Technical Engineering College – Erbil

Civil Engineering Department

(First Stage)

Construction Materials
Tests

Prepared by
M.Sc. Nazik Khalid Hasan

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 CONENTS PAGE
NO.
WATER ABSORPTION FOR BRICK 2
EFFLORESCENCE TEST FOR BRICK 6
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST FOR BRICK 9
COMPRESSION TEST FOR CONCRETE BLOCKS 12
FINENESS TEST FOR GYPSUM 14
TIME OF SETTING TEST FOR GYPSUM 15
COMPRESSION TEST FOR GYPSUM 17
COMPRESSION TEST FOR WOOD 19
MODULUS OF RAPTURE TEST FOR WOOD 21
ABSORPTION FOR TILES 23
MODULUS OF RAPTURE FOR TILES 25
TENSILE TEST ON MILD STEEL 27

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 WATER ABSORPTION FOR BRICK

❖ Experiment No.:1

❖ Introduction
Water absorption means the ability of absorbing water for the brick by filling
the voids inside the brick with water. Water absorption is a bad characteristic for the
brick because it reduces the strength of the brick and cause efflorescence...etc.

❖ The purpose of the experiment

Finding the absorption ratio and classifying it according to that ratio.
❖ Apparatus:
1- Sensitive scale (balance).
2- Electrical ventilated oven (110-115) Co.
3- Water pool.
❖ Preparing the samples
It should take 10 brick sample every 25000 brick.
❖ Experiment method (procedure):
There are two methods to do this experiment
a) Sinking method
b) Boiling method.

a) Sinking method:
1- Dry the chosen sample using the ventilated oven at (110Co to 115Co) for 24 hrs, and
no more than 48 hrs, until the weight of the samples is fixed.
2- The specimen is cooled to room temperature & use the scale (balance) to weighting
the dried samples (w1).
3- The dry specimen shall be completely immersed in water pool for 24hrs. (The water
should be clean).

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4- Each specimen shall then be removed the surface water wiped off with a damp cloth
& use the scale (balance) to weight the saturated samples (w2).
b) Boiling method:
1- Dry the chosen sample using the oven for 24 hrs, and no more than 48hrs until the
weight of the samples is fixed.
2- Use the scale (balance) to weighting the dried samples (w1).
3- Sink the samples into water pool and unsure recycling the water around the samples
by putting a net in the water pool and putting the samples over the net.
4- Heat the water pool to the boiling point within one hour and the boiling process
continues for 5 hrs then the samples left to cool for 16-19 hrs. Each specimen
shall then be removed the surface water wiped off with a damp cloth & use the
scale (balance) to weight the saturated samples (w2).

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❖ Results and calculations
w 2 − w1
absorption ratio =  100
w1
Where:
w2: wet weight.
w1: dry weight.

Average of
Sample No. W1 W2 Absorption ratio
absorption ratio

❖ Specifications: according to the Iraqi specifications

Class Absorption ratio
Class A 17%
Class B 21%
Class C 25%

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❖ Discussion:
1- What is the meaning of water absorption in the brick?
2- Is the absorption characteristic effect on the strength of the brick? And how it
affect?
3- What are the classes that the Iraqi standards specified?
4- How many methods are used to measure the absorption ratio for the brick?
Mention it.
5- How many samples should use in the test?

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 EFFLORESCENCE TEST FOR BRICK

❖ Experiment No.: 2

❖ Introduction
Efflorescence is exiting the soluble salt from the brick on its surface. The source of the
salt may come from the brick itself or from the water.

Two conditions must be present to create efflorescence:

1. A source of water soluble salts.

2. Water moving through the material to carry the salts to the
Surface. The water evaporates and leaves the white powder Behind.

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❖ The purpose of the experiment
Finding the efflorescence degree and where this brick it should use.

❖ Apparatus:
1. Pan with depth not less than 5cm and content distillated water with 2.5cm depth.
2. Drying room with 24+8 Co good aerated.
3. Drying ventilated oven (110-115) Co.

❖ Preparing the samples:

Choosing 10 samples randomly and dividing the 10 samples to 5 groups, each
group has 2 bricks. The samples should be clean.

❖ Experiment method (procedure):

1- Put each sample vertically (on its smaller base) in the water (in the Pan).
2- Fill the plate with distillate water until the water heights receive to 2.5cm.
3- Left the samples in the room with (24+8) C◦ temperature and add distillate water if
the water dried for seven days.
4- Put the samples (after the seven days) into the oven for drying for (24-72) hrs.

