Civil Engineering Department

CE452L1/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

Design Experiment No. III
DETERMINATION OF UNIT WEIGHT AND DENSITY OF BANANA TRUNK ASH
1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce the basic principle, significance and procedures in determining the
Unit Weight and Density of Banana Trunk Ash
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 Familiarize the equipment, apparatus and method in determining the Unit Weight and Density
of Banana Trunk Ash
2.2 Determine the difference between the Rodded and Loose Unit Weight of Banana Trunk Ash.
2.3 Determine the importance and role of Unit Weight in the construction material utilization.
3. Discussion:
Unit weight or density is the relationship of aggregate’s weight to its volume expressed as weight
per unit volume. Values of unit weight/density are used in volumetric-gravimetric calculation. In
volumetric batching of concrete aggregates, the unit weight/density should be known to convert
weight/mass into loose volume.
4. Resources:
1 Tamping rod, steel, 16.0 mm diameter, 600 mm long
2 Pans
1 Scoop or Shovel
1 Weighing Scale
1 bag of Banana Trunk Ash
1 Cylindrical metals preferably provided with handles and sufficiently rigid.
5. Procedure:
For Banana Trunk Ash
Rodded Unit Weight Determination
1. Fill one-third of the measure, level and tamp 25 times evenly distributed over the surface.
2. Fill two-thirds of the measure, then to over-flowing. Each time the same procedure as in Step
1 is repeated. In tamping the first layer, do not allow the rod to strike the bottom of the measure
forcibly. In the tamping the second layer and last layer, use only enough force to cause the
tamping rod to penetrate the previous layer Banana Trunk Ash.
3. Strike-off the excess Banana Trunk Ash with the tamping rod.
4. Get the net weight/mass of aggregate in measure. Compute the unit weight/mass by dividing
the net weight/mass by the volume of measure.
Loose Unit Weight Determination
1. Fill the volumetric measure to overflowing by means of a shovel or scoop.
2. Discharge the Banana Trunk Ash from height of about 50.0 mm from top of the measure.
Exercise care to prevent segregation of the particle sizes.
3. Level carefully surface of Banana Trunk Ash with a straightedge.
4. Get net weight/mass of aggregate and compute unit weight/mass by dividing net weight/mass
by volume of measure.
Note:
The size of the sample shall be approximately 125 to 200% of the weight required to fill the
measure, and shall be handles with a manner to avoid segregation. Dry the sample of aggregate to
essentially constant weight, preferably in an oven constant weight with temperature of 110 ± 5°C.

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

Course: CE-405 Design Experiment No.:3

Group No.:1 Section:CE41FA3
Group Members: Balagot, Kristian Rey Date Performed: September 11, 2018
Bernaldez, Joserie Date Submitted: September 28, 2018
Delapaz, Rhistian Instructor: Engr. Caroline A. Asuncion
Due, Kayl Marco
Martinez, Jhiro
6. Data and Results:

Rodded Loose
Banana Trunk Ash
Trial 1 Trial 1
Mass/Weight 1.688kg 1.595kg
Unit Weight/Density 10.215 kN/m3 / 1041.333 kg/m3 9.653 kN/m3 / 983.961 kg/m3
Average 10.215 kN/m3 / 1041.333 kg/m3 9.653 kN/m3 / 983.961 kg/m3
Weight of Container 3606 g
Weight/Mass of water
Volume of Container 1.621x10-3 m3
6.1 Computation
 a Unit Weight/Density = Weight of Sample/Volume of Container
 b Volume of Container = (Mass of Water in the container x g)/Unit weight of water
Volume=(pi)(r2)(h)
=(pi)(0.1016m/2)2(0.2m)
=1.621x10-3 m3

FOR RODDED FOR LOOSE

Mass=1.688kg Mass= 1.595kg
Volume=1.621x10-3 m3 Volume=1.621x10-3 m3
Density=Mass/Volume Density=Mass/Volume
=1.688/1.621x10-3 =1.595/1.621x10-3
=1041.333 kg/m3 =983.961 kg/m3
Unit Weight=(Density)(Acceleration Due to Gravity) Unit Weight=(Density)(Acceleration Due to G)
=(1041.333)(9.81) =(983.961)(9.81)
=10215.477 N/m3/1000 =9652.657 N/m3/1000
=10.215 kN/m3 =9.653 kN/m3

