HYDRAULIC CEMENT MIXTURE:

Module 5 Paste, Mortar & Concrete

Overview:

Hydraulic Cement is never used alone, but is one of the

components of a Cement Mix; Cement Paste (cement and
water), Cement Mortar (cement, water and fine
CEMENT aggregate), and Cement Concrete (cement, water, fine
and coarse aggregates).

Mixture The chemical reaction between Portland cement

and water is the principal action in the chemistry of
concrete. Portland cement by itself does not provide
cementing binder, the cementing gel (CSH, calcium-
silicate-hydrate) is formed by the reaction of Portland
cement and water (hydration). The cement paste
becomes hard within a week, but the hardening process
CE104 may continue to some extent for months or years.

Construction There is a common misconception that concrete

hardens during evaporation. This is not true, because

Materials & without water, there will be no reaction, thus no hardening.

Water that is acceptable for drinking purposes is
Testing also satisfactory for mixing concrete. It should be clean
and free of oil, salt, acid, alkali, grass or other substances.
Contaminants in unclean water may react with cement
and may cause in poor strength of the material.
Engr. Luis Alfonso R. Tanchico It was discovered by Abrams in 1918 that the ratio
Special Lecturer of the amount of water to the amount of cement in the
Cel # 09169121330 mixture (water-cement ratio) was related to the strength
[email protected]
and quality of concrete.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
1. Know the different types of cement mixtures,
2. Know the different test on mortar;
3. Know the different properties of concrete;
4. Know the different proportioning of concrete mixture;
5. Know how concrete is mixed;
6. Know how to handle and place concrete;
7. Know the test on fresh concrete.
8. Know how curing of concrete is done;
9. Know the different strength test on concrete, and
10. Know how to compute the ultimate strength of concrete based on laboratory report.
Different Types of Cement Mixture:
Cement Paste - is a mixture of hydraulic cement and water, a desired mixture of cement and water
is prepared depending on how it will be used. It is used as a thin set-adhesive for tile works, grout,
filler, for decorative purposes such as stucco, etc.

Plaster Mixture
Mixture Class Mixture Proportion Cement 40 Kg bag Sand cu. m.
A 1:2 9 1
B 1:3 6 1
C 1:4 4.5 1

Cement Mortar – mortar from the Latin word “mortarium” which means crushed stone (sand). It is
a mixture of cement, sand and water at a specified ratio in which the strength of mortar depends, it
is used to bind building blocks, such as stone, bricks, and concrete masonry units together, fill and
seals the irregular gaps between them, for plastering walls and sometimes add decorative colors or
patterns in masonry walls.

Mortar Mixture
Mixture Class Mixture Proportion Cement (40 Kg Bag) Sand (cu. m.)
A 1:2 18 1
B 1:3 12 1
C 1:4 9 1

Mortar mixture for hollow blocks of 1 : 6 mix proportion achieves 500 psi (3.5 MPa) strength.
Test on Mortar:
The following test are conducted on the prepared mortars to ensure their quality:
1. Crushing Test – This test is carried out on a brick work with the mortar. The brick work is
crushed in a compression testing machine and the load is noted down. Then the crushing
strength is obtained as the load divided by the cross-sectional area.
 2. Tensile Strength Test – The mortar prepared is placed in a mold of briquette which has central
cross-sectional area as 38mm x 38mm. After curing the briquette, it is pulled under the grip
of the tensile testing machine. The ultimate load is noted. Then the tensile strength of the
mortar is the load divided by the central cross-sectional area.

3. Adhesive Test – Two bricks are joined together with mortar to be tested. The upper brick is
suspended from an overhead support. A board is hung from the lower brick. Then weights
are added to the board until the bricks separate. The adhesive strength is the load divided by
the area of contact.

Cement Concrete – concrete is derived from the Greek word “concretus” which means compact
or condensed and/or “conscrescere” which means (“con” – together and “screcere” – to grow) to
grow together. It is an artificial stone (composite construction material) resulting from the mixture of
cement, water, fine (sand) and coarse (gravel) aggregates which hardens with time. It is strong in
compression and weak in tension.

Reinforced Concrete – a concrete in which steel is embedded in such a manner that the two
material act together in resisting forces.