❖ Results:
The efflorescence degrees are:
1- Nil: if no soluble salts appear on the brick sample (no efflorescence visible).
2- Slight: if the salt area represents 10% of the total surface area of the brick.
3- Moderate: if the salt area represents more than 10% and less than 50% of the
total surface area of the brick.
4- Heavy: if the salt area represents more than 50% of the total surface area of the
brick with no crumbling and exfoliating in the surface.
5- Serious: if the salt covers all the brick with crumbling and exfoliating in the
surface.

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❖ Specifications: according to the Iraqi specifications

Class efflorescence degrees

Class A Nil-Slight
Class B Slight-Moderate
Class C Moderate-Heavy

❖ Discussion:
1- What is the meaning of efflorescence in the brick?
2- What are the degrees of efflorescence?
3- What is the meaning of moderate degree efflorescence in the brick?
4- Which one causes efflorescence in brick, distillate water or rain water?

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 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST FOR BRICK

❖ Experiment No.:3

❖ The purpose of the experiment

Finding max. Compressive strength of the brick.

❖ Apparatus:
1. General compressive testing machine.
2. Water pool.

❖ Preparing the samples

Choosing 10 samples randomly and dividing the 10 samples to 5 groups, each
group has 2 bricks. In case of using hollow bricks, the holes should be filled with
cement mortar or gypsum past.

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❖ Experiment method (procedure):
1- Sink the samples in the water pool for 24 hrs.
2- Remove the samples from the water pool (after 24hrs.) and each sample shall be
removed the surface water wiped off with a damp cloth and calculate the area of
the face which load will apply on.
3- Put each sample horizontally in the compressive testing machine.
4- Use the compressive testing machine and load the samples with a rate
(140kg/cm2/min.) until the samples crashed and record the applied load.
Note: - For filling the holes in hollow bricks, the cement mortar content (sand,
cement) should according to the specifications and the samples should be
stored in wet weather for 24 hrs. Until the cement mortar dry.

Results and calculations:

Calculate the area of face which the load will apply on as: H

A = L B B

Where L
A: area (cm2)
L: Length of the sample (cm)
B: width of the sample (cm)
The compressive strength calculated for two samples and the average is taken as
p
=
A

Where:
 : Compressive strength (Kg/cm2)
P: Applied load (Kg)
A: Area (cm2)

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 p
A= B×L = Average
Brick No. B (cm) L (cm) P (Kg) A
(cm2) (kg/cm2)
(kg/cm2)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

❖ Specifications: According to the Iraqi specifications, the compressive strength of

the brick should be not less than 127 (kg/cm2) for bearing walls and 85(kg/cm2) for
partition walls.

Class Compressive strength

Class A 180 kg/cm2
Class B 130 kg/cm2
Class C 90 kg/cm2

❖ Discussion:
❖ 1-Comment on the results.
❖ 2- Compare the results with the typical values.

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 COMPRESSION TEST FOR CONCRETE BLOCKS

❖ Experiment No.:4

❖ The purpose of the experiment

Finding max. Compression strength of Concrete blocks.
❖ Apparatus:
1- General compression test machine.

❖ Preparing the Samples

Choosing 10 samples randomly and dividing the 10 samples to 5 groups, each
group has 2 concrete blocks. In case of using hollow blocks, the holes should be filled
with cement mortar or gypsum past and the surface of the blocks covered with cement
mortar to fill voids in its surface.

❖ Experiment method (procedure):

1- Measure the dimensions of smallest face of the concrete block.
2- Put each sample in the compression machine.
3- Use the compression machine and load the samples with a rate (140kg/cm2/min.)
until the samples crashed and record the applied load.

❖ Results and calculations:

Calculate the area of smaller face as: H

A = L B B

Where: L
A: area (cm2)
L: Length of the sample (cm)
B: width of the sample (cm)
The compression calculated for two samples and the average is taken as

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 p
=
A

Where:
 : Compression strength (Kg/cm2)
P: applied load (Kg)
A: area (cm2)

p
A= B×L = Average
Brick No. B (cm) L (cm) P (Kg) A
(cm2) (Kg/cm2)
(Kg/cm2)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

❖ Specifications: according to the Iraqi specifications,

Age Hollow block Solid Block
7 days 30 kg/cm2 40 kg/cm2
28 days 50 kg/cm2 65 kg/cm2

Note: Take 20 blocks for each 10000 blocks

Discussion:
1-Comment on the results.
2- Compare the results with the typical values.

