ABSTRACT

A study as carried out how the size of coarse aggregate will affect the concrete mix
design. The project was assessed on the performances coarse aggregate size on
the concrete mix design. Several researches and tests on the aggregate and the
concrete were done to know how the workability, compressive strength and the
hammer test will be affected by the coarse aggregate sizes. Thus the rest part of the
project will be based on preparing the concrete cube of150mm wide, 150mm long
and 150mm thick when using a concrete mix design for grades 25, varying by
weight. Only the coarse aggregates sizes will change in the mix.

INTRODUCTION
Concrete is the most widely used man-made construction material in the world and is
second only to water as the most utilised substance in the planet. Concrete is a mix
of cement, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate. First and foremost most structures
are constructed with steel, concrete and timber. The strength, durability and other
characteristic is describe by the mixing proportion, by the types of compaction, its
content(cement, fine and coarse) and others like when placing, curing and during
compaction. Communities in the world rely on concrete as a safe, strong and simple
building material.
Concrete has 3 states:
1. Plastic: When concrete is mixed, it is soft and can be worked or moulded into
different shapes.
2. Setting: Then the concrete begins to stiffen which is no longer soft
3. Hardening: after concrete has set, it begins to gains strength and hardens.
Concrete is strong in compression because the aggregates efficiently take the
compression load but weak in tension as the cement holding aggregate in place can
crack thus, the structure can fail. Concrete provides a good quality and is very
economic as materials. It is very useful as it can be design to support fire, high
winds, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquake owing to its lateral stiffness to some
extent.
Therefore for a better quality of concrete, we must be aware of the mix design and
the proportion of the aggregate being used for making the concrete. Aggregate
comprise about 75% of the concrete and its influence is very important. Therefore
they must require some requirements to make the concrete workable, durable and
economical. The aggregate must have good shape (round or cubical), clean, hard,
strong and well graded. The aggregate should possess chemical stability and also
exhibit abrasion resistance and resistance freezing and thawing.
Aggregate are generally cheaper than cement and s used for providing bulk to
concrete. The important function of the fine aggregate is for producing workability
and uniformity in the mixture and it also assist the cement paste to hold the
aggregate particles in suspension.
This project will rather talk on the coarse aggregate and how it affects the ix design
when varying the sizes of coarse aggregate. Coarse aggregate is one of the most
important constituent in the mix design while it is mix with the cement and fine
aggregate to provide strength to the structure. This project complies with varying
sizes of coarse aggregate (6.3, 10, 14, 20, and 28) for the mix 1:2:4. Thus this
project the design mix was in terms of weight for the mixture with different coarse
aggregate sizes to achieve a mix design of grade 25.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

The aims of this project are to make a study on the performance of the coarse
aggregate size, how it affects the concrete mix design and also to evaluate strength
properties with respect to size of aggregate.
The overall objective of this project is to investigate the workability, compressive
strength and hammer test value when varying the size of coarse aggregate in
concrete mix. Thus this study will include:

CONCRETE MIX
DESIGN

CONCRETE IS MADE
BY MIXING

CEMENT

FINE AGGREGATE

COARSE
AGGREGATE

LITERATURE REVIEW
AGGREGATE
At least 75% of the volume of concrete is occupied by the aggregate and it is not
surprising that its quality id considerable importance. Aggregate was originally
considered as an inert material dispersed through the cement paste largely for
economic reason. A closer look reveals the major role and influence aggregate plays
in the properties of both fresh and hardened concrete. Economy is another reason
to select aggregates because it is often less expensive when selecting the maximum
allowable aggregate size. Using larger coarse aggregates typically lower the cost of
concrete mix by reducing cement, the most costly ingredient. Less cement (within
reasonable limits for durability) will mean less water if the water-cement ratio is kept
constant. With lower water content the concrete will not shrink and crack.
Aggregate are granular mineral material such as crushed stone, sand and gravel
used with a bonding medium such as clay or concrete to make plaster, terrazzo
mixture or concrete. Aggregates that are normally used for concrete are natural
deposits of sand and gravel. In some locality, the deposits are hard and the large
rocks must be crushed to form aggregate. Crushed aggregate are more expensive
to produce and more cement paste is required because of its shape. More care
must be taken when handling crushed stone to prevent poor mixtures and improper
dispersion of sizes through the finished concrete. At times artificial aggregates such
as blast-furnace slag or specially burned clay are used. Therefore aggregate must
be strong and hard as the harder the aggregate, the stronger will be the final
concrete. Durable to stand up to wear, tear, weathering and chemically inactive so
the aggregate does not react with the cement.
Aggregates are classified in two types:
1. Fine aggregate

2. Coarse aggregate

SIEVE ANALYSIS
WATER ABSORPTION
WORKABILTY
Workability is that property of freshly mixed concrete that determines its working
characteristics that is the ease with which it can be mixed, placed, compacted and
finished.
Factors affecting workability:

Method and duration of transportation

Quantity and characteristics of cementing materials
Concrete consistency (slump)
Aggregate grading, shape & surface texture
% entrained air
Water content
Concrete & ambient air temperature
Admixtures

SCHIMIDT REBOUND HAMMER

It is principally a surface hardness tester.

