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Astm C173 Air Content of Fresh Concrete PDF
Astm C173 Air Content of Fresh Concrete PDF
Astm C173 Air Content of Fresh Concrete PDF
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
C 173
use will result in an error in indicated air content less than 0.1 %. The
calibrated cup should not be used to determine the accuracy of the
graduations on the neck of the top section.
4.6 Syringe—A small rubber bulb syringe having a capacity
at least that of the calibrated cup.
4.7 Pouring Vessel—A container of approximately 1 qt or 1
L capacity.
4.8 Scoop—A small metal scoop.
4.9 Isopropyl Alcohol—Use 70 % by volume isopropyl
alcohol (approximately 65 % by weight) (Notes 1 and 2).
NOTE 2—Seventy percent isopropyl alcohol is commonly available as
rubbing alcohol. More concentrated grades can be diluted with water to
the required concentration.
4.10 Mallet—A mallet (with a rubber or rawhide head)
weighing approximately 1.25 6 0.50 lb (0.57 6 0.23 kg).
5. Sampling
5.1 Obtain the sample of freshly mixed concrete in accor-
dance with Practice C 172. If the concrete contains coarse
aggregate particles that would be retained on a 11⁄2 in. (37.5
mm) sieve, wet sieve a representative sample over a 1 in. (25
mm) sieve to yield somewhat more than enough material to fill
the measuring bowl. The wet sieving procedure is described in
Practice C 172. Carry out the wet sieving operation with the
minimum practicable disturbance of the mortar. Make no
attempt to wipe adhering mortar from coarse aggregate par-
ticles retained on the sieve.
6. Calibration
6.1 Calibrate the meter and calibrated cup initially and
annually or whenever there is reason to suspect damage or
deformation of the meter or calibrated cup.
6.2 Determine the volume of the bowl with an accuracy of
at least 0.1 % by weighing the amount of water required to fill
it at room temperature, and dividing this weight by the unit
weight of water at the same temperature. Follow the calibration
procedure outlined in Test Method C 29/C 29M.
FIG. 1 Apparatus for Measuring Air Content of Fresh Concrete by
6.3 Determine the accuracy of the graduations on the neck
Volumetric Method of the top section of the airmeter by filling the assembled
measuring bowl and top section with water to the level of the
when water is added to the container there will be a minimum mark for highest air content graduation.
disturbance of the concrete. 6.3.1 Add water in increments of 1.0 % of the volume of the
4.3 Tamping Rod—A round, straight 5⁄8 in. (16 mm) diam- bowl to check accuracy throughout the graduated range of air
eter rod at least 12 in. (300 mm) long with both ends rounded content. The error at any point throughout the graduated range
to a hemispherical tip of the same diameter. The rod shall be shall not exceed 0.1 % of air.
made of steel, high density polyethylene or other plastic of 6.4 Determine the volume of the calibrated cup using water
equal or greater abrasion resistance. at 70°F (21.1°C) by the method outlined in 6.2. A quick check
4.4 Strike-off Bar—A flat, straight steel bar at least 1⁄8 by 3⁄4 can be made by adding one or more calibrated cups of water to
by 12 in. (3 by 20 by 300 mm) or a flat, straight bar at least 1⁄4 the assembled apparatus and observing the increase in the
by 3⁄4 by 12 in. (6 by 20 by 300 mm) high density polyethylene height of the water column after filling to a given level.
or other plastic of equal or greater abrasion resistance.
4.5 Calibrated Cup—A metal or plastic cup either having a 7. Procedure
capacity of or being graduated in increments equal to 1.03 6 7.1 Rodding and Tapping—Using the scoop, fill the bowl
0.04 % of the volume of the bowl of the air meter. with freshly mixed concrete in three layers of equal depth. Rod
NOTE 1—The volume of the calibrated cup is slightly larger than 1.0 %
each layer 25 times with the tamping rod. After each layer is
of the volume of the bowl to compensate for the volume contraction that rodded, tap the sides of the measure 10 to 15 times with the
takes place when 70 % isopropyl alcohol is mixed with water. Other mallet to close any voids left by the tamping rod and to release
alcohols or defoaming agents could be used if calculations show that their any large bubbles of air that may have been trapped.
