Testing of Fresh and Hardened

Concrete – Quality of Concrete

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 Test on Fresh Concrete
1. Consistency
2. Workability
3. Segregation
4. Bleeding

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 Consistency
• It is an important component of workability and refers in a
way to the wetness of the concrete.

Consistency Test

Slump Test Flow Test

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 Slump Test
• Slump test is used to determine the workability of fresh concrete.

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Slump Results

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• True Slump – True slump is the only slump that can be
measured in the test. The measurement is taken between the
top of the cone and the top of the concrete after the cone has
been removed as shown in Figure.
• Zero Slump – Zero slump is the indication of very low water-
cement ratio, which results in dry mixes. These type of
concrete is generally used for road construction.
• Collapsed Slump – This is an indication that the water-cement
ratio is too high, i.e. concrete mix is too wet or it is a high
workability mix, for which a slump test is not appropriate.
• Shear Slump – The shear slump indicates that the result is
incomplete, and concrete to be retested.

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No. Types of concrete Slump

1 Concrete for road construction 20 to 40 mm

2 Concrete for tops of curbs, parapets, piers, slabs and wall 40 to 50 mm

3 Concrete for canal lining 70 to 80 mm

4 Normal RCC work 80 to 150 mm

5 Mass concrete 20 to 50 mm

6 Concrete to be vibrated 10 to 25 mm

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 Flow Test
• The flow table test or flow test is a method to determine consistency
of fresh concrete.

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• The flow table is wetted.
• The cone is placed in the center of the flow table and filled
with fresh concrete in two equal layers. Each layer is tamped
10 times with a tamping rod.
• Wait 30 seconds before lifting the cone.
• The cone is lifted, allowing the concrete to flow.
• The flow table is then lifted up 40mm and then dropped 15
times, causing the concrete to flow.
• After this the diameter of the concrete is measured.

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 Flow Table Results

Percent of Flow Consistency

0 – 20 % Dry
20 – 60 % Stiff
60 - 100 % Plastic
100 – 120 % Wet
120 – 150 % Sloppy

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 Workability
• Concrete is said to be workable when it is easily placed and
compacted homogenously i.e without bleeding or segregation.

Workability Test

Compaction Vebe
Factor Test Consistometer
Test
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Compaction Factor Test

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• Place the concrete sample gently in the upper hopper to its brim using the hand scoop
and level it.
• Cover the cylinder.
• Open the trap door at the bottom of the upper hopper so that concrete fall in to the
lower hopper .Push the concrete sticking on its sides gently with the rod.
• Open the trap door of the lower hopper and allow the concrete to fall in to the cylinder
below.
• Cut of the excess of concrete above the top level of cylinder using trowels and level it.
• Clean the outside of the cylinder.
• Weight the cylinder with concrete to the nearest 10 g. This weight is known as the eight
of partially compacted concrete.
• Empty the cylinder and then refill it with the same concrete mix in layers approximately
5cm deep, each layer being heavily rammed to obtain full compaction.
• Level the top surface.
• Weigh the cylinder with fully compacted. This weight is known as the weight of fully
compacted concrete.
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Vebe Consistometer Test

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 Segregation
• Segregation is when the coarse and fine aggregate, and
cement paste, become separated. Segregation may happen
when the concrete is mixed, transported, placed or
compacted.

• Segregation makes the concrete

• Weaker
• Less durable
• And will leave a poor surface finish.
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Bleeding

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Objective Questions

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1. Wp and Wf are the weights of a cylinder containing partially
compacted and fully compacted concrete. If the compaction factor is
0.95, the workability of concrete is
A. extremely low
B. very low
C. low
D. high
E. none of these.

Ans:

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2. For given water content, workability decreases if the concrete
aggregates contain an excess of
A. thin particles
B. flat particles
C. elongated particles
D. flaky paticles
E. all the above.

Ans:

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3. For quality control of Portland cement, the test essentially done is
A. setting time
B. soundness
C. tensile strength
D. consistency
E. all the above.

Ans:

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4. The risk of segregation is more for
A. wetter mix
B. larger proportion of maximum size aggregate
C. coarser grading
D. all the above.

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5. The bulk density of aggregates does not depend upon :
A. size and shape of aggregates
B. specific gravity of aggregates
C. grading of aggregates
D. size and shape of the container
E. none of these.

Ans:

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 Answers
1. high
2. all the above
3. all the above
4. all the above
5. size and shape of the container

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