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Concrete Slump Test

The slump test is used to determine the consistency or workability of fresh concrete by measuring how much a sample of fresh concrete sags under its own weight. The test involves filling a truncated cone mold with concrete in layers, rodding each layer, and then lifting the mold straight up - the amount of sagging or slumping is measured. Air content testing uses pressure to measure the volume of air voids in fresh concrete according to ASTM standards, with two main meter types and procedures described. Proper consolidation and testing procedures are important to obtain accurate measurements of slump and air content.

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40 views

Concrete Slump Test

The slump test is used to determine the consistency or workability of fresh concrete by measuring how much a sample of fresh concrete sags under its own weight. The test involves filling a truncated cone mold with concrete in layers, rodding each layer, and then lifting the mold straight up - the amount of sagging or slumping is measured. Air content testing uses pressure to measure the volume of air voids in fresh concrete according to ASTM standards, with two main meter types and procedures described. Proper consolidation and testing procedures are important to obtain accurate measurements of slump and air content.

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cabbie
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Slump test

A slump test is a method used to determine the consistency of concrete. The


consistency, or stiffness, indicates how much water has been used in the mix. The
stiffness of the concrete mix should be matched to the requirements for the finished
product quality

Concrete Slump Test

The concrete slump test is used for the measurement of a property of fresh concrete.
The test is an empirical test that measures the workability of fresh concrete. More
specifically, it measures consistency between batches. The test is popular due to the
simplicity of apparatus used and simple procedure.

Principle of Slump Test

The slump test result is a measure of the behavior of a compacted inverted cone of
concrete under the action of gravity. It measures the consistency or the wetness of
concrete.

Apparatus

 Slump cone,
 Scale for measurement,
 Temping rod (steel)

Procedure of Concrete Slump test:

1) The mold for the slump test is a frustum of a cone, 300 mm (12 in) of height.
The base is 200 mm (8in) in diameter and it has a smaller opening at the top
of 100 mm (4 in).
2) The base is placed on a smooth surface and the container is filled with
concrete in three layers, whose workability is to be tested.
3) Each layer is temped 25 times with a standard 16 mm (5/8 in) diameter steel
rod, rounded at the end.
4) When the mold is completely filled with concrete, the top surface is struck off
(leveled with mold top opening) by means of screening and rolling motion of
the temping rod.
5) The mold must be firmly held against its base during the entire operation so
that it could not move due to the pouring of concrete and this can be done by
means of handles or foot - rests brazed to the mold.
6) Immediately after filling is completed and the concrete is leveled, the cone is
slowly and carefully lifted vertically, an unsupported concrete will now slump.
7) The decrease in the height of the center of the slumped concrete is called
slump.
8) The slump is measured by placing the cone just besides the slump concrete
and the temping rod is placed over the cone so that it should also come over
the area of slumped concrete.
9) The decrease in height of concrete to that of mold is noted with scale. (usually
measured to the nearest 5 mm (1/4 in).

AIR CONTENT

ir-entrained concrete is typically specified in areas of the country where frost-related


damage can occur. The measurement of air content in fresh concrete of normal
density is typically performed using the pressure method (ASTM C 231). Another
useful test is ASTM C 173. However, the pressure method is frequently preferred
because it is relatively fast.

You should begin the test within 15 minutes after obtaining the composite sample.
Start by filling the 0.25 ft3 base of the air-content test device in three equal layers,
and rod each layer 25 times. After rodding, strike the outside of the base with a
mallet 12 to 15 times to close any air voids. After completing the three equal layers,
strike off the bowl flush at the top to completely fill the 0.25 ft3 volume. At this point, it
can be weighed as part of the calculation to determine the fresh concrete unit weight.

Next, latch the top of the air-content test device over the base and fill the air gap
between the top of the struck-off concrete and the underside of the top of air meter
with water. The meter top is then pressurized with the built-in hand pump until
zeroed out (or as calibrated). After a stabilization period, release the pressure in the
top and read the air-void content on the dial on the top of the meter. Subtract the
aggregate correction factor from the dial reading and report the final value.

Testing tip: A typical air content for concrete with a ¾-inch maximum-size
aggregate is about 6%, and specified ranges in air content are typically minus 1 ½%
and plus 1 ½% of the target value
Measurement of Air Content in Concrete
Air content of concrete is measured by the pressure air measurement method
which is based on the principles of The Boyle’s law. The Boyle’s law states
that the volume of the gas is inversely proportional to the pressure.

By the application of pressure on a concrete of known volume (that consist of


air voids), compression takes place which results in the reduction of the
volume. This volume change is measured and related to the original initial
volume.

The difference between original and reduced volume of concrete provides the
air content in concrete. The following test was first applied by Klein and
Walker in 1946. Menzel was the person who refined the apparatus and made
it as a standard test.

One of the main advantages of this method is that no knowledge of the


weights and specific gravities are necessary.
ASTM Method of Air Content Measurement in Concrete
The ASTM test method for pressure air measurement specifies two meters to
measure the air content. Type A meter helps in the direct measurement of the
change in volume in the concrete. This is carried out by means of a column of
water over the known volume of concrete.
With the application of the pressure, the volume reduction can be determined
by using a calibrated sight tube. The Type A method have a straight forward
procedure.
One of the limitations of this method is that it requires recalibration of the
elevation or the barometric pressure changes to a value exceeding 183m.
This change is almost equal to 2% change in the barometric pressure at the
sea level.

The Type B air meter involves the use of a known volume of air at a known
higher pressure. This can equilibrate with the known volume of the concrete in
a sealed container.
The pressure drop observed in the high-pressure chamber is related to the
amount of air within the concrete. As compared with type A air meter, there is
no need for recalibration. But it has its own limitation of leakage from the
valves.

Hence the operator must be prepared anytime ready with the tools to correct
the leakage and the variation in the dial readings. Ignorance can provide an
incorrect result.

The pressure measurement technique requires the concrete sample to


undergo complete consolidation in a bowl. This is because the air voids
formed due to lack of concrete will be measured as the air content of the
concrete.

Proper rodding above a slump of 75mm, internal vibration below 25mm is


necessary to undergo proper consolidation. Until the surface is free from
aggregate and shows a glistening appearance, the vibration must be
continued.
Over vibration can result in removal of air voids that are intentionally
entrained. For concrete with aggregates size greater than 50mm must be
screened through 3.75 mm sieve before the test, as for larger aggregates the
representative sampling becomes difficult.

A strike of the plate or a bar is used to strike off the concrete. The pressure
method is used less with concrete having dense aggregates. The air in the
porosity within the aggregates will be compressed just as air within the cement
paste.

This will give a higher air content value than the original. This is corrected by
means of an aggregate correction factor. But this is not suitable for concrete
that uses lightweight aggregate with the correction factor greater than 0.5%.

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