2
C 173
7.2 Striking Off—After rodding and tapping of the third neck, reading to the bottom of the meniscus, and estimating to
layer, strike off the excess concrete with the strike-off bar until the nearest 0.25 % air.
the surface is flush with the top of the bowl. Wipe the flange of 7.7 Disassemble the apparatus and examine the contents to
the bowl clean. be sure that there are no portions of undisturbed, tightly packed
7.3 Adding Water—Attach the top section into position on concrete in the base. If portions of undisturbed concrete are
the bowl, insert the funnel, and add water until it appears in the found, the test is invalid.
neck. Remove the funnel (Note 3). Using the rubber syringe,
adjust the water level until the bottom of the meniscus is level 8. Calculation
with the zero mark. Attach and tighten the watertight cap. 8.1 Calculate the air content, in percent, of the concrete in
NOTE 3—When filling the air meter with water, the addition of up to 1 the measuring bowl by adding the reading from 7.6 to the
pt (470 mL) of alcohol facilitates the removal of air from high air content amount of alcohol used in accordance with 7.5 and 7.4.2 (Note
or high cement content concrete. 6). This is the air content of the concrete sample to the nearest
7.4 Displace the volume of air in the concrete specimen 0.25 %.
using these procedures: NOTE 6—Alcohol added, if any, in initially filling the meter, in 7.3 is
7.4.1 Inverting and Agitating—Repeatedly invert and agi- not added to the reading from 7.6.
tate the unit for a minimum of 45 s to free concrete from the 8.2 When the sample tested represents that portion of the
base. To prevent aggregate from lodging in the neck of the unit mixture obtained by wet sieving over a 1-in. (25-mm) sieve,
do not keep it inverted for more than five s at a time (Note 4). calculate the air content of the mortar or of the full mixture
NOTE 4—This procedure is intended to free the concrete from the base. using the formulas given in Test Method C 231. Use appropri-
When the concrete has broken free, the aggregate can be heard moving in ate quantities coarser or finer than the 1-in. sieve instead of the
the airmeter. 11⁄2-in. (37.5 mm) sieve specified in Test Method C 231.
7.4.2 Rolling and Rocking—After completing the inverting
9. Precision and Bias
and agitating procedure, tilt the meter approximately 45
degrees and vigorously roll and rock the unit for approximately 9.1 The standard deviation is essentially proportional to the
1 min, keeping the neck elevated at all times. Set the unit average for different levels of air content. The following
upright and allow it to stand while the air rises to the top until precision statement is based on 979 tests made in six field
the liquid level stabilizes. The liquid level is considered stable experiments by the West Virginia D.O.T. The multi-operator
when it does not change more than 0.1 % within a one min coefficient of variation has been found to be 11 percent of the
period. If the liquid level is obscured by foam, use the rubber measured air content. Therefore, results of tests by two
syringe to add sufficient alcohol, in one calibrated cup incre- different operators on specimens taken from a single concrete
ments to establish a readable liquid level. Record the number sample should not differ from each other by more than 32
of calibrated cups of alcohol used (Note 5). Read the liquid percent of their average air content (Note 7).
level. NOTE 7—These numbers represent, respectively, the 1s % and d2s %
NOTE 5—It may require more than 20 min for the liquid level to limits described in Practice C 670.
stabilize when moderately high cement content concrete contains more 9.2 This test method provides volumetric procedures for
than 6 % air. determining the air content of freshly mixed concrete. When
7.4.3 Repeat the one minute rolling and rocking procedure conducted properly, this test method has no bias because the
until two consecutive readings do not change by more than value of the air content can only be defined in terms of the test
0.25 % air. method.
7.5 Dispelling Foam—Remove the cap. Using the syringe,
add sufficient isopropyl alcohol, in one calibrated cup incre- 10. Keywords
ments, to dispel as much of the foam as is practicable. Record 10.1 air content; calibration; concrete; correction factor;
the number of calibrated cups of alcohol used. freshly mixed concrete; measuring bowl; meter; volumetric
7.6 Reading—Make a direct reading of the liquid in the method
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