Determination of Consistency of Fresh Concrete – Slump Test 60

Determination of Consistency of Fresh Concrete – Slump Test

(IS:1199 Methods of Sampling, Testing and Analysis Part 2)

General

Consistency of Concrete refers to the property of concrete as regard its flowing features in its fresh state. This feature of concrete helps in assessment of its use for workability conditions require to prepare concrete composites.

The consistency of the concrete can be determined by any of the following tests: 

(IS 1199 part 2)

Slump test, (for slump from 10 mm to 210 mm)

Vee bee test,

Compacting factor test,

Degree of compatibility,

Flow table test, and

Slump flow test for high fluidity concrete.

Above mentioned tests are not applicable for foam concrete, no fines concrete, or where the nominal maximum aggregate size exceeds 40 mm. If the aggregate above 40mm is used, then the concrete is sieved through 40 mm sieve and the passing material is used for testing.

Terminology for Consistency of fresh Concrete

Concrete Workability (consistency and cohesiveness)

Concrete Workability is a property of concrete in its fresh state. And covers batching, mixing, placing, compacting, and finishing operations. The concrete is designed about requirements for composite concrete. The concrete of required workability helps in all above operations with less efforts and ensuring quality and durability of concrete.

Consistency of Concrete

It refers to the aspect of workability that represents the flowing features of concrete in its fresh state.

Cohesiveness of Concrete

It refers to plastic (non-stick, non-segregated), harsh (has low plasticity components tend to segregate may have very high or very low water content) or sticky properties of concrete. Plastic state is the requirement for it being cohesive.

Concrete workability is maintained by air entrainment ( entering air in concrete by some agents – intentional way).

Entrapped air in concrete depends on the degree of compaction and usually accounts for about 1 to 2% of the volume of fresh concrete.

Slump Test for Fresh Concrete

Slump test- As the name suggests, it is measure of slump of concrete. The concrete is filled and compacted in cone shape apparatus and the apparatus is removed upwards without having any external effort on the concrete. The concrete slumps and the observations are noted for the test.  (for slump from 10 mm to 210 mm). For higher slumps other tests are done. The test is most widely used as it is easy and quick.

Apparatus  for Concrete Slump test

The apparatus should be made of non-absorbent material as shown below: