SLUMP TEST

INTRODUCTION

The slump test is a means of assessing the consistency of fresh concrete. It is used, indirectly,
as a means of checking that the correct amount of water has been added to the mix. The test is
carried out in accordance with BS EN 12350-2, Testing fresh concrete. Slump test. This
replaces BS 1881: Part 102. (The concrete society, 1966)

The slump test is perhaps the most widely used because of the simplicity of the apparatus
required and the test procedure. The reason for the popularity of the slump is that the
equipment is light and portable and the test is simple and easy to carry out. The slump test
indicates the behaviour of a compacted concrete cone under the action of gravitational forces.
The slump test is a practical means of measuring the workability. Changes in the value of
slump obtained during a job may indicate changes in materials, in the water content or in the
proportions of the mix, so it is useful in controlling the quality of the concrete produced.
The test carried out with a mould called the slump cone. The slump cone is placed on a
horizontal and non-absorbent surface and filled in four equal layers of fresh concrete, each
layer being tamped 25 times with a standard tamping rod. The top layer is struck off level and
the mould is lifted vertically without disturbing the concrete cone. The subsidence of concrete
in millimetres is termed the slump. After the test, slumps evenly all around is called true
slump. In the case of very lean concrete, one half of the cone may slide down the other which
called a shear slump or it may collapse in case of very wet concretes. The slump test is
essentially a measure of consistency or the wetness of the mix. (Documents.mx, 2014)

OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of slump on different water/cement ratio and concrete mix.

APPARATUS

Figure 1b.1: Scoop Figure 1b.2: Spatula for Figure 1b.3:Tamping Rod
mixing purpose

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Figure 1b.4 Slump cone Figure 1b.5: Wood pan to mix Figure 1b.6: Steel Ruler
concrete

PROCEDURE

1. Weighted cement, sand and aggregate (20mm) in proportion of 3, 6, and 12 kg

respectively to get a 1:2:4 concrete mixes. Use water/cement ration of 0.6 and 0.8.

Figure 1b.7 shows 3kg cement, 6kg sand and 12kg aggregate (20mm)
2. Dampened the mould and placed it on a flat moist pan.
3. Held the mould firmly in place during filling.
4. Collected the concrete slump form a well distributed position in the concrete batch.
5. Filled the slump cone with the concrete in 4 equal layers, tamping each layer with
25 strokes.
6. Levelled off the top of the slump cone.

Figure 1b.8 shows the Figure 1b.9 shows the difference between
slump cone is filled with the height of cone and the concrete slump is
concrete. measured.

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 7. Lifted the cone immediately in vertical direction and gently, then measured the
amount by which the concrete slumps. The difference between the height of the
cone and the concrete slump is measured to the nearest 5mm.
8. Repeated the above produce for 1:1:2 concrete mix with 5kg cement and 0.6
water/cement ratio.

Figure 1b.10 shows 5kg cement, 5kg sand and 10kg aggregates (20mm)

RESULT

Concrete Mix Water/Cement Slump (mm) Degree of Workability

1:1:2 20mm 0.6 186 Very high

1:2:4 20mm 0.6 0 Very low

1:1:2 20mm 0.8 195 Very high
1:2:4 20mm 0.8 135 High

DISCUSSION

a) Why is the slump test suitable for site use?

Slump test is the most commonly used method of measuring workability of concrete
which can be employed either in laboratory or at site because there is only simple
apparatus, equipment and simple procedure involved hence slump test is suitable for
site use. The slump test is the simplest workability test for concrete, involves low cost
and provides immediate results. The slump cone apparatus is cheap, convenience to
handle and moreover it is portable.

b) What are the limitations of the slump test?

There are chances of many shapes of slump to occur and it is difficult to decide which
is the correct value. It is not suitable for a concrete in which maximum size of
aggregates excess 40mm. There is no direct relationship between the workability and
the value of slump. It does not occur in case of dry mixes. The slump test is suitable
for slumps of medium to high workability, slump in the range of 5 260 mm, the test
fails to determine the difference in workability in stiff mixes which have zero slump,
or for wet mixes that give a collapse slump. It is limited to concrete formed of
aggregates of less than 38 mm (1.5 inch).

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c) Sketch the three main form of slump?

d) Will the addition of measured water to a ready concrete mix gave the desired
water/cement ratio?
Yes. If the concrete mix almost loss the water content, we can add in water so that it is
more effective, if no addition of water it may affect the workability.

CONCLUSION

Slump test to determine the relative water content of concrete, depending on the loss in height
(slump) of a sample obtained from a cone-shaped mould. (Dictionary.com, 2012)The slump
test results in various shapes, and according to the profile of slumped concrete, the slump are
usually specified at true slump, shear slump or collapse slump. In a true slump, the concrete
simply subsides and keeping more or less to shape. The true slump is an indication of dry a
mix, true slump having slump 10-40mm are used in road making and is low workability
mixes. In a shear slump, the top portion of the concrete shears off and slips sideways. In a
collapse slump, the concrete collapses completely, collapse slump is an indication of too wet
a mix and is a high workability concrete.

The slump test is suitable for slumps of medium to high workability, slump in the range of
5mm to 260 mm, the test fails to determine the difference in workability in stiff mixes which
have zero slump, or for wet mixes that give a collapse slump. And it is limited to concrete
formed of aggregates of less than 38 mm.

Slump test grants the facility easily to detect the difference in water content of successive
batches of concrete of the same identical mix. And the slump cone apparatus is cheap,
portable and convenient to be used at the site. (The construction civil, 2015)

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