NAME: KASHIF AKRAM

Table of Contents
LAB REPORTS...............................................................................................................................................2
I. Slump test........................................................................................................................................2
II. Concrete specimen tests (Non-destructive)....................................................................................3
1. Rebound hammer and its principle..............................................................................................3
2. Ultrasonic pulse velocity..............................................................................................................4
III. Density of Hardened Concrete.....................................................................................................6
IV. Compressive strength..................................................................................................................6
V. Tensile strength of concrete cubes..................................................................................................7
VI. Flexural strength of concrete beams...........................................................................................8
1. Flexural strength for two-point loading.......................................................................................8
2. Flexural strength for center point loading...................................................................................9

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 LAB REPORTS
I. Slump test
Introduction

Concrete is a prominent part of the construction industry which is used excessively in the market
so its consistency and workability are very important while using it. Many tests are performed to
check its proper use. Slump test is one of such processes

Generally slump test is used to determine the workability or consistency of the fresh concrete. This is
used in the lab or construction site to determine the consistency or workability of the freshly placed
concrete.

Purpose of slump test

The main purpose of the slump test is to know the workability or flow ability of the fresh
concrete before its setting.

Secondly to check the irregularity of the freshly mixed concrete.

Apparatus

Moulded cone

Horizontal plate

Measuring tape

Tamping rod

Procedure

We placed the cone on the horizontal plate which is non-porous. Before using the plate it must be
tidy and oil can be used to make the horizontal plate and the cone very smooth. Cone is firmly
placed on the plate with the foot to make it tighter so that it does not move. We filled the cone in
three parts with the three times tamping in three different layers with 25 times compacting with
the rod used. When the cone was filled we removed the extra concrete from the top and we made

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 the top level of the concrete horizontally flat. After that we lifted the cone carefully to make sure
that no concrete is attached to the cone. Next step was used to measure the slump value of the
concrete.

II. Concrete specimen tests (Non-destructive)

Objective

We performed two types of tasks in the lab. One of them was destructive and the other was non-
destructive. The main purpose of these two processes was to do the comparison between the non-
destructive and the strength of the damaged ones. We performed two tests in the lab which were
Rebound hammer and Ultrasonic pulse velocity.

1. Rebound hammer and its principle

This device is used to check the hardness of the surface of the concrete without any damage. In
this process there is no change happening on the testing surface which is being performed that is
why it is there is no changing in the shape. BS EN 12504-2:2021 is used to perform this test.

As its response depends on the testing place stiffness. There is also a graph on the device to
check the strength from the value. Weak concrete takes excessive power from the plunger and
gives less number on the measuring device.

Purpose

The main purpose of this test is to determine the stiffness of the concrete surfaces, quality and
weak constructed areas of the slab or floor. There is no damage in order to check the
compressive strength of the concrete.

Procedure

The surface must be well prepared on which the hammer will be rebounding. We used this
hammer after fixing the cube on a smooth surface. The size of the cube is supposed to be 100mm
which we used in the lab.

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2. Ultrasonic pulse velocity
This test is carried out to establish relationship among strength of concrete and its wave velocity.
Its procedure includes the measurement of time for a wave to travel a specified distance which is
known. It is used to determine the quality of concrete.

The British Standard which is followed for this test is BS EN 12504-4:2021.

Apparatus

Apparatus required for this test is; generator for electric pulse generator, an amplifier, transducer
(one pair), stop watch.

Procedure

In the beginning, the calibration is done with the help of a reference cylinder. A generator and a
receiver are used to send and receive the pulses through the concrete. The time (T) taken for the
pulse to travel through the cube is noted down by placing transducers on opposite sides of cube.
Formula to calculate the pulse velocity for a cube of 100 mm,

{ Distance∈mm }
PulseVelocity ( V ) =
Time ∈micro seconds

The above procedure is repeated thrice and then average pulse velocity is calculated in km/sec or
103 ft/sec. Then following table is used for the calculated value of the pulse velocity to determine
the quality of concrete.

Longitudinal pulse velocity Quality of concrete

Km/sec 103 ft/sec -
>4.5 >15 Excellent
3.5-4.5 12-15 Good
3.0-3.5 10-12 Doubtful
2.5-3.0 7-10 Poor
<2.0 <7 Very Poor

Calculations

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 Cubes Pundit test results
Cubes Top (us) Mid (us) bottom (us)
C1 22.2 22.7 22.2
C2 21.7 21.6 21.5
C3 22.3 22 21.7
C4 22.6 22.6 22.8
C5 21.3 21.5 22
C6 21.5 21.4 21.7

Ultrasonic pulse velocity lab calculation in different cubes

Formula for ultrasonic velocity=(distance(mm)) ÷ (time(µs))

