Florida DOT Concrete Batchman/Operator Practice Exam

In concrete mix design, what does Yield represent?

1. Weight of all ingredients

2. Volume of all ingredients

3. Proportionality of materials

4. Total absolute volume of all ingredients added together

The correct answer is: Total absolute volume of all ingredients added together

Yield in concrete mix design represents the total absolute volume of all ingredients added together. This is a crucial aspect of concrete production because it determines how much concrete will be produced from the mix. Understanding yield allows batch operators to ensure they are mixing the correct proportions of materials to achieve the desired volume of finished concrete, which is vital for fulfilling project specifications and ensuring structural integrity. In concrete production, yield is influenced by the water-cement ratio, the type and amount of aggregate, and any admixtures used. Each of these components contributes to the final volume of concrete that can be achieved from a specific mix design. Operators need to calculate yield accurately to avoid issues such as under or over-producing concrete, which can lead to wasted materials or delays in construction. The other options focus on different aspects of mix design but do not specifically encapsulate the concept of yield in terms of the volume produced from the mixed ingredients.