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INTRODUCTION
The air content of fresh concrete can be determined by using the Air Entrainment Meter. It
has a quick action clamping system. Direct pressure gauge reading to the nearest 0.1% up to
6% air and 0.2% from 6 to 10% air. The meter is not affected by changes in the barometric
pressure. The meter measures values up to 22% entrained air. It is appropriate for aggregate
sizes of a maximum 63 mm.

COMPONENTS

• Testing Vessel

• Flanged 7 liter capacity cylindrical vessel and cover assembly incorporating pressure
gauge, air pump and valves.

• Straight Edge

• Tamping Rod

• Wash Bottle

• 250cc J-Type pipe and an inner extension pipe for calibration

• Carrying Case

TECHNICAL SPECICIFICATIONS

Model UTC-0650

Capacity 7 Litres

Air Content Range 0-10 %

Graduations 0.1% up to 6% / 0.2% from 6%-10%

Dimensions 300 x 31

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TESTING METHOD

The pressure method is used to take measurements of air content in fresh concrete. The total
volume occupied by a fixed amount of air is determined by how much pressure needs to be
applied. The test method with the meter is as follows:

• A fixed volume air chamber is pressured to a set operating pressure

• A valve is opened between the air chamber and the concrete sample chamber equalizing air
pressure between the two. The greater the volume of air in the concrete the higher the
pressure drop will be

• The pressure gauge will then display the amount of air content. This method is not intended
for use where concrete is manufactured with light weight aggregates.

AIR ENTRAINMENT METER FOR MORTAR

The Air Entrainment Meter for Mortar is used for determining the air content of cement
paste, cement mortar and lime mortar. The air entrainment meter is manufactured from cast
aluminum, the upper part and the lower test pot are held together with an air-tight seal which
are easily adjusted by using the two spring clamps. The pressure gauge is installed in the
head of the meter and the scale works in the 0-20 volumetric % range. The air is compressed
with a hand pump installed in the system and the smart configuration of the test and
correction buttons enables fast and simple testing.

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AIR ENTRAINMENT METER FOR AGGREGATE TESTING

Entrainment of a small amount of air in the cement concrete has been found to improve
considerably the durability of concrete. Further, when use of admixtures is made to increase
workability of concrete, a check of the air content is required to ensure that the percentage of
air remains between 1 to 2% to get the optimum performance of the concrete structure. Air
Entrainment Meter is having a capacity of 0.005 m3 (5 Liters), suitable for aggregate size up
to 38mm. Each air entrainment meter is supplied complete with a calibrating cylinder,
pressure gauge, funnel, measuring jug, straight edge and a hand pump.

MEASUREMENT OF AIR CONTENT IN CONCRETE

Air content of concrete is measured by the pressure air measurement method which is based on the
principles of The Boyle’s law. The Boyle’s law states that the volume of the gas is inversely
proportional to the pressure. By the application of pressure on a concrete of known volume (that
consist of air voids), compression takes place which results in the reduction of the volume. This
volume change is measured and related to the original initial volume.
The difference between original and reduced volume of concrete provides the air content in
concrete. The following test was first applied by Klein and Walker in 1946. Menzel was the person
who refined the apparatus and made it as a standard test.

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One of the main advantages of this method is that no knowledge of the weights and specific
gravities are necessary.

ASTM METHOD OF AIR CONTENT MEASUREMENT IN CONCRETE

The ASTM test method for pressure air measurement specifies two meters to measure the air
content. Type A meter helps in the direct measurement of the change in volume in the
concrete. This is carried out by means of a column of water over the known volume of
concrete.
With the application of the pressure, the volume reduction can be determined by using
a calibrated sight tube. The Type A method have a straight forward procedure.
One of the limitations of this method is that it requires recalibration of the elevation or the
barometric pressure changes to a value exceeding 183m. This change is almost equal to 2%
change in the barometric pressure at the sea level.

The Type B air meter involves the use of a known volume of air at a known higher pressure.
This can equilibrate with the known volume of the concrete in a sealed container. The
pressure drop observed in the high-pressure chamber is related to the amount of air within
the concrete. As compared with type A air meter, there is no need for recalibration. But it has
its own limitation of leakage from the valves.

Hence the operator must be prepared anytime ready with the tools to correct the leakage and
the variation in the dial readings. Ignorance can provide an incorrect result.

The pressure measurement technique requires the concrete sample to undergo complete
consolidation in a bowl. This is because the air voids formed due to lack of concrete will be
measured as the air content of the concrete.

Proper rodding above a slump of 75mm, internal vibration below 25mm is necessary to
undergo proper consolidation. Until the surface is free from aggregate and shows a glistening
appearance, the vibration must be continued.

Over vibration can result in removal of air voids that are intentionally entrained. For concrete
with aggregates size greater than 50mm must be screened through 3.75 mm sieve before the
test, as for larger aggregates the representative sampling becomes difficult.

