Slump

Slump is a relative measurement in concrete consistency. It is not an indicator of quality

of the material. The slump of a mix with the same aggregate, cement and water can vary
significantly by adding an admixture. The admixture does not reduce the quality of the
material.

Slump and Vibration

Vibration is not allowed in the slump test procedures under ASTM, AASHTO or other
test procedures. This includes tests on any material - there is no distinction made
between standard concrete, high-early strength concrete, econocrete, etc. Standard
procedure is to tamp the material 25 times in three lifts.

The concrete slump can be classified according to the nature of concrete fall.

1. True slump: In a true slump concrete just subsides shortly and more or less
maintain the mould shape. This type of slump is most desirable.
2. Shear slump: If one-half of the cone slides down in an inclined plane, it is
called a shear slump. Shear slump indicates lack of cohesion in the concrete
mix. Shear slump may occur in the case of a harsh mix.
3. Collapse slump: In this case, fresh concrete collapses completely.
4. Zero Slump: If concrete maintains the actual shape of the mould, it is called
zero slump which represents stiff, consistent and almost no workability.
The true slump is the only reliable condition to get an idea about the workability
of concrete. If other types occur, the test should be repeated

Honeycomb
HONEYCOMBS IN CONCRETE AND REMEDIES

Honeycombs are hollow spaces and cavities left in concrete mass on surface or inside
the concrete mass where concrete could not reach. These look like honey bees nest.

Honeycombs which are on sides are visible to naked eyes and can be detected easily as
soon shuttering is removed. Honey combs which are inside mass of concrete can only be
detected by advanced techniques like ultrasonic testing etc.

Honeycomb is due to non-reaching of concrete to all places due to which cavities and
hallow pockets are created, main reasons are:

1) Improper vibration during concrete.

2) Less cover to reinforcement bars

3) Use of very stiff concrete (this can be avoided by controlling water as per slump test).

4) Places like junction of beam to beam to column and to one or more beams are the
typical spots where honey combs are observed. This is due to jumbling of reinforcement
of beams and column rods at one place; special attention is required at such place
during concreting and vibrating.

5) Presence of more percentage of bigger size of aggregate in concrete also prevents

concrete to fill narrow spaces between the reinforcement rods.

Remedies for Honeycombs in Concrete

Strictly speaking wherever honeycombs are observer concrete should be broken and the
portion should be re concreted after applying grouting chemical to the old surface.
Honeycombs as a defect not only reduces the load bearing capacity but water finds an
easy way to reinforcement rods and rusting and corrosion starts. Corrosion is a process
which continues through reinforcement rods even in good concrete, this result in
loosing grip between rods and concrete, which is very dangerous to safety and life of
concrete structures. R.C.C. structures have failed with in 20 or 30 years of their
construction which is less than half their projected life. Especially no risk should be
taken in case of columns, Machine foundations, Rafts, Beams etc., where breaking and
recasting is the only best way.

In case of honey combs on surface pressure grouting with cement based chemicals
which are non-shrinkable can be adopted after taking opinion of the designer and acting
as per his advice.

It will not be out of context to point out that contractors and their supervisors are in the
habit of hiding honey combs by applying super facially cement plaster on the honey
combs, hence site engineer must be very cautious.

At places of junction of columns and beams concrete with strictly 20mm and down
aggregates should be used with slightly more water and cement to avoid honeycombs.
Taping with wooden hammer the sides of shuttering from outs side during concreting
and vibrating will help minimizing honeycombs to a great extent in case of columns and
beams. Use of thinner needle say 25mm or less with vibrator at intricate places of
concreting will also help in reducing honey combs.

Concrete
Concrete is a composite material, which is made from a mixture of cement, aggregate
(sand or gravel), water and sometimes admixtures in required proportions. It is one of
the most important and useful materials for construction work.

When all the ingredients (cement, aggregate, water) are mixed in the required
proportions, the cement and water start a reaction with each other to bind themselves
into a hardens mass. This hardens rock-like mass is known as concrete.
Advantages of Concrete:

1. Concrete is economical than other building materials.

2. The compressive strength of concrete is very high.
3. The corrosive and weathering effects of concrete are minimal.
4. Concrete can be cast in any required shape and can also cast in the
construction site.
5. It is strong in compression and has unlimited applications in combination with
steel reinforcement.
6. Concrete can be pumped and sprayed in Different positions.
7. Concrete is durable, fire resistant and have a little maintenance cost which can
be ignored.