Properties of Concrete:

1. Workability of Concrete – is the ability of fresh concrete to flow freely and fill the voids inside
the form. It is also described as:
 a. Consistency – is the degree of wetness or slump of the concrete mixture. It varies
directly with the amount of water in the mixture.
b. Plasticity – is the ease with which fresh concrete can be molded or deformed without
segregation.
c. Mobility – is the capacity of concrete to move or flow, particularly during vibration.

2. Strength of Concrete – is the ability to resist the stresses caused by different forces
(compressive, tensile, flexural and sheer). Theoretically, a low water-cement ratio produces
high quality Portland cement paste.

3. Durability of Concrete – is the ability to resist forces of deterioration such as:

a. Freezing and thawing of water saturated concrete.
b. Expansion caused by reaction between reactive aggregates and alkali in cement.
c. Reaction between soil and water or sulfate and hydrated Portland cement.
d. Expansion and shrinkage caused by wetting and drying.

Proportioning of Concrete Mixture and Concrete Mix Ratio

The Type of mix or grade is used in different structures depends on the required strength.

Types of Mix Proportion Use

Class of Mix Grade of mix
M7.5 1:4:8 For Mass concrete Works.
C M10 1:3:6
B M12 1:2½:5 For Slab of Buildings
A M15 1:2:4 For Footings, Beams and Columns of Buildings
AA M20 1:1½:3 For Water Retaining Structures, Piles, Pre-cast Conc.
M25 1:1:2 For High Strength Columns and Beams of Buildings
(DPWH)
A For Slab, Beams. Girders, Columns, Arch Ribs, Reinforced
Footing & Abutments, Retaining Walls, Piles, & Cribbing.
B For Common Footings, Pedestals, Massive Pier Shafts, Pipe
Bedding, Gravity Walls, and all Concrete with no or small amount
of reinforcements.
C For Thin Reinforced Sections, Railings and Filler for Steel Grid
Floors.
P For Pre-Stressed Concrete Structures and Members.
Seal For Concrete deposited in water.

The right proportioning of all concrete ingredients is one of the most important aspect in
producing high quality economical concrete.

There are two methods in concrete proportioning mixtures, Volume and Weight Methods.
Volume Method is the most common and convenient method of mixing concrete to attain the
desired strength of concrete. It is done by using Mixing Box (1 cu foot) since 40kg bag of cement is
equal to 1 cubic foot.
Grade of concrete denotes the strength required for construction. For example, M20 grade
which has the proportion of 1 : 1 ½ : 3, the first letter M is the mix and 20 is the required strength in
MPa. Sometimes, grade is denoted as C20 where C stand for concrete mix.
 Mixture Mixture Proportion Cement Sand Gravel Maximum Compressive
Class Grade cement:sand:gravel 40Kg bag cu.m per cu.m per Water-Cement Strength
per cu. m of cu.meter of cu.meter of Ratio
conc. conc. conc. Ratio Liters MPa Psi
Kg/Kg per bag
M5 1 : 5 : 10 3.5 0.47 0.95 5 725
M7.5 1:4:8 4.5 0.46 0.93 7.5 1,000
C M10 1:3:6 6 0.45 0.91 34 10 1,500
B M12 1:2½:5 7.5 0.44 0.88 31.5 12 1,750
A M15 1:2:4 9 0.43 0.86 30 15 2,000
AA M20 1 : 1½ : 3 12 0.41 0.82 27 20 3,000
M25 1:1:2 15 0.38 0.76 25 25 3,500
(DPWH) Rounded Angular Rounded Angular

A 9 0.5 0.54 0.77 0.68 0.53 20.7 3,000*

B 8 0.45 0.52 0.82 0.73 0.58 16.5 2,400
C 9.5 0.53 0.59 0.70 0.68 0.55 20.7 3,000
P 11 0.44 0.47 0.68 0.65 0.49 37.7 5,500
Seal 9.5 0.58 20.7 3,000

Notes:* DPWH Concrete Design Mix for Pavements require a 14-day compressive strength of 24.1Mpa (3,500 psi) and
flexural strength of not less than 3.8 MPa (550psi or 4.5 MPa (650 psi) tested by the third-point method or
midpoint method respectively.
- Standard Design Mixture Grades 30 to 70 is done by doing trial mixes and then testing its strength, and is usually
done by weight method.
- Water-cement ratio is usually 0.5 for normal construction.
- For ease in estimates, for 1 cu m of concrete, 05 cu m of sand and 1.0 cu m of gravel is generally used.

