Does the Amount of Water in Concrete Affect Its Strength? Preliminary
CALIFORNIA STATE SCIENCE FAIR
2007 PROJECT SUMMARY
Ap2/07
Name(s)
Project Number
Project Title
Abstract
Summary Statement
Help Received
Megan E. Cunningham
Does the Amount of Water in Concrete Affect Its Strength?
27272
Objectives/Goals
My project was to determine if different amounts of water would affect the strength of concrete. I believe
that there is an optimum amount of water that will make a concrete mix it's strongest.
Methods/Materials
In my project, I used water, cement, sand, two molds, a tamper, and a hydraulic jack. I changed the
amount of water but kept the amount of sand and cement the same in each of the 12 concrete mixes that I
made. To test the compressive strength, I used a hydraulic jack and a steel frame.
Results
The range of water cement ratio between 0.40 and 0.45 has shown to produce the strongest concrete.
Conclusions/Discussion
Looking at all the data that I have collected and recorded into my data log, my hypothesis was supported.
The concrete samples that had a lot of water or a small amount of water, were weaker. This information is
helpful because it tells us which range of water cement ratios is going to produce the strongest concrete.
In my project, I tested to see if different amounts of water affected the strength of concrete.
My mother took pictures and also helped me to put my display board together. My father was my testing
supervisor. Steve Campbell of Christian Wheeler Engineering loaned me the two molds and the tamper
that I used. Marathon Construction Corporation loaned me the hydraulic jack.