Strength of Materials Laboratory

Report

City 2088

Student No. 10762351

1/5/2020

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1 CONTENTS
2 Introduction...................................................................................................................................3
3 Materials........................................................................................................................................3
3.1 Concrete Mix.........................................................................................................................3
3.2 Mix Equipment......................................................................................................................4
3.3 Mould equipment..................................................................................................................4
3.4 Testing equipment.................................................................................................................4
4 Methods........................................................................................................................................5
5 Data...............................................................................................................................................6
6 Results...........................................................................................................................................6
6.1 Sample A................................................................................................................................7
6.2 Sample B................................................................................................................................7
6.3 Sample C................................................................................................................................7
6.4 Sample D................................................................................................................................7
6.5 Sample E................................................................................................................................7
7 Discussion......................................................................................................................................8
8 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................9
9 References.....................................................................................................................................9
10 Appendix.....................................................................................................................................10
10.1 Appendix 1 Filling the moulds..............................................................................................10
10.2 Appendix 2 testing the cube................................................................................................11

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2 INTRODUCTION
Mixtures of concrete can be designed to offer a broad range of mechanical and durability properties
to meet the design requirements of a structure. The compressive strength of a material is its ability
to carry a load without any structural changes to its surface. Concrete’s compressive strength is its
most popular performance characteristic used by engineers when designing a concrete structure.
Compressive strength test results are primarily used to determine that the concrete mixture
delivered meets the requirements of the specified strength. The compressive strength of a certain
batch of concrete is measured by compressing moulded block specimens to failure in a compression
testing machine. The compressive strength can then be calculated by dividing the failure load in
newtons by the cross sectional area of the block in millimetres which would give the units for
compressive strength as newtons per millimetre squared. The results from testing for compressive
strength are used to guarantee that the concrete mixture delivered to the job site meets the
conditions set out in the job specification. In this laboratory report, tests have been carried out on
concrete cube samples to test them for their compressive strength.

3 MATERIALS
Everything needed to perform this experiment will be in this section. Firstly, will be the aggregates
used in the concrete, the equipment used in the mixing of the concrete and the apparatus needed to
carry out the experiment.

3.1 CONCRETE MIX

In the real world the concrete
samples would be taken from
the concrete delivered to site
by the concrete supplier, as
this is a test to ensure the mix
being supplied has the
structural properties that the
manufacturer claim it has. For
a laboratory experiment the
correct proportions of
materials would have to be
sourced from the
manufacturer to try to
reproduce their product in the
laboratory conditions. The
four most common
ingredients found in concrete are usually fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, cement, and water.
(Composition of Concrete - Fabric Formed Concrete, 2020)

3
3.2 MIX EQUIPMENT
The concrete can be mixed by hand, but better results
are usually achieved when mixed by a mechanical
means.

(Altrad Belle :: Belle products : Tubmix 50, 2020)

3.3 MOULD EQUIPMENT

This is a picture of the mould used to form the concrete sample. These
moulds come in two sizes.

100x100x100

150x150x150

3.4 TESTING EQUIPMENT

This is the machine used to test the compressive strength of the
concrete block made in the mould. The machine compresses the
concrete sample and automatically cuts out when failure of the
concrete is detected. The machine has a counter screen, on this
screen you can see as pressure is added in numerical form. When
the concrete fails the machine records the failure number in
newtons, this number is then used in the calculations.

4
4 METHODS

 First the mortar cubes had to be made in the moulds in two different sizes.
 To make these samples, five separate batches of concrete were mixed. This can be carried
out mechanically or by hand.
 The minimum number of samples which can be made for each batch is three to ensure a fair
result, so four samples were made which went beyond the minimum requirement.
 The four cube samples were made in both sizes of cube, two for each size.
 There are specific methods to be utilised when filling the moulds with the concrete mixture.
Reference to this can be found in the appendix 1 of this document.
 Twenty four hours after the moulds were poured the samples were removed from the
moulds and placed in water to cure.
 Two cubes from each sample, one big and one small were tested at seven days after
pouring, then the remaining two were tested after twenty eight days.
 Each sample cube was tested to failure in the compression testing machine. Reference to
this process can be found in appendix 2 of this document.
 The resultant failure number was recorded and divided by the cross-sectional surface area of
the cube to find the compressive strength in newtons per millimetre squared.

5
5 DATA
This table shows the results of the lab tests for the concrete block samples after they were put in the
press and tested to failure. As previously mentioned, the compressive strength is calculated by
dividing the compression load in the table in newtons by the cross-sectional area of the concrete
block sample.