Theoretically, concrete proportion showed that fine aggregates (sand) is always one-haft of
the volume of coarse aggregate (gravel). For instance, 1:2:4 proportion means 1 part cement, 2
parts sand and 4 parts gravel to form a class A mixture. There are times however, when this
established proportioning of concrete mixture is adjusted by decreasing the volume of gravel and
increasing the amount of sand to 1 : 1 ½ : 3 ½ which is sometimes necessary when pouring is to
be done in a form of crowded reinforcing bars. This is another way of expressing 1:2:4 proportion
which is similar to 1:6 (1 ½ + 3 ½) proportion which means that for every part of cement plus 6 parts
sand and gravel will produce the same class A mixture.

Admixture:
Admixture (admix) is a material that is used as an ingredient in mortar or concrete, which is
added immediately before or during mixing. The type of admixture added depends upon its necessity
or purpose.

The Purposes of Admixture in Concrete are:

1. To improve workability or consistency of concrete,
2. To improve the durability of concrete,
 3. To increase strength,
4. To accelerate strength development,
5. To retard or accelerate initial setting,
6. To retard or reduce the evolution of heat,
7. To control alkali-aggregates expansion,
8. To increase density and reduce permeability,
9. To create a desired slump at a lower water-cement ratio,
10. To reduce early and long-term drying shrinkage,
11. To slowdown corrosion in reinforcing steel in concrete.

Mixing of Concrete:
The process of mixing concrete for construction is done in two different ways. It is either on
site job mixing or by a ready mixed concrete.
The ACI Code States that:
“For job-mixed concrete, mixing shall be done in a batch mixer of approved type. The mixer
shall be rotated at a speed recommended by the manufacturer and mixing shall be continued for at
least 1 ½ minutes after all the materials are in the drum, unless a shorter time is shown to be
satisfactory by the criteria of “Specification for Ready Mixed Concrete for Criteria Mixers””
Mixing concrete shall be mixed in a mechanically operated mixer of an approved size and
type (no less than one 40kg cement bagger mixer of the revolving drum or revolving blade type),
that will ensure uniform distribution of materials throughout the mass has to be attained and the
mixture has to be discharged completely before recharging the mixer.

When concrete is mixed at the site or at the central point mixing, the mixing time shall not be
less than 60 seconds or more than 90 seconds. (For mixers having 1.5 cu.m. or less capacity, the
mixing time shall not be less than 60 sec., and for more than 1.5 cu.m. capacity, the mixing time
shall not be less than 90 secs.). Four (4) seconds shall be added to the specified mixing time if the
timing starts the instance the skip reaches the maximum raised position. Mixing time ends when the
discharge chute opens. Water shall be in the drum by the end of 15 seconds of the mixing period.
(DPWH Item 311.3.7).
Truck mixers shall be of revolving drum type and water-tight. Mixing speed shall not be less
than 4 rpm or more than 6 rpm.
Mixing shall begin within 30 minutes after the cement has been added either to water or to
moist aggregates and when the temperature is above 32 𝐶, the limit shall be reduced to 15 minutes.
Steps; such as addition of ice to the mix water or sometimes direct to the mixer with due adjustment
of water and other approved method should be taken to prevent the temperature of mixed concrete
from exceeding 32 𝐶 (90 𝐹). Note: Cement that has been in contact with dry aggregates it should
be mixed within 90 minutes (DPWH Item 311.3.6).
Mixed concrete may be transported to the delivery point in truck agitators or Truck mixers
operating at the speed designated by the manufacturer of the equipment at agitating speed.
Concrete shall be deposited in place at the site, shall not exceed 45 minutes when concrete is
hauled in truck mixer or truck agitator and in non-agitating truck, nor 90 minutes when hauled in
non-agitating truck or before 250 revolutions of the drum or blades whichever comes first, after the
introduction of cement to aggregates or after water has been introduced on the batch.
The rate of delivery and discharge of concrete shall be at an interval of 20 minutes between
batches and in no case such an interval exceed 30 minutes.
Retempering concrete by adding water is not permitted except to increase the slump,
provided all these operations is performed within 45 minutes after the initial mixing.

