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Laboratory Activity # 1


Slump Test


CE 53, Construction Materials and Testing


Date Performed: July 2, 2014


Group 3, BSCE 4A


Joyzelle Ann C. Janiola



Engr. Ruby G. Espaola
Instructor
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Introduction
The slump test is a means of assessing the workability and consistency of fresh
concrete. Workability in concrete practice refers to the degree of wetness of concrete.
On the other hand, consistency refers to the force flow relationship. Slump test is done
as a means of checking that the correct amount of water has been added to the mix.
The test allows builders and construction crews to get a good sense of how the mixed
product will perform in a variety of settings, and also gives them the opportunity to add
either more powder or more water in order to get the right balance. Different projects
have different specifications when it comes to concrete stiffness, and testing the results
is usually a lot more accurate than simply following prepared instructions or making
informed guesses.
The slump cone is placed on a solid, impermeable, level base and filled with the
fresh concrete in three equal layers. Each layer is rod 25 times to ensure compaction.
The third layer is finished off level with the top of the cone. The cone is carefully lifted
up, leaving a heap of concrete that settles or slumps slightly. The upturned slump cone
is placed on the base to act as a reference, and the difference in level between its top
and the top of the concrete is measured and recorded to the nearest 5 mm to give the
slump of the concrete.
When the cone is removed, the slump may take one of three forms: true slump,
shear slump or collapsed slump. In a true slump the concrete simply subsides, keeping
more or less to shape. In a shear slump the top portion of the concrete shears off and
slips sideways. In a collapse slump the concrete collapses completely. Only a true slump
is of any use in the test. If a shear or collapse slump is achieved, a fresh sample should
be taken and the test repeated. A collapse slump will generally mean that the mix is too
wet or that it is a high workability mix, for which the flow test is more appropriate.


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Materials
A. Equipment Used
Slump cone
Tamping rod
Shovel
Scale Ruler
Pallet

Procedure

A. Preparing the Concrete Mix
Wt. Of coarse aggregate: 3 eq. volume of 2 kg cement
Wt. Of fine aggregate: 2 eq. volume of 2 kg cement
Wt. Of cement: 2 kg
Water: 1000 mL.
Water/cement ratio = (W/C) = 0.5
A two kilogram Portland cement was weighted. Three and two equivalent
volumes of cement were prepared for fine aggregates and coarse aggregates,
respectively. A liter of water was also prepared. The Portland cement, fine aggregates
and coarse aggregates were then mixed thoroughly (Figure 1 and Figure 2). After
thorough mixing, a liter of water was then added (Figure 3). The concrete mix was then
thoroughly mixed until the desired consistency was attained (Figure 4).
Formula for determining the volume of water to be added:
Vwater = (water-cement ratio)(mass of cement)
B. Filling the Slump Cone
The slump cone was dampen inside and was placed on a smooth, moist, non-
absorbent, level surface large enough to accommodate both the slumped concrete and
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the slump cone. The cone was firmly held into place by stepping on its foot holds
(Figure 5).
The slump cone was filled one-third of its total height and was rod twenty-five
times (Figure 6 and Figure 7). After tamping the concrete mix, the slump cone was
filled two-third full and the second layer was rod with twenty-five strokes penetrating
until the top of the bottom layer. The cone was filled until it is spilling over. Then, the
layer was rod twenty-five times with the rod penetrating into but not through the
second layer.
A pallet was then used to even the top of the slump cone (Figure 8).

C. Removing the Slump Cone
The slump cone was then lifted carefully in the vertical direction (Figure 9). The
slump cone was then inverted and placed beside the slumped concrete. The rod was
then placed horizontally above the inverted slump cone. The gap between the tamping
rod and the slumped concrete was then measured with a scale rule.

D. Measuring the Slump
A straight edge was laid across the top of the slump cone (Figure 10). The
amount of slump was measured from the bottom of the straight edge to the top of the
slumped concrete at a point over the original center of the base.










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Results and Discussion


Graph 1



Graph 2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7
C
:
F
.
A
:
C
.
A

R
a
t
i
o
Water-Cement Ratio
Concrete Mixture
Cement
Fine Aggregates
Coarse Aggregates
Water (L)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1 2 3 4 5
S
l
u
m
p

(
m
m
)
Group
Slump Test
Slump (mm)
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After doing the test, a true slump of 5 mm was recorded for the concrete mix
having 0.50 water-cement ratio (Figure 10).
Graph 1, shows the comparison of samples having the same amount of cement
and coarse and fine aggregates but with a different water-cement ratio values. Hence,
the volume of water added differs.
In graph 2, it shows that as the as the volume of water added into concrete mix
is increased the slump also increased. It could also be noted that the result of Group 3
and Group 4 are the same. This could mean that the water added to the mixture is
inaccurate. Therefore, it is recommended to use calibrated containers to be able to
gather the accurate volume of water to be added to the mixture.




















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References

Atoom, M. T. (nd). Slump Test, Final Report (0002804) submitted to Civil Engineering
Department, University of Jordan.
R-con, Inc. (2002). Concrete Testing Part I: Slump Test, Tech Letter, Volume III No.
2.
Kurtis, K. (nd). Tests on Portland Cement. School of Civil Engineering, Georgia
Institute of Technology. Atlanta, Georgia.
Conrete. (nd). Slump Test. [On-line] accessed on July 4, 2014 available at
http://www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips_nuggets.asp?cmd=display&id=559
WiseGeek. (nd). Slump Test. [On-line] accessed on July 4, 2014 available at
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-slump-test.htm

















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Figure 1. Mixing cement and coarse and fine aggregates











Figure 2. Thoroughly mixed cement and coarse and fine aggregates
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Figure 3. Adding water in the concrete mix











Figure 4. Mixing the concrete
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Figure 5. Securing the slump cone











Figure 6. Filling the slump cone
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Figure 7. Rodding the concrete mix











Figure 8. Flattening the top of the slump cone
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Figure 9. Removing the slump cone











Figure 10. Measuring the slump