University of salahaddin

College of engineering
Civil department

Building Material Testing

Compressive strength of gypsum
Prepared by : jihad jami jadir
Supervised by : dr. Sinan

Group no ; A1

Date of testing : 19/2/2018

 Introduction
A concrete masonry unit (CMU) is a standard size rectangular block used
in building construction.
Those that use cinders (fly ash or bottom ash) are called cinder blocks in the United
States, breeze blocks (breeze is a synonym of ash)[1] in the United Kingdom,
and hollow blocks in the Philippines. In New Zealand and Canada they are known
as concrete blocks or more commonly as just blocks. In New Zealand, they are also
known as construction blocks. In Australia they are also known as Besser
blocks or Besser bricks, because the American-based Besser Company was a major
supplier of concrete-block-making machinery. Clinker blocks use clinker as
aggregate. In non-technical usage, the terms cinder block and breeze block are often
generalized to cover all of these varieties.
Concrete blocks are made from cast concrete (e.g. Portland cement and aggregate,
usually sand and fine gravel, for high-density blocks). Lower density blocks may
use industrial wastes, such as fly ash or bottom ash, as an aggregate.[2] Lightweight
blocks can also be produced using autoclaved aerated concrete.

Sizes and structure[edit]

Concrete blocks may be produced with hollow centers (cores) to reduce weight or
improve insulation. The use of blockwork allows structures to be built in the
traditional masonry style with layers (or courses) of staggered blocks. Blocks come
in many sizes. In the US, the most common nominal size is 16 in × 8 in × 8 in
(410 mm × 200 mm × 200 mm); the block measures a ⅜ in shorter, allowing for
mortar joints. In Ireland and the UK, blocks are usually 440 mm × 215 mm
× 100 mm (17.3 in × 8.5 in × 3.9 in) excluding mortar joints. In New Zealand and
Canada, blocks are usually 390 mm × 190 mm × 190 mm (15.4 in × 7.5 in × 7.5 in)
excluding mortar joints.
Block cores are typically tapered so that the top surface of the block (as laid) has a
greater surface on which to spread a mortar bed and for easier handling. Most CMU's
have two cores, but three- and four-core units are also produced. A core also allows
for the insertion of steel reinforcement, tying individual blocks together in the
assembly, with the goal of greatly increased strength. To hold the reinforcement in
proper position and to bond the block to the reinforcement, the cores must be filled
with grout (concrete). Reinforcement is primarily used to impart greater tensile
strength to the assembly, improving its ability to resist lateral forces such as wind
load and seismic forces.[3]

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A variety of specialized shapes exist to allow special construction features. U-shaped
blocks or knockout blocks with notches to allow the construction of bond
beams or lintel assemblies, using horizontal reinforcing grouted into place in the
cavity. Blocks with a channel on the end, known as "jamb blocks", allow doors to
be secured to wall assemblies. Blocks with grooved ends permit the construction
of control joints, allowing a filler material to be anchored between the un-mortared
block ends. Other features, such as radiused corners known as "bullnoses" may be
incorporated. A wide variety of decorative profiles also exist.[4]
Concrete masonry units may be formulated with special aggregates to produce
specific colors or textures for finish use. Special textures may be produced by
splitting a ribbed or solid two-block unit; such factory-produced units are called
"split-rib" or "split-face" blocks.[5] Blocks may be scored by grooves the width of a
mortar joint to simulate different block modules. For example, an 8-by-16-inch
(200 mm × 410 mm) block may be scored in the middle to simulate 8-by-8-inch
(200 mm × 200 mm) masonry, with the grooves filled with mortar and struck to
match the true joints.

Uses[edit]
Concrete block, when built in tandem with concrete columns and tie
beams and reinforced with rebar, is a very common building material for the load-
bearing walls of buildings, in what is termed concrete block structure (CBS)
construction. American suburbanhouses typically employ a concrete foundation and
slab with a concrete block wall on the perimeter. Other common uses for concrete
block wall is interior fire-rated partition walls, and exterior backup wall for
attachment of building envelope systems and façades.

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 Types of Concrete Blocks or Concrete Masonry Units
Depending upon the structure, shape, size and manufacturing processes concrete
blocks are mainly classified into 2 types and they are

o Solid concrete blocks

o Hollow concrete Blocks

Solid Concrete Blocks

Solid concrete blocks are commonly used, which are heavy in weight and
manufactured from dense aggregate. They are very strong and provides good
stability to the structures. So for large work of masonry like for load bearing walls
these solid blocks are preferable. They are available in large sizes compared to
bricks. So, it takes less time to construct concrete masonry than brick masonry.

Hollow Concrete Blocks

Hollow concrete blocks contains void area greater than 25% of gross area. Solid area
of hollow bricks should be more than 50%. The hollow part may be divided into
several components based on our requirement. They are manufactured from
lightweight aggregates. They are light weight blocks and easy to install.

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 Types of Hollow Concrete Blocks:
o Stretcher block
o Corner block
o Pillar block
o Jamb block
o Partition block
o Lintel block
o Frogged brick block
o Bull nose block
Concrete Stretcher Blocks
Concrete stretcher blocks are used to join the corner in the masonry. Stretcher blocks
are widely used concrete hollow blocks in construction. They are laid with their
length parallel to the face of the wall.

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Concrete Corner Blocks
Corner blocks are used at the ends or corners of masonry. The ends may be window
or door openings etc. they are arranged in a manner that their plane end visible to
the outside and other end is locked with the stretcher block.

Concrete Pillar Blocks

Pillar block is also called as double corner block. Generally these are used when two
ends of the corner are visible. In case of piers or pillars these blocks are widely used.