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

6.2 Documentation

7.Observation

Bernaldez, Joserie
In the last experiment First we put 1/3 of banana trunk ash in the Cylindrical metal and tamp it 25 times
and after that we put another banana trunk ash 2/3 and tamp it again by 25 times and for the last we full
the Cylindrical metal ang tamp it again by 25 times this is only for rodded it will be the trial 1.For loose we
full the Cylindrical metal and get the 50mm from above the banana trunk ash and weigh it.
Balagot, Kristian Rey
During the experiment, I observed that we can determine Unit weight and Density of Banana Trunk
Ash by using two methods; Rodded Unit Weight Determination and Loose Unit Weight Determination. I
also observed that when you strike the Banana Trunk Ash by Tamping rod (25 times) the Banana Trunk
Ash gets compressed in the container. The compression of the Banana Trunk Ash is evident. I also noticed
that the mass of rodded Banana Trunk Ash are heavier than loosed Banana Trunk Ash, because as the
sample gets rodded the voids in the container gets filled with more Banana Trunk Ash. I also observed
that Loose unit weight determination is easier to accomplish than the other method.
Delapaz, Rhistian
I observe that when you put some 1/3 of banana trunk ash and 2/3 of it when you pump 25 times it
expands or it adds weight.
Due, Kayl Marco
In the last experiment I observed that every 25 times that we tamp the Banana Trunk Ash inside the
container the Banana Trunk Ash gets compacted and also I observed that in performing the loose unit
weight determination it is easier because we don’t need to perform the tamp we just need to discharge
some ash about 50mm Martinez, Jhiro
base on my observation first we weight the slump and we put the banana trunk ash on the slump of
1/3 of a height of the slump then tamp 25 times after that we put banana trunk ash on the slump again 2/3
of a height then tamp again then we put banana trunk ash again of the slump until it overflow then tamp
again after that we weight the banana trunk ash and returned the banana trunk ash within the slump and

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
remove the 2 inches of a height of the banana trunk ash then weight again the gravel have the same
process of the banana trunk ash

8.Conclusion:

Therefore, we conclude that we will need apparatus like tamping rod, weighing scale, pans,
cylindrical metals, methods like Rodded Unit Weight Determination and Loose Unit Weight Determination
to determine the unit weight and density of Banana Trunk Ash. We also concluded that Loose Unit Weight
Determination is easier to perform but Rodded Unit Weight determination method is more accurate since
it requires more effort. We also found out that mass of Banana Trunk ash on the Rodded method is bigger
than the other one because the sample is being compressed as we tamp the sample inside the cylindrical
metal.

9.Assessment:
BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT
CRITERIA SCORE
1 2 3
I. Laboratory Skills
Members
Members do not Members always
Manipulative occasionally
demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
Skills demonstrate needed
skills. skills.
skills
Members are unable Members are able to Members are able to set-
Experimental
to set-up the set-up the materials up the material with
Set-up
materials. with supervision. minimum supervision.
Members
Members do not Members always
occasionally
Process Skills demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted
demonstrate targeted
process skills. process skills.
process skills.
Members do not Members follow
Safety Members follow safety
follow safety safety precautions
Precautions precautions at all times.
precautions. most of the time.
II. Work Habits
Time
Members do not Members finish on Members finish ahead of
Management /
finish on time with time with incomplete time with complete data
Conduct of
incomplete data. data. and time to revise data.
Experiment

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
Members have
Members do not
defined Members are on tasks
know their tasks and
responsibilities most and have defined
have no defined
Cooperative and of the time. Group responsibilities at all
responsibilities.
Teamwork conflicts are times. Group conflicts are
Group conflicts have
cooperatively cooperatively managed at
to be settled by the
managed most of the all times.
teacher.
time.
Clean and orderly
Clean and orderly
Messy workplace workplace with
Neatness and workplace at all times
during and after the occasional mess
Orderliness during and after the
experiment. during and after the
experiment.
experiment.
Members require
Ability to do Members require Members do not need to
occasional
independent supervision by the be supervised by the
supervision by the
work teacher. teacher.
teacher.
Other Comments/Observations: Total Score

8. Reference(s):
ASTM C566 “Standard Test Method for Bulk Density (“Unit Weight”) and Voids in Aggregate”

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