9/1/01
AIR CONTENT
OF FRESHLY MIXED CONCRETE
BY THE
PRESSURE METHOD (TYPE B)
AASHTO T 152
APPARATUS
[ ] Air Meter, Type B, calibrated in accordance with AASHTO T 152
[ ] Basic function check of air meter by IAT
[ ] Air chamber can be pressurized to stabilized maximum IPL mark
[ ] Pressure loss no more than ½ IPL mark in 90 seconds
[ ] Balance
[ ] M 231, Class G 20
[ ] Range extends from mass of measure empty to mass of measure plus
contents at 160 lb/ft3
[ ] Tamping Rod
[ ] Round straight steel rod 5/8 in. in diameter
[ ] Not less than approximately 16 in. in length
[ ] Tamping end rounded to hemispherical tip with diameter of 5/8 in.
[ ] Internal Vibrator
[ ] Rigid or flexible shaft powered by electric motor
[ ] Minimum frequency of vibration of 7000 vibrations per minute
[ ] Outside diameter or side dimension at least 3/4 in. and not greater than 1 1/2 in.
[ ] Combined length of shaft and vibrating element exceeds maximum depth of bowl
by at least 3 in.
[ ] Mallet
[ ] Rubber or rawhide head
[ ] Weight of 1.25 ± 0.50 lb for use with bowls 0.5 ft3 or smaller
[ ] Weight of 2.25 ± 0.50 lb for use with measure larger than 0.5 ft3
[ ] Strike-Off Bar
[ ] Flat straight bar of steel or other suitable metal
[ ] At least 1/8 in. thick by 3/4 in. wide by 12 in. long
[ ] Strike-Off Plate
[ ] Flat rectangular metal plate at least 1/4 in. thick or a glass or acrylic plate at least
1/2 in. thick
[ ] Length and width at least 2 in. greater than diameter of measure
[ ] Edges straight and smooth within a tolerance of 1/16 in.
[ ] Calibration Vessel
[ ] Vessel marked with serial number that matches air meter apparatus
[ ] Vessel marked with representative percent air content for air meter apparatus
[ ] Tubes, one short straight piece and one J-shaped piece, each threaded at one end
PROCEDURE -- AGGREGATE CORRECTION FACTOR
[ ] Aggregates are relatively dense. Procedure not applicable to light-weight aggregate, air-
cooled blast furnace slag or aggregates of high porosity. In such cases T 196 should be
used.
[ ] Weight of fine and coarse aggregate determined as follows:
Fs = (S/B) x Fb
Cs = (S/B) x Cb
where:
Fs = weight of fine aggregate in concrete sample under test, lb.
S = volume of measuring bowl, ft3
B = volume of concrete produced per batch, ft3
Fb = total weight of fine aggregate in the moisture condition used in batch, lb
Cs = weight of coarse aggregate in concrete sample under test, lb
Cb = total weight of coarse aggregate in the moisture condition used in batch, lb
[ ] Aggregates in same moisture condition as aggregates used in the concrete
[ ] Representative samples of fine and coarse aggregate are mixed together
[ ] Measuring bowl filled one-third full with water
[ ] Mixed aggregates placed in small amounts into the measuring bowl in manner that would
entrap as little air as possible, and accumulated foam removed immediately, if present
[ ] After each addition of aggregate, sample stirred, the upper 1 in. of aggregate lightly
rodded about 10 times, and sides of bowl tapped
[ ] Aggregate in bowl covered with water at all times
[ ] Cover assembly placed on bowl
[ ] Air valve between air chamber and measuring bowl closed, and both petcocks opened
[ ] Water injected through one petcock until water emerges from opposite petcock
[ ] All entrapped air has been removed
[ ] Air pumped into air chamber to a stabilized initial pressure line which is correct for meter
[ ] Both petcocks closed and pressurized air released into bowl containing sample
[ ] Aggregate correction factor is read directly from air content gauge
PROCEDURE -- AIR CONTENT
[ ] Compaction method of concrete as follows:
Slump Method
> 3 in. Rodding
1 to 3 in. Rodding or Vibration (Note 1)
< 1 in. Vibration
Note: For PCCP the compaction method for beams shall be by vibration
Placement and Consolidation -- Rodding Method
[ ] Interior of measuring bowl dampened, and bowl placed on a flat, level surface
[ ] Bowl filled in three layers of approximately equal volume
[ ] Each layer rodded 25 strokes with tamping rod, evenly distributed over cross section
[ ] Bottom layer rodded throughout its depth without rod forcibly striking the bottom of the
bowl
[ ] Second and top layer rodded throughout its depth so that the strokes penetrate about 1in.
into the underlying layer
[ ] Bowl tapped smartly 10 to 15 times with mallet after each layer is rodded
[ ] An excess of concrete is protruding approximately 1/8 in. above the top of the bowl after
rodding and tapping (Note 2)
[ ] Top surface struck off with plate or bar and finished smooth
Placement and Considation -- Vibration Method
[ ] Interior of measuring bowl dampened, and bowl placed on a flat, level surface
[ ] Bowl filled in two layers of approximately equal volume
[ ] All of concrete for each layer placed in measure before starting vibration
[ ] Vibrator inserted at three different points of each layer
[ ] Vibrator not resting on or touching the bottom or sides of bowl when compacting bottom
layer
[ ] Vibrator withdrawn in such a manner that no air pockets are left in the concrete
[ ] Duration of vibration is such that the surface of the concrete is relatively smooth and
proper consolidation is achieved (overvibration may cause segregation and loss of
intentionally entrained air).
[ ] An excess of concrete is protruding approximately 1/8 in. above the top of the bowl after
vibration
[ ] Top surface struck off with plate or bar and finished smooth
Note 1 -- Overvibration may cause segregation and loss of intentionally entrained air.
Usually, sufficient vibration has been applied as soon as the surface of the
concrete becomes relatively smooth and has a glazed appearance.
Note 2 -- A small quantity of representative concrete may be added to correct a
deficiency. If the measure contains great excess, remove a representative
portion of the concrete with a trowel or scoop before the measure is struck off.
Air Content Method
[ ] Flanges of bowl and cover assembly thoroughly cleaned, and air meter assembled to
obtain a pressure tight seal
[ ] Air valve between air chamber and bowl closed, and both petcocks opened
[ ] Using a rubber syringe, water injected through one petcock until water emerges from
opposite petcock
[ ] Meter jarred gently until all air is expelled from this same petcock
[ ] Air bleeder valve on air chamber closed and air pumped into air chamber until gage hand
is on the initial pressure line
[ ] A few seconds allowed for compressed air to cool
[ ] Gage hand at the initial pressure line stabilized by pumping or bleeding-off air as
necessary while tapping gage lightly
[ ] Both petcocks closed
[ ] Air valve between air chamber and measuring bowl opened
[ ] Sides of measuring bowl tapped smartly with mallet to relieve local restraints
[ ] Pressure gage tapped lightly with hand to stabilize reading while air valve is open and
percentage of air on the dial of pressure gage read
[ ] Air content of sample calculated as follows:
As = A1 - G
where:
As = air content of sample tested, percent
A1 = apparent air content of the sample tested, percent
G = aggregate correction factor, percent
If comparison readings are not within the required agreement tolerance and the
calibration of the air meter is suspect, a check on the air meter in the field according to
the calibration procedure will be conducted.
NA - Not Applicable
X - Requires Corrective Action
√ - Satisfactory
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Acceptance Technician
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INDOT Date
Comments ____________________________________________________________________
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