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Quality of Ready Mix Concrete: 1.1.1slump Test
Quality of Ready Mix Concrete: 1.1.1slump Test
1.1 Uniformity:
Uniformity of fresh concrete is important to assure the quality of fresh
concrete, it can be measured by the following tests:
1.1.1Slump test:
The purpose of the slump test is to determine the consistency of the concrete
it is a measure of the relative fluidity or mobility of the concrete mixture. Slump
does not measure the water content or workability of the concrete, it is true
that an increase or decrease in the water content will cause a corresponding
increase or decrease in the slump of the concrete provided that all of the other
materials and conditions are constant.
However, many factors can cause the slump of the concrete to change
without any change in the water content such as a change in the aggregate
properties or gradation, mix proportions, air content, concrete temperature,
cementing properties, super plasticizer type and/or content. QCS 2007
section5 part 6 specify tolerance for different slump values table 1.
If the reduction of the density of the concrete was due to an increase in air
content, possibly the concrete will be more durable in its resistance to cycles
of freezing and thawing, but the strength, abrasion resistance, resistance to
chemical attack, shrinkage, and cracking qualities of concrete will be
adversely affected.
Workability is the property of fresh mixed concrete that determines the ease
with which it can be mixed, placed, consolidated, and finished to
homogeneous conditions. QCS 2007 section 5 Part 6 consider slump test as
a customary measure of workability.
Concrete workability specify according to conditions under which is to be
placed – size and shape of member, spacing of reinforcing, or other details
interfering with the ready filling of the forms. For example, a stiff mixture with
large aggregate that is workable in a large open form would not be place able
in a thin wall with complicated reinforcing details.
Before the initial setting time of concrete, it is still possible to disturb the
concrete and remix it without injury. Later re-vibration can be beneficial for
concrete strength.
At the time of final setting, the concrete has become rigid fractures rather
than flows as increasing stress is applied.
Conclusion:
The quality of a ready mix concrete does not mean the highest strength value
as known in the construction field but it is a chain of requirements in both
concrete stages, fresh and hardened. To achieve this requirements a
comprehensive quality control procedure in the QCS 2007 shall be applied in
the concrete batch plant as well as in the construction site to control testing of
raw materials, concrete batching, casting, consolidation, curing and others.
Writer
Said Ahmmed Jodeh – Technical manager of Al Wataniya Concrete - Qatar
Bachelor's degree in Civil engineering from An Najah National University
A.C.I concrete construction special inspector, hold many certificates from ACI
P.C.S member, has many researches and articles in concrete.
(E-Mail : saeedjoudeh067@yahoo.com)
(Mobile : 009745838219)