26. Slump flow test 26.1 Origin and principle The slump flow test was first used to as: the spread of concrete using a slump cone for underwater concrete, highly flowable concrete [48] and recently for self-compacting concrete [28, 49]. 26.2 Application The slump flow test is used to assess filling ability (evaluate free deformability in the absence of obstructions) of superplasticised concrete, underwater concrete and. self- compacting concrete. 26.3 Description The apparatus consists of a mould in the shape of a truncated cone. The internal dimensions of the mould, as shown in Fig. 38, are 200 mm diameter at the base, 100 mm diameter at the top and a height of 300 mm. Slump. cone Unit: mm Slump Flow = (D1+D2)/2 Flow table 1000 x 1000 Segregation border Fig. 38a: The slump flow test Fig. 38b: Slump flow in use 26: 4 Equipment required Slump test cone. © Tamping rod. * Base plate (flow table). The base plate table (min. 900 x 900 mm) is watertight and has a smooth surface. © Ruler graduated in mm. © Scoop, preferably with a rounded mouth, not more than 100 mm wide. © Cleaning rags. 93,26.5 Size of the sample The sample is collected in accordance with normal slump test procedure. The mould requires a volume of 5.5 litres to fill. A minimum mass of 30 kg of concrete is needed for two tests. 26: 6 Operating instructions Make sure that the base plate is flat and horizontal (concentric diameter of 500 mm. is marked on the table), © Wet the surface of the table with a cloth. © Place the slump cone centrally on the base plate. * Fill the slump cone with concrete while pressing the slump cone firmly to the base plate. The top surface of the mould is struck-off level with the top of the slump cone. © Lift the slump cone perpendicular to the base plate. Start timing when the lifting of the slump cone begins. * Record the time taken for the spreading concrete to reach a diameter of 500 mm (T,). * When the concrete has stopped flowing, measure the final diameter (D-final) of the concrete of two perpendicular directions and, if necessary, any segregation border at the conerete periphery (Fig. 36). Note also if the coarse aggregates have been transported to the periphery of the surface of the base plate. 26.7 Interpretation of the test results The mean values for concrete spread measured at the two perpendicular directions are rounded to the nearest 5 mm. The higher the slump flow (SF), the greater is the filling ability (flowability of conerete). 26.8 Precision ‘The concrete spread is measured to an accuracy of 5 mm according to the Japanese Recommendations for Design and Construction of Anti-washout Underwater Concrete. The estimated error (at 95% confidence limit) and the relative error for slump flow of highly flowable underwater concrete were 25 mm and 5.1% [36]. In the case of self- compacting concrete made with 0.435 W/CM and having an average of slump flow of 735 mm, the estimated error and the relative error of slump flow of mix repeated six times were 20 mm and 2.7% [12] 26.9 Advantages The test procedure is easy to follow. It is a quick test which can be applied in the laboratory as well as on site.26.10 Disadvantages The plate must be level, otherwise the concrete flows in one direction. Highly workable concrete may run over the edge making it difficult to assess. 26.11 Standardisation Europe: Japan: Japan: Japan: Japan France: State-of-the-Art Report of Rilem TC 174-SCC on Self-Compacting Concrete, 2001. JIS A 1101: Standards of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers ‘Method of Test for Slump Flow of Concrete. Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Recommendations for Design and Construction of Anti-washout Underwater Concrete, Concrete Library of IJSCE, No. 19, 1992. Manual for Manufacturing of Self-Compacting Concrete, National Ready- Mixed Concrete Industry, 1998. Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Recommendations for Self-Compacting Concrete, Ed. by Uomoto T & Ozawa K, Concrete Library of JSCE, Series eo rab Recommandations provisoires sur les bétons auto-plagants, Documents Scientifiques et Techniques, Association Frangaise de Génie Civil, 2000. 95