Mix Type Cube No. Age(days) Size(mm³) Area(mm²) Compression Strength Grade of concrete after 28
Load (kN) (N/mm²) fck days and average strength
A 1 7 100x100x100 10000 275 27.5
A 2 7 150x150x150 22500 587.8 26.1
A 3 28 100x100x100 10000 457 45.7 44.6
A 4 28 150x150x150 22500 976.8 43.4 M40
B 5 7 100x100x100 10000 355 35.5
B 6 7 150x150x150 22500 754.8 33.5
B 7 28 100x100x100 10000 487 48.7
B 8 28 150x150x150 22500 1046.4 46.5 M45
C 9 7 100x100x100 10000 401 40.1
C 10 7 150x150x150 22500 861.6 38.3
C 11 28 100x100x100 10000 547 54.7
C 12 28 150x150x150 22500 1169.2 52.0 M45
D 13 7 100x100x100 10000 330 33.0
D 14 7 150x150x150 22500 702 31.2
D 15 28 100x100x100 10000 524 52.4
D 16 28 150x150x150 22500 1120 49.8 M45
E 17 7 100x100x100 10000 360 36.0
E 18 7 150x150x150 22500 769.5 34.2
E 19 28 100x100x100 10000 538 53.8
E 20 28 150x150x150 22500 1150 51.1 M45

6 RESULTS
Grade of Mininum compressive Mininum compressive After looking at the test results it
Concrete strength N/mm² at 7 days strength N/mm² at 28 days is clear that four out of the five
M15 10 15 samples would pass the test to be
M20 13.5 20 labelled as the M45 grade of
M25 17 25 concrete. Samples B,C,D and E all
M30 20 30 met the requirements for
M35 23.5 35 minimum compressive strength
M40 27 40 after both the 7 and 28 day
M45 30 45 curing period. Sample A has come
out as a different concrete grade.
Age Strength percent This may have been an incorrectly mixed batch. Something
1 day 16% else which is noticeable from the results is the fact that all of
3 days 40% the small cubes (100x100x100) were at the same or at higher
7 days 65% compressive strength than the larger cubes (150x150x150).
14 days 90%
28 days 99%

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6.1 SAMPLE A
Cube No. Age(days) Size(mm³) Area(mm²) Compression Strength Average strength after 7
Load (kN) (N/mm²) fck or 28 days
1 7 100x100x100 10000 275 27.5
2 7 150x150x150 22500 587.8 26.1 26.8
3 28 100x100x100 10000 457 45.7
4 28 150x150x150 22500 976.8 43.4 44.6

As shown by the above table, Sample A failed the compressive strength requirements in both the 7
and 28 day period.

6.2 SAMPLE B
Cube No. Age(days) Size(mm³) Area(mm²) Compression Strength Average strength after 7
Load (kN) (N/mm²) fck or 28 days
5 7 100x100x100 10000 355 35.5
6 7 150x150x150 22500 754.8 33.5 34.5
7 28 100x100x100 10000 487 48.7
8 28 150x150x150 22500 1046.4 46.5 47.6

As shown by the above table, Sample B was the only other sample which was anywhere close to not
meeting the requirements, but still fell well within limits for compressive strength.

6.3 SAMPLE C
Cube No. Age(days) Size(mm³) Area(mm²) Compression Strength Average strength after 7
Load (kN) (N/mm²) fck or 28 days
9 7 100x100x100 10000 401 40.1
10 7 150x150x150 22500 861.6 38.3 39.2
11 28 100x100x100 10000 547 54.7
12 28 150x150x150 22500 1169.2 52.0 53.3

6.4 SAMPLE D
Cube No. Age(days) Size(mm³) Area(mm²) Compression Strength Average strength after 7
Load (kN) (N/mm²) fck or 28 days
13 7 100x100x100 10000 330 33.0
14 7 150x150x150 22500 702 31.2 32.1
15 28 100x100x100 10000 524 52.4
16 28 150x150x150 22500 1120 49.8 51.1

6.5 SAMPLE E
Cube No. Age(days) Size(mm³) Area(mm²) Compression Strength Average strength after 7
Load (kN) (N/mm²) fck or 28 days
17 7 100x100x100 10000 360 36.0
18 7 150x150x150 22500 769.5 34.2 35.1
19 28 100x100x100 10000 538 53.8
20 28 150x150x150 22500 1150 51.1 52.5

If Sample A and B had both failed the overall result would have been a pass for the M45 grade
concrete as Samples C, D and E all passed consecutively.

7
7 DISCUSSION
Results ascertained from compressive concrete testing can be used for various purposes, these can
be but not limited to:

 Quality control.
 Acceptance of concrete’s finish.
 Estimating concrete’s strength in a structure.
 Scheduling of formwork removal.
 Protection required to the structure whist curing.

(Testing the Compressive Strength of Concrete — What, why, & how? – Nevada Ready Mix, 2020),
(Event Detail - Concrete Institute of Australia, 2020).

The results of a compressive strength test is taken from the average of at least two samples from the
same batch of concrete, which are tested at the same age, 7 or 28 days in the case of this
experiment. Most cases are tested after 28 days. The average of three consecutive batches should
equal or exceed the specified strength claimed by the concrete supplier. The tests carried out in this
report show that not all batches meet the requirement, but it could be said to have passed because
there were three consecutive samples which met and exceeded the minimum criteria. When the
results from a strength test indicate that a specific batch has failed to conform to the acceptance
criteria for that grade of concrete, it could be said that the failure may be due to the testing process
carried out incorrectly and not the concrete itself. This could be true if the assembly, handling and
curing of the moulds is not carried out in accordance with the accepted procedures (Nrmrca, 2020).
Another situation where the sample may fail is if it was incorrectly mixed in the laboratory, there are
various ways in which this could happen:

 Incorrect amount of water- excess water can weaken the mix.

