STYROFOAM-EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE
PURPOSE:
TO MEASURE THE STRENGTH OF BLOCKS OF CONCRETE THAT CONTAIN DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF STYROFOAM BEADS
HYPOTHESIS:
A HYDRAULIC PRESS DELIVERS A GAUGED AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO AN OBJECT. IF I PLACE A PIECE OF METAL/WOOD THAT MEASURES 1”X1” ON THE CONCRETE AND PLACE THE HYDRAULIC RAM ON TOP OF THE PIECE OF WOOD AND APPLY A PRESET PRESSURE TO EACH BLOCK, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH PRESSURE THE BLOCK CAN WITHSTAND BEFORE CRACKING
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MATERIAL: |
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HYDRAULIC PRESS WITH A GAUGE |
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PIECE OF METAL 1”X1” |
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PIECE OF WOOD 1”’X1” |
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BLOCKS OF PREPARED CONCRETE WITH DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF STYROFOAM PELLETS |
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CHART TO RECORD RESULTS |
PROCEDURE:
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CALIBRATE HYDRAULIC PRESS BY EXERTING A SET PRESSURE ON A PIECE OF ALUMINUM WITH A KNOWN PSI
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PLACE CEMENT BLOCK (100% CONCRETE) ON HYDRAULIC RAM TABLE
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PLACE PIECE OF 1”X1” WOOD AND METAL ON CENTRE OF BLOCK UNDER RAM
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EXERT CALIBRATED PRESSURE ON THE RAM AND HOLD UNTIL THE BLOCK CRACKS
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RECORD RESULTS IN A TABLE
LIMITING FACTORS:
CONCRETE HAS NOT BEEN VIBRATED SO THERE IS MORE AIR IN THE CONCRETE THAN ACCEPTED FOR A STANDARD MIX. THIS WILL REDUCE THE STRENGTH OF THE CONCRETE AND ALTHOUGH READINGS WILL SHOW A PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EACH BLOCK THEY WILL NOT SHOW HOW MUCH PRESSURE THE CONCRETE WOULD ACCEPT IF THE AIR HAD BEEN REMOVED TO STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
RESULTS:
THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE THE BLOCKS COULD WITHSTAND WAS REDUCED AS THE PERCENTAGE OF STYROFOAM BEADS INCREASED.
THE 100% CONCRETE BLOCK MET REQUIREMENTS OF 3000 PSI FOR RESIDENTIAL FOOTINGS STANDARDS.
THE OTHER BLOCKS CONTAINING STYROFOAM WERE UNDER THE REQUIRED PSI.
CONCLUSIONS:
THE PSI THAT THE BLOCKS CAN BE REMOVED CAN BE MEASURED. HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE THAT THE BLOCKS COULD WITHSTAND WAS NOT ACCURATE AS THERE WAS TOO MUCH AIR IN THE DRIED BRICKS.
THE EXPERIMENT SHOULD BE REPEATED WITH BRICKS WITH THE AIR VIBRATED OUT OF THEM. I FEEL THAT THE STYROFOAM BRICKS WITH 10% AND 20% STYROFOAM CHIP CONCENTRATION WOULD MEET THE STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR RESIDENTIAL FOOTINGS IF THE AIR WAS REMOVED BY VIBRATION
HYDRAULIC PRESS TESTS FOR STRENGTH OF DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF CONCRETE
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MIX RATIO
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DRY WEIGHT |
PSI BREAK POINT |
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100% CONCRETE
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1185 GMS |
3000 PSI |
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10% STYROFOAM |
1130 GMS |
2250 PSI |
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20% STYROFOAM |
1105 GMS |
2250 PSI |
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30% STYROFOAM |
972 GMS |
1500 PSI |
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50% STYROFOAM |
677 GMS |
750 PSI |
NOTE: PSI BREAK POINTS WERE AFFECTED BY AIR IN THE CONCRETE DUE TO LACK OF VIBRATION. EXPERIMENT WILL BE RETESTED WITH NEW VIBRATED BLOCKS
TAYLOR HETT
GRADE 8
A.L. MATHERS ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY
ELECTRONIC SCHOOL