Rules of competition
1. Eligibility
a. Each team must consist of students of a university at the time of casting the cube. All members of a
given team must be from the same university.
b. A team is limited to two individuals. A university may register up to three teams. A student may not
be a member of more than one team. Each team may submit one entry.
c. Each team must have a supervising faculty advisor who will see that the student team complies with
the rules of the competition. The faculty member is permitted to advise more than one team.
2. Material
a. The mortar must use cementitious materials as binder, as defined in section 2b below.
b. The cementitious materials shall be Portland cement meeting ASTM C 150, blended cement meeting
ASTM C 595 and C 1157, and expansive cement meeting ASTM C 845. Supplementary cementitious
materials such as fly ash and natural pozzolan meeting ASTM C 618, silica fume meeting ASTM C 1240,
and slag meeting ASTM C 989 may also be used. Mineral fillers such as kiln dusts and rock dusts are also
allowed to be used.
c. Chemical admixtures meeting ASTM C 494 or 1017 may be used.
d. Aggregate should be non-metal aggregates meeting fine aggregate requirement as described in ASTM
C 33. A minimum 60% (by mass of the whole mixture) of aggregate must be used.
3. Written Report
Teams shall submit a written report for each entry into the competition meeting the requirements listed
in Section 3 for the judges to review and score. An electronic version of the report shall be submitted as
described below in standard PDF format (not in Microsoft Word or similar). The electronic report due
date is indicated in Section 7 below. A hard copy version shall be also submitted at the competition as
described below and will be displayed during the competition. Teams failing to submit both the
electronic and hard copy versions of the report shall receive a zero in the report section of the Final
Score equation given in section 5.
Each report shall contain the following. The judges will score the report using the indicated scoring
percentages (based on a total of 100%):
a. Be submitted as a .pdf and the hardcopy on standard letter size paper and bound together - 5%
b. Include the cover page containing the following: - 10%
i. University name and department
ii. Team members and faculty advisor names
iii. Specimen identification
iv. Picture of University, logo or picture
c. Discuss the workability and rheological properties of concrete for a maximum of one page. The
discussion should include: -15%
i. Definitions related to workability and rheology
ii. Factors affecting the mixture performance of fresh concrete
iii. Importance of workability during concrete construction
d. Provide a maximum of 3 pages of pictures and captions showing the method of the following: - 10%
i. Mixing procedures
ii. Preliminary testing of flowability and stability, if performed
e. Provide a maximum of two pages of graphs, flow charts, and/or text illustrating the team’s decision
process in selecting the final mixture components: - 25%
f. Materials Selection: - 25%
i. Provide a single picture showing all the materials used in the mixture grouped together prior to mixing
ii. Provide the mixture design (dry weight) used in the submitted specimens
iii. Provide information of cementitious materials and chemical admixtures (if applicable) used in the
mixture.
iv. Provide information of aggregate(s) used in the mixture(s), make sure gradation curve(s) of
aggregate(s) are included.
v. Provide data of seven-day compressive strength test. Note that all teams are required to prepare
three mortar cubes based on ASTM C 109. Specimen are to be cured based on ASTM C 192, seven-day
compressive strength from the selected mixture as reported are to be performed and reported. In order
to qualify for the competition, a minimum of 15MPa of compressive strength should be achieved at 7
days.
e. Discuss the specific contribution to sustainability for the mixture design used. - 10%
All reports shall be scored between zero and 100 %, with 100% being the best.
4. Testing Evaluation
a. Each team is to prepare two sets of raw materials (cementitious materials, filler (if applicable),
aggregate(s), chemical admixtures(s)). The two sets of raw materials should be identical and be able to
provide 300±50ml of final mortar mixture. All materials, except water, are to be pre-weighed, bagged,
and brought to the competition. Competition organizer will prepare appropriate measures for water
measurement on site. The judges shall inspect both sets of raw materials prior to mixing and verify
compliance with the rules including the amount and graduation requirements.
b. The judges shall randomly select one set of the raw materials for mixing.
c. Mixing
i. A standard laboratory mixer provided by the competition organizer is to be used for mixing. Each team
will be responsible to mix its own mixture on site. It is recommended to follow ASTM C 305; however, a
team can decide their own mixing procedure, based on mixing procedure as described in the written
report. A maximum of 5 minutes of mixing is allowed.
ii. Upon the complete of mixing, the judges will collect the mixing bowl and pour mixtures into two
standard 100ml graduated cylinders. One cylinder of mixture is to be used for flowability test (see
section 4d) and another of the cylinder of mixture is to be used for stability test (see section 4e).
iii. Each team is then to deposit the surplus into designated area and clean mixing bowl, paddles and any
other tools used in mixing appropriately. Teams failing to clean up will be disqualified from the
competition.
d. Flowability Testing
i. Mixtures from one of the cylinders as prepared in section 4c will be used for flowability test.
ii. Within three minutes after mixing is completed, judges will pour the mixture into the aci mold
through a funnel with opening of approximately 8mm. Time of the mixture to fill the mold, i.e., from
mixture poured into top of letter a to the time of mixture to come out from top of letter i is to be
recorded. The behavior of mixture flowing through the opening of funnel will be observed and recorded.
No vibration and/or consolidation will be permitted during the pouring process.
iii. If the mixture is not able to fully fill the mold, the degree of mixture filling the mold will be recorded.
iv. The judges will score the flowability test from each entry using the following scoring percentage
(based on a total of 100%)
a. Mold filling time - 50%
b. Mold filling percentage - 25%
c. Mixture for uniformity during pouring process - 25%
e. Stability Testing
i. Mixtures from the cylinder as prepared in section 4c will be used for stability testing.
ii. Upon the finish of mixing, one of the judges will collect the cylinder of mixture as prepared in section
4c and place at designated area without disruption.
iii. A stability test will be performed by slowly pouring the mixture out from the cylinder. This will take
place after the cylinder has sat undisturbed for 5 +/- 1 minute. The judge will observe the uniformity of
the mixture during the pouring process. The uniformity is to be rated as severe separation (of aggregate
and paste), moderate separation, slight separation, or no visible separation.
iv. The judges will score the stability test from each entry based on the degree of uniformity. With
severe separation scores 25% (out of a total of 100%), moderate separation scores 50%, slight
separation scores 75%, and no visible separation scores 100%.
5. Scoring
Final Score as described below shall be declared the winner of the prize. The team that achieves a Final
Score with a value closest to 100 will receive the prize of First Place. In the case of a tie, the winner shall
be the team with the better flowability testing score.
Final Score= (0.50)(F) +(0.25)(S) + (0.25)(R)
Where
F=Overall score from flowability test
S=Overall score from stability test R=Overall score from the written report section
6. Judging
a. The judges will be appointed by the Organizing committee of the Concrete in The Middle East
Conference.
b. The judges will make the final determination on compliance with the rules and penalties for rules
violations. Disqualified entries shall not be included in the scoring or considered for awards.
c. The decision of the judges will be final, and appeals will not be considered.
7. Registration and Material Submission
a. Registration for the conference is not required, but appreciated.
b. The electronic report, as described above, shall be submitted via email no later than 11:59 p.m. on
“competition date” to the official contact listed below.
c. The hard copy of the report for each entry along with 2 bags of materials shall be submitted at the
competition site in person by no later than 10:30 a.m. local time on the day of the competition. Teams
checking in past 10:30 a.m. will not be accepted for entry into the competition and will only be tested
after the competition is complete, should time permit.
d. The competition date will be announced soon after the confirmation of the organizing committee