Objective:

These tests are conducted to determine the strength of concrete. Besides, compression
strength test is carried out using cube test, to determine which ratio of concrete mixture is
suitable for construction project.

Introduction:

Cube test of concrete is one of the most important test done on concrete. It is also known as a
test to determine the compressive strength of concrete. This single test is enough to do a
quality check on the type of concreting that is being done at site. This test also measures the
uniaxial compressive strength of concrete cubes which are made, cured and tested to very
specific requirements. No any unique way is used to predict or measure the strength of the
concrete in the structure. The test is simply a quality control test which measures the
consistency of the concrete in terms of one particular property (“compressive strength”) using
an arbitrary test method. Testing the same concrete under different conditions, for example
specimen size, specimen shape, curing temperature, loading rate, etc. will give different
results. Cube test is a destructive testing method of concrete testing, as the cubes are crushed
in compression testing machine. The mostly tested cubes in practice are of 150 x 150 x 150
size in mm.
Apparatus:-

a) Cube mould b)Tamping rod

c) Hand scoop d) Water tank

e) Compression Testing Machine

Background information

Ee Ke Sing (17WVD03321)

During week 6,7th July 2017, my group mates and I had carried out the cube test and
determine the compressive strength for concrete cube. Through this activity we were able to
cooperate and able to finish it in required time. From this cube test, I can gain a lot of
experience.

For examples, before conducting the cube test, we had to make the concrete cube out
of cement, water, and aggregates. Mould and base plate must applied with oil to prevent
concrete from sticking to the side of the cube. Base plate is attached to the mould by using
bolt and nut. Then, concrete pour in the mould and tempered properly so as not to have any
voids. Concrete needed to pour in for 3 layers and each layer was compacted for 40 times.
This process is carried out systematically and compaction is done uniformly to all surfaces of
the concrete. The surface of concrete must be smoothen so it will has the same level with the
upper side of the mould. Cubes must be covered with plastic cover before the mould can be
dismantled. On 10th July 2017, we had remoulded the concrete cube from the mould and put
the concrete cube into the water for curing for 14 days. After 14 days, the concrete cubes
were taking out from the water and carried out the compression strength test by using
compression test machine.

Function why cube test is carried out because we want to determine the characteristics
strength of the concrete and to measure the workability of concrete. The workability of the
fresh concrete shall be judged by its suitability for the condition of handling and placing so
that after compaction, it surround all reinforcement, tendons and ducts and completely fills
the formwork. The compression test depends on many factors such as water-cement ratio,
quality of concrete material, quality control during production of concrete etc. Compression
test also shows the compressive strength of hardened concrete and it is one of the most
important and useful properties of concrete. The strength is measured in N/m². The
compressive strength is a measure of the concrete’s ability to resists loads which tend to
crush it. To get higher strength of concrete, volume of water must reduced. Problem of
concrete we need to face is shrinkage, cracking, tension cracking and so on.
Yap Rong Jing
17WVD04712

From this experiment, I learn about the formation of concrete. As we know that it is a process
by which a batch of concrete is tested for strength and durability. This is done by making a
cube of concrete in a machine designed to make concrete blocks, curing the concrete and
removing it to perform tests at specific time intervals. We use different ratio of cement, fine
aggregates and coarse aggregates to mould into a cube. The result of the compression test
exactly shows the differences between the ratios we used. It can conclude the strength of
concrete is not depends on the weight or the volume, is depends on the cement, coarse and
fine aggregates in this experiment. So that, over calculation will affect the strength of the
concrete cube. I also have a chance learn about how to operate the compression machines.
Besides, the most important thing is teamwork. The cooperation let us easily to complete the
task, because this experiment is difficult for a person to accomplish. This test is important to
determine the strength and the workability of concrete before pour to mould to make structure
of building.
Chong Shuet Yee
17WVD02495
Individual Introduction and Background Information
On the 7th of July, my friends and I carried out the first test, standard method of test cube.
This experiment is to measures the compressive strength of concrete cubes which are made,
cured and tested to specific requirements. The whole process should be carried out in the
correct manner. This is because even small deviations from the standard procedures will
cause the compressive strength to result lower than the true strength of the concrete. The
procedures for the concrete cube making are given in British Standard (BS 1881:108:1983).

Cube test is one of the most important test done on concrete. It is also known as a test to
determine the compressive strength of concrete. This test able to do a quality check on the
type of concreting that is being done at site. The factors that determine the compressive
strength of concrete are water cement ratio, cement strength, quality of concrete material and
quality control that is done during the production of concrete.

After a day, we removed the specimens from the moulds and cure it in the water for 14 days.
After the 14 days, the cubes were taken out from the water tank, weighted, measures and
calculated the bulk density to determine the compressive strength of concrete. The second test
that we carried out is called determination of compressive strength of concrete (BS
1881:116:1983). This test was carried out with compression testing machine. The testing
machine is capable applying load at specified rate. The machine is equipped with two steel
bearing platens with hardened faces.