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A strike of the plate or a bar is used to strike off the concrete. The pressure method is used
less with concrete having dense aggregates. The air in the porosity within the aggregates will
be compressed just as air within the cement paste.
This will give a higher air content value than the original. This is corrected by means of an
aggregate correction factor. But this is not suitable for concrete that uses lightweight
aggregate with the correction factor greater than 0.5%.
OBJECTIVES OF AIR ENTRAINMENT METER

Used to determine air content of fresh concrete. The primary purpose of air entrainment is to

increase the durability of the hardened concrete; the secondary purpose is to increase
workability of the concrete.
SCOPE
Description of Test This method describes the procedure for determining the air content of
freshly mixed concrete from observations of the change in volume with a change in pressure.
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS
Equipment Required Air entrainment meter - a device incorporating a measuring bowl of
sufficiently rigid construction to make a pressure-tight container of accurate volume and
suitable to hold a representative sample of concrete. The bowl shall be fitted with a cover to
provide an adequately rigid pressure-tight assembly. The volume of the measuring bowl shall
be at least .006 cubic meters. A calibration cylinder and adapters shall be provided. Tamping
Rod - round, straight steel rod 16 mm in diameter and 600 mm in length with one end
rounded to a hemispherical shape. Trowel, rubber mallet, strike off bar, scoop, containers,
etc.
PROCEDURE
Description of Equipment Preparation
 Calibration Check Air Entrainment
 Meter Fill meter base with water.
 Attach short piece of threaded tubing into the threaded petcock hole on the inside of the
meter cover.
 Lock cover in place on base.
 Tube will now be immersed in the water.

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 Open both petcocks and add water by means of small syringe through threaded petcock
until all air is forced out of other petcock
 With petcocks open, pump up air pressure past predetermined initial pressure line and
allow air to cool.
 Stabilize gauge hand at initial pressure line by means of bleed valve if reading high or by
pump if reading low.
 Close petcocks and press down on lever thus exhausting air into the base. If initial
pressure line was correctly selected, gauge will read 0%. If two or more tests show a
consistent variation from 0% then change initial pressure line to compensate for the
variation.
 Screw curved tube into outer end of threaded petcock and fill 354 mL calibration vessel
level full of water from the base of meter. This is done by opening petcock and pressing
on lever.
 Open other petcock to release air to allow water in curbed tube to return into base. There
is no 5% air in base. Leave both petcocks open and pump pressure back to initial pressure
line. Close petcocks and press on lever.
 Allow gauge to stabilize. Readings should be now 5% on dial. If consecutive tests show
reading to be incorrect, dial reading can be corrected by means of calibration set in face
of dial.
 When correctly set at 5%, the same procedure can be followed to check results at 10%,
15%, etc.
 Remove the water and the short piece of threaded tube from inside the meter cover and
the curved tube from the petcock.
SAMPLE PREPARATION
A representative sample of concrete will be obtained as per STP 106 - "sampling fresh
concrete."
TEST PROCEDURE

 Place a representative sample of the concrete in the measuring bowl in three equal
layers.

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 Each layer in the bowl will be rodded 25 times evenly distributed over the cross-
section.

 In rodding the first layer, the rod will not forcibly strike the bottom of the bowl.

 In succeeding layers, the rodding will penetrate only slightly into the next lower layer.

 Smartly tap the side of the bowl ten to fifteen times with the mallet after rodding until
the cavities left by rodding are levelled out and no large bubbles of air appear on the
surface.

 Remove the excess concrete by sliding the strike-off bar across the top flange with a
sawing motion until the bowl is just level full.

 Clean the edges of the bowl and cover. Clamp the cover tightly in place to form a
pressure tight seal with petcocks open.

 Inject water with syringe through one petcock until all air is expelled through the
opposite petcock. Lightly tap sides while rolling meter on base and then add more
water to expel air.

 Pump up air to "initial pressure line" with built-in pump. Wait a few seconds and
stabilize hand on dial at "initial pressure" by pumping up or bleeding with the needle
valve, whichever is necessary.

 Close both petcocks and press down on "thumb lever" to release the air into the base.

 Hold down thumb lever for a few seconds, lightly tapping the gauge with the finger,
to stabilize the hand on dial. Read percent of air in concrete on dial. Open petcocks,
remove cover and clean all parts thoroughly.
RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS
Reporting Results
The air content will be reported as percentage by volume of concrete that was 5%.
CONCLUSIONS

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Adequate air (4% - 6%) is essential for durability and especially for resistance to attack from
deicing salts. Run one test for every two truckloads; and again more at the start of the job
and less once the control has been established. Show project, date, time, concrete supplier,
air temperature, samples number and other pertinent data for each test.
REFERENCES
ASTM Method C231
CAN3-A23.2-M77

B.Sc. Civil Engineering (6th Semester) Section “A” Group # 01