LABORATORY ACTIVITY #1: SLUMP TEST

SUBMITTED BY:
Cherry Belle P. Hilario
GROUP #2

SUBMITTED TO:
Engr. Ruby G. Espaola
INSTRUCTOR

CE 53A, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING LABORATORY

(1ST SEMESTER 2017-2018)
 INTRODUCTION
Background
Slump test is the simplest workability test for concrete that involves minimum cost and
provides immediate results. This test is used to ensure the uniformity for different loads of
concrete under field conditions. The American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) and
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has set their
standards and specifications in performing this method of testing, and it carries the code
ASTM C 143 or AASHTO T 119.
In general, the concrete slump value is used to find the workability, which
indicates water-cement ratio, but there are other various factors that influence the concrete
slump value, including properties of materials, mixing methods, dosage, and admixtures
(Concrete Slump Test). All concrete mixes are a combination of coarse and fine aggregates,
cement, and water in varying proportions. The results can be interpreted as zero slump, true
slump, shear slump, and collapse slump.

Objectives
This activity aims to determine the workability of the fresh concrete mix and assess its
consistency.

MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

I. PREPARATION OF MATERIALS

Materials used in this activity are: pail/bucket, large tin can, trowel (palita), measuring
device, weighing scale, spade/shovel, slump set, plain sheet G.I, Holcim cement (Portland
Type 1P), fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and water. Some of these materials can be easily
seen in the household (Figure 1) and some were bought from a nearby stores, especially the
coarse aggregate and the cement (Figure 2-4).

Figure 2. Coarse Aggregate Figure 3. Fine Sand

Figure 1. Pail, Large tin can, Trow el, Measuring dev ice,
Shov el, Slump set, Plain sheet

Figure 4. Holcim Cement Figure 5. Graduated

Type 1P cylinder with water
 The materials for the concrete mixture (cement, fine sand, and coarse aggregate) are
weighed according to 1:2:4 ratio, based on ASTM C 143 (See Figure 6). 2 kg of cement, 4 kg of
fine sand and 8 kg of coarse aggregate are designated for each group. In Figure 7, the
materials are put on a plain sheet where it will be mix.

Figure 5. Weighing the Three (3) Materials for Concrete Mixture

Figure 6. Weighing of Cement, Fine Sand, Coarse Aggregate According to 1:2:4 Ratio

Figure 7. Fine Sand, Coarse Aggregate, and Cement in a Plain Sheet

II. CONCRETE MIXING

After preparing all the dry ingredients, the measured quantity of sand and gravel was
spread out uniformly and mixed. The cement was dumped uniformly on the mixed sand and
gravel and was mixed with the used of the shovels, turning the mixture over and over again
until it was uniform in color (See Figure 8). A depression was made in the middle of the mixed
pile and water was slowly added into it, turning the mixture over and over again until the
concrete is workable and consistency was uniform throughout the pile (See Figure 9). The mix
may be too stiff or too sloppy, depending on the water-cement ratio (See Figure 10).
Figure 8. Mixing of the Three (3) Dry I ngredients

Figure 9. Addition of Water on the Mixed Pile

Figure 10. Freshly New Mixed Concrete

III. PERFORMING THE SLUMP TEST

Figure 11. Dampening and Scraping the Excess Figure 12. Placing Newly Mixed Concrete on the
Cement on the Slump Set Slump Cone

The slump cone was dampened and was held firmly in place during filling by the
operator standing between the two foot pieces (See Figure 12). The mixed concrete was
placed in three layers, each was approximately one-third (1/3) the volume of the slump cone.
In every layer, 25 blows were rod using the tamper in a clockwise direction from the sides of
the slump cone to the center in order to distribute uniformly the mixed concrete. In filling and
rodding the top layer, heap the concrete above the mold before rodding is started. After
rodding the top layer, strike off the surface of the concrete with a trowel (See Figure 13).

Figure 13. Smoothing the Surface Figure 14. Cleaning the Outside Figure 15. Pulling Up the Cone
of the Concrete Surface of the Cone

In Figure 14, the surface outside the base of the cone was cleaned in order to rid any
excess concrete. Then the cone was immediately removed from the concrete by raising it
slowly in a vertical direction as seen in Figure 15.
IV. MEASURING THE SLUMP

By inverting the slump cone and putting the tamping rod at the top of it, t he slump was
measured immediately by determining the difference between the height of the cone and
the height of the vertical axis of the concrete.

