CIE 043- Construction Materials & Testing

Student’s Activity Sheet (SAS Module #12)

Name: Class number: _______

_________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________
Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________

Lesson title: Concrete; Preparing and Placing Materials:

Lesson Objectives: Construction Materials & Testing
At the conclusion of this activity, I should be able to: Manual
1. Define concrete. References:
2. Identify how to prepare and placed concrete. www.CMT.org

Productivity Tip: To help you remember how to prepare concrete, list down some of the building structure around made
of concrete, then identify how it placed.

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW

1) Introduction ; Plain Concrete

Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement
(cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time.
Concrete, in construction, structural material consisting of a hard, chemically inert particulate substance, known
as aggregate (usually sand and gravel), that is bonded together by cement and water.
Concrete is the most commonly used man-made material on earth. It is an important construction material used
extensively in buildings, bridges, roads and dams. Its uses range from structural applications, to paving, kerbs,
pipes and drains

Activity 1: What I Know Chart, part 1

Do you know anything about mortars? Try answering the questions below by writing your ideas under the first
column What I Know. It’s okay if you write key words or phrases that you think are related to the questions.

What I Know Questions: What I Learned (Activity 4)

What is the meaning of concrete?

State some measures used to

prepare concrete you recognized?
When does it’s timed to place the
concrete?

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 CIE 043- Construction Materials & Testing
Student’s Activity Sheet (SAS Module #12)

Name: Class number: _______

_________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________
Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________

B.MAIN LESSON

1) Activity 2: Definition

Plain concrete, commonly known as concrete, is an intimate mixture of binding material, fine aggregate, coarse
aggregate and water. This can be easily moulded to desired shape and size before it looses plasticity and hardens.
Plain concrete is strong in compression but very weak in tension. The tensile property is introduced in concrete by
inducting different materials and this attempt has given rise to RCC ( Reinforced Cement Concrete ), PSC ( Pre
Stressed Concrete) and cellular concrete.

Major ingredients of concrete are:

1. Binding material (like cement, lime)
2. Fine aggregate (sand)
3. Coarse aggregates (crushed stone, jelly)
4. Water (potable)
A small quantity of admixtures like air entraining agents, water proofing agents, workability agents etc. may also
be added to impart special properties to the plain concrete mixture. Depending upon the proportion of ingredient,
strength of concrete varies. It is possible to determine the proportion of the ingredients for a particular strength by
mix design procedure. In the absence of mix design the ingredients are proportioned as 1:1:2, 1:1 1/ 2 :3, 1:2:4,
1:3:6 and 1:4:8, which is the ratio of weights of cement to sand to coarse aggregate. In proportioning of concrete
it is kept in mind that voids in coarse aggregates are filled with sand and the voids in sand are filled with cement
paste. Proportion of ingredients usually adopted for various works are shown in Table

S. No Proportion Nature of Work

1 1:1:2 For machine foundation, footings for steel columns and
concreting under water.
2 1:1 ½: 3 Water tanks, shells and folded plates, for other water
retaining structures.
3 1:2:4 Commonly used for reinforced concrete works like beams,
slabs, tunnel lining, bridges
4 1:3:6 Piers, abutments, concrete walls, sill of windows, floors.
5 1:4:8 Mass concretes like dam, foundation course for walls, for
making concrete blocks.

.
Functions of Various Ingredients;
Cement is the binding material. After addition of water it hydrates and binds aggregates and the surrounding
surfaces like stone and bricks. Generally richer mix (with more cement) gives more strength. Setting time starts
after 30 minutes and ends after 6 hours. Hence concrete should be laid in its mould before 30 minutes of mixing
of water and should not be subjected to any external forces till final setting takes place.

