ADAMA SCEINCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

1 Concrete material test

CENG 3305
.

Kefale Fufa (M.sc )

Lecturer @ SCEA/ASTU.
Civil engineering
program
Kefalefufaj@gmail.com
M.sc Railway eng &
M.sc Structural eng
kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23
2 kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23
 Advantage vs Disadvantage
3

Advantages Disadvantages
• High compressive strength
• High stiffness (rigidity)
• Ability to be cast
• Low tensile strength
• Low thermal and electrical
• Limited ductility
conductivity
• Little resistance to cracking
• Economical
• Volume instability
• Durable
• Low strength to weight ratio
• Fire resistant
• Forms and shoring
• Energy-efficient
• Onsite fabrication
• Aesthetic properties
kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23
 Type of concrete
4

 Concrete works are classified as:

 Class I - works under the direction of qualified supervisor
 Class II – works with lower level of quality
Classification based on density
 Based on density, concrete is classified as normal weight, light
weight, and heavy weight concrete

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 Classification based on strength
5

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 A. Concrete material
6

Concrete material
 Cement

 Fine aggregate

 Course aggregate

 Water

 Admixture

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 1. Cement test
7

 When we are ready for use in addition to what a type and

composition selected we have to check: The following are
the quality tests on cement at construction site:
 Color test
 Presence of lump
 Adulteration test
 Temperature test
 Float test
 Setting test
 strength test
 Date of package

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

8 kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23
9 kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23
10 kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23
 Count………….
11

The physical tests which are generally performed to

determine the acceptability of cement are ;
 Fineness Test
 Consistency Test
 Setting time Test
 Soundness Test
 Strength Test
 Heat of Hydration Test
 Specific Gravity Test

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 Lab test
12

1. Fineness Test
Fineness is the mean size of cement grain. Fineness test is done to measure the
mean size of cement grain.
The finer the cement the surface area for hydration will be large and it
increases the strength of cement. But the fineness varies in different types of
cement.
Following three methods are applied to test the fineness of cement
 Sieve method
 Air Permeability method
 Sedimentation method
2. Consistency Test
 This test is done to estimate the required water quantity to form a normal

consistency cement paste. It is defined as the percentage of water required for

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

13

3. Setting Time Test

Cement has two types of setting time, one is initial setting time and another is final
setting.
Initial setting time is the state of cement mortar or concrete when it starts to become
stiffen and unworkable.
Final setting time is the state when cement mortar or concrete has become fully
unworkable.
Two methods are used to find the initial and final setting time of cement
 Vicat needle method, and
 Gillmore needle method
4. Soundness Test
 Soundness of cement means it doesn’t undergo large volume change after setting. Large

changes in volume produce cracks, disintegration and distortion, ultimately leading to

failure. So it is very important to test the soundness of cement.
 To test the soundness two methods can be applied.

 Le-chatelier method
 Autoclave method
kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23
14

5. Strength Test
Cement has two types of strength – compressive
strength and tensile strength.
To know the compressive strength and tensile
strength of cement following tests are performed –
 Cement mortar cube test (for compressive strength)
 Briqutte test (for tensile strength)
 Split tensile test (for tensile strength)

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 …….
15

6. Heat of Hydration Test

 Cement produce large amount of heat during hydration process. When
large amount of concrete volume is poured the inner temperature is
greater than outer surface of concrete. Because outer surface is exposed
to weather. Thus surface shrinks rapidly than the inner and tends to
produce cracks. That is why it is important to test the heat of hydration
of cement.
 Following test is performed to know the heat of hydration of cement
 Calorimeter method

7. Specific Gravity test

 Specific gravity of cement is a comparison of weight of a cement
volume to the weight of same volume of water.
 Le-chaterlier flask is used to test the specific gravity of cement.
kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23
 2. Sand test
16

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 properties of sand
17

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 Sand test
18

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 Count……..
19

1. Sand gradation test

2. Silt content test less than3% for river and 15% for
manufactured sand
3. Bulk sand…it need extra 15%
4. Other impurity

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 3. Course aggregate property
20

 Strength
 Hardness
 Toughness
 Durability
 Porous
 Water absorption

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 Course aggregate (5mm-38mm size)

21

 Gradation test
 Crushing test.
 Abrasion test.
 Impact test.
 Soundness test.
 Shape test.
 Specific gravity and water absorption test.
 Bitumen adhesion test.

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 Aggregates
Based on Based on
Based on Based on
mode of Based on size chemical
source weight
formation composition
Light Argillaceo
Natural Igneous Fine
weight us

Sedimenta Normal Calcareou

Artificial Coarse
ry weight s

Metamorp Heavy
Recycled Siliceous
hic weight

22 kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 Detail test
23

 The different types of tests conducted on aggregate:

 Test for determination of flakiness index
 Test for determination of elongation index
 Test for determination of inorganic impurities
 Test for determination of specific gravity
 Test for determination of bulk density and voids
 Test for determination of porosity and absorption
 Test for determination of bulking of sand
 Test for determination of sieve analysis
 Test for determination of aggregate crushing value
 Test for determination of ten percent value
 Test for determination of aggregate impact value
 Test for determination of abrasion value

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 4. water tests
24

It should be drinking water which is better for

workability and lubrication.
 PH >= 6
 Alkalinity test
 Hardness test
 Chloride test
 TDS

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 5. Admixture
25

To increase or decrease setting time and increment of

concrete strength
 Water reducer
 Water retarder
 Accelerator
 Super plasticizer

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 B. steps to make concrete
26

1. Batching- by wt or volume
2. Mixing- ready mix or at site
3. Transporting
4. Placing- mechanism
5. Compacting-method,
6. Curing–methods,

Kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 Fresh concrete properties
27

 Workability
 Uniformity
 Consistency
 Bleeding
 Segregation
 Setting time
 Finishablity

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 Fresh concrete test
28

 Slump test- consistency test

 Compressive strength test- stength
 Water absorption test –on mega structure
 Rapid chloride ion penetration test- durability check on
mega structure
 Water permeability test

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 Hardened concrete properties
29

Properties of hardened concrete

 Strength
 Durability and permeability
 Shrinkage and creep formation
 Response to temperature variation
Hardened concrete strength can be checked by
1. Non destructive test
. Hammer test
. Pulse velocity test
2. Destructive test
. Split tension test
. Compressive test
. Flexural strength test
. Air, density and cement content test

kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 2/16/23

 kefale F. ASTU/Civil Engineering Dept. 30

The more you read the more you success!

THANK U!
2/16/23