Name: DE GUZMAN, LESTER S.

Date Performed: 13 JUNE, 2021 RATING:

Year and Section: BSCE-2B Date Submitted: 18 JUNE, 2021

EXPERIMENT NO. 10
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT MORTARS
ASTM C109/ C109M: Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. or
[50-mm] Cube Specimens)
ASTM C 230: Specification for Flow Table for Use in Tests of Hydraulic Cement

FLEXURAL STRENGTH TEST OF CEMENT

(ASTM C 190 Tensile Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortar)
(ASTM C 670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction
Materials)

OBJECTIVE

To determine the determination of the compressive strength and flexural strength of hydraulic
cement.

DISCUSSION:

Strength of cement usually gives an overall picture of the quality of the resulting concrete.
The strength of concrete structure is directly related to the strength of hardened cement paste.
Strength gain in concrete is the result of hardening cement paste. Direct compressive test of mortar
specimen is a form of evaluation to determine the quality of cement.

In this test, cylindrical specimens measuring 5 cm in diameter and 10 cm high are tested in
compression. In ASTM specification, 50mm x 50mm x 50mm cube mortar specimens or portions
broken in 40mm x 40mm x 160mm flexure test. The load at rupture divide by the effective loaded
area gives the compressive strength of the hydraulic cement mortar sample.

This test method provides a means for determining the flexural strength of hydraulic
cement mortars. Portions of the mortar prisms tested in flexure according to this test method may
be used for the determination of compressive strength in accordance with Test Method C 349.

The values are determined from this test method for research or reference purposes only
and are not used for determining compliance with specification requirements.
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

Universal testing machine (UTM) and accessories

Upper spherical block and fixed tower seat block

TEST PROCEDURES:

1. Proper accessories of the UTM should be attached (e.g. upper spherical seat, lower fixed
seat block) prior to zero calibration of the machine.
2. All test specimen shall be tested within the permissible tolerance.

TEST AGE TOLERANCE (hr)

24 hours ±0.5
3 days ±1.0
7 days ±3.0
28 days ±12.0

3. All surfaces of the specimen where the load will be applied must be flat and smooth.
4. The operator of the UTM must have thorough knowledge of the machine to avoid damages
which may occur if improperly operated.

Compression Test

1. Wipe each specimen to a surface-dry condition, and remove any loose sand grains or
incrustations from the faces that will be in contact with the bearing blocks of the testing
machine. Check these faces by applying a straightedge.

2. Position the specimen between the raised table and lower crosshead. By pressing the UP
or DOWN crosshead button. There should be enough clearance of about 2 to 3 mm
between the specimen and the lower crosshead. It is very important to prevent sudden
contact between the upper crosshead and lower crosshead (or even sudden contact
between the specimen and the lower crosshead) when pressing the UP-DOWN crosshead
button for this will result in a gear lock up, which is very difficult to unlock.
3. Load is applied by raising the UTM table gradually. This is done by adjusting the load
control knob beyond LOAD mark to raise the table. As soon as the lower crosshead touches
the specimen, the load control knob should be returned to LOAD mark. Initial loading is
indicated by the movement of the auxiliary pointer to the center.
4. Adjust the load rate by turning the load control knob. See to it that the desired loading rate
is attained immediately while the specimen is still at its elastic stage. Make no more
adjustment in the load control when the specimen is already yielding. If a load pacer is
available. The loading rate at the elastic stage should be in accordance with the movement
of the load pacer. As per ASTM specification, the loading rate shall be 0.14-0.34 MPa/s
(20 – 50 psi/s, 1.4 – 3.5 kgf/cm2 ).
5. As the pointer returns back to zero, return also the load control immediately to zero. This
is an indication that the specimen had already failed. Record the reading indicated by the
maximum load pointer. The load divided by the area will give the strength in force per unit
area units (kgf/cm2 , MPa, etc.)
6. The report shall include the following:
(a) Specimen’s Identification
Age
Diameter
Length
Cross- sectional area
(b) Maximum load,
(c) Compressive strength, and
(d) remarks (e.g. type of fracture, if other than usual cone; defects in the specimen, etc.)
Flexural Test