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 CIE 043- Construction Materials & Testing
Student’s Activity Sheet (SAS Module #12)

Name: Class number: _______

_________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________
Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________

Coarse aggregate consists of crushed stones. It should be well graded and the stones should be of igneous origin.
They should be clean, sharp, angular and hard. They give mass to the concrete and prevent shrinkage of cement.
Fine aggregate consists of river sand. It prevents shrinkage of cement. When surrounded by cement it gains
mobility enters the voids in coarse aggregates and binding of ingredients takes place. It adds density to concrete,
since it fills the voids. Denser the concrete higher is its strength.
Water used for making concrete should be clean. It activates the hydration of cement and forms plastic mass. As it
sets completely concrete becomes hard mass. Water gives workability to concrete which means water makes it
possible to mix the concrete with ease and place it in final position. More the water better is the workability.
However excess water reduces the strength of concrete. Figure shows the variation of strength of concrete with
water cement ratio. To achieve required workability and at the same time good strength a water cement ratio of
0.4 to 0.45 is used, in case of machine mixing and water cement ratio of 0.5 to 0.6 is used for hand mixing

Preparing and Placing of Concrete :

The following steps are involved in the concreting: 1. Batching 2. Mixing 3. Transporting and placing and 4.
Compacting.

1. Batching: The measurement of materials for making concrete is known as batching. The following two
methods of batching is practiced:
(a) Volume Batching: In this method cement, sand and concrete are batched by volume. A gauge box is made
with wooden plates, its volume being equal to that of one bag of cement. One bag of cement has volume of 35
litres. The required amount of sand and coarse aggregate is added by measuring on to the gauge box. The quantity
of water required for making concrete is found after deciding water cement ratio. For example, if water cement
ratio is 0.5, for one bag of cement (50 kg), water required is 0.5 × 50 = 25 kg, which is equal to 25 litres. Suitable
measure is used to select required quantity of water. Volume batching is not ideal method of batching. Wet sand
has higher volume for the same weight of dry sand. It is called bulking of sand. Hence it upsets the calculated
volume required.
(b) Weight Batching: This is the recommended method of batching. A weighing platform is used in the field to
pick up correct proportion of sand and coarse aggregates. Large weigh batching plants have automatic weighing
equipment.

2. Mixing: To produce uniform and good concrete, it is necessary to mix cement, sand and coarse aggregate, first
in dry condition and then in wet condition after adding water. The following methods are practiced:
(a) Hand Mixing: Required amount of coarse aggregate for a batch is weighed and is spread on an impervious
platform. Then the sand required for the batch is spread over coarse aggregate. They are mixed in dry condition
by overturning the mix with shovels. Then the cement required for the batch is spread over the dry mix and mixed
by shovels. After uniform texture is observed water is added gradually and mixing is continued. Full amount of

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 CIE 043- Construction Materials & Testing
Student’s Activity Sheet (SAS Module #12)

Name: Class number: _______

_________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________
Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________

water is added and mixing is completed when uniform colour and consistency is observed. The process of mixing
is completed in 6–8 minutes of adding water. This method of mixing is not very good but for small works it is
commonly adopted.
(b) Machine Mixing: In large and important works machine mixing is preferred. Required quantities if sand and
coarse aggregates are placed in the drum of the mixer. 4 to 5 rotations are made for dry mixing and then required
quantity of cement is added and dry mixing is made with another 4 to 5 rotations. Water is gradually added and
drum is rotated for 2 to 3 minutes during which period it makes about 50 rotations. At this stage uniform and
homogeneous mix is obtained.