Figure 16. Measuring the Slump

 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

WATER-CEMENT AMOUNT OF CONCRETE CONCRETE

GROUP #
RATIO WATER SLUMP VALUE SLUMP TYPE
1 0.45 0.9 L 0 mm Zero Slump

2 0.5 1L 0 mm Zero Slump

3 0.55 1.1 L 35 mm True Slump

4 0.6 1.2 L 70 mm True Slump

5 0.65 1.3 L 100 mm Collapsed Slump

Table 1. Summary of Gathered Data

Each group was given the same amount of fine sand, coarse aggregate and cement
but different water-cement ratio. Water is the key ingredient. Too much water results in weak
concrete. Too little water results in concrete that is unworkable. As a result, the concrete slump
type and value of each group differs from one another.
The amount of water is computed by the use of the formula:

=
Where:

W = Amount of water in Liters

C = Cement in Grams
N = Water-Cement ratio

TYPES OF CONCRETE SLUMP RANGE (in mm)

1. Heavy mass construction 25-50

2. Pavements 20-30

3. Bridge deck 25-75

4. Beams and slabs 50-100

5. Columns, retaining walls and thin

75-150
verticals
Table 2. Recommended Values of Slumps for Different Concrete Mixes (Slump Test of Concrete, 2016)
 In Group 1, the water-cement ratio is 0.45, as
a result, the amount of water is 0.9 L. As seen in Figure
17, the concrete slump type incurred by group 1 was
a zero slump type. This means that the mixed
concrete is unworkable.

In Group 2, the water-cement ratio is 0.45, as

a result, the amount of water is 1 L. As seen in Figure
18, the concrete slump type is the same as what the
Group 1 incurred. This means that the mixed
concrete is also unworkable.

In Group 3, the water-cement ratio is 0.55, as a

result, the amount of water is 1.1 L. As seen in Figure 19,
the concrete slump type incurred by group 3 is a true
slump with a slump value of 35 mm. This means that the
mixed concrete is workable especially in bridge deck
type of concrete (See Table 2).

In Group 4, the water-cement ratio is 0.6, as

a result, the amount of water is 1.2 L. As seen in Figure
20, the concrete slump type incurred by group 4 is a
true slump with a slump value of 70 mm. This means
that the mixed concrete is also workable especially
in bridge deck type of concrete, same as the
mixed concrete of group 3.
 In Group 5, the water-cement ratio is 0.65,
as a result, the amount of water is 1.3 L. As seen in
Figure 20, the concrete slump type incurred by
group 5 is a collapsed slump with a slump value of
100 mm. This means that the mixed concrete is a
weak type yet it still used for beams and columns
type of concrete (See Table 2).

Slump Value (in mm)

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5
Slump Value (in mm) 0 0 35 70 100

Graph 1. Summary of Slump Values in Each Group

The slump value of each group was reflected in this graph. This graph shows that the
higher the amount of water, the higher the slump value will be. Group 5 has the highest amount
of water among the 5 groups, this resulted into a collapsed slump with a slump value of 100
mm. On the other hand, Group 1 and 2 are the groups with the smallest quantity of wat er, and
this resulted into a zero slump.
 CONCLUSION

Concreting involves many high risk manual tasks with a range of risk factors that are
largely impacted on by design issues. In this activity, water plays a major role that influence
the results of the slump type. Too much water resulted into a sloppy and weak concrete, it will
then resulted into a collapsed slump or a shear slump. Too little water resulted into a stiff and
unworkable concrete. A very stiff mix will have a zero slump. Lean mixes tend to be harsh and
slumps can vary from true to shear in different sample of the same mixes.
It is concluded that a proper water-cement ratio must be used in order to obtain a
more workable concrete mix that can be used in any type of concrete. One important
difference with concrete is that the longer you allow the concrete to continue to mix before
you pull up the cone, the stiffer it will be and the less it will slump when the cone is removed.
It then reveals that, sooner or later, all concrete mixtures will reach zero slump if you miss the
fact that slump changes with time and can create misdiagnosis.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED

Problems encountered during the actual activity are as follows:

1. Uneven distribution of mixed concrete during the scooping by layer of the cone.
2. Improper stacking of tamping rod from near the cone progressing to the center.
3. Unlevelled area where the slump cone is placed.
4. Improper division by layer of the cone.

RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that:
1. The side of the cone must be tap properly while filling the cone with concrete mix in
order to minimize air bubbles.
2. Slowly add the water into the dry ingredients in order to prevent spilling where the water
might run the cement off.
3. Pull up the cone immediately right after smoothing the surface of the mix, in order to
get the correct result of the sample.
4. Prevent the operator standing between the two foot pieces of the slump cone from
moving in order to ensure the stability of the slump inside the cone.
 REFERENCES

Concret e Slump Test . (n.d.). Retrieved from The Constructor:

http://theconstructor.org/concrete-slump-test/1558/

Hover, K. C. (2008). Tech Talk. What Slump Is It ?, 61-63.

Slump Test of Concret e. (2016, December 24). Retrieved from Daily Civil:
www.dailycivil.com/concrete-slump-test/