175 7 100 100 100 100
150 6 98 100 100 100
100 4 30 100 100 100
75 3 10 92 100 100 55
50 2 2 30 100 100
37.5 1.5 0 6 94 100 28
25 1 0 4 36 100
19 3/4 0 0 4 92 13
9.5 3/8 0 0 2 30
4.76 No. 4 0 0 0 2

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Assignment_solution

 Assignment 01 4

For 75 mm sieve: 10 ∗ 𝑎 + 92 ∗ 𝑏 + 100 ∗ 𝑐 + 100 ∗ 𝑑 = 55 ∗ (𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑) (1)

For 37.5 mm sieve: 6 ∗ 𝑏 + 94 ∗ 𝑐 + 100 ∗ 𝑑 = 28 ∗ (𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑) (2)
For 19 mm sieve: 4 ∗ 𝑐 + 92 ∗ 𝑑 = 13 ∗ (𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑) (3)
Constraint: 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑 = 1
Solving equation 1, 2, and 3 considering the constraint, we get
a = 0.478
b = 0.249
c = 0.138
d = 0.135

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Assignment_solution

 Assignment 01 5

Sieve Size % passing Specification

Aggregate Blended
mm inch Aggregate 01 Aggregate 02 Aggregate 04 % Passing
03 Aggregate
175 7 100 100 100 100 100
150 6 98 100 100 100 99
100 4 30 100 100 100 67
75 3 10 92 100 100 55 55
50 2 2 30 100 100 36
37.5 1.5 0 6 94 100 28 28
25 1 0 4 36 100 19
19 3/4 0 0 4 92 13 13
9.5 3/8 0 0 2 30 4
4.76 No. 4 0 0 0 2 0

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Assignment_solution

 Assignment 01 6

Sieve Size % Cumulative

(mm) Passing Retained (%)
175.00 100 0
150.00 99 1
100.00 67 33
75.00 55 45
50.00 36 64 𝐹𝑀 = 9. 01
37.50 28 72
25.00 19 81
19.00 13 87
9.50 4 96
4.76 0 100
2.36 0 100
1.18 0 100
0.6 0 100
0.3 0 100
0.15 0 100
January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Assignment_solution
 Assignment 01 7

Problem 2: Aggregates from three sources having bulk specific gravities of

2.753, 2.649, and 2.689 were blended at a ratio of 70:20:10 by weight,
respectively. What is the bulk specific gravity of the aggregate blend?

Solution:
1 1
𝐺= = = 2.725
𝑃𝐴 𝑃𝐵 𝑃𝐶 0.70 0.2 0.1
𝐺𝐴 𝐺𝐵 𝐺𝐶 2.753 + 2.649 + 2.689
+ +

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Assignment_solution

 Assignment 01 8

Problem 3: 20, 30, and 45 kg of three aggregates with fineness modulus of

2.6, 2.8, and 2.9, respectively, are mixed together to get a blended aggregate.
Determine the fineness modulus of the aggregate blend.

Solution:
20 30 45
𝑃𝐴 = = 0.21; 𝑃𝐵 = = 0.32 ; 𝑃𝐶 = = 0.47
20+30+45 20+30+45 20+30+45

𝐹𝑀 = 𝑃𝐴 ∗ 𝐹𝑀𝐴 + 𝑃𝐵 ∗ 𝐹𝑀𝐵 + 𝑃𝐶 ∗ 𝐹𝑀𝐶 = 0.21 ∗ 2.6 + 0.32 ∗ 2.8 + 0.47 ∗ 2.9 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟏

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Assignment_solution

 Assignment 02 9

Problem Statement: Calculate the quantities for a 0.15 m3 trial concrete mix
to the following specification using the UK method:
Characteristic strength: 35 MPa at 28 days
Cement: OPC (EN class 42.5)
Percent defectives: 5%
No. of test samples: 5
Target slump: 50 mm
Coarse aggregate: 10 mm uncrushed
Fine aggregate: Uncrushed 50% passing a 600 mm sieve

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Assignment_solution

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Step 1: Selection of target water/cement ratio

Compressive Strength (MPa)

Type of
Cement Type Coarse Age (days)
Aggregate
3 7 28 91
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) Uncrushed 22 30 42 49
or Sulphate Resisting (SRPC)
EN Class 42.5 Crushed 27 36 49 56

Rapid Hardening Cement (RHPC) Uncrushed 29 37 48 54

EN Class 52.5 N Crushed 34 43 55 61

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_British Method

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Step 2: Selection of free water content
Slump (mm) 0–10 10–30 30–60 60–180
Vebe time (s) >12 6-12 3-6 0-3