Centralized Ready- Mix Plants

At present, concrete of any desirable proportions or quality for numerous special purposes
can be ordered directly from the ready-mix concrete producer. The desired type and quality of
concrete is delivered to the project site very rapidly.
In modern ready-mix concrete plant, the production of various concrete mixes is programed
by an electronic computer, and batches of concrete of any desired size are proportioned
automatically by electronic control. All the ingredients are measured by weight and mixing at the
plant provides more accurate control of the consistency and other properties of the fresh concrete.
A ready-mixed plant concrete is mixed either:
a. In mobile mixers – a batch of concrete is placed in a mobile mixer at the plant, the mixing
takes place from the time the mixers leave the plant until it reaches the job site.
b. In stationary mixers – the concrete is mixed before it is placed in the truck mixer, where
the concrete is only agitated.

Hand Mixing of Concrete:

A good concrete can be produced by hand mixing. Mixing by hand is employed only in special
cases where quality control is not of much importance and quantity of concrete required is less. If
the sand and gravel are clean and sound (good quality), if about one-haft as much water as cement
by weight is used and if mixing is done properly, the result will be high quality concrete.
Procedure of Hand Mixing Concrete:
Hand mixing shall be done on a smooth, clean and water tight flatform of suitable size in the
following manner:
1. Measured the quantity of sand is spread evenly.
2. The required quantity of cement is dumped on the sand and spread evenly.
3. The sand and cement is then mixed intimately with spade, turning the mixture over and
over again until it is of even color throughout and free from streaks.
4. The sand and cement mixture is then spread out and measured quantity of coarse
aggregate (gravel) is spread on its top.
5. The whole mass should be mixed at least three times by shoveling and turning over by
twist from center to side, then back to the center and again to the sides.
6. A hollow is made in the middle of the mixed pile.
7. Threequarters (3/4) of the total quantity of water required should be added in intervals
using a small bucket (using large bucket will end up having a large heap that is difficult to
mix by hand), while the materials are turned towards the center with spades. The
remaining water is added by the water can fitted with rose head, slowly turning the whole
mixture over and over again until a uniform color and consistency is obtained throughout
the pile. Over mixing of concrete mixture have to be avoided. Once the required amount
of mixing is performed, keep it idle and mixing it in small quantities during the time of
placing.
Hand mixing must be employed only for works that will give adequate interval time for mixing
between the work. This means that we must not mix large quantities very early for a work that is
going to start later.

Handling and Placing Fresh Concrete:

Depositing of concrete requires prior and adequate preparation of equipment and materials.
The ACI Code states that;
“Before concrete is placed, all equipment for mixing and transporting of concrete shall be
clean, all debris and ice shall be removed from the spaces to be occupied by the concrete. Forms
shall be properly coated, masonry filler units that will be in contact with concrete shall be well
drenched and the reinforcement shall be thoroughly cleaned of ice and other deleterious coatings.”
“Concrete shall not be placed until forms and reinforcement steel have been checked ….
In preparation for placing concrete, all sawdust, chips, and other construction debris and
extraneous matter shall be removed from inside the formwork, struts, strays and braces serving
temporarily to hold the forms in correct shape and alignment pending the placement of concrete …”
(DPWH Item 407.3.1)
 The rate and conditions of placing concrete undoubtedly affect cracking through such
influences such as bleeding (the upward flow of water in fresh concrete breaks and internal cracks),
segregation of materials (segregation is the separation of sand and gravel in the mix) in forms and
around the reinforcement, and temperature.
Concrete should be placed within 90 minutes from the time the ingredients were charged into
the mixing drum and is placed continuously with care, so as to avoid segregation of materials.
Pouring and dropping concrete at a height of more than 1.5 meters will cause segregation, it should
be conveyed through sheet metals of an approved design.
Any break in pouring lasting more than 30 minutes will be considered a “cold joint”. A cold
joint is a plane of weakness in concrete caused by an interruption or delay in concreting operations.
It occurs when the first batch of concrete has begun to set before the next batch is added, so the
two batches do not intermix. The DPH Standard Specification states that: “no cold joint shall be
constructed on concrete pavement within 1.5 m of an expansion joint, construction joint or plane of
weakness”.
Concrete should be proportioned, placed and consolidated such that only sufficient mortar is
available at the surface for finishing.
When concrete is to be placed for road pavement adjoining a previously constructed lane
and mechanical equipment shall be operated upon the existing lane, the previously constructed lane
shall have attained the strength for 14 days and if only, finishing equipment is carried on the existing
lane. Paving in adjoining lane may be permitted after 3 days.

