Investigation of Construction Materials

Overview of Consistency Test Methods

Hans-Joachim Engelhardt
BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH, Repository Safety, joachim.engelhardt@bge.de
The successful application of construction A variety of viscosimeter and consistency tests
materials requires comprehensive knowledge of can provide information about these properties.
their flow behaviour. Rheological investigations Investigations are required to evaluate the
has to be carried out in order transportability and the flow or the spreading
● to determine strain rates – the rates of behaviour in the cavities that has to be filled.
change of material deformations - as a
function of stress
● to quantify the time dependence of the strain
rates as a result of shear rate changes
(thixotropic effects); and
● to determine the time of workability which
depends on the kinetics of the chemical
reactions.

Determination of pressure losses in a backfiliing

pipeline (Morsleben repository)

Investigation of the spreading behaviour. Investigation of swelling pressures.

Determination of Marsh funnel flow times.
Shown are also the air entrainment meter
(density and air pore content, A), the flow
channel (B) and mud balance (density, C)

Measurement of flow times with a V-funnel

concrete and the slump with an Abrams cone.

Investigation of the bleeding of suspensions.

Measurement of the temperature development.

Determination of the amount of drainage Investigation of the backfilling process of

Investigations of the spreading
solution. emplacement drifts (galleries).
behavior in a drift or a mine
chamber.