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Jamb Concrete Blocks
Jamb blocks are used when there is an elaborated window opening in the wall. They
are connected to stretcher and corner blocks. For the provision of double hung
windows, jamb blocks are very useful to provide space for the casing members of
window.

Partition Concrete Block

Partition concrete blocks are generally used to build partition walls. Partition blocks
have larger height than its breadth. Hollow part is divided into two to three
components in case of partition blocks.

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Lintel Blocks
Lintel block or beam block is used for the purpose of provision of beam or lintel
beam. Lintel beam is generally provided on the top portion of doors and windows,
which bears the load coming from top. Concrete lintel blocks have deep groove
along the length of block as shown in figure. After placing the blocks, this groove is
filled with concrete along with reinforcement.

Frogged Brick Blocks

Frogged brick block contains a frog on its top along with header and stretcher like
frogged brick. This frog will helps the block to hold mortar and to develop the strong
bond with top laying block.

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 Test objective
 The test objective of this test can be illustrated as follow:

 The main objective of this test is to determine the compressive strength of the
concrete masonry block
 Finding the class of the units
 Check physical properties of the units and compare with the ASTM specification

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 Requirements
 This test is done according to ASTM C 90, standard specification for loadbearing
concrete masonry unit, C 129, standard specification for nonloadbearing concrete
masonry unit, C 140, standard test methods for sampling and testing concrete
masonry units and related units and c 55 standard specification for concrete brick
 For hollow units, face shell thickness (tfs) and web thickness (tw) shall conform
to the requirements prescribed in table 2
 For standard units , no overall dimension shall differ by more than 3.2 mm for
the specified dimension
 All units shall be sound and free from cracks or any other defects that that leave
the bad effects on the physical properties of the units

Table 2 minimum thickness of face shall and webs (loadbearing cmu)

Normal width tfs mm tw mm
mm
76.2 and 102 19 19
152 25 25
203 32 25
254 and greater 32 29

Table 3 strength requirement (nonloadbearing cmu)

Minimum net area compressive strength
MPa
Average of 3 unit 4.14
individual 3.45

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Table 4 strength absorption, and weight classification requirement loadbearing cmu
Maximum water Minimum net area
Weight classification Absorption kg/m3 compressive strength
MPa
Average Individual Average of Individual
of 3 units units 3 units units
Light weight 288 320 13.1 11.7
Medium weight 240 272 13.1 11.7
Normal weight 208 240 13.1 11.7

 For the units used in exposed wall construction, the face or faces shall not show
chips or cracks.
 A shipment not contain more than 5% of the broken units
 For the purpose of test full size cmu shall be selected and number of sampling as
shown in the table below:
Table 5 sampling requirements per lots.
Lot Area Compressive Absorption Linear Total
size/unit determination trength weight shrinkage units
quantities class
dimension
10 000 1 units 3 units 3 units 3 units 10
>104 and
2 units 6 units 6 units 6 units 20
<105
105 for 1 units 3 units 3 units 3 units 10
every
50000
units

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 Apparatus
 Steel scale having divisions not greater than 2.5 mm
 Caliper rule having division not greater than o.25 mm

 Compressive testing machine

 Balance

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 Procedure
1. Measure overall dimensions of the specimens with the scale steel {at bottom
tap , and middle for each face after average them}
2. Measure and record the face shell thickness and web thickness at the thinnest
point with caliper rule
3. Measure the dimension of the holes (L, , W, H,)
4. Weight each specimens and record
5. Position the specimens with it centroid aligned with the center of the testing
machine
6. Apply the load on the specimen utile failure then record the maximum load

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 Calculation
 Calculate the average length, width, and height
Lav = ( L1+L2+L3+L4)/4
Wav = (W1+W2+W3+W4)/4
Hav =(H1+H2+H3+H4)/4
WHERE
L1, L2 L3, the length of the specimens in each face
Lav; the average length mm
Wav: the average width
Hav: the average height mm

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 Calculation
 If there are hoes, calculate the volume of the holes approximately.
 Calculate the gross volume of the units:
Vg = Lav×Wav×Hav
 Calculate the bulk dry density of the unit

BBD = mass (m)/Vg

Where
BBD: the bulk dry density kg/m3
M: the weight of the unit kg
Vg: the gross volume of the unit m3

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 Calculation

 Calculate the compressive strength :

1. Based on gross area

C = load (p)/gross area (Ag)

2. Based on net area

C = load (p)/net area (An)

Where
C : the compressive strength MPa
Ag ; the gross area of the unit mm2
An ; the net area of the unit mm2

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 Data sheet
Group L1 L2 L3 L4 Lav h1 h2 h3 h4 hav W1 W2 W3 W4 wav tf tw Core Mass P
no cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm depth kg KN
cm
40 39 39.8 40 39.7 19.5 18.8 20 20.2 19.6 19.8 20 19.7 19.7 19.8 3.5 3.2 17 25.7 625
1

40 40 40.2 40 40 20 20 20 19.8 20 20 20 20 20 20 3.5 3.5 17.5 23.4 626

2

39.6 39.8 37.8 39.5 39.2 19.5 19.5 19.5 20 19.5 20 20 20 20 20 4 3.5 16.5 23.75 483
3

40 40 4.5 40.2 40.2 20.6 20.7 20.1 20.6 20.5 20 20.1 19.5 20.1 19.9 4 3.6 17 24.5 624
4
38.5 38 39 38 38.3 19 18 20 19 19 17 18 19 20 18.5 3 3 18.5 22.2 752
5

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