Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

CE3410 - Construction Materials Laboratory

(BTCM Laboratory Manual)

Experiment # 2
Tests on Concrete

Building Technology & Construction Management

Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Chennai-600 036

August-November 2023

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

Measurement of workability of concrete by slump cone test

Aim: To determine the workability of freshly mixed concrete by the use of slump test.
Theory:
A concrete is said to be workable if it can be easily mixed, placed, compacted and finished. A
workable concrete should not show any segregation or bleeding. Segregation is said to occur
when coarse aggregate tries to separate out from the finer material and a concentration of coarse
aggregate at one place occurs. This results in large voids, less durability and strength. Bleeding
of concrete is said to occur when excess water comes up at the surface of concrete. This causes
small pores through the mass of concrete and is undesirable. Unsupported fresh concrete flows
to the sides and a sinking in height takes place. This vertical settlement is known as slump. The
slump is a measure indicating the consistency or workability of cement concrete. It gives an
idea of water content needed for concrete to be used for different works. To measure the slump
value, the test fresh concrete is filled into a mould of specified shape and dimensions, and the
settlement or slump is measured when supporting mould is removed. The slump increases as
water-content is increased.
Slump test is adopted in the laboratory or during the progress of the work in the field for
determining consistency of concrete where nominal max., size of aggregates does not exceed
40 mm. The pattern of slump indicates the characteristics of concrete in addition to the slump
value. If the concrete slumps evenly it is called true slump. If one half of the cone slides down,
it is called shear slump. In case of a shear slump, the slump value is measured as the difference
in height between the height of the mould and the average value of the subsidence. Shear slump
also indicates that the concrete is non-cohesive and shows the characteristic of segregation.
Any slump specimen, which collapses or shears off laterally gives incorrect results and at this
juncture the test is repeated only true slump should be measured.
Apparatus: Slump cone, tamping rod, metallic sheet, weighing machine and scale.
Material: Cement, sand, aggregate and water
Procedure:
1. Clean the internal surface of the mould thoroughly and place it on a smooth horizontal, rigid
and non-absorbent surface, such as of a metal plate.
2. Consider a W/C ratio of 0.4 to 0.45 and design mix of proportion about 1:1:2 (it is presumed
that a mix is designed already for the test). Weigh the quantity of cement, sand, aggregate
and water correctly. Mix thoroughly. Use this freshly prepared concrete for the test.
3. Fill the mould to about one fourth of its height with concrete. While filling, hold the mould
firmly in position.
4. Tamp the layer with the round end of the tamping rod with 25 strokes disturbing the strokes
uniformly over the cross section.
5. Fill the mould further in 3 layers each time by 1/4th height and tamping evenly each layer
as above. After completion of rodding of the topmost layer strike of the concrete with a
trowel or tamping bar, level with the top of mould.

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

6. Lift the mould vertically slowly and remove it.

7. The concrete will subside. Measure the height of the specimen of concrete after subsidence.
8. The slump of concrete is the subsidence, i.e. difference in original height and height up to
the topmost point of the subsided concrete in millimetres.

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

Observations and calculations: Slump test

Name of the student:________________________________ Roll number:____________
Date: _______________________Signature of TA:________________________________

Trial 1 Trial 2

Mix design ratio

Water cement ratio

Slump value

Result:

The slump of concrete is: ________ mm.

Inferences:

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

Measurement of workability of concrete by compaction factor test

Aim: To measure the workability of concrete by compaction factor test.