Vibration of Concrete for Compaction:

Concrete shall be thoroughly consolidated by means of vibrators inserted in the concrete at
a vertical position and should not be operated longer than 15 seconds in any one location. Vibrators
shall operate at a frequency of 8,300 – 9,600 impulse per minute and the spacing of points of
vibration should be such a way that their zones of influence overlap at a maximum spacing of 60
cm. Vibration should be distributed so that concrete becomes uniformly dense and becomes a
plastic mass. It should be used for compaction only and not to be used in moving concrete
horizontally. For concrete deposited in layers, the vibrator should be inserted vertically and allowed
to sink due to its own weight to the bottom of the layer and then slowly withdrawn. For succeeding
layers, the vibrator should preferably penetrate the surface of the preceding layer at least 150 mm.
Test on Fresh Concrete:

1. Slump test
The concrete slump test measures the consistency of fresh concrete before it sets. It is
performed to check the workability of freshly made concrete, and therefore the ease with which
concrete flows. It can also be used as an indicator of an improperly mixed batch. The test is
popular due to the simplicity of apparatus used and simple procedure. The slump test is used
to ensure uniformity for different loads of concrete under field conditions.
A separate test, known as the flow table, or slump-flow, test, is used for concrete that is
too fluid (non-workable) to be measured using the standard slump test, because the concrete
will not retain its shape when the cone is removed.
The test is carried out using a metal mold in the shape of a conical frustum known as a
slump cone or Abrams cone, that is open at both ends and has attached handles. The tool
typically has an internal diameter of 100 mm (3.9 in) at the top and of 200 mm (7.9 in) at the
bottom with a height of 305 mm (12.0 in). The cone is placed on a hard non-absorbent surface.
This cone is filled with fresh concrete in Three stages. Each time, each layer is tamped 25
times with a 2 ft (600 mm) long bullet-nosed metal rod measuring 5/8 in (16 mm) in diameter.
At the end of the third stage, the concrete is struck off flush with the top of the mold. The mold
is carefully lifted vertically upwards, so as not to disturb the concrete cone.
The concrete then slumps (subsides). The slump of the concrete is measured by measuring
the distance from the top of the slumped concrete to the level of the top of the slump cone.
The slumped concrete takes various shapes and according to the profile of slumped
concrete, the slump is termed as true slump, shear slump or collapse slump. If a shear or
collapse slump is achieved, a fresh sample should be taken and the test repeated.
Only a true slump is of any use in the test. A collapse slump will generally mean that the
mix is too wet or that it is a high workability mix, for which the slump test is not appropriate
(use flow table test instead). Very dry mixes having slump 0 – 25 mm are typically used in road
making, low workability mixes having slump 10 – 40 mm are typically used for foundations with
light reinforcement, medium workability mixes with slump 50 – 90 mm, are typically used for
normal reinforced concrete placed with vibration, high workability concrete with slump >
100 mm is typically used where reinforcing has tight spacing, and/or the concrete has to flow
a great distance.
 DPWH Standard on Allowable Slump for Various Concrete Application
Type of Construction Consistency Range in Slump
Millimeter inches
Reinforced Foundation Walls & Footing 50 – 100 2–4
Reinforced Slabs, Beams & Walls 50 – 125 2–5
Reinforced Columns 75 – 125 3–5
Unreinforced Footings, Caissons, Sub-structure Walls 25 – 75 1–3
Concrete Pavement 50 – 75 2–3
Pre-stressed Concrete 100 4
Concrete deposited in water 100 – 200 4–8

2. Flow Table Test

The flow table test or flow test is a method to determine consistency of

fresh concrete. Flow table test is also used to identify transportable moisture limit of solid bulk
cargos. It is used primarily for assessing concrete that is too fluid (workable) to be measured
using the slump test (when the slump is more than 75 centimeters), because the concrete
will not retain its shape when the cone is removed.
 When fresh concrete is delivered to a site by a truck mixer, its consistency needs to be
checked before it is poured into formwork.
If consistency is not at the desired level, concrete will not have the required strength and
other qualities once it has set. If concrete is too pasty, cavities may form within it. Rebar may
become corroded, and concrete will crack. Cavities also reduce the concrete strength.