1. Place the Mechaelis flexure tester flat on a rigid testing spot.

2. Each part of the tester must be cleaned and checked.
3. Remove the beam specimen from the curing tank within the permissible tolerance time for
the given test age.
4. Wipe the specimen with a dump cloth to remove the dirt that may have adhered to the
surface of the specimen.
5. Weigh the specimen.
6. Detach the bucket and upper roller from the main unit so that the specimen can be
positioned to the specimen attachment. In positioning the specimen, the observing hole
should be in line with the central line of the specimen. Note that the specimen should be
turn to its side with respect to its position as molded.
7. Adjust the balance weight so that the lever where the bucket is attached would be
horizontal. After balancing the lever, do not re-adjust the balance weight until the test for
that particular specimen is finished.
8. Insert the upper roller to its position.
9. Attach the bucket to the main unit. Balance the adjusting handle so that the led shots will
directly fall in the bucket during the loading operation.
10. To start loading, the loading lever should be pulled up and quickly released. Immediately
after the loading lever is pulled up, the led shots will start to fall the bucket.
11. When the specimen breaks, the bucket drops to the bucket receiver causing the time gate
to close and stops loading. Weigh the bucket together with the led shots. The resulting
weight multiplied by 11.71875 would give the flexural strength of the specimen.
DATA AND C O M P U T A T I O N:

Compressive Strength
𝑃
𝜎=
𝐴
where:
σ = Compressive Strength (kg/cm2)
P = maximum load indicated in the machine (kg)
A = area of loaded surface (cm2)

Compressive Strength
𝑀 = 125𝑊
6𝑀
𝑓= 2
𝑏ℎ

where:
W = weight of the bucket with lead shots inside it
f = flexural strength of the specimen
M = moment applied to the specimen

Cube Specimen 1 Beam 1 Cylinder 1

𝑀 = 125𝑊
𝑀 = 125(3.639) 3130
𝑃 𝑀 = 454.875 𝜎=
𝜎= 6𝑀 194.5
𝐴 𝑓= 2
2960 𝑏ℎ
𝜎= 𝝈 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟎𝟗𝟑
(5.03)(5)(5.01) 6(454.875)
𝑓=
𝝈 = 𝟐𝟑. 𝟒𝟗𝟐 (16.01)(4)2
𝒇 = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟔𝟓𝟒 Cylinder 2
Cube Specimen 2 Beam 2
𝑀 = 125𝑊 2985
𝜎=
𝑃 𝑀 = 125(4.012) 196.63
𝜎=
𝐴 𝑀 = 500.5
2280 6𝑀 𝝈 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟏𝟖𝟏
𝜎= 𝑓= 2
(5.01)(4.99)(5.02) 𝑏ℎ
𝝈 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟏𝟔𝟕 6(500.5)
𝑓= Cylinder 3
(16.04)(3.97)2
Cube Specimen 3 𝒇 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟖𝟎𝟓 3010
𝜎=
𝑃 193.5
Beam 3
𝜎=
𝐴 𝑀 = 125𝑊 𝝈 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟓𝟓𝟔
2160 𝑀 = 125(3.361)
𝜎=
(4.98)(5.02)(5) 𝑀 = 420.125
𝝈 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟐𝟖𝟎 6𝑀
𝑓= 2
𝑏ℎ
6(420.125)
𝑓=
(15.99)(4.05)2

𝒇 = 𝟗. 𝟔𝟏𝟏
CUBE SPECIMEN
SAMPLE LENGTH WIDTH HEIGHT WEIGHT LOAD
NO.
1 5.03 5.0 5.01 277 2960
2 5.01 4.99 5.02 275 2280
3 4.98 5.02 5.0 276 2160

CYLINDER SPECIMEN
SAMPLE DIAMETER DIAMETER DIAMETER HEIGHT WEIGHT LOAD
NO. 1 2 3
1 5.01 5.0 4.97 9.9 406 3130
2 4.98 5.01 5.03 10 400 2985
3 5.01 5.02 4.9 9.89 399 3010

BEAM SPECIMEN

Beam weight length depth width weight of f

no. (g) cm Cm cm bucket kgf/cm²
w/ lead
shots (kg)
1 541 16.01 3.98 4 3.639 10.654
2 533 16.04 3.99 3.97 4.012 11.805
3 542 15.99 4 4.05 3.361 9.611
OBSERVATION / ANALYSIS:

It should be noticed that, the modulus of rupture value obtained by center point load test
arrangement is smaller than three-point load test configuration. Moreover, it is observed that low
modulus of rupture is achieved when larger size concrete specimen is considered. Furthermore,
modulus of rupture is about 10 to 15 percent of compressive strength of concrete. It is influenced
by mixture proportions, size and coarse aggregate volume used for specimen construction.

ILLUSTRATION:

CONCLUSION:

The compressive strength of cement mortar depends on the strength and weakness of the
mortar cube. If mortar cube is weak then the compressive strength of the mortar cube is also weak.
If mortar cube is strong, then the compressive strength of the mortar cube will be high. Flexural
test are extremely sensitive to specimen preparation, handling, and curing procedure. During the
process, it may alter the result significantly and produce a non-standard strength.