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

METHODOLOGY
This part of the project will be based on the water absorption of aggregates and on
making the concrete cube with G25. In addition the samples in the cubes will be
tested at the Mauritius Standard Bureau (MSB).
Coarse aggregate was collected from locally available granite crust stone having
maximum size 30mm. The coarse aggregate was mixed together, cleaned, washed
and was allowed to dry for several days.

After the coarse aggregate was washed, clean and dry, it was then sieved at the
Mauritius Standard Bureau (MSB) through a sieve of 37.5mm. It was then passed
through another sieve of 28 mm, 20mm, 14mm, 10mm and 6.3mm respectively. All
the aggregates were collected separately from the sieves of 28mm to 6.3mm.
WATER ABSORPTION
This test helps to determine the water absorption of coarse aggregates as per IS:
2386 (Part III) 1963. For water absorption the aggregates should be greater than
2000g.
PROCEDURE FOR WATER ABSORPTION
1) The aggregates should be washed to remove finer particles and dust, drained
and the place in a measuring cylinder immersed with distilled water at a
temperature between 220C and 300C.
2) The sample in the measuring cylinder should be immersed in water for 24
1
2

hours.

3) After the immersion the entrapped air should be removed.

4) Drain the water from the sample
5) The aggregates should be transferred in a dry clothes and gently surfacedried with the cloth and transfer it to another cloth
6) Dry the aggregate to the SSD condition
7) Weight the SSD sample the nearest gram and record X 1
8) The aggregates should be then placed in an oven for 24 hours at a
temperature of 1000C to 1100C
9) It should then be removed from the oven, cooled weight and record X 2
FORMULA FOR WATER ABSORPTION

Water absorption= [ (X1X2 ) / X2] 100%

Sample
number

Weight sample in
SSD X1 /g

Weight of oven
dried
sample /g

Water absorption
X 1X 2
100
X2

6.3
10
14
20
28

2.77
2.77
2.72
2.81
2.72

2.85
2.82
2.77
2.89
2.77

2.9
1.7
2.1
3.0
1.8

APPARENT
PARTIVLE

Cement
Ordinary Portland cement (Baobab) of 42.5N grade was used for the concrete mix.
Fine aggregate
Fine aggregate up to 4mm was used.
Coarse aggregate
Coarse aggregate of 6.3mm to 28mm was used.
Water
Tap water was used for the concrete mixture.
MIX DESIGN
The mix design of 1:2:4 in terms of weight will be used for the concrete mixing. 1:2:4
will be as follow 1 cement, 2 fine aggregate and 4 for coarse aggregate. Different of
sizes of coarse aggregate (6.3mm, 10mm, 14mm, 20mm and 28mm) was used in
the experiment for to have a variation of different compressive strength and rebound
hammer value.
For each sample of mix, 2 cubes were cast. 1 cube each for 7 days and 28 days will
be cured in water container.

Batching
Batching was done method of weight batching by using weighing balance having
accuracy 0.001gm.
CONCRETE MIX DESIGN CALCULATION

1. Concrete mix design for slump test

Volume of slump cone

1
mean radius height
3

CUBE MAKING
So the materials needed to make the cubes are plywood marine, nails, hammer and
measuring tape.
The procedures are as follows:

Cut the wood (plywood marine) in dimensions of 150mm*150mm*150mm

Rearrange the cut wood
Connect the wood with each other with the hammer and nails and make sure
that the formwork is 150mm*150mm*150mm

Now when we have got concrete as a result, to ensure the good quality of the
concrete, 3 tests was done firstly the slump test, then Schmidt rebound hammer test
and finally the compressive strength
SLUMP TEST

After the concrete have been mixed together manually, a slump test was carried out
in order to determine the workability of the concrete when varying the sizes of coarse
aggregate.
Tools needed for the slump test are:

slump cone ( 100mm top diameter* 200mm bottom diameter* 300mm high)
tamping rod ( 600mm long* 16mm diameter)
waterproof base ( 150mm*150mm)
trowel
measuring tape
concrete

Therefore the slump cone was filled with concrete of 3 equal layers of 75mmand
each layers were compacted 25 times with the tamping rod. The cone was gently
lifted and the concrete was allowed to slump under its own weight.