Theory:
This test is adopted to determine workability of concrete where nominal size of aggregate does
not exceed 40 mm. It is based on the definition, that workability is that property of concrete,
which determines the amount of work required to produce full compaction. The test consists
essentially of applying a standard amount of work to standard quantity of concrete and
measuring the resulting compaction. The compaction factor is defined as the ratio of the weight
of partially compacted concrete to the weight of fully compacted concrete. It shall be stated to
the nearest second decimal place. The relationship between degree of workability and
compaction factor are:
Degree of workability Very Low Low Medium High
Compaction factor 0.75-0.80 0.80-0.85 0.85-0.92 >0.92

Apparatus: Compaction Factor Apparatus, tamping rod, metallic sheet, weighing machine
and scale.
Material: Cement, sand, aggregate and water.
Procedure:
1. Prepare a concrete mix for testing workability. Consider a W/C ratio of 0.4 to 0.5 and design
mix of proportion about 1:1:2 (it is presumed that a mix is designed already for the test).
Weigh the quantity of cement, sand, aggregate and water correctly. Mix thoroughly. Use this
freshly prepared concrete for the test.
2. Measure the empty weight of the cylinder (W).
3. Place the concrete into the upper hopper up to its brim.
4. Open the trapdoor of the upper hopper. The concrete will fall into the lower hopper.
5. Open the trapdoor of the lower hopper, so that concrete falls into the cylinder below.
6. Remove the excess concrete above the level of the top of the cylinder; clean the outside of
the cylinder.
7. Weigh the concrete in the cylinder. This weight of concrete is the "weight of partially
compacted concrete", (W1).
8. Empty the cylinder and refill with concrete in layers, compacting each layer well (or the
same may be vibrated for full compaction). Top surface may be struck off level.
9. Find cut weight of the concrete in the fully compacted state. This weight is the “Weight of
fully compacted concrete" (W2).

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

Observations and calculations: Compaction factor test

Name of the student:________________________________ Roll number:____________
Date: _______________________Signature of TA:________________________________

Weight of empty cylinder (W), kg

Weight of partially compacted concrete (W1), kg

Weight of fully compacted concrete (W2),kg

Result:

( )
The compaction factor of concrete is: =________
( )

Inferences:

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

Tests for determination of compressive strength of concrete

Aim: To determine the cube and cylindrical strength of the concrete

Theory:
One of the important properties of concrete is its strength in compression. The strength in
compression has a definite relationship with all other properties of concrete i.e. these properties
improved with the improvement in compressive strength. Thus, with this single test one judge
that whether concreting has been done properly or not. In India cubical moulds of size 150 ×
150 × 150 mm are commonly used. The test specimens are tested by compression testing
machine after 7 or 28 days curing. Load at the failure divided by area of specimen gives the
compressive strength of concrete. At least three specimens are tested at each selected age. The
failure of the specimen is called as ‘hour glass’ type failure. This happens due to lateral restraint
provided by the plates to the cubes.
Apparatus: Moulds for the test cubes (100 × 100 × 100 mm), tamping rod, metallic sheet,
Compressive testing machine.
Material: Cement, sand, aggregate and water, grease
Procedure:
1. Pour the prepared concrete mix in the lightly greased cube moulds.
2. Fill concrete in two layers each of approximately 50 mm and ramming each layer with 35
blows evenly distributed over the surface of layer.
3. Struck off concrete flush with the top of the moulds.
4. Level the concrete at the top of the mould by means of trowel and give proper identification
mark of the specimen.
5. Specimens are removed from the moulds after 24hrs and cured in water. Keep it for moist
curing up to 28 days.
Testing of concrete cubes
6. Take the cube out of water at the end of seven days with dry cloth. Measure the dimensions
of the surface in which the load is to be applied. Let be ‘L’ and ‘B’ respectively.
7. Place the cube in compressive testing machine and apply the load uniformly at the rate of
35 N/mm2.
8. Note the load at which the cube fails. Let it be ‘P’. Also note the type of failure and
appearance cracks
9. Calculate the compressive strength of the cube by using formula P/A. Where A is the area
of loaded surface (i.e. L×B).
10. Repeat the whole procedure (Step 7 to 10) to find the compressive strength of the cube at
the end of 28 days.

