"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Objective

This assignment aims to develop an analysis tool that will complement your reinforced concrete beam design project and compute the cost-adjusted SWR from the beam data collected in the first week of Project #2.

You must hand in the cover sheet for the assignment, printouts of your spreadsheet for Parts 1 and 2. Also, submit your spreadsheets for Parts 1 and 2 to Canvas. You must follow the Excel format.

Write a spreadsheet determining the mix proportion using the ACI method for non-air-entrained and air-entrained concrete. Write your spreadsheet so that the user may enter values for the design variables (the maximum aggregate size, the desired slump, and the 28-day compressive strength) and values for material constants (for example, specific gravity, dry-rodded unit weight, absorption capacity, and fineness modulus). Use the VLOOKUP function to search the data tables by rows and the MATCH function to select the appropriate column. Click here for the Excel lookup function notes.

The figures below show a typical spreadsheet layout for this problem. Write your analysis including lookup functions, on one sheet, and store your table data on a second sheet. The figure below shows a typical analysis sheet. Your spreadsheet may look different if it provides the same input and parameter definitions. The results should be reported in pounds per cubic yard. Click here to download a copy of the template for the following spreadsheet.

Part 1. Compute the mix design for an interior column. The 28-day compressive strength should be 6,000 psi. The slump should be between 1 and 2 inches, and the maximum aggregate size should not exceed 1.5 inches. The properties of the materials are as follows:

• Cement: Type I, specific gravity = 3.15
   

• Coarse Aggregate: Bulk specific gravity (SSD) = 2.70;
  dry-rodded unit weight = 105 lb/ft³;
  absorption capacity = 1.1%;
  surface moisture = -0.5%
   

• Fine Aggregate: Bulk specific gravity (SSD) = 2.65;
  fineness modulus = 2.70;
  absorption capacity = 1.3%;
  surface moisture = 1.0%

Part 2. Compute the mix design for an exterior column under extreme freeze-and-thaw conditions. The 28-day compressive strength should be 4,000 psi. The slump should be between 3 and 4 inches, and the maximum aggregate size should not exceed 1 inch. The properties of the materials are as follows:

• Cement: Type I, specific gravity = 3.15
   

• Coarse Aggregate: Bulk specific gravity (SSD) = 2.72;
  dry-rodded unit weight = 100 lb/ft³;
  absorption capacity = 0.5%;
  surface moisture = 0.5%
   

• Fine Aggregate: Bulk specific gravity (SSD) = 2.67;
  fineness modulus = 2.70;
  absorption capacity = 1.1%;
  surface moisture = 1.0%

Part 3. Read Chapters 11 and 12 in "A Mind for Numbers" by Barbara Oakley.

A web page describing the CIVL 1112  Excel Homework Policy is available. Please read it before you turn in each assignment this semester. You will be graded according to the policy outlined in it.

Cover sheet for homework

This website was originally developed by Charles Camp for CIVL 1112.
This site is maintained by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Memphis.
Your comments and questions are welcomed.