ASTM C231/C231M-17

Standard Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Pressure Method

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This test method covers the determination of the air content of freshly mixed concrete. The test determines the air content of freshly mixed concrete exclusive of any air that may exist inside voids within aggregate particles. For this reason, it is applicable to concrete made with relatively dense aggregate particles and requires determination of the aggregate correction factor (see 6.1 and 9.1).  
3.2 This test method and Test Method C138/C138M and C173/C173M provide pressure, gravimetric, and volumetric procedures, respectively, for determining the air content of freshly mixed concrete. The pressure procedure of this test method gives substantially the same air contents as the other two test methods for concretes made with dense aggregates.  
3.3 The air content of hardened concrete may be either higher or lower than that determined by this test method. This depends upon the methods and amount of consolidation effort applied to the concrete from which the hardened concrete specimen is taken; uniformity and stability of the air bubbles in the fresh and hardened concrete; accuracy of the microscopic examination, if used; time of comparison; environmental exposure; stage in the delivery, placement and consolidation processes at which the air content of the unhardened concrete is determined, that is, before or after the concrete goes through a pump; and other factors.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determination of the air content of freshly mixed concrete from observation of the change in volume of concrete with a change in pressure.  
1.2 This test method is intended for use with concretes and mortars made with relatively dense aggregates for which the aggregate correction factor can be satisfactorily determined by the technique described in Section 6. It is not applicable to concretes made with lightweight aggregates, air-cooled blast-furnace slag, or aggregates of high porosity. In these cases, Test Method C173/C173M should be used. This test method is also not applicable to nonplastic concrete such as is commonly used in the manufacture of pipe and concrete masonry units.  
1.3 The text of this test method references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory information. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of this standard.  
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure.2)  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2017
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.60 - Testing Fresh Concrete

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: C231/C231M − 17
Standard Test Method for
Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Pressure
1
Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C231/C231M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.1 This test method covers determination of the air content
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
of freshly mixed concrete from observation of the change in
volume of concrete with a change in pressure.
2. Referenced Documents
3
1.2 This test method is intended for use with concretes and
2.1 ASTM Standards:
mortars made with relatively dense aggregates for which the
C31/C31MPractice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
aggregate correction factor can be satisfactorily determined by
Specimens in the Field
the technique described in Section 6. It is not applicable to
C138/C138MTest Method for Density (UnitWeight),Yield,
concretes made with lightweight aggregates, air-cooled blast-
and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete
furnaceslag,oraggregatesofhighporosity.Inthesecases,Test
C143/C143MTest Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement
Method C173/C173M should be used. This test method is also
Concrete
notapplicabletononplasticconcretesuchasiscommonlyused
C172Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete
in the manufacture of pipe and concrete masonry units.
C173/C173MTestMethodforAirContentofFreshlyMixed
Concrete by the Volumetric Method
1.3 The text of this test method references notes and
C192/C192MPractice for Making and Curing ConcreteTest
footnotes that provide explanatory information. These notes
Specimens in the Laboratory
and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not
C670Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
be considered as requirements of this standard.
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
E177Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
ASTM Test Methods
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
3. Significance and Use
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
3.1 This test method covers the determination of the air
with the standard.
content of freshly mixed concrete. The test determines the air
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
contentoffreshlymixedconcreteexclusiveofanyairthatmay
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
exist inside voids within aggregate particles. For this reason, it
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
is applicable to concrete made with relatively dense aggregate
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
particlesandrequiresdeterminationoftheaggregatecorrection
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning—Fresh
factor (see 6.1 and 9.1).
hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause
3.2 This test method and Test Method C138/C138M and
2
chemical burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure. )
C173/C173M provide pressure, gravimetric, and volumetric
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
procedures, respectively, for determining the air content of
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
freshly mixed concrete. The pressure procedure of this test
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
method gives substantially the same air contents as the other
two test methods for concretes made with dense aggregates.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
3.3 The air content of hardened concrete may be either
Concrete and ConcreteAggregatesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
higher or lower than that determined by this test method. This
C09.60 on Testing Fresh Concrete.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2017. Published March 2017. Originally
3
approved in 1949. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as C231/C231M – 14. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
DOI: 10.1520/C0231_C0231M-17. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing, Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyrigh
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: C231/C231M − 14 C231/C231M − 17
Standard Test Method for
Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Pressure
1
Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C231/C231M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers determination of the air content of freshly mixed concrete from observation of the change in volume
of concrete with a change in pressure.
1.2 This test method is intended for use with concretes and mortars made with relatively dense aggregates for which the
aggregate correction factor can be satisfactorily determined by the technique described in Section 6. It is not applicable to concretes
made with lightweight aggregates, air-cooled blast-furnace slag, or aggregates of high porosity. In these cases, Test Method
C173/C173M should be used. This test method is also not applicable to nonplastic concrete such as is commonly used in the
manufacture of pipe and concrete masonry units.
1.3 The text of this test method references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory information. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of this standard.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. (Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to skin and
2
tissue upon prolonged exposure. )
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C31/C31M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field
C138/C138M Test Method for Density (Unit Weight), Yield, and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete
C143/C143M Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement Concrete
C172 Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete
C173/C173M Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric Method
C192/C192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Laboratory
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction Materials
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregatesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.60 on
Testing Fresh Concrete.
Current edition approved June 1, 2014Feb. 1, 2017. Published June 2014March 2017. Originally approved in 1949. Last previous edition approved in 20102014 as
C231/C231M – 10.14. DOI: 10.1520/C0231_C0231M-14.10.1520/C0231_C0231M-17.
2
Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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C231/C231M − 17
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This test method covers the determination of the air content of freshly mixed concrete. The test determines the air content
of freshly mixed concrete exclusive of any air that may exist inside voids within aggregate particles. For this reason, it is applicable
to concrete made with relatively
...