Site Control Mean to Predict Compressive Strength of Low Cost Concrete Works

Abstract

Concrete works occupy a considerable total cost portion of construction projects. There are several factors influencing its quality, strength, and performance. Lack of quality control has been pointed out in private sector projects in general, and specifically with low-income owners. Technical skills and extra cost required to control the quality of concrete are the most important factors that discouraged owners from adopting control measures, therefore, research work is implemented to determine easy, quick, and low-cost measures to evaluate fresh concrete and predict its (28 days) compressive strength, also help site engineers in adjusting fresh concrete according to the required standard before casting and hardening. The research covered an experimental work that includes, the casting of 144 concrete cylinders having 48 different mixes of cement content, water content, and maximum size of coarse aggregate. Laboratory tests of the concrete cylinders have been carried out to determine their compressive strength, and statistical analysis of the experimental data and results led to the proposal of an empirical formula. The proposed formula can be used by site engineers to judge the quality of concrete after wet sieving of fresh concrete. The research recommended the adoption of the concluded results and carrying out further related research.