Average time for cube 1 = (22.2+22.7+22.2) ÷3= 22.37

Pulse velocity for cube 1= (100mm) ÷ (22.37µs) = 4.47

Average time for cube 2 = (21.7+21.6+21.5) ÷3= 21.6

Pulse velocity for cube 2 = (100mm) ÷ (21.6µs) = 4.63

Average time for cube 3 = (22.3+22+22.7) ÷3= 22

Pulse velocity for cube 3 = (100mm) ÷ (22µs) = 4.55

Average time for cube 4 = (22.6+22.6+22.8) ÷3= 22.67

Pulse velocity for cube 4 = (100mm) ÷ (22.67µs) = 4.41

Average time for cube 5 = (21.3+21.5+22) ÷3= 21.6

Pulse velocity for cube 5 = (100mm) ÷ (21.6µs) = 4.63

Average time for cube 6 = (21.5+21.4+21.7) ÷3= 21.53

Pulse velocity for cube 6 = (100mm) ÷ (21.53µs) = 4.64

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III. Density of Hardened Concrete
Density of the concrete in hardened state can be measures by simply calculating the mass of the
hardened concrete sample and volume of the sample. BS EN 12390-7:2019 standard code is
followed to conduct this test.

Procedure

First of all, mass of the concrete specimen is calculated in two ways; in the air and in submerged
state in Kg. Then volume of the sample is calculated to determine the density.

Formula,

{mass of sample ∈air ( Ma )−submerged mass of sample ( Mw ) }

Volume=
Density of water

{mass of sample ∈air ( Ma )−submerged mass of sample ( Mw ) }

Volume= 3
1000 kg /m

Density of sample= {{ Volume of specimen }

mass of sample∈air ( Ma ) }
Kg/m
3

Calculations

IV. Compressive strength

This is the most important factor of strength of a concrete specimen. The sample is placed on an
even surface under the loading machine. Load is applied on the sample until its failure to sustain
more load. The maximum applied load is noted down and compressive strength is calculated
using the load and area of specimen.

The British Standard BS EN 12390-3:2019 is followed to carry out this test.

F
Fc=
Ac

Here,

Fct is compressive strength

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 F is maximum load before the failure

Ac is the area of concrete sample (cross sectional area)

Calculations

Fc=F/Ac

Compressive strength for cube 1=497.3KN/ (100mm×100mm) =49.73MPa

Compressive strength for cube 2=485.86KN/ (100mm×100mm) =48.586MPa

Compressive strength for cube 3=536.04KN/ (100mm×100mm) =53.604MPa

V. Tensile strength of concrete cubes

This is another important parameter of strength of concrete. When concrete is subjected to a
loading such that tension occurs on its bottom side and compression at the top, then that loading
is called tensile force and strength measured is called tensile strength.

BS EN 12390-6:2009 standard code is followed to carry out this test in the lab.

Procedure,

Sample is placed in the testing machine at the center. Load is applied on the sample with the help
of jig. The load is applied at a constant rate ranging from 0.04 to 0.06 MPa/s. At the failure point,
the maximum load is recorded for the calculation of the tensile strength.

Tensile splitting strength formula,

(2 x F )
Fct =
(π x L x d)

Here,

Fct is the concrete tensile strength

F is the maximum load

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 D is cross sectional area

L is the length of sample

Calculations

Tensile splitting strength for cube 4= (2*59.84KN) ÷ (3.14×100mm×100mm) =3.81MPa

Tensile splitting strength for cube 5= (2*64.84KN) ÷ (3.14×100mm×100mm) =4.13MPa

Tensile splitting strength for cube 6= (2*49.84KN) ÷ (3.14×100mm×100mm) =3.17MPa

VI. Flexural strength of concrete beams

When a concrete sample which is not reinforced with steel bars, is subjected to bending using
rollers at its top and bottom then the strength calculated is called flexural strength. It can be used
to calculate its tensile strength. The maximum load is recorded for further calculations.

BS EN 12390-5:2019 standard code is followed to conduct this test.

Procedure,

Specimen is placed evenly on the testing machine and load is applied at a constant rate ranging
from 0.04 to 0.06 MPa/s.

1. Flexural strength for two-point loading

Formula,

(F x I)
Fc f =
( d 1 x d 22 )

Here,

Fcf is flexural strength of concrete

F is the maximum load recorded

I is measure of distance between two rollers

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D1 and D2 are the lateral measurements of the sample

Calculations

Flexural strength for two-point loading for beam 1= (2.28N*400mm)/ (100mm* square of
100mm) = 9.12*10-4MPa

Flexural strength for two point loading for beam 2= (2.47N*400mm)/ (100mm* square of
100mm) = 9.89*10-4MPa

Flexural strength for two point loading for beam 3= (1.99N*400mm)/ (100mm* square of
100mm) = 7.96*10-4MPa

2. Flexural strength for center point loading

Formula,

(3 x F x I )
Fc f =
( 2 x d 1 x d 22 )

Here,

Fcf is flexural strength of concrete

F is the maximum load recorded

I is measure of distance between two rollers

D1 and D2 are the lateral measurements of the sample

Calculations

Flexural strength for center point loading for beam 1= (3*2.28N*400mm)/ (2*100*1002 mm*) =
1.37*10-3MPa

Flexural strength for center point loading for beam 1= (3*2.47N*400mm)/ (2*100*1002 mm) =
1.48*10-3MPa

Flexural strength for center point loading for beam 1= (3*1.99N*400mm)/ (2*100*1002 mm) =
1.19*10-3MPa

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