METHODOLOGY

Materials
The materials needed to form the mixture are cement, gravel, sand, rainwater and
distilled water. The tools needed for processing are shovel, wood
1. Cement-a material that binds or unites that will fill voids between aggregates and other
particles and makes the material impermeable.

2. Rainwater and distilled water- used as mixing water in the concrete to form the paste
together with the cement.

3. Sand and gravel- the stuffs that the cement paste coats and binds together. The composition,
shape, and size of theaggregate all have significant impact on the workability, durability, strength,
weight, and shrinkage of the concrete

4. Wood, hammer and nails- enough size of wood to build into 6 molders.

5. Shovel- a tool for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials, such as gravel, sand, cement while
pouring rainwater

6. Buckets- serve as containers and for the measurement of the sand and gravel

7. Face mask - to prevent dust inhalation

8. Eye protection - to prevent dust from getting in to eyes

9. Long pants and sleeves - to guard against skin irritation

10. Safety boots - to prevent injuries to your feet when handling heavy items or using potentially
hazardous tools

11. Large containers- for havesting rainwater; for the curing of concrete

12. Trowel- to flatten the mixed concrete in the molder

Equipments
1. Backscattered electron microscopy
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a type ofelectron microscope that produces images of a
sample by scanning it with a focused beam ofelectrons. By scanning the sample and collecting the
secondary electrons that are emitted using a
special detector, an image displaying the
topography of the surface is created.

2. Universal Testing Machine

 The UTM is used to test a sample of
material or its structure to either
compression (crushing) or tension
(stretching) for the purpose of
determining engineering properties or
characteristics experimentally. Through
this instrument, it will be possible to
determine the properties dealing with
yield strength, ultimate or failure strength
or a material structure, or the stiffness and
ductility of material.

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE(NOTE: 12 CUBES PER RATIO,72 CUBES ALL IN

ALL)

NOTE: 10X10X10 CM
I. Harvesting of Rainwater

Harvest rainwater by setting up large containers in an open space where the rainwater
will directly pour into the containers w/o interference on the path of rainwater.

II. Making Concrete Blocks

Find a place where when you mix the concrete rain will not affect the work. Also
consider the space to work on if it is wide enough in molding. In molding a concrete, use
a plywood board as a wall of the molder and nails to attach the plywood generals.

All in all, prepare 6 containers for the different concrete mixes, which are composed of
water, cement, sand and gravel. Label the containers with what kind of water is used and
also indicate the ratio of cement, sand and gravel.
1. For the first 3 containers: In one container, mix the cement, sand and gravel with a
ratio of 1:2:3. In the other container, mix it with a ratio of 1:4:5 and 1:1.5:3 in the
other one. If the mixture seems to be homogenous, start adding water, for this
case use rainwater, and mix it using a shovel until desirable texture is obtained.
Concrete mix must not be too dry or too wet.
2. For the last 3 containers: In one container, mix the cement, sand and gravel with a
ratio of 1:2:3. In the other container, mix it with a ratio of 1:4:5 and 1:1.5:3 in the
other one. If the mixture seems to be homogenous, start adding water, for this
case use distilled water, and mix it using a shovel until desirable texture is
obtained. Concrete mix must not be too dry or too wet.
3. Pour the concretes in the molds and stir the molds so that the concrete gets settled
in the mold and reaches the extreme corners. Level the surface using a trowel.
 4. The concrete must dried inside the mold for 24 hours and is then removed to cure
it in fresh water.

III. Determining the water-cement ratio

After mixing and molding of all the concrete mixes, we will cure it for about 28 days.
Deeping concrete into large containers with water in it will be the curing method to be
done. Curing the concrete for 28 days will be desirable to gain more of its compressive
strength. Weeks after curing the concrete, the concrete blocks will be now ready for
specific tests. Use the backscattered electron microscopy (BSE) in determining the water-
cement ratio of the concrete blocks. The BSE will be measuring the unreacted cement,
hydration products and the capillary pores, VAH, VHP and VCP respectively. Substitute the
values measured in the formula in obtaining the water-cement ratio of the blocks.

IV. Determining the compressive strength

After computing for the water cement ratio, we will use the Universal Testing
Machine (UTM) to determine each concrete block’s compressive stregth. Each block will
be placed in the middle of the two plates and there applying a specific strength.
Thereafter, classifying whether the specific concrete block as weak, normal or
strong.After the specific block passed the test, applications will be given.

Formulas

Formula of obtaining the water-cement ratio using the electron microsocopy is:

Where ρC is the specific gravity of cement and δV is the volumetric increase of solids during hydration,
which is approximately equal to two.
Flowchart
Harvest Rainwater

Prepare all the materials and equipments

Put together the sand, cement and gravel of different ratios of

mixes

Start mixing with rainwater and next with distilled water.

Continuously pour rainwater or distilled water until it is pliable.

Not too wet nor not too dry.

Pour the concrete mixtures into the mold. Stir to maximize the
spaces

Level the open smooth surface using trowel to even it.

Let it dry for 24 hours.

Curing for7,14,21 and 28 days.

Determine water cement ratio using BSE.

Determine compressive strength using UTM.

Gantt Chart Classification and application of the concrete

Activities Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
Choosing of Research
Topic
Making of Review of
Literature
Making of Methodology

Making of Introduction

Editing and furnishing of

Research proposal
Preparation of materials
and equipments
Harvesting of rainwater

Mixing of concrete using

rainwater

Mixing of concrete using

distilled water
Curing of concrete

Determining water-cement
ratio using electron
microsocopy
Determining the
compressive strength using
UTM
Final touches to the paper:
Data, results and
discussions
Defense