EXAC - Section 3 - Final Project Exam Study Guide Latest 2026
Updated Questions and Verified 100% Solutions (2026/2027)
Grade: A+|Status: Guaranteed Pass
What 3 basic components make up concrete? - Answers -Cement, water, Aggregate
What are each of the 5 types of Portland cement used for? - Answers -Type I - normal - used for
general construction
Type II - moderate - used for general construction where resistance to moderate sulfate action is
required, or where heat buildup can be damaging (ie large piers and heaving retaining walls)
Type III - high-early-strength cement cures faster and gains strength faster than normal cement.
Used when early removal of formwork is desired, or cold-weather construction to reduce time
required for heat protection
Type IV - low-heat cement - generates less heat of hydration than normal portland cement.
Used in construction of massive concrete structures (ie gravity dams) where large heat buildup
can be damaging
Type V - sulfate resisting - required when resistance to severe sulfate action is required
What % of concrete volume is aggregate (roughly)? What are properties are aggregate
important to in the final product? - Answers -60-80%
-Strength
-Weight
1|Page
,-Fire -resistance
Describe the differences between Coarse and Fine aggregate. - Answers -Fine Aggregate - sand
with particle sizes <¼"
Coarse Aggregate - crushed stone/gravel/blast furnace slag with particle sizes >¼"
Max size of coarse aggregate in reinforced concrete is limited by the size of the section and
spacing of reinforcing bars
Explain what the following admixtures do:
1. Air-entraining agents
2. Accelerators
3. Retarders
4. Surface-Active Agents
5. Water-reducing agents
6. Colouring Agents - Answers -Air-entraining agents:
Disperse microscopic, spherical air bubbles in a concrete mix to increase workability, improve
resistance of the cured product to the cracking induced by free-thaw cycles or the scaling
caused by deicing chems
In large amounts - can produce lightweight, insulating concrete
Accelerators:
Hasten the setting/strength development of a mix
Retarders:
2|Page
,Slow the setting/strength development of a mix (more workability time)
Surface-Active Agents - surfactants:
Reduce the surface tension of the mixing water in a mix - this facilitates the wetting and
penetrating action of the water or aiding in the emulsifying and dispersion of other additives in
the mix
Water-reducing agents - superplasticizers:
Reduce amount of mixing water required for desired workability. Lowering water-cement ratio
generally increases strength
Colouring Agents:
Pigments or dyes alter colour
What does the Water-Cement ratio (of hardened concrete) control? - Answers -Strength
Durability
Watertightness
What is the compressive strength of concrete inversely proportional to? - Answers -Water-
Cement ratio.
Most applications, the water-cement ratio should be: 0.45 to 0.60
3|Page
, Why is steel reinforcement required in concrete (5 things)? - Answers -To absorb
tensile/shearing/and sometimes compressive stresses
Tie vertical and horizontal elements
Reinforce edges around openings
Minimize shrinkage cracking
Control thermal expansion/contraction.
What are the 3 types of brick (as they relate to permissible variations of colour, chippage, etc.)?
- Answers -FBX - face brick suitable for use where a minimum variation in size/narrow colour
range/high degree of mechanical perfection is required
FBS - face brick suitable for use where wider colour range and greater variation in size is
permitted
FBA - face brick suitable for use where particular effects are desired resulting from
nonuniformity in size/colour/texture.
What are the 4 types of mortar? Describe each. - Answers -Type M - high strength mortar,
subjected to high lateral or compressive loads or severe frost action
Type S - medium-high strength, for masonry requiring high flexural bond strength but subject to
only normal loads
4|Page
Updated Questions and Verified 100% Solutions (2026/2027)
Grade: A+|Status: Guaranteed Pass
What 3 basic components make up concrete? - Answers -Cement, water, Aggregate
What are each of the 5 types of Portland cement used for? - Answers -Type I - normal - used for
general construction
Type II - moderate - used for general construction where resistance to moderate sulfate action is
required, or where heat buildup can be damaging (ie large piers and heaving retaining walls)
Type III - high-early-strength cement cures faster and gains strength faster than normal cement.
Used when early removal of formwork is desired, or cold-weather construction to reduce time
required for heat protection
Type IV - low-heat cement - generates less heat of hydration than normal portland cement.
Used in construction of massive concrete structures (ie gravity dams) where large heat buildup
can be damaging
Type V - sulfate resisting - required when resistance to severe sulfate action is required
What % of concrete volume is aggregate (roughly)? What are properties are aggregate
important to in the final product? - Answers -60-80%
-Strength
-Weight
1|Page
,-Fire -resistance
Describe the differences between Coarse and Fine aggregate. - Answers -Fine Aggregate - sand
with particle sizes <¼"
Coarse Aggregate - crushed stone/gravel/blast furnace slag with particle sizes >¼"
Max size of coarse aggregate in reinforced concrete is limited by the size of the section and
spacing of reinforcing bars
Explain what the following admixtures do:
1. Air-entraining agents
2. Accelerators
3. Retarders
4. Surface-Active Agents
5. Water-reducing agents
6. Colouring Agents - Answers -Air-entraining agents:
Disperse microscopic, spherical air bubbles in a concrete mix to increase workability, improve
resistance of the cured product to the cracking induced by free-thaw cycles or the scaling
caused by deicing chems
In large amounts - can produce lightweight, insulating concrete
Accelerators:
Hasten the setting/strength development of a mix
Retarders:
2|Page
,Slow the setting/strength development of a mix (more workability time)
Surface-Active Agents - surfactants:
Reduce the surface tension of the mixing water in a mix - this facilitates the wetting and
penetrating action of the water or aiding in the emulsifying and dispersion of other additives in
the mix
Water-reducing agents - superplasticizers:
Reduce amount of mixing water required for desired workability. Lowering water-cement ratio
generally increases strength
Colouring Agents:
Pigments or dyes alter colour
What does the Water-Cement ratio (of hardened concrete) control? - Answers -Strength
Durability
Watertightness
What is the compressive strength of concrete inversely proportional to? - Answers -Water-
Cement ratio.
Most applications, the water-cement ratio should be: 0.45 to 0.60
3|Page
, Why is steel reinforcement required in concrete (5 things)? - Answers -To absorb
tensile/shearing/and sometimes compressive stresses
Tie vertical and horizontal elements
Reinforce edges around openings
Minimize shrinkage cracking
Control thermal expansion/contraction.
What are the 3 types of brick (as they relate to permissible variations of colour, chippage, etc.)?
- Answers -FBX - face brick suitable for use where a minimum variation in size/narrow colour
range/high degree of mechanical perfection is required
FBS - face brick suitable for use where wider colour range and greater variation in size is
permitted
FBA - face brick suitable for use where particular effects are desired resulting from
nonuniformity in size/colour/texture.
What are the 4 types of mortar? Describe each. - Answers -Type M - high strength mortar,
subjected to high lateral or compressive loads or severe frost action
Type S - medium-high strength, for masonry requiring high flexural bond strength but subject to
only normal loads
4|Page
