Larry@stinescorner, got a question.

Hi Larry.

I was enjoying the pic's you took in the earlier post and it prompted a question.

Which makes for a stronger concrete, a kind of soupy mixture or a dryer, or less soupy, mixture?

Thanks and I really enjoy the pic's you bring back from PA.

Larry from KS.

I'm not Larry@stinescorner, but I know that soupy concrete is weaker. I don't like to work with it, even though it is easier to place for a slab.
Zach

The less water that is added the stronger and harder it will cure.

I'm not Larry either but soupy is weaker. The amount of portland cement per cubic yard determines the strength. For example 5 bags of portland per cubic yard will make concrete with a rated strength of 2500 lbs per sq in. 6 1/2 bags of portland per cubic yard will make concrete with a rated strength of 3500 lbs per sq in. 7 bag mix will rate at 4000 lbs. Thats just the term you use when ordering the cement, just tell them you want a 5 bag mix for something like sidewalks or more for structural.

Thanks Guys

I appreciate the information. Larry must have went to bed early so he can give his answer tomorrow if he wants.

LW

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete

good morning , just read your question at 5 am. As others have replied if concrete is soupy it is weaker, Have a nice day , see you all later. ,,, Larry
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Forget about the soup (slump), the water/cement ratio is the single most important aspect of achieving compressive strength, so whatever design mix you are using, be it a bag mix or mixing from scratch, adhere to the correct amount of water, and cementitious material (portland), keep it the same (uniform) for every batch.

If you water down concrete until no slump,(soupy) it will decrease the compressive strength.

Say for example, you are pumping concrete, the slump ( if you take concrete and put into a testing form, of say a certain height like 10", remove form and say the pump mix design calls for a 4" slump, so it can flow, when you remove that form, you measure the sag or how much it settles from what it was in the form) The mix design may call for a lower slump (more soupy)but still attain the desired compressive strength, by mix design; water/cement ratio, as well as all the composite aggregate sizes, amounts etc. Pump mix for example would be one with a lower slump, and sometimes a particular job, a contractor may want a lower slump, but still need to attain a certain strength.

I used to review design mixes submitted by contractors for NYS OGS jobs, and the structural engineer whom I worked with awlays had me calculate and or check the water cement ratio, and approve or approve as noted when corrections to that were needed to maintain what they call for in their specifications, from his experience on their jobs, hundreds of millions in work over the years, the W/C ratio was very important, I never forgot that, though I may have forgotten the calculation LOL !!!

Worked for a concrete company for 20 years.
Amount of cement in mix and water do determine the strength as most mixes are designed for a 4" slump maximum.Also strength of aggregate is a big factor concrete cannot be stronger than the gravel thats in the mix.Also a whole list of chemicals can be added to affect strength. How the Hydration takes place also affects final strength the more water that stays in the concrete for the cement to hydrate with the stronger it will be.A hot windy day can dry out the top of a slab and weaken it causing problems.Also its common for finishers to poke holes in the plastic thats under the slab to decrease set time this also weakens the concrete by draining the water off defeats the whole reason for having the plastic there in the first place which is to keep the moisture in the slab.