Civil Cluster COMM 11 Bad News Letter Assignment Following

Civil Cluster COMM 11 - Bad News Letter Assignment Following the three step writing process to plan, draft, write and revise a Bad News letter (indirect format) for the scenario that follows. Make sure your letter contains all standard letter parts and is written in full-block, open punctuation format. Be sure to include:

A suitable buffer

Reasons/explanation

The bad news

Complimentary close

Scenario:

Our client, Phantom Contracting, has provided us with his design mix and sand sample. We have been requiredto mix up a batch of grout, cast “cubes”, cure them, and finally test for compressive strength.

Unfortunately, after testing the materials, the results indicate that the sample does not meet compressive test standards.

Your task -

1. Introduce/identify the experiment/test undertaken, the objectives and importance of the experiment/test and an overall background for understanding the experiment/test.

2. State the objectives of the experiment/test as they must beanalyzed to determine why the experiment/test failed.

3. Next, you will need to discuss the results; you should not only analyze the results, but also discuss the implications of those results.

4. Pay attention to factors that may have contributed to errors/inaccuracies in the experiment/test including their origins and how these factors may affect the final results.

5. Be sure to include an explanation of why the results were not favourable.

6. Include additional research, suggestions for improving the lab or simply provide a general reflection of the whole process.

Solution

March 22, 2018

Ms.Phantom Contracting,

ABC Lane,

XYZ City.

Dear Ms. Phantom ,

We have recieved the design mix and sand sample by your good self. A batch of grout was prepared according to the design mix and with the available sand sample. The cubes of 15 x 15 x 15 cm were constructed out of it. They were being cured and we\'re being tested for compressive strength as per ASTM C-31 standards.

It was done to find the strength of hardened concrete. The test calculates the concrete\'s ability to resist load which tend to compress it.

Compressive strength is calculated by dividing failure load with cross sectional area resisting the load. A total of 3 test were performed.

One test was done on 7 days of curing , the other at 14 and 28 days respectively. As per the specifications the strength of concrete should be as follows-

7 days. - 65 %

14 days - 90%

28 days - 99%

The design mix was provided for M30 mix. According to the specifications the desired result should be as follows-

7 days - 20 N/mm ²

14 days - 27 N/mm ²

28 days - 29.7 N/mm ²

The results obtained by design mix was as follows -

7 days - 17 N/mm ²

14 days - 22 N/mm ²

28 days - 23 N/mm ²

According to specifications in 28 days the compressive strength should reach 99 % i.e 29.7 N/mm ² but by experimental results it came out to be 23 N/mm ² which is 76%.  

Concrete is consider structurally adequate if it meets 85% of the specified strength, and not less than 75% of the compressive strength. In this case it comes out to be at the lower side i.e 76% which is considered unhealthy from the design point of view.

This may be due to improper calculation in design mix, improper grade of sand , rounded aggregates etc. However the agrregates were of fine quality , the grading of sand has some impact but not much as whole . The design mix greatly affects the compressive strength. Hence it could be the main factor for less compressive strength.

Hence it is being requested to you to , consider the design mix again and send us a well graded sample of sand.

Regards,

PQR Company

FGH road,

IKJ City