CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING CE Board Exam Review

PROGRAM EVALUATION REVIEW TECHNIQUE / CRITICAL PATH METHOD (PERT/CPM) 5. TOTAL FLOAT (TF)
Þ The amount of time that an activity can be delayed without delaying the completion of
Elements of a PERT/CPM Diagram
the project
1. Activity - Performance of a specified task Þ 𝑇𝐹 = 𝐿𝐹 − 𝐸𝐹 = 𝐿𝑆 − 𝐸𝑆 = 𝐿𝐹 − 𝐸𝑆 − 𝑑
2. Event – Completion or commencement of an activity
3. Duration – Estimated period of time to complete an activity 6. FREE FLOAT (FF)
4. Network Diagrams – Logical assembly of activities Þ Time that the finish of an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start of the
5. Dummy activity – artificial activity with zero duration; applied to parallel activities to denote succeeding activity
that no succeeding activity shall commence until all previous activities are completed Þ 𝐹𝐹!"##$%& = 𝐸𝑆%$'& − 𝐸𝐹!"##$%&
6. Critical Path – The longest path in the network; dictates the earliest completion time of the
project. 7. INTERFERING FLOAT (IF)
Þ 𝐼𝐹 = 𝑇𝐹 − 𝐹𝐹
*Note: Delaying any activity within the critical path will result in the delay of the entire project.

EXAMPLES OF PERT/CPM NETWORK DIAGRAMS

TIME ELEMENTS IN A PERT/CPM DIAGRAM

1. EARLY START (ES) DATE

Þ The earliest time to start an activity
Þ In case of an activity with multiple immediate precedent activities, the ES shall be dictated
by the precedent activity to finish last

2. EARLY FINISH (EF) DATE

Þ The earliest time to finish an activity
Þ 𝐸𝐹 = 𝐸𝑆 + 𝑑

3. LATEST FINISH (LF) DATE

Þ Latest time to finish an activity
Þ Can be obtained from backward pass

4. LATEST START (LS) DATE

Þ The latest time to start an activity
Þ 𝐿𝑆 = 𝐿𝐹 − 𝑑

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Typical Concrete Mix Proportions

ACI METHOD

Þ Standard procedures stated in ACI 211.1.

Steps in Proportioning Design Mix under ACI Method:

1. From separate tests, determine material properties (bulk SG, bulk dry density, fineness
modulus, moisture content)

REINFORCED CONCRETE MIX DESIGN 2. Identify job specification (type of construction, exposure, required strength, nominal
maximum aggregate size)

METHODS OF DESIGNING CONCRETE MIX 3. Determine amount of slump.

1. Weight Method – calculate mix proportion by weight basis; less accurate
2. Absolute Volume Method – calculate mix proportions by basis of volume of components;
more accurate

TRADITIONAL PROCEDURE OF PROPORTIONING CONCRETE MIX

Þ Uses cement-sand-gravel proportions by using a measuring box (1 cu. ft.) and applies the
absolute volume method

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5. Determine required water-cement (w/c) ratio depending on the required strength.

4. Identify required water content and air content.

*Note: Double check the values with the corresponding limits, depending on assumed exposure
condition of the concrete mix

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8. Calculate required sand content in terms of volume

9. Make adjustments for moisture content of aggregates.
PRACTICE PROBLEMS

Problem 1. TABLE-1 below shows the schedule of works necessary to carry out a construction
project.
1. What is the number of days required to carry out the entire project? [65 CDs]
2. What is the critical path for the project? [ABDGIK]
3. What is the total float of activity H? [20]
TABLE-1
DURATION
ACTIVITY PREDECESSOR
6. Calculate cement content. (CD)
7. Determine gravel content. A 8 -
B 19 A
C 6 A
D 6 B
E 6 B
F 4 B, C
G 12 D
H 12 B, C
I 12 E, F, G
J 11 E, F, G, H
K 8 I, J

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Problem 2. It is required to produce 30 cu. m. of Class B (1 : 2 : 4 mix) concrete using the below Problem 4. Air-entrained concrete is specified in the design of a slab-on-grade. The material
material properties. Assume 1 bag of cement has volume of 0.028 cu. m. Use 25 liters of water properties are shown in the table below. The recommended water content is 200 kg/m3 of
per bag of cement. Determine the ff: concrete and a water-cement ratio of 0.48 by mass should be used in the design mix. The gravel
used has volumetric ratio of 0.671. For a cubic meter of mix:
MATERIAL SPEC. GRAV. UNIT WEIGHT
SAND GRAVEL CEMENT
Cement 3.10 1506 kg/m3
Bulk SG 2.10 2.81 3.15
Sand 2.65 1680 kg/m3
Dry-Rodded Weight
Gravel 2.50 1525 kg/m3 1611.539 1618.015 3150
(kg/m3)
Moisture Content (%) 6.5 1.2 -
1. Number of bags of cement required. [82]
2. The quantity of sand (cu. m.) required. [4.592]
1. What is the volume of cement (m3) needed? [0.1323]
3. The quantity of gravel (cu. m.) required. [9.184]
2. What is the volume of sand (m3) needed? [0.3627]
4. The quantity of water (liters) required. [2050]
3. What is the density of the concrete mix, in kg/m3? [2251.309]
Problem 3. A concrete mixture is specified as 1 : 2.5 : 5 by loose volume with 26 liters of water
per bag of cement to produce a satisfactory mixture. It is required to produce 2.0 cu. m. of
concrete. Assume 1 bag of cement has a theoretical volume of 0.0283 cu. m.

