CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS LABORATORY

CEMB 1021
GUIDED REPORT SEM 2 2022/2023
Experiment No :7

Experiment Title : vebe test

Group members :

1. Karrar Al Mohammed
2. Kishyal Nathan
3. Abdulla Hussein
4. Hasif Mustafa
5. Mohammed Osama
6. Mohammed Fahad
7. Ahmed Abdelrahman

Marking scheme for guided lab report:

Assessment of PO4(a) – use research method for collecting data (Rubrics) [15 marks]:

No. Criteria Total Marks Given Marks

1 Formatting and grammar/ spelling. 3

2 Introduction and objective 3

3 Procedure 3

Results:
4 6
data, figures, graphs, tables, etc.
Overall marks for PO4(a) [15 marks]

Assessment of PO4(b) - analyse and interpret data (Rubrics) [25 marks]:

No. Criteria Total Marks Given Marks

1 Analysis 10

2 Discussion 10
 3 Conclusion 5

Overall marks PO4(b) [25

marks]
1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Vebe test is used to determine the workability of fresh concrete mix. It is a
good laboratory test particularly for dry mixes. In comparison, it is better than
the compacting factor test because error will be introduced in the compacting
factor test if someone concrete mix sticks to the hopper.

2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

This method is a mechanized variation of the slump test and includes a

determination of the workability of concrete. It is based on the principle of
subjecting the concrete to vibration after removal of the slump cone. The
assembly is mounted upon a small vibrating table operating at fixed amplitude
and frequency. The time to complete the required vibration gives an indication
of the concrete workability.

3.0 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this experiment was to determine the Vebe time that will be a
measure of workability of the concrete mix. This experiment is prescribed in
BS 181: Part 104:1983 and ACI. 211.3-76 (Revised 1987).

4.0 EQUIPMENT

1. Vebe apparatus
2. A set of scoops and trowels.
3. Shovel
4. Balance.
5. Measuring tape or ruler.
6. Sample trays.
5.0 PROCEDURE

1. Prepare one sample of 21 kg of concrete mix for a water / cement ratio of 0.6
based on procedures of Laboratory Experiment No.5.

Precaution: Make sure that the internal surface of the container of the Vebe
apparatus is clean before its usage.

Make sure that the Vebe apparatus is level and the container is securely
clamped.

2. Place the slump cone inside the container.

3. Using the scoop or shovel, fill up the mold in three(3) layers while at the
same time making sure that the mold is firmly in place. After one layer is
filled up, uniformly tamp the concrete mix inside the mold 25 times using the
rounded end of the tamping rod.
Precaution: Tamping of the second and subsequent layers shall penetrate into
the underlying layer.

4. After filling and tamping is completed, the top surface of the concrete mix is
struck off by means of a sawing and rolling motion of the tamping rod.

5. Remove the mold from the concrete by vertically and slowly raising it from
the base plate

6. Place the glass plate rider on top of the concrete and start the vibration and
also at the same time start the stopwatch.
7. Stop the stop watch when the glass plate rider is completely covered with
concrete and all cavities in the surface of the concrete have disappeared.

8. The time taken for the glass plate to be completely covered with concrete is
called the vebe time in seconds

6.0 RESULT

7.0 ANALYSIS

For this experiment, a sample of concrete mix that produced 25.0 mm slump in
a slump test was used to determine its vebe time. From the moment where the
vebe apparatus was turned on, the time was taken until all the glass surfaces
were covered in cement to get the vebe time.

As the slump height increase (higher workability), the vebe time should
increase too as the cement paste will be easier to compact

8.0 DISCUSSION
1. Comment on the possibility of committing errors and mistakes in performing
the tests based on the given procedures.

i. The incorrect method of tamping used can lead to over compacted concrete
mix hence affecting the Vebe Time.

ii.The slump cone was not being removed vertically, slowly and carefully
which can make the concrete mix collapse.
iii. The stopwatch was not stopped immediately after the glass plate was
already covered with concrete and some fresh concrete came out from the side
of the glass plate.

2. Comment on possible ways to improve the accuracy of the test results.

i. Before using the vebe apparatus, make sure the internal surface of the
container is clean. Before the new experiment could begin, the previous
experiment's excess cement had to be cleaned away, so that it would not affect
the final result.
ii.Ensure that the vebe apparatus is level and that the container is firmly
clamped. This is to make sure the concrete mix would not spill out during the
vibration.
iii. The second and subsequent layers' tamping must reach the underlying
layer to make sure the concrete mix is compacted as what it was supposed to.

3. Comment on the usefulness and applications of the result of this experiment.

i. From this test, the shape of the concrete is changed and the time for
remoulding is measured in seconds.
ii.The time it takes to fully remould a piece of concrete is a test of its
workability.
iii. The Vebe test can be used to predict how concrete would behave
when compacted. It is better for testing samples that are too rigid to be
measured with a normal slump test.
iv. The Vebe Test is based on the same idea as the simple slump cone test,
however it has the advantage of a mechanized action. The concrete is vibrated
to determine the slump after the slump cone is removed.

9.0 CONCLUSION

The Vebe test is used to assess freshly mixed concrete, evaluating its
workability by determining mobility and compatibility characteristics. The
principle of the test is to evaluate concrete workability by measuring the time
taken to adjust the shape of the mix concrete from conical to cylinder, which
is achieved by vibrating the mix. The Vebe test also simulates how concrete
will behave when compacted on site, making it a useful method for predicting
how concrete will behave during compaction. Besides, the vebe test also can
be used to determine the workability of fresh concrete samples which are too
stiff to be measured by a regular slump test.

As a conclusion, a vebe test was an effective method to determine the workability

of the concrete mix as they were more sensitive and precise than the slump test
and was particularly useful for stiff concrete mixes samples.