Equipment

 Flow table with a grip and a hinge, 70 cm (28 in) square. In the American version of this test,
the table is 10 inches (25 cm) diameter per ASTM C 230.
 Abrams cone, open at the top and at the bottom - 30 cm (12 in) high, 17 cm (6.7 in) top
diameter, 25 cm (9.8 in) base diameter.
 Water bucket and broom to wet the flow table.
 Tamping rod, 60 cm (24 in) long.

Conducting the test

 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 flow of the concrete is measured
 3. Compacting Factor Test

Compacting factor of fresh concrete is done to determine the workability of fresh concrete by
compacting factor test as per IS: 1199 – 1959. The apparatus used is Compacting factor apparatus.

Procedure to determine workability of fresh concrete by compacting factor test.

 The sample of concrete is placed in the upper hopper up to the brim.

 The trap-door is opened so that the concrete falls into the lower hopper.
 The trap-door of the lower hopper is opened and the concrete is allowed to fall into the
cylinder.
 The excess concrete remaining above the top level of the cylinder is then cut off with the help
of plane blades.
 The concrete in the cylinder is weighed. This is known as weight of partially compacted
concrete.
 The cylinder is filled with a fresh sample of concrete and vibrated to obtain full compaction.
The concrete in the cylinder is weighed again. This weight is known as the weight of fully
compacted concrete.

The strength of concrete s mainly derived from aggregates, whereas cement contribute binding
and workability.
Curing:

The hardening of concrete depends upon the chemical reaction between cement and water,
it will continue as long as moisture is present under favorable temperature condition.

The moisture conditions, during both early and subsequent stages of setting of concrete is
highly important. Rapid drying of fresh concrete within minutes of placing may cause evaporation
and will exceed the rate of bleeding, thus cracks due to plastic shrinkage will appear.

Weather condition also influences cracking greatly. Sections of pavement cast during cool
weather is less subject to thermal cracking than those during hot weather. In hot weather, concreting
should be avoided when ambient temperature exceeds 32 𝐶.

The initial setting of concrete will start about 2 or 3 hours after the concrete have been mixed.
At this state, concrete shall be protected to prevent cracks due to rapid evaporation of moisture.
About 65% to 70% of concrete strength is reached at the end of the 1st week (7th day strength) and
30% to 35% could be lost by premature drying of concrete.

Curing is the process of maintaining the moisture and temperature conditions of concrete to
normal by hydration so that concrete develops hardened properties over time. The result of this
process is increased strength and decreased permeability. It is also a key in mitigating cracks in
concrete, which has severe impact on durability.

The National Building Code provides that “ … Concrete shall be maintained above 10 𝐶
temperature* and in a moist condition for at least 7 days after placing, except that the high early
strength concrete shall be so maintained for at least the first 3 days … Curing by high pressure
steam at atmospheric pressure, heat and moisture or other acceptable process, maybe employed
to accelerate strength gain and reduce the time of curing.”

Note: * the curing temperature should be between 10 𝐶 to 32 𝐶, preferably 18 𝐶 t𝑜 29 𝐶.

Purpose of Curing Concrete:

 To prevent concrete to dry out prematurely.

 It helps to maintain the concrete temperature by hydration process.
 Helps concrete to harden and bond with internal materials and reinforcement.
 Helps the development of impermeable, crack free and durable concrete.

Percentage Strength of Concrete Using OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement)

Age in Days Percentage of Strength

1 16%
3 40%
7 65%
14 90%
21 94%
28 99%
3 months 100%
Parameters Affecting the Strength of Concrete:

 Cement
 Water
 Cement Storage & Transportation
 Cement Packaging
 Aggregates
 Concrete Compaction

TEST OF CONCRETE SAMPLE:

1. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

It is the capacity of a material or structure to withstand axially directed pushing forces.

It is determined by the ability of the material to resist failure in the form of cracks and fissure.

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST

It is a mechanical test measuring the amount of compressive load a material can bear
before fracturing.

