Experiment No: 02 (b)

Title: Compaction Factor Test Concrete Mix Design for M -20 Grade of Concrete.

Name: Md: Sabbir Hossain UID: 20MCE1454

Branch: Structural Engineering (ME) Group: A

Semester: 2nd Date: 09-03-2021

Subject Name: Material Testing Lab Subject Code: 20CEA-663

Aim/Overview of the Practical:

To determine the workability of freshly mixed concrete by the compaction factor test.

Task to be done: According to compacting factor test, the workability may be defined as the
amount of applied work required to compact the concrete to its maximum density. This test
works on the principle of determining the degree of compaction achieved by a standard amount
of work done by allowing the concrete to fall through a standard height. The degree of
compaction, called the compacting factor is measured by the density ratio i.e., the ratio of the
density achieved in the test to density of same concrete fully compacted. This method is adopted
for determining the workability of concrete mix in laboratories. It gives fairly good results for
concrete of low workability. So, for determine the workability of designed concrete, finding the
compaction factor is the main task.

Apparatus:
▪ Compacting Factor Apparatus
▪ Iron Pan
▪ Trowel
▪ Tamping Rod (16 mm in diameter and 600 mm length)
▪ Iron Bucket
▪ Graduated Cylinder

Procedure:

Step 1: Preparation of sample

1) For M20 grade of concrete (ratio= 1:1:2) taking 5kg cement, 5kg Sand, 10 kg aggregate.
2) Aggregates were in laboratory dry condition.
3) Mix the aggregate properly in order to-
▪ Coarse aggregate
▪ Fine aggregate
▪ Cement
 4) . The material was mixed with 3.5 kg of water until blended properly. So, the water-
cement ratio was 0.7.
5) For ensuring proper mixing and homogeneity, materials were mixed by hand.

Step 2: Testing

1) Taking weight of empty cylinder (W1).

2) Place the concrete sample gently in the upper hopper to its brim using the trowel and
level it.
3) Open the trap door at the bottom of the upper hopper so that concrete fall into the lower
hopper. Push the concrete sticking on its sides gently with the road.
4) Open the trap door of the lower hopper and allow the concrete to fall into the cylinder
below.
5) Cut of the excess of concrete above the top level of cylinder using trowels and level it.
6) Clean the outside of the cylinder.
7) Taking wight of cylinder with concrete (W2).
8) Clean the full cylinder properly.
9) Immediately fill the cylinder by these concrete in 3 layers, each approximately one third
of the volume of the cylinder.
10) Rod each layer with 25 strokes of the tamping rod. Uniformly distribute the strokes over
the cross section of each layer. After the top layer has been rodded, strike off the surface
of the concrete by means of screeding and rolling motion of the tamping rod.
11) Now taking weight of cylinder with fully compacted concrete (W4).

Calculation:

Weight of empty cylinder, W1 = 11.26 Kg.

Weight of cylinder + Partially compacted concrete, W2 = 21.35 Kg.
Weight of Partially compacted concrete, W3 = W1 – W2 W3 = 10.09 Kg.
Weight of cylinder + Fully compacted concrete, W4 = 22.10 kg.
Weight of Fully compacted concrete, W5 = W4 – W1 W5 = 10.84 Kg.
Now, Compaction Factor = (W3 ÷ W5) = 0.93

Result:

We get the results, and have a Compaction factor of test = 0.93

Discussion:

The compaction factor of concrete is reported as the ratio of the weight of partially compacted
concrete to the weight of fully compacted concrete. The value of compaction factor shall
normally be stated to the nearest second decimal place.
 According to IS 456, the degree of workability in classified as follows:
Degree of workability Compacting factor
Very Low 0.75 to 0.80
Low 0.8 to 0.85
Medium 0.85 to 0.92
High 0.92 & above

So, By the relation of Compacting Factor and Degree of Workability of concrete, we can say the
sample was high workable and it is not normally suitable for compaction while placing

Learning Outcomes:

1) How to perform a Compaction Factor test properly.

2) Knowing about the Apparatus for this test.
3) How to determine Compacting Factor.
4) Determine degree of workability from compacting factor.