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should be used.
Following are the six steps involved in designing a mix using the
FM method:
Step 1: Determine the FM of each
aggregate.
To determine the FM of a single
aggregate, follow the procedure
outlined in ASTM C 136, Standard
Test Method for Sieve Analysis of
Fine and Coarse Aggregates. The
steps are as follows:
1a. Sieve approximately 500
grams of oven-dry aggregate
through 38 inch, No. 4, No. 8, No.
16, No. 30, No. 50, and No. 100
sieve sizes.
1b. Starting with the largest sieve,
add the percent retained on each
successive sieve to arrive at the cumulative percent retained up to and
including that sieve.
1c. Add the cumulative percent
retained on each sieve and divide
the sum by 100. Dont include the
pan in the sum. This will give you
the fineness modulus. [See the example below.]
Step 2: Proportion aggregates for
proper FM.
Aggregates are blended to obtain the desired FM for a specific
Weight
Individual
retained, grams % retained
Cumulative
% retained
3
8
inch
No. 4
No. 8
No. 16
No. 30
No. 50
No. 100
Pan
0
9.2
67.6
101.2
104.2
122.5
95.3
8.5
0
2
13
20
20
24
19
2
0
2
15
35
55
79
98
(100)*
Total
508.5
100
Sum = 284
284
Fineness Modulus = --------- = 2.84
100
*Pan not included in fineness modulus
A-B
(_____
A - C)
where
X = percent of fine aggregate
Y = percent of coarse aggregate
A = FM of coarse aggregate
(determined per step 1)
B = FM of desired blended
aggregate for block class
C = FM of fine aggregate
(determined per step 1)
Step 3: Determine aggregate batch
proportions.
Calculate the batch weight of
each aggregate by multiplying the
total design batch weight (usually
dictated by mixer size) by the percent of fine and coarse aggregate
(per Step 2) in the mix.
100
Y = 100 - X
Step 1: Aggregate FMs. As indicated in the table below, our coarse aggregate (gravel) has an FM of 4.82
and our fine aggregate (sand) has an FM of 2.75.
Step 5: Cement content. We desire a moderate cement-to-aggregate ratio of 1:10 (per ratio listings on
page 368). For the required aggregate design batch
weight of 4,500 pounds the required cement is:
1 = 450 lbs.
___
cement weight = 4,500
10
Step 6: Water content. Our experience in producing similar units indicates that a good total water content to start with is about 5.5% of total batch weight
(4,500 pounds of aggregate + 450 pounds of cement)
or in this case 272 pounds of water. We know, per
Step 4c, that the sand contains 5% moisture (122
pounds) and the gravel contains 2% moisture (41
pounds). This 163 pounds of water already contained
in the aggregate is subtracted from the required
amount of water (272 pounds), leaving 109 pounds of
water to be batched. Since water weighs 8.34 pounds
per gallon, about 13 gallons of water will be used in
the first trial batch.
Total initial batch weights are as follows:
Cement
450 lbs.
Sand (5% moisture)
2,552 lbs.
Gravel (2% moisture) 2,111 lbs.
Added water
109 lbs. (about 13 gallons)
16 30
50 100 Pan FM
Fine
10
15 27
32
14
1 2.75
Coarse
- 24 48
21
1 4.82
Material
CMU. Cement binds aggregate particles and partially fills spaces between them.
5a. Choose the cement-to-aggregate ratio that will achieve the necessary CMU properties with aggregates being used in the mix. Below
are ranges of cement-to-aggregate
ratios that can be used for various
"
4
8
16
30
50
100
Pan
Min.
Max.
0
20
10
10
10
10
0.5
0.2
5
30
23
20
20
20
15
10
Ideal
0
25
15
15
15
15
10
5
FM = 3.7
Medium-weight
Sieve size
Min.
Max.
Ideal
3
8
0
12
18
16
11
5
5
7
0.3
22
27.5
25
19
13
11
13
0
17
23
20
15
9
7
9
FM = 3.67
"
4
8
16
30
50
100
Pan
Lightweight
Sieve size
3
8
"
4
8
16
30
50
100
Pan
Min.
Max.
Ideal
0.5
17
21
13
7.5
5
5.3
0.7
5
28
30
21
15.8
13
10.5
13.1
0.5
21
25.5
17
11.5
9
6.5
9
FM = 3.84
Range of ratios
(cement:aggregate)
1:8 to 1:12
1:7 to 1:12
1:4 to 1:6
1:6 to 1:8
1:5 to 1:7
1:8 to 1:12
1:6 to 1:9
1
= 450 lbs.
10
References:
1. Grant, William, Manufacturer
of Concrete Masonry Units, second edition, Concrete Publishing
Corp., 1959
2. Besser Co., Concrete Masonry
Technology Blockmakers Workshop Series
3. Standard Test Method for
Sieve Analysis of Fine and
Coarse Aggregates, ASTM C
136-95, 1995
PUBLICATION #J960363
Copyright 1996, The Aberdeen Group
All rights reserved