3. Transporting and Placing of Concrete. After mixing concrete should be transported to the final position. In small
works it is transported in iron pans from hand to hand of a set of workers. Wheel barrow and hand carts also may
be employed. In large scale concreting chutes and belt conveyors or pipes with pumps are employed. In
transporting care should be taken to see that seggregation of aggregate from matrix of cement do not take place.
Concrete is placed on form works. The form works should be cleaned and properly oiled. If concrete is to be
placed for foundation, the soil bed should be compacted well and is made free from loose soil. Concrete should be
dropped on its final position as closely as possible. If it is dropped from a height, the coarse aggregates fall early
and then mortar matrix. This segregation results into weaker concrete
.
4. Compaction of Concrete: In the process of placing concrete, air is entrapped. The entrapped air reduces the
strength of concrete up to 30%. Hence it is necessary to remove this entrapped air. This is achieved by
compacting the concrete after placing it in its final position. Compaction can be carried out either by hand or with
the help of vibrators.
(a) Hand Compaction: In this method concrete is compacted by ramming, tamping, spading or by slicing with
tools. In intricate portions a pointed steel rod of 16 mm diameter and about a metre long is used for poking the
concrete.
(b) Compaction by Vibrators: Concrete can be compacted by using high frequency vibrators. Vibration reduces
the friction between the particles and set the motion of particles. As a result entrapped air is removed and the
concrete is compacted. The use of vibrators reduces the compaction time. When vibrators are used for
compaction, water cement ratio can be less, which also help in improving the strength of concrete.
Vibration should be stopped as soon as cement paste is seen on the surface of concrete. Over vibration is not good
for the concrete.
The following types of vibrators are commonly used in concreting:
(a) Needle or immersion vibrators
(b) Surface vibrators
(c) Form or shutter vibrators
(d) Vibrating tables.

Let’s practice! After completing each exercise, you may refer to the Key to Corrections for feedback. Try to
complete each exercise before looking at the feedback.

Exercise 1: How well do you understand cement? Try the exercise below and see if you can explain one line
meaning to you. The first example has been completed for you.

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 CIE 043- Construction Materials & Testing
Student’s Activity Sheet (SAS Module #12)

Name: Class number: _______

_________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________
Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________

Steps involved in concreting Defined

1. Batching The measurement of materials for

making concrete

2. Mixing __________________________

3. Transporting and placing __________________________

4. Compacting __________________________

2. Activity 4: What I Know Chart, part 2

It’s time to answer the questions in the What I Know chart in Activity 1. Log in your answers in the table.

3. Activity 5: Check for Understanding

Fill in the blank for the missing word.

1. Vibration should be stopped as soon as cement paste is seen on the surface of concrete. _________
vibration is not good for the concrete
2. To achieve required workability and at the same time good strength a water cement ratio of _________
is used, in case of machine mixing and water cement ratio of ________________ is used for hand mixing

3. A small quantity of _________________ like air entraining agents, water proofing agents, workability
agents etc. may also be added to impart special properties to the plain concrete mixture..

Activity 6: Thinking about Learning

a) Work tracker; You are done with this session module! Shade the session number you just finished.

Did you have challenges learning to identify /defined cement in this module? If none, which parts of the module helped
you learn to describe the cement?

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 CIE 043- Construction Materials & Testing
Student’s Activity Sheet (SAS Module #12)

Name: Class number: _______

_________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________
Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Some question/s I want to ask my teacher about this module is/are:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

FAQ’s :
1. Which type of vibrator is common used to which part of structure?
Needle vibrators are used in concreting beams and columns. Surface vibrators and form vibrators are
useful in concreting slabs. Vibrating tables are useful in preparing precast concrete elements.
2. In transporting mixture, why care should be taken to see that seggregation of aggregate from matrix of
cement do not take place.?
Segregation results into weaker concrete.

KEY TO CORRECTIONS ( Refer TG’s)

Answers to Skill-Building Exercises

Activity 5: Check for Understanding

1. Over
2. 2. 04 to .45 and .50 to .60
3. Admixture
Steps involved in concreting Defined

1. Batching The measurement of materials for

making concrete

2. Mixing To produce uniform and good

concrete, it is necessary to mix cement,
sand and coarse aggregate, first in dry
condition and then in wet condition
after adding water.

3. Transporting and placing After mixing concrete should be

transported to the final position
_________________

4. Compacting It is necessary to remove this

entrapped air. This is achieved by
compacting the concrete after placing
it in its final position

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 CIE 043- Construction Materials & Testing
Student’s Activity Sheet (SAS Module #12)

Name: Class number: _______

_________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________
Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________

4. Admixtures

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