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

Observations and calculations: Compressive strength of concrete

Name of the student:________________________________ Roll number:____________
Date: _______________________Signature of TA:________________________________

(a) For 7 days strength:

Breadth Load compressive strength

Length 2
Sl. No. in N/mm Remark
(in mm) (in mm) (in N)

Average:
(b) For 28 days strength:

Breadth Load compressive strength

Length 2
Sl. No. in N/mm Remark
(in mm) (in mm) (in N)

Average:
(c) For cylinder specimen

Height Load compressive strength in

2
Sl. No. N/mm Remark
(in mm) (in N)

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

Result:
The type and grade of concrete:
The compressive strength of cement ate the end of
i) 7 days : ___________. N/mm2.
ii) 28 days : ___________. N/mm2.

Inferences:

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

TESTS FOR DETERMINATION OF FLEXURAL STRENGTH

OF CONCRETE

Aim: To determine the flexural strength of cubic concrete specimens.

Theory:
Flexural strength is one measure of the tensile strength of concrete. It is a measure of an
unreinforced concrete beam to resist failure in bending. It is measured by loading 150 × 150
mm concrete beams with a span length of 700 mm. This test is performed by three-point loading
experiment. The Third point loading test applies the forces at the 1/3 and 2/3 points equally
from the top side by distributing a single centred force through a steel beam to two points rather
than one. The beam is supported at two points from below near the ends. The bending moment
is lower in a third point test than in a centre point test. Highway designer use a theory based on
flexural strength for design of pavements. However, there is very limited use of flexural testing
for structural concrete.
Apparatus: Flexural testing beam moulds (100 × 100 × 500 mm), tamping rod, metallic sheet,
universal testing machine.
Material: Cement, sand, aggregate and water, Grease
Procedure:
1. Pour the prepared concrete mix in the lightly greased cube moulds.
2. Fill concrete in two layers each of approximately 50 mm and ramming each layer with 35
blows evenly distributed over the surface of layer.
3. Struck off concrete flush with the top of the moulds.
4. Level the concrete at the top of the mould by means of trowel and give proper identification
mark of the specimen.
5. Specimens are removed from the moulds after 24 hrs and cured in water. Keep it for moist
curing up to 28 days.
6. To place the specimen in the testing machine, the bearing surfaces of the supporting and
loading rollers shall be wiped clean, and any loose sand or other material removed from
the surfaces of the specimen where they are to make contact with the rollers.
7. The specimen shall then be placed in the machine in such a manner that the load shall be
applied to the uppermost surface as cast in the mould, along two lines spaced 20.0 or 13.3
cm apart.
8. The axis of the specimen shall be carefully aligned with the axis of the loading device. No
packing shall be used between the bearing surfaces of the specimen and the rollers.
9. The load shall be applied without shock and increasing continuously at a rate such that the
extreme fibre stress increases at approximately 7 kg/sq cm/min, that is, at a rate of loading
of 400 kg/min for the 15.0 cm specimens and at a rate of 180 kg/min for the 10.0 cm
specimens.

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

10. The load shall be increased until the specimen fails, and the maximum load applied to the
specimen during the test shall be recorded. The appearance of the fractured faces of
concrete and any unusual features in the type of failure shall be noted.

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

Observations and calculations: Flexural strength of concrete

Name of the student:________________________________ Roll number:____________
Date: _______________________Signature of TA:________________________________

• Length of Specimen (l) : _______ mm

• Width of the specimen (b) : _______ mm
• Depth of the specimen (d) : _______ mm
• Age of the specimen : 28 days

Maximum load (P) Position of Fracture Modulus of rupture (fb)**

Sl. No.
in N (a) in mm* (MPa)

* ‘a’ equals the distance between the line of fracture and the nearer support, measured on the
centre line of the tensile side of the specimen.
** When a> 200 mm for a 150 mm specimen, the flexural strength of the specimen expressed
as the modulus of rupture, fb, is calculated from:
×
f b=
×

But, if 200> a> 170 mm for a 150 mm specimen fb, is calculated from:
×
f b=
×

Result:

The average 28 days modulus of rupture of concrete sample is: _______ MPa

Inferences:

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

TESTS FOR DETERMINATION OF SPLITTING TENSILE

STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

Aim: To determine splitting tensile strength of cylindrical concrete specimens.