Calculated by the formula:

𝑃
𝑓 =
𝐴

𝑓 = Compressive Strength
𝑃 = Ultimate Load
𝐴 = Cross Sectional Area

SAMPLES FOR TESTING

A strength test result is always the average of at least three specimens tested at the same
age.
Standard Sizes of Samples

 CYLINDRICAL SAMPLE 4in x 8in (100mm by 200mm) or

6in x 12in (150mn by 300rmm)
 CUBIC SAMPLE 150 X 150 X 150 mm

APPARATUS

 Universal Testing Machine (UTM)

 Steel/Cast Iron Mold
 Tamping Rod 6mm x 600mm (5/8 in by 24 in)
 Trowel

TESTING PROCEDURES

1. Take a test sample from a large batch of concrete.

2. Rub grease on the inner side of the mold for easy removal of concrete. The specimen
must be casted in 3 layers.
3. Using a standard tamping rod, 35 strokes/tamps (cube) or 25 strokes/tamps (cylinder)
must be done in all parts in order that honeycombing formation does not take place.
4. Level the top of the concrete using the trowel.
5. Once it sets after 4 hours, cover the top with a thin paste. The test specimen should
be stored in a place at a temperature of 27 𝐶 +/- 2 𝐶 and after 24 hours remove the
specimen from the mold and submerged it in clean freshwater or lime solution for the
specified curing period ( 7 or 14 or 28 days). The water or solution should be renewed
every 7 days,
6. After the specified curing period, specimen should be removed.
7. Ensure that the specimen must be well dried before starting the test.
8. Weigh the samples before testing and it must not be 1ess than 8.1 kg.
9. Testing specimens are placed in the space between bearing surfaces. The concrete
must be aligned properly with the center of thrust in the testing machine plates.
10. The loading must be applied on the specimen without any shock and increased at the
rate of 140 to 350 kg/sq.cm/sec until the specimen collapse.
11. The ultimate load of the specimen must be noted.
2. TENSILE STRENGTH TEST

TENSILE STRENGTH

It is the ability of the concrete to withstand pulling force without breaking. It is generally in the
range of 10% to 20% of its compressive strength.

TENSILE STRENGTH TEST

The Tensile Strength Test is a test whereby controlled tension is applied to a sample either as a
load for proof testing or until it fully fails.

1. Uniaxial Tensile Test – it is a difficult test to perform but gives the true tensile strength of
concrete.

2. Split Cylinder Test – the concrete cylinder is placed horizontally between 1oading surfaces
and 1oaded along its diameter.

Calculated by the formula:

2𝑃
𝑓 =
𝜋𝐿𝐷

𝑓 = Tensile Strength
𝑃 = Ultimate Load
𝐿 = Length of Sample
𝐷 = Diameter of Sample

3. Flexure Test – the concrete beams is subjected to third or center point loading. It fails due to
tensile stresses induced at the bottom under pure bending.
 Calculated by the formula (third point loading method):

 if the fracture occurs in the tension surface within the middle third of the span
length:

𝑓 =

𝑓 = Modulus of Rupture
𝑃 = Ultimate Load
𝐿 = Beam Span between Supports
𝑏 = Width of Beam
𝑑 = Depth of Beam

 if the fracture occurs in the tension surface outside the middle third by not
more than 5% of the span length:

𝑓 =

𝑓 = Modulus of Rupture
𝑃 = Ultimate Load
𝑎 = Average distance between the line of fractures and the nearest support
measured on the tension surface of the beam
𝑏 = Width of Beam
𝑑 = Depth of Beam

Calculated by the formula (center point loading method):

𝑓 =

𝑓 = Modulus of Rupture
𝑃 = Ultimate Load
𝐿 = Beam Span between Supports
𝑏 = Width of Beam
𝑑 = Depth of Beam
SAMPLES FOR TESTING (Beam Flexure Test)

A strength test result is always the average of at least three specimens tested at the same
age.

Standard Sizes of Samples

 BEAM SAMPLE – 6 in x 6 in x 21 in (150mm x 150mm x 525mm) or

6 in x 6 in x 36 in (150mm x 150mm x 900mm)

APPARATUS

 Universal Testing Machine (UTM)

 Steel/Cast Iron Mold
 Tamping Rod 6mm x 600mm (5/8 in by 24 in)
 Trowel

TESTING PROCEDURES (Beam Test)

