Top 6 Important Quality Tests Of Concrete

In order to determine the quality of concrete on site, it shall undergo quality tests. Here are 6
common quality tests on concrete before and after completion of casting on site.
1. Slump test before leaving the batching plant and on arrival on site
This is to determine the workability of concrete in terms of slump test. After batching the
concrete, a sample of fresh concrete shall be taken to test for slump tests and the samples for
compressive strength test be taken too. This is to make sure that the batched concrete is
complying with the mix design before its released from the batching plant.
Upon arrival on site, a sample of fresh concrete shall be tested with slump test again, but
temperature shall be checked with the calibrated thermometer before hand. Three cubes or
cylinders of samples shall be taken for compressive strength tests, these will be the samples from
the site.
You might ask What is slump? And Why there is plus or minus sign (+/-) in the slump? You
may go ahead with this article The definition of construction terms to see the meaning of slump.
The plus or minus sign is the symbol of tolerance of slump. Let say for example the slump of
approved concrete design mix for your suspended slab is 150 mm +/- 25. It means that the drop
of concrete after the slump cone is removed should not be more than 175 mm nor less than 125
mm.
2. Compressive strength test
Three samples of cubes or cylinders shall be taken for compressive strength test, but it is not
commonly three samples, sometimes it is two depend on the specification. You might ask why
sometimes there is extra of one sample? Good that you asked. This one sample extra shall be
tested if! the two cubes or cylinders samples are tested from the three and if it is failed and the
remaining sample is passed. If the consultant is not satisfied with the result (definitely not!) and
he wishes to test the extra one. It shall be tested in 60 days.
You might ask why again, because if the concrete cube fails at 28 days the concrete cubes might
be having a slow gaining strength, but the required strength might be achieved after 60 days,
especially those concrete having pozzolanic cement and cement replacement that has GGBS and
FA.
So dont forget to save extra samples.

3. Water Permeability test

A water permeability test is one of the tests to determine the durability of concrete. Three cubes
shall be taken from fresh concrete and tested in accordance to the German Standard DIN 1048 at
28 days age. This kind of test shall be taken from substructures concrete elements like
foundations, concrete water tank, retaining wall etc. The frequency of the water permeability test
can be found in this article The Frequency of Various Tests.
4. Rapid Chloride Ion Penetration Test
Like water permeability test, this is also one of the tests to determine the durability of concrete.
Three cubes shall be taken from fresh concrete delivered on site and tested at 28 days age. The
test shall be done in accordance to ASTM C1202-97.

5. Water Absorption Test

Here is the other test that would determine the durability of concrete. The three cube sample shall
be taken from the delivered fresh concrete and kept it in the curing tank for 28 days or after 24
hours the concrete sample would be demoulded and it will be sent directly to the approved third
party laboratory to ensure its curing. The size of cube sample is 150 mm and tested in accordance
to BS 1881-122.
6. Initial Surface Absorption Test
Three cubes samples shall be taken from the fresh concrete delivered on site. It shall be cured
and placed inside the curing tank for 28 days prior to testing. The sample is to be tested in
accordance to BS 1881-208.
The water permeability test, Rapid Chloride Ion Penetration test, water absorption test, and the
initial surface absorption test are tests to determine the durability of concrete. To determine its
ability to resist weathering action, chemical attack and any process of deterioration.