DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL

CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS ENGINEERING

(LABORATORY MANUAL)
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING-IUB

CIEN-01106 CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

(LAB. MANUAL)

NAME :

ROLL NO. :

SESSION :

SEMESTER :

LABORATORY NAME : CEMENT & CONCRETE LAB.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur-Pakistan

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 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS ENGINEERING
(LABORATORY MANUAL)
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING-IUB

FOREWORD

In Civil Engineering, materials used for structure such as cement, fine aggregate, coarse
aggregate, bricks, pavers, wood etc. have the foremost importance to ensure the quality
of the structure. For getting assurance about the good quality of the structure different
laboratory tests are needed to be performed. This Lab manual mainly deals with the
common and universal laboratory tests of different types of construction materials.
Normal consistency and initial setting time determination of cement; compressive
strength of cement mortar; sieve analysis of fine and coarse aggregate; specific gravity
and absorption capacity of fine and coarse aggregate; abrasion test using Los Angeles
machine; compressive strength of concrete; sampling and testing of brick; are described
according to ASTM (American Standards for Testing Materials) standards, British
standards, European standards and Pakistan standards.

CONTENTS
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 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS ENGINEERING
(LABORATORY MANUAL)
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING-IUB

INTRODUCTION TO CEMENT TESTING LABORATORY

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES & ASSESSMENT RUBRICS FOR LABORATORY
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY BASIC TRAINING
LABORATORY LAYOUT
CEMENT STANDARD TESTS
ASTM C109: Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement
1
Mortars (Using 2-in. or [50-mm] Cube Specimens)
ASTM C151: Standard Test Method for Autoclave Expansion of Hydraulic Cement 2
ASTM C185: Standard Test Method for Air Content of Hydraulic Cement Mortar 3
ASTM C187: Standard Test Method for Amount of Water Required for Normal
4
Consistency of Hydraulic Cement Paste
ASTM C188: Standard Test Method for Density of Hydraulic Cement 5
ASTM C191: Standard Test Methods for Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat
6
Needle
BS 196-3: Soundness test on cement by Le-Chatelier Method 7
AGGREGATE STANDARD TESTS
ASTM C29: Standard Test Method for Bulk Density (“Unit Weight”) and Voids in
8
Aggregate
ASTM C33: Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates 9
ASTM C127: Standard Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and
10
Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
ASTM C128: Standard Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and
11
Absorption of Fine Aggregate
ASTM C136: Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates 12
BRICK STANDARD TESTS
Determination of compressive strength. 13
Determination of water absorption 14
Determination of efflorescence 15

INTRODUCTION TO CEMENT TESTING LABORATORY

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 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS ENGINEERING
(LABORATORY MANUAL)
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING-IUB

This laboratory offers a comprehensive range of cement testing encompassing both physical
and chemical cement testing utilizing PS, BS, EN and ASTM methods. The equipment is
manufactured by Matest-Italy.
List of the equipment is as follows:
No. Device name Function
1 Le Chatellier Apparatus Soundness of Cement.
To measure cement and mortar
2 Length comparator
specimens
3 Shrinkage Mold Shrinkage of cement mortars.
4 High pressure cement autoclave Expansion test of cement
5 Blaine apparatus Particle size of cement
6 Bulk density Bulk density of cement
Heat of hydration of Portland
7 Heat of hydration calorimeter
cement.
Setting time & consistency of
8 Automatic Vicat Apparatus
cement/ mortar
9 Motorized flow table Flow of mortars and cement pastes
Air content in cement mortar,
10 Air entrainment meter for mortar
cement paste, and lime mortar
11 Mortar mixer For preparing mortars
To test the cement prisms in the
12 Mortar jolting apparatus
Mold
For preparation and compaction of
13 Vibrating machine
mortar cube specimens
Cement curing cabinet, water cooler and
14 Curing equipment
air compressor (complete system)
It is used to incubate samples
15 Water bath
in water at a constant temperature
Automatic compression machine For compression testing of cement
16
(15/600 kN) mortar specimen’s

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of qualifying this course, the students will be able to
CLOs CIEN-01106 CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS (LAB.) Learning PLOs
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 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS ENGINEERING
(LABORATORY MANUAL)
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING-IUB

domain
Perform experiments related to Civil engineering
CLO-1 P-2 PLO-9
materials.
Estimate the physical parameters using
CLO-2 C-3 PLO-2
experimental data.
Justify application of concepts related to civil
CLO-3 A-3 PLO-10
engineering materials.

ASSESSMENT RUBRICS FOR LABORATORY

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT BASICS:

1. Make sure that you know the location of Fire Extinguishers, First Aid Kit and Emergency
Exits before you start your experiments.

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 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS ENGINEERING
(LABORATORY MANUAL)
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING-IUB

2. Get First Aid immediately for any injury, no matter how small it is.

3. Do not wear loose dress

4. Always use safety shoes or boots.

5. Do not play with valves, screws and nuts.

6. Do not try to run and operate any machine without permission and knowledge of the
laboratory personnel.

7. In case of any mishap; please do not be panic and report immediately to the laboratory
personnel

ATTENTION!
Please make sure all case hands, hand gloves, equipment or tools should be washed and
cleaned outside the Exit door because washing cementitious items in the laboratory sinks
may lead to chocking of the entire drainage system. Also make sure all the items used are
returned to its original place and in order.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

In the very beginning of the laboratory work, the students will be organized into groups. For
this reason, regular attendance is strictly required.

Every laboratory session is divided into two parts. In the first part, the instructor will be
lecturing on the test objective, procedure and data collection. In the second part, the
students, organized in groups required to conduct the experiment.

To perform the experiment within the assigned period, and to gain the maximum benefit
from the experiment, the students must familiarize themselves with the purpose, objective,
and procedure of the experiment before coming to the laboratory.

Relevant lecture notes and laboratory manual should be studied carefully and thoroughly.
At the end of the test, every group should report to the instructor for assessment. It should
be understood that laboratory facilities and equipment are provided to enhance the
learning process and to give first-hand experience of materials. The equipment and tools
must be properly cared, handled and cleaned during and after every laboratory session.
Also, students should always take precautions to avoid any possible hazards. Students must
follow health and safety basics.
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 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS ENGINEERING
(LABORATORY MANUAL)
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING-IUB

LABORATORY LAYOUT:

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 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS ENGINEERING
(LABORATORY MANUAL)
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING-IUB

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