After the slump test, the cubes are transferred to the concrete cube. The cube
was filled with concrete in 3 layers and each layer was compacted 25 times.
This process was carried out systematically and compaction done uniformly to all
surfaces of the concrete. After the top layer has been compacted, a trowel
should be used to finish off the surface level with the top of the mould and the
outside of the mould should be wiped clean.
After the slump test the concrete are transferred in the cube and are stored in
moist air for 24 hour t hardened.
The cubes are then marked and remove from moulds and it is kept submerged in
clear fresh water until taken out prior to test. Then the slump was measured as
shown in the figure below.
Casting of cube
As per requirements for testing each 1 cube for 7 days and 28 days with grade 25
with different sizes of coarse aggregate. Mould of dimensions
150mm*150mm*150mm were used for casting the cubes. The concrete was
placed in the mould in 3 equal layers and each layers were compacted 35 times
with a tamping rod. 10 cubes were cast, 5 cube each for curing of 7 days and 28
days. These cubes were tested at the Mauritius Standard Bureau.
Curing
After 24 hours the cubes are then marked and removed from the moulds and it is
kept submerged in clear fresh water until taken out prior test for 7 days and 28
days respectively.

HAMMER TEST
The entire test was carried out according to British Standard. After 7 days and 28
days of curing, all the cubes were taken to the Mauritius Standard Bureau for test
of hammer test and compressive strength.

Before the hammer test the mass of all the cubes were recorded
The cube was placed in the compression testing machine under an initial load
of approximately 15% of the ultimate load of the restrain specimen.
The concrete should be clean, smooth and dry.
7 hammer readings should be taken on both vertical faces in the
compressing testing machine.
The maximum height of rebound is recorded and the rebound number is
obtained on the scale of the impact hammer.
The points of impact on the cubes should not be less than 20mm from each
other and the same point should not be impacted twice.
Repeat this procedure for all the 10 cubes each for 7 days and 28 days
Average the readings and call it the rebound number.

Compressive strength
Immediately after the taking the hammer reading, the cubes should be tested to its
ultimate load and repeat this procedure for all cubes.

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Slump test results
Slump test assesses the consistency of the concrete.in that specific batch. This test
is done on the freshly made concrete to check its consistency. The slump of varying
sizes of coarse aggregate are tabulated and the graph is plotted

Coarse aggregate
Sizes /mm

Slump/
mm

6.3

50

10

66

14

75

20

165

28

178

The graph shows workability increases as the sizes of coarse

aggregate increase

Results of hammer results for 7 days

Sample

hammer testing

description
Sampl Sample
e no.
referenc
e
6.3
7 days
10

7 days

14

7 days

20

7 days

28

7 days

Mean media
n

19
18
35
32
35
28
29
31
22
21

20
17
30
29
31
27
30
28
23
22

21

22

18

18

19

32

29

34

29

30

33

34

33

33

33

31

27

32

31

30

25

26

24

22

24

Standard
deviation

Graph for hammer test for 28 days

Results for hammer test for 28 days

Sample
description
Sampl Sample
e no.
referenc
e
6.3
28 days
10

7 days

14

28 days

20

28 days

28

28 days

hammer testing
4
5
Mean media
n

28
31
30
29
35
39
35
36
28
33

30
29
33
33
39
34
33
32
30
29

32

29

27

29

29

34

35

27

33

33

37

38

36

39

37

34

36

37

36

35

31

31

28

28

30

Graph for hammer test for 28 days

Standard
deviation

Result for compressive strength for 7 days

SAMPLE
NO

CONCRETE
GRADE
N/mm2

AGE OF
CURING

MASS
(g)

FAILURE
LOAD
(KN)

COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH
(N/mm2 )

6.3

M25

7 days

8530

485

21.5

10

M25

7 days

8882

750

33.5

14

M25

7 days

8743

716

31.8

20

M25

7 days

8611

637

28.3

28

M25

7 days

9008

473

21.0

compressive strength 7 days

40
35
30
compressive strength 7
days

25
20
15
10
5
0
5

10

15

20

25

30

SAMPLE
NO

CONCRETE
GRADE
N/mm2

AGE OF
CURING

MASS
(g)

FAILURE
LOAD
(KN)

COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH
(N/mm2 )

6.3

M25

28

8619

597

26.6

10

M25

28

8765

802

35.6

14

M25

28

8750

891

39.6

20

M25

28

8580

866

38.5

28

M25

28

9005

551

24.5

Graph for compressive strength for 28 days

compressive strength 28 days

45
40
35
30

compressive
strength 28 days

25
20
15
10
5
0
5

10

15

20

25

30