Practical of

Construction Material
TOTAL : 6 PRACTICAL
Format
1. Cover Page
2. Report
Objective Observation
Requirement Result
• Apparatus Discussion
• Material Conclusion
Theory Precaution
Procedure References
Cover page
Purbanchal University 14
Khwopa Engineering College 1.5”
24
12
(An undertaking of Bhaktapur Municipality) 12
Libali – 8, Bhaktapur
14

12 Text -> Calibri (Body)

A 2”
Lab Report on 14
Construction Material
0.75”
18
14 Practical No: 1
(Title)
16
SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO: 16
Name Er. Ramesh Bala
Roll No.
14 Department of Civil Engineering

Date of Submission: 14
0.75”
Report
◦ Objective 14
◦ Content 12
Procedure -> Past Tense
◦ Requirement
◦ Apparatus -> Point wise
◦ Material Theory -> follow book and internet to get material
◦ Theory -> include related picture.
◦ Procedure
◦ Observation
◦
Discussion -> should be in your own language
Result
◦ Discussion
-> strictly prohibited to copy of your friends
◦ Conclusion
◦ Precaution References -> write the books and documents that you
◦ References have followed to write the report
Practical 1
Grading of AGGREGATE
Objective:
To determine the particle size distribution of aggregate by
sieve analysis
Apparatus
A set of IS sieve
Sieve Size (mm)
Coarse Aggregate Fine Aggregate
40 4.75
25 2.36
16 1.7
12.5 0.425 Balance of 10kg capacity
A set of IS sieve
10 0.15
4.75 0.075
pan pan

Brush
Material

Fine Aggregate -> 2kg

Coarse Aggregate -> 5kg
Theory
 Grading of Aggregate
 Coarse Aggregate
 Fine Aggregate
 Coefficient of Uniformity
(Cu) = D60 / D10
Coefficient of Curvature
(Cc) = (D30)^2 / (D10*D60)
Observation Table
For Coarse Aggregate
Sieve Size Wt. of Cum. Wt. Cum % % finer (N) Remarks
aggregate retain (gm) retained (R) than (100-R)
retain (gm)
40
25
20
16
12.5
10
4.75
pan
Total Mass
retained
Observation Table
For Fine Aggregate
Sieve Size Wt. of Cum. Wt. Cum % % finer (N) Remarks
aggregate retain (gm) retained (R) than (100-R)
retain (gm)
4.75
2
1
0.6 (600 u)
0.425 (450 u)
0.212 (212 u)
0.15 (150 u)
0.075 (75 u )
pan
Total Mass
retained
Plotting of Semi log Graph
100
90
Percent Passing 80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01 0.001
Particle size (mm)
Practical 2
CONSISTENCY TEST OF CEMENT
OBJECTIVE:
To Determine Standard Consistency of a given sample of
cement
Requirements
Apparatus
 Vicat Apparatus Conforming to IS: 5513-1976.
 Balance of capacity 1Kg and sensitivity to 1gram.
 Gauging trowel conforming to IS: 10086-1982.

Material
 Cement -> 300gms
 Water
Standard consistency of a cement
The standard consistency of a cement paste is defined as that consistency which will permit the
vicat plunger to penetrate to a point 5 to 7mm from the bottom of the vicat mould.
This test helps to determine water content for other tests like initial and final setting time,
soundness & compressive strength.
Consistency refers to the relative mobility of a freshly mixed cement paste or mortar or its ability
to flow.
Generally the normal consistency for OPC ranges from 26 to 33%.
Procedure
◦Temperature -> 27 ± 2oC
◦relative humidity of laboratory should be 65 ± 5%.
◦Prepare a paste of weighed quantity of cement (300gms) with weighed quantity of
potable or distilled water, taking care that the time of gauging is not less than 3minutes
nor more than 5minutes and the gauging is completed before any sign of setting occurs.
◦The gauging is counted from the time of adding water to the dry cement until
commencing to fill the mould.
◦Fill the vicat mould with this paste resting upon a non-porous plate.
◦Smoothen the surface of the paste, making it level with the top of the mould.
◦Slightly shake the mould to expel the air.
◦In filling the mould operators hands and the blade of the gauging trowel shall only be used.
◦Immediately place the test block with the non-porous resting plate, under the rod bearing the
plunger.
◦Lower the plunger gently to touch the surface of the test block and quickly release, allowing it
sink into the paste.
◦Record the depth of penetration
◦Prepare trial pastes with varying percentages of water and test as described above until the
plunger is 5mm to 7mm from the bottom of the vicat mould.
Observation
Precaution
Care shall be taken to maintain the specified temperature, humidity and the
time of mixing so as to avoid setting of cement paste.
Practical 3
SETTING TIME TEST
OBJECTIVE:
To Determine Initial Setting Time and Final Setting Time of a
given sample of cement
“Initial setting time” is the time from the instant at which
water is added to the cement until the paste ceases to be
fluid and plastic which corresponds to the time at which
the Vicat’s initial set needle penetrate to a point 5 mm
from the bottom of a special mould.