1. Take a test sample from a large batch of concrete.

2. Rub thin film of mold oil on the inner side of the mold for easy removal of concrete.
3. Concrete is placed into the mold in 2 layers of approximately ½ of its volume, Using
a standard tamping rod, 1 tamp per 2 in square (63 strokes/tamps for 21 in wide mold
and 108 strokes/tamps for 36 in wide mold) must be done in a uniform way across
the cross section for each layer.
4. After the top layer is tamped, level the top of the concrete using tamping rod or trowel.
Cover the top with glass or metal plate to avoid evaporation of water.
5. The test specimen should be stored in a place at a temperature of 27 𝐶 +/- 2 𝐶 , After
hie period, specimen should be removed from the mold and to be submerged in clean
freshwater or lime solution for the specified curing period. The water or solution should
be renewed every 7 days.
6. After curing, wipe out water from the specimen.
7. Measure the dimensions of the specimen.
8. Apply load continuously without shock at a rate of approximately 14 - 21 kg/sq.cm/min
9. Record the breaking load.
Example of Test Result and Computation:

1. The compression test result of a concrete cylinder sample ( 6 in x 12 in) for

pavement is; 𝑃 = 340 𝑘𝑁. Did it pass the DPWH Quality Assurance?

𝑷
𝒇𝒄 =
𝑨

𝜋𝐷
𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑨 =
4
3.1416(6 )
= = 28.27 in
4

𝑷 340,000 𝑁
𝒇𝒄 = =
𝑨 6.4516 𝑐𝑚 1𝑚
28.27 𝑖𝑛 × ×
1 𝑖𝑛 10,000 𝑐𝑚
= 18,640,350.58 𝑃𝑎
= 𝟏𝟖. 𝟔𝟒 𝑴𝑷𝒂
fs Requirement = 24.1 MPa min for pavement (DPWH).
18.64 MPa < 24.1 MPa ; [FAILED]

2. A concrete beam sample ( 6 in x 6 in x 36 in ) for pavement was tested for third point
loading method. The result indicates 24 tons. Did it Pass the DPWH Quality
Assurance?

Given: P = 2.4 tons, L = 18 in; since d = 6 in , ( d = )

𝑃𝐿
𝑓 =
𝑏𝑑
𝑃(18 𝑖𝑛)
=
(6 𝑖𝑛)(6 𝑖𝑛)

𝑃
𝑓 =
12 𝑖𝑛

2204.6 𝑙𝑏𝑠
𝑃 2.4 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑠 ×
1 𝑡𝑜𝑛
𝑓 = = 2
= 440.92 𝑝𝑠𝑖
12 12 𝑖𝑛

0.006895 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑓 = 440.92 𝑝𝑠𝑖 × = 𝟑. 𝟎𝟒 𝑴𝑷𝒂
1 𝑝𝑠𝑖

𝒇𝒃𝒕 Requirement = 3.8 MPa min for pavement (DPWH).

3.04 MPa < 3.8 MPa ; [FAILED]
Summary:
Cement as we have learned from this module is one of the components of a Cement
Mix; namely;
1. Cement Paste (cement and water),
2. Cement Mortar (cement, water and fine aggregate),
3. Cement Concrete (cement, water, fine and coarse aggregates) and
4. Reinforced Concrete (concrete in which steel is embedded).
Water-cement ratio, quality of aggregates, temperature, care in mixing and placing
concrete, and proper curing plays an important role in the quality and strength of concrete.
The most important test in concrete is the compression test. It measures the Ultimate
Strength of Concrete which is necessary to validate the strength durability based on the
design criteria.

Feedback:

Prior to this learning module, we think of cem ent mixture as a mere mixture of
cement, water and aggregates, we were not aware of the relev ance of using clean
water, proper rat io and proportion of mat erials to attain cert ain s trength, ef fects of
moisture and temperature in curing, care in placing conc rete or rem ixing c oncrete
again after it has already set…, etc.

Upon learning things in this module, you must already have a grasp of how
Hydraulic Cem ent Mix plays a n important role in Civil E ngineering, specifically, in
civil works construction. In the succeeding learning modules, we will dis cus s the
other important materials used in construction and the t est needed to assure it s
quality.

Suggested Reading:
Topics on Hydraulic Cement Mix in;

Simplified Methods on Building Construction, M. B. Fajardo Jr., 2001

Elements of Roads and Highways, M. B. Fajardo Jr., 2002

References:

DPWH Standard Specification 1988

DPWH Testing Manual 1988
Simplified Methods on Building Construction, M. B. Fajardo Jr., 2001
Elements of Roads and Highways, M. B. Fajardo Jr., 2002
The internet