Maximum Aggregate Size (mm) Type of Aggregate Free Water Contents (kg/m3)

Uncrushed 150 180 205 225

10
Crushed 180 205 230 250
Uncrushed 135 160 180 195
20
Crushed 170 190 210 225
Uncrushed 115 140 160 175
40
Crushed 155 175 190 205

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_British Method

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Step 3: Determination of cement content

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_British Method

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Step 4: Determination of total aggregate content

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_British Method

 Step 5: Determination of fine and coarse 14
aggregate content

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_British Method

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Mix Design Summary

For 1 cubic meter of compacted fresh concrete

Cement = 456 kg
Water = 205 kg
Fine Agg. = 724 kg
Coarse Agg. = 960 kg
Total = 2345 kg

Density of concrete = 2345 kg/m3

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_British Method

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Ingredients for Trial Mix

Volume of trial mix = 0.15 m3

Assuming shrinkage and loss factor = 1.2, volume of concrete = 1.2×0.15 = 0.18
m3

Ingredients for trial mix = Amount for 1 m3 * volume of trial mix

Cement = 456×0.18 = 82 kg
Water = 205×0.18 = 37 kg
Fine Agg. = 724×0.18 = 130 kg
Coarse Agg. = 960×0.18 = 173 kg

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_British Method

 Assignment 03 17

Problem Statement: Design the mix of a concrete for a design strength of 30 MPa at 28 days with
the following information. Use ACI 211.1 method. Also find the amount of ingredients required to
cast 9 cylinders for trial batch and convert the adjusted batch to the mix ratio in volume basis.
Slump: 30-50 mm
Cement: Ordinary Portland Cement
Coarse Aggregate:
– Maximum Size: 40mm
– Absorption Capacity: 2%
– Moisture Content: 1%
– Bulk Specific Gravity (OD): 2.62
– Unit Weight of Coarse Aggregate: 1570 kg/m3
– Loose Dry Density: 1350kg/m3
Fine Aggregate:
– Fineness Modulus: 2.50
– Absorption Capacity: 2%
– Moisture Content: 5%
– Bulk Specific Gravity (OD): 2.68
– Loose Dry Density:1450 kg/m3

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Assignment_solution

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Step 1: Choice of slump

Table 5: Recommended slum values for

various types of construction

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method

 Step 2: Choice of maximum aggregate size 19

– 1/5th of the narrowest dimension of the structure

– 1/3rd of the depth of slab
– 3/4th of the minimum clear spacing between
rebars, and between rebars and formworks

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method

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Step 3: Estimating water and air content

Table 4: Approximate mixing water in kg/m3 and target air content for
different slumps and nominal maximum aggregate sizes*

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method

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Step 4: Selection of w/c ratio

Table 2: Relationship between water to

cementitious material ratio and compressive
strength of concrete.

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method

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Step 4: contd…

Table 1 (a): Overdesign necessary to meet strength requirements A

Table 1 (b): Required average compressive

strength when data are not available to
establish a standard deviation

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method

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Step 5: Calculation of cement content

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method

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Step 6: Estimation of coarse aggregate content

Table 3: Bulk volume of coarse aggregate per

unit volume of concrete

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method

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Step 7: Estimation of fine aggregate content

➢ Volume basis

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method

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Step 8: Adjustment for aggregate moisture

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method

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Mix Design Summary

For 1 cubic meter of compacted fresh concrete

Ingredients OD Condition Field Condition

Cement 382 kg 382 kg
Water 166 kg 157 kg
Fine Aggregate 694 kg 729 kg
Coarse Aggregate 1162 kg 1174 kg
Air 1% 1%
Density of Concrete 2404 kg/m3 2442 kg/m3

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method

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Step 9: Adjustment for trial batch

Trial mix ingredients are estimated as per field condition.

Ingredients for trial mix = Amount for 1 m3 * volume of trial mix

Cement = 382×0.6 = 229 kg

Water = 157×0.6 = 94 kg
Fine Aggregate = 729×0.6 = 437 kg
Coarse Aggregate = 1174×0.6 = 704 kg
January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method
 29
Step 10: Convert to Volume Basis

From Step 7, Vcm = 0.121 m3 and Vwt = 0.166 m3

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 =
694 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
Loose-Dry volume of FA = = 0.479 m3
1450

1162
Loose-Dry volume of CA = = 0.861 m3
1350

Volume Basis:
Cement : FA : CA = 0.121 : 0.479 : 0.861 = 1: 3.96 : 7.11

January 2019 Term - SMR CE 201_Mix Design_ACI Method