MATERIAL SPEC. GRAV. VOID RATIO

Cement 3.10 52%

Sand 2.62 40%

Gravel 2.66 37.5%

1. How many bags of cement are required? [11]

2. What is the weight of sand (kg) required? [1336.983]
3. What is the weight of gravel (kg) required? [2764.149]
4. How many liters of water are required? [262.542]

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SOLUTIONS TO PRACTICE PROBLEMS:

Problem 1.

Drawing a PERT-CPM diagram to represent the works,

Critical path is the longest path in the network.

∴ The critical path is ABDGIK. Ans. #1

The project duration is the same as the length of the critical path.
Duration = 8 + 19 + 6 + 12 + 12 + 8

Duration = 65 calendar days. Ans. #2

Now, doing a forward pass to determine the early finish of activity H,

𝐸𝐹! = 8 + 6 + 12 = 26
Doing a backward pass to determine the late finish of activity H,
𝐿𝐹! = 65 − 8 − 11 = 46
Calculating the total float of activity H,
𝑇𝐹! = 𝐿𝐹! − 𝐸𝐹! = 46 − 26

𝑇𝐹! = 20 calendar days. Ans. #3

Problem 2.

Calculating the weights of each component,

𝑊"#$#%& = 0.028(1506) = 42.168 kg

𝑊'(%) = 0.028(2)(1680) = 94.080 kg

𝑊*+(,#- = 0.028(4)(1525) = 170.8 kg

Calculating the absolute volumes,

42.168
𝑉"#$#%& = = 0.0136 m.
3.10(1000)
94.080
𝑉'(%) = = 0.0355 m.
2.65(1000)
170.8
𝑉*+(,#- = = 0.0683 m.
2.50(1000)
𝑉/(&#+ = 25 L = 0.025 m.
Per bag of cement, the volume of concrete that can be produced is equal to:

𝑉"0%" per bag = 0.0136 + 0.0355 + 0.0683 + 0.025 = 0.3674 m.

Calculating the required number of bags of cement,

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𝑉𝑜𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑑 30
𝑛= = = 81.649, say, 82 bags
𝑉𝑜𝑙 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑎𝑔 0.3674
𝑛 = 82 bags Ans. #1
Calculating the required volume (loose) of sand,
𝑛 ∙ 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑎𝑔 82(94.080)
𝑉'(%) = =
𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 1680

𝑉'(%) = 4.592 m. Ans. #2

Calculating the required volume (loose) of gravel,
𝑛 ∙ 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑎𝑔 82(170.80)
𝑉*+(,#- = =
𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 1525

𝑉*+(,#- = 9.184 m. Ans. #3

Calculating the required volume of water,

𝑉/(&#+ = 82(25)
𝑉/(&#+ = 2050 L Ans. #4

Problem 3.

Calculating the weights of each component,

𝛾) 3100
𝑊"#$#%& = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑎𝑔 ∙ = 0.0283 ∙ = 57.717 kg
1+𝑒 1.52
2620
𝑊'(%) = 0.0283(2.5) ∙ = 132.404 kg
1.40
2660
𝑊*+(,#- = 0.0283(5) ∙ = 273.738 kg
1.375
Calculating the absolute volumes,
57.717
𝑉"#$#%& = = 0.0186 m.
3.10(1000)
132.404
𝑉'(%) = = 0.0505 m.
2.62(1000)
273.738
𝑉*+(,#- = = 0.1029 m.
2.66(1000)
𝑉/(&#+ = 26 L = 0.026 m.
Per bag of cement, the volume of concrete that can be produced is equal to:
𝑉"0%" per bag = 0.0186 + 0.0505 + 0.1029 + 0.026 = 0.1981 m.

Calculating the required number of bags of cement,

𝑉𝑜𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑑 2
𝑛= = = 10.098, say, 11 bags
𝑉𝑜𝑙 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑎𝑔 0.1981
𝑛 = 11 bags Ans. #1
Calculating the required weight of sand,
𝑊'(%) = 𝑛 ∙ 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑎𝑔 = 10.098(132.404)

𝑊'(%) = 1336.983 kg Ans. #2

Calculating the required weight of gravel,
𝑊*+(,#- = 𝑛 ∙ 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑎𝑔 = 10.098(273.738)

𝑊*+(,#- = 2764.149 kg Ans. #3

Calculating the required volume of water,

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𝑉/(&#+ = 10.098(26)
𝑉/(&#+ = 262.542 L Ans. #4

Problem 4.

From the water-cement ratio,

𝑊/(&#+ = 200 kg/m. of concrete
200
𝑊"#$#%& = = 416.667 kg/m. of concrete
0.48
Further, from the given data,

𝑉(1+ = 0.020 m.

𝑉*+(,#-,-00'# = 0.671 m.

Calculating the weight of gravel,

𝑊*+(,#- = (0.671)(1618.015) = 1085.688 kg

Calculating the absolute volumes of other components,

416.667
𝑉"#$#%& = = 0.1323 m.
3150
1085.688
𝑉*+(,#- = = 0.3864 m.
2810
𝑉/(&#+ = 0.200 m.

𝑉(1+ = 0.020 m.

𝑉'(%) = 1 − (0.1323 + 0.3864 + 0.200 + 0.020) = 0.2614 m.

𝑊'(%) = 0.2614(1611.539) = 548.854 kg
Now, incorporating moisture adjustments,

Material Weight (kg) Correction Corrected Weight (kg)

Water 200 −(35.676 + 13.028) = −48.704 151.296
Cement 416.667 0 416.667
Sand 548.854 548.854(0.065) = 35.676 584.529
Gravel 1085.688 (1085.688)(0.012) = 13.028 1098.716
TOTAL 2251.209

The answers are now:

𝑉"#$#%& = 0.1323 m. Ans. #1

584.529
𝑉'(%) =
1611.539
𝑉'(%) = 0.3627 m. Ans. #2

𝜌"0%" = 2251.309 kg/m. Ans. #3

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