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 FINENESS TEST FOR GYPSUM

❖ Experiment No.:5

❖ The purpose of the experiment

Finding the percent of passing gypsum through sieve no. 16.
❖ Apparatus:
1- Scale (balance).
2- Sieve no. 16.

❖ Experiment method (procedure):

1- Weight 200g of gypsum (W1).
2- Screen the selected sample of gypsum though sieve no. 16.
3- Weight the remaining gypsum on the sieve (W2).
❖ Results and calculations:
W2
percent of remaining gypsum =  100
W1
Where:
W1: gypsum weight (g)
W2: remaining gypsum (g)
❖ Specifications: according to the Iraqi specifications, this percent should be not
more than 8%.
❖ Discussion:
❖ 1-Comment on the results.
❖ 2- Compare the results with the typical values.
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 TIME OF SETTING TEST FOR GYPSUM

❖ Experiment No.:6

❖ The purpose of the experiment

Finding the time of setting for gypsum.

❖ Apparatus:
1- Vicat apparatus.
2- Mixing pan with spoon.

❖ Apparatus description:
The apparatus comprises of:
1- Part A: It is the frame of the device (see the fig.).
2- Part B: It is a movable bar with (1cm) diameter and (5cm) length weights 300g. Has
at one ends a replaceable needle with (1mm) diameter and (5cm) length.
Movement Part B can be adjusted by a spring (E) with indicator (has a scale
in cm.)

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 3- Part C: It is a frustum of a cone based on glass base its dimensions as (base diameter
is 7cm, top diameter is 6cm and its height is 4cm)

❖ Experiment method (procedure):

1- Weight 200g of gypsum and make a paste according to the specification.
2- Put the paste into the frustum of a cone and let the needle fall down into the paste
several times with equal intervals.
3- After each falling down, the needle should be cleaned and the needle must not fall
down at the same place.
4- The paste became fully setting when the needle no more penetrates the paste.

❖ Results and calculations:

The time is recorded (in min.) from time of adding the water to the gypsum powder
to the time when the needle is not more penetrating the paste.

❖ Specifications:
According to the Iraqi specifications 28/1988:
Time to setting not less than 5-8min. And not more than15- 25min

❖ Discussion:
1- What is the apparatus that use to measure time of setting for gypsum?
2- Define time of setting for gypsum?
3- Comment on the results.
4- Compare the results with the typical values.

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 COMPRESSION TEST FOR GYPSUM

❖ Experiment No.: 7

❖ The purpose of the experiment

Finding compression strength for gypsum.
❖ Apparatus:
1- General compression test machine.
2- Three special molds (5.08×5.08×5.08) cm.
3- Mixing pan with spoon.

❖ Experiment method (procedure):

1- Mix a quantity of gypsum with water enough to fill the molds.
2- Greased the molds to prevent adherence between the molds and gypsum and then
fill the molds with gypsum paste and make sure no air voids produced during the
molding.
3- Left the molds to dry for 24hrs.
4- Remove the cube samples from the molds and put it into the compression machine
and loaded it with appropriate rate and record the data when the sample failed.

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❖ Results and calculations:
Calculate the area of smaller face as:
A = 5.08  5.08(cm 2 )

Where:
A: area (cm2)
The compression is calculated for the samples from:
p
=
A

Where:
 : Compression strength (Kg/cm2)
P: applied load (Kg)
A: area (cm2)
The average is taken for three samples
p
Sample Area = Average
P (Kg) A
No. (cm2) (Kg/cm2)
(Kg/cm2)
1
2
3

❖ Specifications: according to the Iraqi specifications 28/1969:

Min. compression strength for the gypsum is 25 kg/cm2.
:According to the Iraqi specifications 28/1988
Min. compression strength for the gypsum is 30kg/cm2
❖ Discussion:
1- What are the factors that effects on compression strength for the gypsum?
2- Comment on the results.
3- Compare the results with the typical values.

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 COMPRESSION TEST FOR WOOD

❖ Experiment No.: 8

❖ The purpose of the experiment

Study the behavior of wood under loading and finding compression strength of it.
❖ Apparatus:
1- General compression test machine.
2- Six standard samples (50×50×50)mm. Three for loading in the direction of
grains and three for loading in the direction perpendicular to the grains.

❖ Experiment method (procedure):

a) Parallel to grains:
1- Check the sample dimensions.
2- Put the samples in compression machine in position the grain parallel to the
loading direction.
3- Load the samples with appropriate rate until failure.

