| Title |
A Critical Review on the Limited Effectiveness and Field Applicability of Unit Water Content Testing under KCI-RM 101:2022 |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2026.42.7.359 |
| Keywords |
Unit Water Content; KCI-RM 101:2022; Fresh Concrete; Quality Control; Field Applicability |
| Abstract |
This study examines the practical effectiveness and field applicability of unit water content testing in ready-mixed concrete under KCI-RM
101:2022. Unit water content is a key quality-control parameter affecting workability, strength, bleeding, pore structure, and durability.
KCI-RM 101:2022 institutionalized rapid testing and strengthened the test frequency from 150㎥ to 120㎥. However, KCS 14 20 10 includes
the test in acceptance inspection while recommending its use only as reference data due to limited verification of method reliability. This
inconsistency suggests that the system recognizes its importance but does not fully accept it as an independent acceptance criterion. Based on
standards and prior studies, this study shows that unit water content testing has supplementary value but limited authority in field quality
management. Method-dependent errors, operator variability, sensitivity to air content and density assumptions, and discrepancies between plant
and field data reduce reliability. Therefore, the test is useful as an early warning indicator but insufficient as a stand-alone acceptance tool.
Improved effectiveness requires method-specific interpretation, better calibration and training, and integration with production data. |