If a cement mortar mix is 1:4 (cement:sand) by volume, and wet mortar shrinks approximately 33% after setting, the dry volume of materials required per m3 of finished mortar is:
Choose the correct answer
1 m3 cement + 4 m3 sand
1.5 m3 of mixed materials (0.3 m3 cement + 1.2 m3 sand in dry volume)
Exactly 1 m3 of sand + 0.25 m3 cement
5 bags cement + 1 m3 sand
Correct Answer
B. 1.5 m3 of mixed materials (0.3 m3 cement + 1.2 m3 sand in dry volume)
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Wet to dry conversion: 1 m3 wet mortar = 1.3 to 1.5 m3 dry materials (due to bulking and water absorption). For 1:4 mix: dry materials = 1.5 m3 total; cement = 1.5/5 = 0.3 m3 = about 8.6 bags (50 kg, 0.035 m3/bag); sand = 1.2 m3. Actual values depend on bulking of sand.
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