Theory:
Splitting tensile strength is generally greater than the direct tensile strength and lower than the
flexural strength (modulus of rupture). Splitting tensile strength is used in the design of
structural light weight concrete members to evaluate the shear resistance provided by concrete
and to determine the development length of the reinforcement. This test method consists of
applying a diametrical force along the length of a cylindrical concrete at a rate that is within a
prescribed range until failure. This loading induces tensile stresses on the plane containing the
applied load and relatively high compressive stresses in the area immediately around the
applied load. Although we are applying a compressive load but due to Poisson’s effect, tension
is produced and the specimen fails in tension. Tensile failure occurs rather than compressive
failure because the areas of load application are in a state of triaxial compression, thereby
allowing them to withstand much higher compressive stresses than would be indicated by a
uniaxial compressive strength test result. Thin, bearing strips are used to distribute the load
applied along the length of the cylinder. The maximum load sustained by the specimen is
divided by appropriate geometrical factors to obtain the splitting tensile strength.
Apparatus: Cylindrical mould confirming to IS: 10086-1982 for splitting tensile strength (100
× 100 × 200), tamping rod, metallic sheet, universal testing machine..
Material: Cement, sand, aggregate and water, Grease
Procedure:
1. Pour the prepared concrete mix in the lightly greased cube moulds.
2. Fill concrete in two layers each of approximately 50 mm and ramming each layer with 35
blows evenly distributed over the surface of layer.
3. Struck off concrete flush with the top of the moulds.
4. Level the concrete at the top of the mould by means of trowel and give proper identification
mark of the specimen.
5. Specimens are removed from the moulds after 24 hrs and cured in water. Keep it for moist
curing up to 28 days.
6. To place the specimen in the testing machine, the bearing surfaces of the supporting and
loading rollers shall be wiped clean, and any loose sand or other material removed from
the surfaces of the specimen where they are to make contact with the rollers.
7. Two bearings strips of nominal (1/8 in i.e 3.175mm) thick plywood, free of imperfections,
approximately (25mm) wide, and of length equal to or slightly longer than that of the
specimen should be provided for each specimen.
8. The bearing strips are placed between the specimen and both upper and lower bearing
blocks of the testing machine or between the specimen and the supplemental bars or plates.

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

9. Draw diametric lines an each end of the specimen using a suitable device that will ensure
that they are in the same axial plane. Canter one of the plywood strips along the centre of
the lower bearing block.
10. Place the specimen on the plywood strip and align so that the lines marked on the ends of
the specimen are vertical and centred over the plywood strip.
11. Place a second plywood strip lengthwise on the cylinder, centred on the lines marked on
the ends of the cylinder. Apply the load continuously and without shock, at a constant rate
within, the range of 689 to 1380 kPa/min splitting tensile stress until failure of the
specimen
12. Record the maximum applied load indicated by the testing machine at failure. Note the
type of failure and appearance of fracture.

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036
 Experiment # 2-: Tests on Concrete

Observations and calculations: Tensile strength of concrete

Name of the student:________________________________ Roll number:____________
Date: _______________________Signature of TA:________________________________

• Length of Specimen (l) : _______ mm

• Diameter of the specimen (d) : _______ mm
• Age of the specimen : 28 days

Spitting tensile strength in

Maximum load (P) MPa Average spitting tensile strength
in N (𝑇= ) (MPa)

Result:

The average 28 days tensile strength of concrete sample is : _______ MPa

Inferences:

BTCM Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Ins tute of Technology Madras, Chennai- 600 036