“Final setting time” the time required for the paste to

acquire certain degree of hardness. This corresponds to
the time at which the Viact’s final set needle makes an
impression on the paste surface but the cutting edge fails
to do so.26
Observation and Calculation:
Weight of cement = …………gm

Time at Time at Penetration Elapsed Penetration Initial

which which from time = T2 – in mm setting time
water is penetration bottom of T1 (min)
added (T1) reading the mould minutes
taken (T2) in mm
           
           
           
           
           
Vicat Needle
Practical 4
WATER ABSORPTION AND
DENSITY
OBJECTIVE:
To Determine the Water Absorption Capacity and Density of
Brick
Apparatus:

1. Water trough (container) 2. Weighing machine 3.Oven 4.

Measuring Tape
5. Thermometer

Material requirements:
Brick Sample
Procedure:
Take a sample of brick, clean with brush to remove dust.
Take dimensions of brick.
Take the dry wt. of brick after placing it in oven for some time.
Place the sample in water at temperature of 27 ± 2º C for 24 hours.
Remove the brick after 24 hours and wipe out any traces of water with a damp cloth.
Wt. the brick specimen.
Complete the weighing within three minutes after the specimen has been removed from the
water.
Observation and Calculation:
SN Wt. of dry brick Wt. of wet brick Water Water
(W1) (W2) absorption absorption in
%
1        
2        
3        
4        
5        
6        
Observation and Calculation:
SN Brick Type Lengt Breadt Height Volume Mass Density Remarks
h h  
1                
2                
3                
4                
5                
6                
Standard value:
Water absorption should be < 12% for 1st class bricks
 
12-15% for 2nd class bricks
 
15-20% for 3rd class bricks
 
Practical 5
compressive strength of a given brick sample
Objective:
To determine the compressive strength of a given brick sample.
Requirements:
Apparatus:
1. Water bath 2. Compressive test machine
Material requirements:
1. Brick Samples (6 nos.)
2. 1:1 mortar by weight
Procedure:
A. Preconditioning of Samples:
Take sample of bricks. Remove unevenness observed in the bed faces to provide two
smooth and parallel faces by grinding.
Take the dimension of brick
Put this sample in clean water till the stopping of air bubble ( for 24 hours for very dry
brick)
Prepare the 1:1 mortar by wt. of cement and sand with 40% of water ( 1 cement, 1
clean coarse sand of grade, 3mm and down). Fill the frog of the brick with mortar.
Store under the damp Jute bags for 24 hours followed by immersion in clean water for
3 days.
Remove and wipe out any traces of moisture.
B. Testing of Samples:
Place the specimen with flat faces horizontal and mortar filled face facing upwards
between two 3 plywood sheet of 3mm thickness and carefully centered between plates of
the testing machine.
Apply load axially at a uniform rate of 14 N/mm 2 (140 kg/cm2) per minute till failure
occurs and note the maximum load at failure.
The load at failure shall be the maximum load at which the specimen fails to produce any
further increase in the indicator reading on the testing machine.
(Note: In place of plywood sheets plaster of pairs may be used to ensure a uniform
surface for application of load.)
 
Observation and Calculation:
SN Bric Lengt Breadt Heigh Volum Loade Maximu Compressi Remarks
k h h t e d area m load ve
Type of from strength
brick machine  
1                  
2                  
3                  
4                  
5                  
6                  
Practical 6
TOUGHNESS OF MATERIAL
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the Toughness of the given material sample
Requirements:
Apparatus:
1. Impact Testing machine
Material requirements:
1. Steel test specimen 2. Wood test specimen
Procedure:
1. Take the sample and clean the sample.
2. Put the sample squarely against the supports with the plane of symmetry of
the notch within 0.5 mm of the plane midway between them.
3. The sample piece is struck by the hammer in the plane of symmetry of the
notch and on the side opposite the notch.
4. The temperature of the specimen shall be taken 27 ± 2º C.
5. Measure the energy absorbed per unit volume during the fracture of the
material.
6. If during the test, specimen is not completely broken, the impact value
obtained is indefinite.
 Observation and Calculation:

Observation and Calculation:

SN Specimen materials Energy absorbed (J) Remarks