The C20 concrete calculator is wrong!

Setts and cobbles, tarmac, asphalt, resin systems, concrete whether it's plain, patterned or stencilled, gravels, etc.
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Hotdog
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2022 9:48 am

The C20 concrete calculator is wrong!

Post: # 120008Post Hotdog

I have used the paving expert C20 concrete calculator which advises 300L of water per Cubic Meter of Concrete. This is incorrect.

Having researched this online; the water quantity should be approx half the weight of the cement i.e (C20 calculator suggests) 320Kg cement per Cubic Meter, which SHOULD be 160L of water NOT 300L. Can somebody please correct the calculator or slap me round the face and tell me i'm wrong. Thanks.

P.s. I have 1/5th Cubic meter of soft concrete that I now need to break up and re-lay as evidence! :cry:

Brucieboy
Posts: 162
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 1:21 am
Location: Essex

Re: The C20 concrete calculator is wrong!

Post: # 120009Post Brucieboy

Hi Hotdog - yes you are correct. I've checked the C20 calculator and the water content for one cubic metre is showing as 300 litres. It should be nearer 160 litres as you suggest. I wrote the Prescribed Concrete Mixes section for Tony and if you look at the table of free water content versus slump class (S1- S5) at the end of the section you'll see it gives typical figures for with and without a water reducing admixture. Note 'free' water content refers to the quantity of water per cubic metre with the coarse and fine aggregate being surface dry, ie no moisture.

Very sadly Tony passed away last year and I don't have access to the calculating methodology. Perhaps one of the administrators could help.
Retired DIY'er

Hotdog
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2022 9:48 am

Re: The C20 concrete calculator is wrong!

Post: # 120012Post Hotdog

Hi Brucieboy, thanks for the response. As you say; hopefully one of the mods changes the calcs to save someone else!

Yes, very sad news about Tony. I didn't know him, but you definitely get a sense of what he was like when you read through the site and his posts. Hopefully someone keeps this site going, it's a wonderful source of knowledge and a good tribute to him.

IanMelb
Site Admin
Posts: 415
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:53 am
Location: East Riding

Re: The C20 concrete calculator is wrong!

Post: # 120013Post IanMelb

I'll see what I can get sorted at the back end of the web stuff - can someone confirm the exact formula that the calculator should use?

IanMelb
Site Admin
Posts: 415
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:53 am
Location: East Riding

Re: The C20 concrete calculator is wrong!

Post: # 120014Post IanMelb

This is the current formula:

{z=form.z.value;form.sand.value=Math.round(z*630);form.cem.value=Math.round(z*320);form.agg.value=Math.round(z*1170);form.water.value=Math.round(z*300)}

I'm guessing that the z*300 ought to be z*160 ?

Brucieboy
Posts: 162
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 1:21 am
Location: Essex

Re: The C20 concrete calculator is wrong!

Post: # 120016Post Brucieboy

Hi IanMelb - yes change z*300 to z*160
Retired DIY'er

Hotdog
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2022 9:48 am

Re: The C20 concrete calculator is wrong!

Post: # 120020Post Hotdog

Thanks both.

IanMelb
Site Admin
Posts: 415
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:53 am
Location: East Riding

Re: The C20 concrete calculator is wrong!

Post: # 120024Post IanMelb

I think that this should be OK now (updated this a couple of weeks ago)

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