ASTM C173/C173M-10a

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

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method covers the determination of the air content of freshly mixed concrete. It measures the air contained in the mortar fraction of the concrete, but is not affected by air that may be present inside porous aggregate particles.
Therefore, this is the appropriate test to determine the air content of concretes containing lightweight aggregates, air-cooled slag, and highly porous or vesicular natural aggregates.
This test method requires the addition of sufficient isopropyl alcohol, when the meter is initially being filled with water, so that after the first or subsequent rollings little or no foam collects in the neck of the top section of the meter. If more foam is present than that equivalent to 2 % air above the water level, the test is declared invalid and must be repeated using a larger quantity of alcohol. Addition of alcohol to dispel foam any time after the initial filling of the meter to the zero mark is not permitted.
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 amounts 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 containing any type of aggregate, whether it be dense, cellular, or lightweight.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The SI units are shown in brackets. 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.
1.3 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.(WarningFresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure. )

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2010
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.60 - Testing Fresh Concrete

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C173/C173M-10 - Standard Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric Method
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Replaced By: ASTM C173/C173M-10b - Standard Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric Method
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C1364-23 - Standard Specification for Architectural Cast Stone
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C780-23 - Standard Test Methods for Preconstruction and Construction Evaluation of Mortars for Plain and Reinforced Unit Masonry
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C1646/C1646M-16 - Standard Practice for Making and Curing Test Specimens for Evaluating Resistance of Coarse Aggregate to Freezing and Thawing in Air-Entrained Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C387/C387M-23 - Standard Specification for Packaged, Dry, Combined Materials for Concrete and High Strength Mortar
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C1077-17 - Standard Practice for Agencies Testing Concrete and Concrete Aggregates for Use in Construction and Criteria for Testing Agency Evaluation
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C1776/C1776M-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Wet-Cast Precast Modular Retaining Wall Units
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C915-79(2018) - Standard Specification for Precast Reinforced Concrete Crib Wall Members
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C1768/C1768M-12(2017) - Standard Practice for Accelerated Curing of Concrete Cylinders
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C457/C457M-23 - Standard Test Method for Microscopical Determination of Parameters of the Air-Void System in Hardened Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C1712-20 - Standard Test Method for Rapid Assessment of Static Segregation Resistance of Self-Consolidating Concrete Using Penetration Test
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C1610/C1610M-21 - Standard Test Method for Static Segregation of Self-Consolidating Concrete Using Column Technique
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C94/C94M-23 - Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C143/C143M-20 - Standard Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010

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:C173/C173M–10a
Standard Test Method for
Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric
1
Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C173/C173M; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* C138/C138M Test Method for Density (Unit Weight),
Yield, and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete
1.1 This test method covers determination of the air content
C143/C143M Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement
of freshly mixed concrete containing any type of aggregate,
Concrete
whether it be dense, cellular, or lightweight.
C172 Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
C173/C173M Test Method for Air Content of Freshly
are to be regarded separately as standard. The SI units are
Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric Method
showninbrackets.Thevaluesstatedineachsystemmaynotbe
C231 Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Con-
exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used inde-
crete by the Pressure Method
pendentlyoftheother.Combiningvaluesfromthetwosystems
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
may result in non-conformance with the standard.
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3. Significance and Use
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1 This test method covers the determination of the air
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
contentoffreshlymixedconcrete.Itmeasurestheaircontained
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.(Warning—Fresh
in the mortar fraction of the concrete, but is not affected by air
hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause
2 that may be present inside porous aggregate particles.
chemical burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure. )
3.1.1 Therefore, this is the appropriate test to determine the
2. Referenced Documents air content of concretes containing lightweight aggregates,
3 air-cooled slag, and highly porous or vesicular natural aggre-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
gates.
C29/C29M Test Method for Bulk Density (“Unit Weight”)
3.2 This test method requires the addition of sufficient
and Voids in Aggregate
isopropyl alcohol, when the meter is initially being filled with
C31/C31M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
water, so that after the first or subsequent rollings little or no
Specimens in the Field
foam collects in the neck of the top section of the meter. If
more foam is present than that equivalent to 2 % air above the
water level, the test is declared invalid and must be repeated
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
using a larger quantity of alcohol.Addition of alcohol to dispel
Concrete and ConcreteAggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
C09.60 on Testing Fresh Concrete.
foam any time after the initial filling of the meter to the zero
Current edition approved July 1, 2010. Published August 2010. Originally
mark is not permitted.
approved in 1942. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as C173/C173M–10.
3.3 The air content of hardened concrete may be either
DOI: 10.1520/C0173_C0173M-10a.
2
higher or lower than that determined by this test method. This
Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
depends upon the methods and amounts of consolidation effort
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
applied to the concrete from which the hardened concrete
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
specimenistaken;uniformityandstabilityoftheairbubblesin
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. the fresh and hardened concrete; accuracy of the microscopic
*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.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C173/C173M–10a
examination, if used; time of comparison; environmental 4.1.2 Measuring Bowl—The measuring bowl shall have a
exposure; stage in the delivery, placement and consolidation diameter equal to 1 to 1.25 times the height and be constructed
processes at which the air content of the unhardened concrete with a flange at or near the top
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:C173/C173M–10 Designation:C173/C173M–10a
Standard Test Method for
Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric
1
Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C173/C173M; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 Thistestmethodcoversdeterminationoftheaircontentoffreshlymixedconcretecontaininganytypeofaggregate,whether
it be dense, cellular, or lightweight.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The SI units are shown
in brackets. 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.
1.3 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. )
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C29/C29M Test Method for Bulk Density (Unit Weight) and Voids in Aggregate
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
C231 Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Pressure Method
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction Materials
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This test method covers the determination of the air content of freshly mixed concrete. It measures the air contained in the
mortar fraction of the concrete, but is not affected by air that may be present inside porous aggregate particles.
3.1.1 Therefore, this is the appropriate test to determine the air content of concretes containing lightweight aggregates,
air-cooled slag, and highly porous or vesicular natural aggregates.
3.2 This test method requires the addition of sufficient isopropyl alcohol, when the meter is initially being filled with water, so
thatafterthefirstorsubsequentrollingslittleornofoamcollectsintheneckofthetopsectionofthemeter.Ifmorefoamispresent
than that equivalent to 2 % air above the water level, the test is declared invalid and must be repeated using a larger quantity of
alcohol. Addition of alcohol to dispel foam any time after the initial filling of the meter to the zero mark is not permitted.
3.3 The air content of hardened concrete may be either higher or lower than that determined by this test method. This depends
uponthemethodsandamountsofconsolidationeffortappliedtotheconcretefromwhichthehardenedconcretespecimenistaken;
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.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.60 on
Testing Fresh Concrete.
Current edition approved Feb.July 1, 2010. Published MarchAugust 2010. Originally approved in 1942. Last previous edition approved in 20092010 as C173/C173M–109.
DOI: 10.1520/C0173_C0173M-10a.
2
Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
3
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM 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 appea
...