Lab 3: Testing of the hardened mortar Ii.

123BUM 2

LAB 3: Testing of hardened mortar II

.The laboratory will be held in the room D 1053. The laboratory lesson consists of 4 procedures. The
groups perform the procedures 1,2, 3A, 3C and 4 independently. The procedures 1 to 3 will be
performed with the mortar test samples, prepared at the Lab 1, test samples for the procedure 4 will
be prepared at the workplace. Procedure 3B will be performed by the teacher or by some students
(deputed by the teacher) under the supervision.

Recommended order of actions:

• each group finds its test samples (one piece after freezing cycle and two reference pieces)
• each group finds the mass of their sample before the freezing in the given list
• the Procedure 1 – determination of the bulk density will be performed together by all groups
• all groups start with the Procedure 2. For all test samples will be prepared one vessel and all
the samples should be put into the vessel together.
• the procedure 3A (visual control of the frozen sample) will be performed
• the value of the capillarity after 10 min M1 will be determined
• the measuring of the capillarity after 45 min starts by putting of the samples into the vessel
During that time will be performed:
• determination of the Charpy impact strength (Procedure 4)
• determination of flexural strength (Procedure 3B)
• after that the determination of the capillarity after 60 min will be finished

Procedure 1: Determination of bulk density of hardened mortar - EN 1015-10

The bulk density of the sample after the freezing cycle and the bulk density of the reference samples
(in the normal laboratory environment) will be determined.

Apparatus:
Scale.
Caliper

Procedure:
1. Bulk density of the hardened mortar will be determined on the one set of the test specimen prism
(3 pieces), prepared at the lesson LAB 1. One sample was put to freeze-thaw test (Saturated test
samples were subjected to several freeze/thaw cycles), two samples were stored in the normal
laboratory environment.
2. Weigh the samples to the nearest 0,01 g and record the mass of the samples.
3. Measure the dimensions of each sample by the caliper to the nearest 0,1 mm. Measure each
dimension three times at the different places and then count the average value of each dimension.
4. Count bulk density of each sample and average value of the bulk density for both reference
samples.

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Lab 3: Testing of the hardened mortar Ii. 123BUM 2

Procedure 2: Determination of water absorption coefficient due to capillary action

– EN 1015-18
The water absorption coefficient due to capillary action is measured using mortar prism specimens under
prescribed conditions at atmospheric pressure. After drying to constant mass, one face of the specimen is
immersed in 5 to 10 mm of water for a specific period of time and the increase in mass determined.
Standard periods are 10 min and 90 min, for the LAB3 the 10 min and 45 min will be used.

Procedure:
1. As a test specimen use one from the reference samples, stored in the normal laboratory environment.
2. Break the prism into two halves.
3. Seal the long faces of the specimen by sealing tape (fracture area and front side of the sample remain
free).
4. Place the specimen in the vessel with the broken face downwards, immersed in water to a depth of 5
mm to 10 mm.
5. Start measure the time of the immersion.
6. Cover the vessel to avoid evaporation.
7. Remove the specimen after 10 min, wipe off rapidly surface water and weigh the specimen – M1.
8. Replace the specimen immediately into the vessel and let it there for 45 min.
9. After 45 min remove the specimen again, wipe off rapidly surface water and weigh the specimen –
M2.
10. If visible wetting occurs on the free surface of the specimen, stop the test. Break the specimen to
ensure that it is fully saturated.
11. If it is saturated, weight two pieces together. If not fully saturated, test should be repeated on the new
specimen
12. Calculate coefficient of water absorption due to capillary action C from formula:
C = 0,1 (M2 - M1) [kg.m-2.min-0,5]
13. Calculate C to the nearest 0,05 kg.m-2.min-0,5.

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Lab 3: Testing of the hardened mortar Ii. 123BUM 2

Procedure 3: Testing of the frost resistance of the hardened mortar

The freeze-thaw resistance is the resistance against alternating freezing and thawing in the presence
of water as test liquid.
One test sample, prepared at the first laboratory lesson, was put to the freeze-thaw test. Saturated test
samples were subjected to freeze/thaw cycles:
During 1 cycle a sample was frozen from 20 °C to –20 °C over 60 min, than kept frozen at -15 °C for
180 min and thawed by immersion in water at 20 °C for 120 min. Cycle was repeated until the test
day. Exact number of cycles will be given at the lesson.
Two samples were left in the standard laboratory environment without freezing as the reference
samples.
A. Visual control and determination of bulk density of mortar
• check each sample visually – notice all the defects on the surface – cracks, disrupted edges etc.
and write down the number of the cracks and the percentage of the length of the disrupted edges
(from their total length)
• weigh the tested samples to the nearest 0,01 g and record the mass of the samples mF2,i
• find the weight before testing mF1,i in the given list
• count the percentage of weight loss during the freeze-thaw test from the weight before testing mF1,i
and the weight after test mF2,i