The concrete cube is placed in the testing machine centrally. The cube should be place
correctly to the machine plate by checking the circle marks on the machine and carefully
align the specimen to the spherically seated plate. Then, the load will be applied to the
specimen axially. Record down the result of specimen’s compressive strength(Mpa).
Name: Chan Siang Wan
Student ID: 17WVD02674

We have carried out cube test. Cube test is a test to determine the effects on density and
compressive strength of concrete. Carry out the test in different conditions will distribute
different results. Those different conditions are water/cement ratio, quality of raw material,
cement, strength compaction and etc. We need to use different proportion of cement, sand
and aggregates to conduct this experiment, which are 1:0:6, 1:2:4 and 1:6:0.
First of all, mixing process is carried out. After that, we transfer the mix into the cube mould
in 3 layers and each layer is consolidated to avoid voids, rock pockets, and honeycombing
occur. After waiting for 24 hours, the specimens are removed from moulds and cured in
water for 14 days. It shows obviously that 3 types of concrete have different compressive
strength by testing with Compression Testing Machine after 14 days.
We generally mean the strength of concrete as compressive strength. The units used to
measure compressive strength are Newton per square millimetre or N/mm2. Strength are ever
increasing due to corresponding increase in demands from the material, followed closely by
new technologies. The strength of concrete increases as the cement content increases for a
fixed amount of water. In general, the lower the water/cement ratio, the higher the strength.
Last but not least, the ratio of 1:2:4 is the most suitable ratio among the two ratio. This is due
to the compressive strength and force of the cube is the biggest among the 3 types of cube.
Procedure:
1. Weight out 1200g of Portland cement and the required amount of the fine
aggregate(sand) and coarse aggregate to give the concrete mix of 1:0:6.
2. Mix the above with water so that the water/cement ration is 0.6.

3. The mixing to be carried out until it is uniformly mixed.

4. Transfer the mix to an oiled cube mould in 3 layers, each layer with approx.50mm.
5. Consolidate every layer by 36-40 times with the standard steel tamping rod.

6. Strike off the excess concrete above the top of the mould and clear the surrounding.
7. Repeat the above procedure for 1:2:4 and 1:6:0 concrete mixes with the same
water/cement ratio.
8. Label the specimen

9. After 24 hours, remove the specimens from moulds and then cure in the water for 14
days.
10. After exactly 14 days, the cubes are taken out of the water, weight, measure and
calculate the bulk density.
Result:
Cube Mass(kg) Volume Bulk Density Compressive Force(KN)
strength(mpa
)
1:0:6 7.70 3375 2.28 37.26 838.33
1:2:4 7.85 3375 2.33 20.51 461.42
1:6:0 6.75 3375 2.00 5.58 125.49

Comments:
The concrete cube with ratio 1:6:0 has the lowest compressive strength while the concrete
cube with ratio 1:0:6 has the highest compressive strength. The concrete with ratio 1:6:0 has
the lowest bulk density while the concrete cube with 1:2:4 has the highest bulk density.
Discussion
1.Why must the inner surfaces of the concrete mould greased with oil?
It prevent grease or dirt stick at the sides of cubes
2.What is the meaning of the characteristics strength of concrete and why it has to be
determine when the concrete age 28days?
Strength of the concrete below which is not more than 5% of the test results are expected to
fail and the proposed model has a good potential to predict concrete strength at different age.
3.Why do concrete cubes need curing and how it is carried out in the construction site?
For concrete to develop strength, the chemical reactions need to proceed continuously.
Curing refers to procedures for the maintaining of a proper environment for the hydration
reactions to proceed and it is carried in places where there is acute shortage of water.
4.State the important steps taken when testing concrete cubes
The cubes are generally tested at 7 & 28 days unless specific early tests are required for
example to remove a concrete shutter safety prior to 7 days. Usually 1 cube will be tested at 7
days and 2 cubes at 28 days, however this may vary depending of the requirements, check the
design first. The cubes are removed from the curing tank, dried and grit removed. The cubes
are tested using a calibrated compression machine. This can be carried out internally by
competent personnel or by a certified test house.
5.Discuss the result obtained from the experiment
The strength of concrete increases with age.
Conclusion

Function why cube test is carried out because we want to determine the effects on density and
compressive strength of using various amounts of fine and course aggregate for concrete
cube. In this experiment, we already compress three concrete cubes. After 14 days we take
out from the water, the first test we used the concrete cube with 1:0:6 ratio to compress, the
load can be patch by the concrete is 838.33kN. The second test we use the concrete cube with
1:2:4 ratio to compress, the load can be patch by the concrete is 461.42kN. The third test we
use the concrete cube with 1:6:0 ratio to compress, the load can be patch by the concrete is
125.49kN.From this three experiment it show that the cube in the first test with the highest
strength and the third test is the lowest. From the result, type of aggregate used will affect the
result. To get higher strength of concrete, the coarse aggregates must increase.
Reference
 Lab Experiments: MAKING TEST CUBES FROM FRESH CONCRETE - Cube
Moulds, viewed at 25th of July,
< http://www.cityu.edu.hk/CIVCAL/design/labexp/testcube/testcube2.html >

 Team WFM, What is Cube test of Concrete?, viewed at 25th of July,

< https://www.wfm.co.in/what-is-cube-test-of-concrete/ >

 Compressive Strength of Concrete Cubes - Lab Test & Procedure, viewed at 25 th of July,
< http://www.civilology.com/compressive-strength-of-concrete-cubes/ >

 Segaran, Pavitrah 2015, Cube test REPORT – DCC2042, viewed 27 July 2017,
<https://www.slideshare.net/pavitrahpavitrahsega/cube-test-report-dcc2042>

 Pavitrah Segaran ,viewed on 15th July 2017

https://www.slideshare.net/pavitrahpavitrahsega/cube-test-report-dcc2042?
next_slideshow=1