Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Faculty Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and

Science
Department: Department of Surveying
Unit Code and Name UEBE/UEBA1213 BUILDING MATERIAL
Experiment No.: 1
Title of Experiment: Determination of the workability of fresh
concrete (Slump Test and Making Test Cubes)
Laboratory Room No. and Name: KBS01
Experiment Duration (hour): 3 hours
Number of Student per Group 5 students x 6 groups
Number of Student per Session 30
Remarks

Objectives (Optional)
The objective of this practical laboratory is to:
1. Determine the amount of collapse, or slump, as an indication of the workability of
different type of fresh concrete mixtures
2. Prepare thirty-six (36) nos. of concrete test cubes for compression testing

Introduction
Slump test is a site test to determine the workability of the fresh concrete just before it’s
placing to final position inside the formwork, and is always conducted by the supervisor on
site.
The slump measured is recorded in mm using a truncated cone. Workable concrete will
slump uniformly, retaining its overall conical profile but a poorly graded concrete will slump
non-uniformly.
Any slump specimen, that collapses or shears off laterally, gives incorrect result and if this
occurs, the test should be repeated with another sample. If, in the repeat test the result
showed the specimen shears also, the slump should be measured and the fact that the
specimen sheared should be recorded.
After the slump test completed, concrete cubes are made from the same batch of concrete
poured from each cement truck that arrives on site; these are numbered, and sent to testing
lab to determine the characteristic strength of the concrete where they are crushed after seven
(7) days, fourteen (14) days and twenty-eight (28) days. This cube test result is very
important to the acceptance of in-situ concrete work as it demonstrates the strength of the
design mix.
The workability and strength of concrete are at direct odds with one another. A high value of
slump reduces concrete strength.
In this practical laboratory no. 2, three (3) types of concrete mixes are prepared for the slump
test and two (2) concrete cubes will be made available from each concrete mix for Laboratory
Practical no. 4 (to determine its effects) on density and compressive strength.

1 Latest updated: 12th Oct 2017 (DLMSA)

The concrete mixtures are 1:3:6, 1:2:4 and 1:1½:3 using ¾ inch aggregate with water/cement
ratio 0.6 and 0.8 for the 3 concrete mixes.

Equipment and Materials

Quantity estimation
Item Description *Item category (e.g. per set/group of
student)
One (1) set slump test apparatus comprising
a mould in the form of a frustum of a cone
of top 4" diameter (internal), bottom 8" W 1/group
diameter (internal) and height 12"

1 tamping rod 5/8” diameter and 24" long

rounded at one end W 1/group

Weighting scale E 1
Measuring cylinder (1000ml) W 1/group
Hand scoop W 3/group
Trowels W 2/group
Eighteen (18) B.S. cube moulds - 150mm
mould 3/group (6
W
group per session)

Coarse aggregate (Gravel) C 50 kg

Fine aggregate (Sand) C 50 kg
Ordinary Portland Cement C 1 bag @ 50kg

*Item category
SP Sample or specimen
C Consumable
CH Chemical
W Labware, glassware, tool, and
components
E Equipment
S Software

Caution Statement (Optional)

Procedure

2 Latest updated: 12th Oct 2017 (DLMSA)

 1. Weigh cement, sand and aggregate (3/4" gravel) to get the concrete mixes, i.e. using
1600g cement for 1:3:6, 2200g cement for 1:2:4 and 2800g cement for 1:1 ½ :3
2. Mix the dry materials with different amount of water to produce required concrete
samples
3. Clean and remove any superfluous moisture or set concrete on the inside of the slump
cone and place it on a smooth, horizontal, vibration free and non-absorbent surface
(metal plate).
4. Fill the slump cone with the concrete mix in equal layers, compacting each layer with
approximately 25 strokes using the tamping rod
5. Level off the top of the slump cone and clean the base plate of any excess concrete
6. Slowly remove the slump cone vertically and measure the amount by which the
concrete slumps. Measure to the nearest 1/4" or, the difference between the heights of
the removed slump cone.
7. Transfer the mix to an oiled cube mould, standing on an oiled based plate in 1" layers,
consolidate each layer by 25 strokes with the standard 5/8 tamping rod
8. Label or mark the test cube a reference number in respect to each cube sample.
9. Leave the concrete cubes for at least 24 hours before opening the mould and place in
the curing tank for 7,14 and 28 days.

Questions

1. Why is slump test suitable for site use?

2. What are the limitations of slump test?
3. What is the ideal value of slump?
4. How does a super-plasticizer affect the slump of concrete?
5. Which among the four (4) mixtures will produce the concrete with the highest
strength? Give your reason.
6. What are the precautions to be taken to ensure standard cube specimens in the
laboratory?

Report Writing
Report need to have the following:

i. Report cover
ii. Abstract
iii. Table of content
iv. Main body of report
v. Appendix (if any) which may include photograph of testing done, calculations
used, etc.

3 Latest updated: 12th Oct 2017 (DLMSA)