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 4- Record the load where the sample is failed.

b) Perpendicular to grains:
1- Check the sample dimensions.
2- Put the samples in compression machine in position the grain perpendicular to
the loading direction.
3- Load the samples with appropriate rate until failure.
4- Record the load where the sample is failed.

❖ Results and calculations:

p
Sample Area = Average
P (Kg) A
No. (cm2) (Kg/cm2)
(Kg/cm2)
1
2
3

❖ Discussion:
❖ Comment on the results.

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 MODULUS OF RAPTURE TEST FOR WOOD

❖ Experiment No.: 9

❖ The purpose of the experiment

Finding modulus of rupture for wood.

❖ Apparatus:
1- Bending machine.
2- Standard samples (750×50×50) mm.

❖ Experiment method (procedure):

1- Check the sample dimensions.
2- Put the samples in compression machine in position the free ends of the sample are
equal.
3- Load the samples with appropriate rate until failure.
4- Record the load where the sample is failed.

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❖ Results and calculations:
3 PL d
mod ulus of rapture =
2bd 2
b
Where: L
p: failure load
d: height of the sample
b: width of the sample
L: the distance between two supports in the bending machine.

❖ Discussion:
1- What are the factors that effects on the modulus of rapture?
2- Why wood used in building and in which case is used?

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 ABSORPTION FOR TILES

❖ Experiment No.: 10

❖ The purpose of the experiment

Finding the durability of tile against water.

❖ Apparatus:
1- Water pool.
2- Ventilated drying oven.
3- Scale (balance)
4- Samples (its ages more than 28 days)

❖ Experiment method (procedure):

1- Put the samples into the oven (110-115) Co for 24 hrs to get the dry weight of the
tile W1.
2- Sink the samples into the water pool for 24hrs. In horizontal position and the water
height more than 25mm and less than 51mm.
3- After the wetting, weight each tile after removes the water from its surface W2.

❖ Results and calculations:

W 2 − W1
Absorption ratio =  100
W1

Where:
W1: dry weight
W2: wet weight

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❖ Specifications
The Max. Requirements are:

Absorption ratio
Mosaic tile 8%
Concrete tile 8%

Note: take 6 tiles for each 3000 tile

❖ Discussion:
❖ 1-Comment on the results.
❖ 2- Compare the results with the typical values.

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 MODULUS OF RAPTURE FOR TILES

❖ Experiment No.: 11
❖ The purpose of the experiment
Finding the required force to break the tile (modulus of rupture).

❖ Apparatus:
1- Bending machine.
2- Ruler to measure the dimensions of the sample.

❖ Preparing the sample:

The samples that used are one of the following dimensions:
(25×25)cm, (30×30)cm, (40×40)cm.
❖ Experiment method (procedure):
1- The machine that used for this test should be standard for this test and its capacity
not less than 300% of the force required to break the tile.
2- Check the sample dimensions.
3- Put the samples in bending machine in position and check the distance between the
supports.
4- The force applied to the tile by a cylinder attached to the machine. This cylinder is
parallel to the tile face.
5- The loading bar is moved by hand until the bar reaches the surface of tile face in the
middle.
6- Load the samples with appropriate rate until failure.
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7- Record the load where the sample is failed.
❖ Results and calculations:

3 PL
mod ulus of rapture =
2bd 2

Where:
p: failure load
d: height of the sample
b: width of the sample
L: the distance between two supports in the bending machine.

❖ Specifications:
The min. Required is

Modulus of Rupture

Mosaic tile 450 lb/in2 31.63 kg/cm2

Concrete tile 350 lb/in2 24.60 kg/cm2

❖ Discussion:
❖ 1-Comment on the results.
❖ 2- Compare the results with the typical values.

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 Tensile test on mild steel

Experiment No: 12

❖ The purpose of the experiment

Study the behavior of mild steel under tensile force upon failure & having stress-strain
curve & determine yield strength & Ultimate tensile strength of the steel bar.
❖ Apparatus:
1- General tensile testing machine.
2-Gripping Device.
❖ Experiment method (procedure):
1. Measure length of specimens let as Lo , the diameter D and cross-sectional area
at center let A.
2. Place the specimens in testing machine between the griping device.
3. Apply tensile force to the specimens then record yield and ultimate fracture
load.
4. Measure length of specimens after fracture let as L1

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❖ Calculations and Results:

Stress Lo

Yield- Stress = = N/mm2

Ultimate -Stress = = N/mm2

Elongation =

Length Strength
A
No. D Lo L1 Py (N) Pu(N)
(mm)2
(mm) (mm) (mm) Mpa Mpa
1
2
3

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❖ Discussion:
Comment on the results.

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