B. Determination of flexural strength of hardened mortar

The tests will be done according the EN 1015-11 by the testing machine FP10 for the frozen sample
and one reference sample. You will work under or his assistant. Follow his instructions during the test.
Procedure:
• procedure will be performed by the teacher or by some student (deputed by the teacher) under the
supervision of the teacher
• follow instructions of the teacher during the test
• write down the values of the maximum flexural load Fmax,i [kN] for both samples
• calculate the flexural strength of each sample from formula:

1
F .l
M 4 max,i 3 100.Fmax,i
Rt = = = x 2
[MPa]
W 1 2 2 bi .hi
bi .hi
6

where b is width of the sample [mm]

h height of the sample [mm] (according the position in the testing machine)

• calculate the value of flexural strength to the nearest 0,1 MPa for both samples

C. Determination of the coefficient of the frost resistance of the hardened mortar

Mortar is considered as frost resistant, if the cf is bigger than 75 % for given number of cycles (the loss
of the flexural strength during testing is less than 25 %)
Procedure:
• calculate the coefficient of the frost resistance from formula:

Rt, frost
Cf = x100 [%] where Rt, frost is value of the flexural strength of frozen sample
Rt, ref Rt, ref value of the flexural strength of reference
sample [MPa]

• consider, if the mortar is frost resistant according the above given requirement
• write down into the protocol: The mortar is/is not frost resistant for ..... freeze/thaw cycles

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Lab 3: Testing of the hardened mortar Ii. 123BUM 2

Procedure 4: Determination of Charpy impact strength – EN ISO 179-1

The impact test is destructive mechanical test in which a pendulum hammer fractures a standard size
piece of material with one blow. It indicates how the material will respond to suddenly applied shock
(stress) by measuring the energy absorbed in breaking the
piece. This absorbed energy is a measure of a given material's
toughness. In brittle materials, little energy is absorbed during
impact failure, with increasing ductility the absorbed energy and
respectively toughness increase.
The test will be accomplished by the pendulum machine, called
Charpy hammer (see Fig.1). A weighted pendulum is swung up
and held stationary. The specimen is mounted horizontally and
supported unclamped at both ends. The pendulum is released
and allowed to strike through the specimen. The height the
pendulum attains after impact is measured by an pointer on a
scale in [J]. The impact energy is calculated from the height to
which the pendulum would have risen, if no test specimen was in
place, and this compared to the height to which the pendulum
actually rises.
The hammers with different impact energy are made. The tested
specimens are prisms and they can be notched or unnotched. In
the LAB3 the pendulum with the energy 1 J will be used and
unnotched specimens will be tested. According to the EN ISO
179-1 10 specimens should be tested, in the LAB3 each group
will test 3 specimens. Fig.1: Charpy hammer
Procedure:
1. Choose three test specimens from the prepared samples of the material.
2. Measure the dimensions – thickness h and width b in the middle of each sample to the nearest
0,1 mm.
3. Set the pointer to the lowest position (to zero).
4. Raise the pendulum to the highest point and fix it.
5. Place the specimen on the supports (see Fig.2).
6. Make sure nobody is in the way of pendulum and carefully release the
pendulum (by the release knob). Mind your eyes, sharp fragments can
fly away!
7. Write down the impact energy E (energy consumed by breaking) from
the scale for the pendulum with the impact energy 1 J (marked by red). Fig.2
8. Four types of destruction can occur: type C – total break (specimen is divided into two or more
pieces), type H – jointed break (incomplete break, when both parts of the specimen are joined
together only by thin no-rigid layer), type P – incomplete break, different from type H, type N –
without break (test specimen is only bended and pushed through the supports).
9. Count the Charpy unnotched impact strength acU from formula:
Ec
acU = × 10 3 [kJ.m-2]
h.b
where E is the impact energy, consumed by breaking [J]
h thickness of the specimen [mm]
b width of the specimen [mm]
10. Calculate the arithmetic mean from single values acU and write down the result into the protocol
together with the type of breaking. When more types of the breaking occur, mean value for each
breaking type has to be counted separately.

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Lab 3: Testing of the hardened mortar Ii. 123BUM 2

Final protocol:
Form (download):
• description of tested materials
• abstract: - name of the testing method (eventually the number of the standard)
• conclusions:
- Bulk density of the frozen mortar and the mean value of the bulk density of the reference
samples
- Flexural strength of the frozen and reference sample Rt, frost, Rt, ref
- Coefficient of the frost resistance Cf
- The mortar is/ is not frost resistant for...... freeze/thaw cycles
- Mean value of the Charpy unnotched impact strength acU for all tested samples and the type
of the destruction.