 Incorrect cement amount- not enough cement will reduce compressive strength.
 Incorrect aggregate grade- too many large particles will reduce the bond between the
particles.

8
  Incorrectly mixed- this can often be the case when mixed by hand as the ingredients in the
mix may not have properly bonded with each other.

If the sample was taken onsite and failed the test this could prove problematic in the construction of
the structure it was being used in.

Designers and engineers utilize the stipulated strength of concrete in the design of concrete
structures. The concrete blend is designed to deliver an average strength which is greater than the
specified strength, this is to reduce the likelihood of the concrete failing strength tests of the set out
criteria for that grade of concrete (Nrmrca, 2020).

Designers and engineers are able to turn to BS 8500 when selecting the concrete with the correct
properties for their project. This document sets out the requirements for each grade of concrete and
the standards it should meet. It enables the designer to know that their selected grade of concrete
will stand up to the requirements of its intended use, and that the manufacturers have supplied the
concrete in accordance with this British Standard. In this publication it offers various options to the
designer:
 Exposure classification- this is related to the deterioration process of carbonation, ingress of
chlorides, chemical attack, and freeze thaw.
 Selecting concrete strength and cover- having identified the exposure conditions a
recommended strength, class and cover can be ascertained from a table in the document.
 Intended working life- recommendations of either a 50 or 100 year lifespan depending on
the structures use.
 Compressive strength- the document defines concrete strength classes of various concretes.
(Harrison and Brooker, 2020)

8 CONCLUSION
After conducting the lab experiment and taking into consideration the requirement specifications for
the M45 concrete grade, it is clear that this mix is well within the boundaries of what is considered
acceptable. One specimen failed the compressive strength test but four out of the five passed. The
minimum requirement is that three consecutive samples must pass with their average compressive
strength number of two blocks from each sample being equal to or greater than the minimum
number for compressive strength for that concrete grade. This concrete would be safe to build with
and would reach its required compressive strength in the 28 day period.

9 REFERENCES
Sites.google.com. 2020. Composition Of Concrete - Fabric Formed Concrete. [online] Available at:
<https://sites.google.com/site/fabricformedconcrete/introduction/composition-of-concrete>
[Accessed 20 April 2020]. (Composition of Concrete - Fabric Formed Concrete, 2020)

Nrmca.org. 2020. [online] Available at: <https://www.nrmca.org/aboutconcrete/cips/35pr.pdf>

[Accessed 20 April 2020]. (Nrmrca, 2020)

Civil Engineering Forum. 2020. Compressive Strength Test Of Concrete - Civil Engineering Forum.
[online] Available at: <http://www.civilengineeringforum.me/compressive-strength-test-of-
concrete/> [Accessed 20 April 2020]. (Compressive Strength Test of Concrete - Civil Engineering
Forum, 2020)

9
Altrad-belle.com. 2020. Altrad Belle :: Belle Products : Tubmix 50. [online] Available at:
<http://www.altrad-belle.com/index.php?p=products&id=32> [Accessed 22 April 2020].

Concreteinstitute.com.au. 2020. Event Detail - Concrete Institute Of Australia. [online] Available at:
<https://www.concreteinstitute.com.au/Events/494.aspx> [Accessed 22 April 2020].

2020. [online] Available at: <https://www.lowes.com/n/how-to/mix-concrete-by-hand> [Accessed

22 April 2020].

Nevadareadymix.com. 2020. Testing The Compressive Strength Of Concrete — What, Why, & How? –
Nevada Ready Mix. [online] Available at: <https://www.nevadareadymix.com/concrete-tips/testing-
the-compressive-strength-of-concrete/> [Accessed 22 April 2020]. (Testing the Compressive Strength
of Concrete — What, why, & how? – Nevada Ready Mix, 2020)

The Constructor. 2020. Compressive Strength Of Concrete -Cube Test, Procedure, Results. [online]
Available at: <https://theconstructor.org/concrete/compressive-strength-concrete-cube-test/1561/>
[Accessed 22 April 2020]. (Compressive Strength of Concrete -Cube Test, Procedure, Results, 2020)

Harrison, T. and Brooker, O., 2020. BS 8500. [online] Concretecentre.com. Available at:
<https://www.concretecentre.com/Codes/BS-8500.aspx> [Accessed 22 April 2020].

10 APPENDIX

10.1 APPENDIX 1 FILLING THE MOULDS

(Compressive Strength of Concrete -Cube Test, Procedure, Results, 2020)

10
10.2 APPENDIX 2 TESTING THE CUBE

(Compressive Strength of Concrete -Cube Test, Procedure, Results, 2020)

11