TITLE: SLUMP TEST

SCOPE: TO DETERMINATION OF SLUMP OF COHESIVE CONCRETE OF MEDIUM

TO HIGH WORKABILITY

APPARATUS:
 Mould, made of metal, the interior of the mould smooth and free from projections and
diameter of base 200 +/- 2 mm, top 100 +/- 2 mm and height 300 +/- 2 mm. the mould
having two handles at two thirds of the height and foot pieces to enable to held steady.
 scoop, approximately 100 mm wide.
 sampling tray,
 tamping rod, made out of straight steel bar of circular cross section, 16 mm diameter,
600 mm long.
 rule
 funnel
PROCEDURE:
-the sample was thoroughly mixed.
-the internal surface of the mould was cleaned and the mould was placed on a smooth,
horizontal, rigid and non absorbent surface free from vibration and shock.
-the mould was held firmly against the surface below with the funnel, in position at hte top
whilst it was filled in three layers, each approximately one third of the height of the mould
when tamped.
-each layers was tamped 25 strokes of the tamping rod and the strokes were distributed
uniformly over the cross section of the layer.
-each layer was tamped to its full depth, ensuring that the tamping rod was not forcibly strike
the surface below when tamping the first layer and just passes through the second and top
layers into the layers immediately below.
-before the was tamped the concrete was heaped above the mould and after the top layer was
tamped the funnel was removed and the concrete level was strike off with the top of the
mould with a sawing ad rolling motion of the tamping rod.
-cleaned from the surface below any concrete which was fallen onto it or leaked from the
lower edge of the mould.
-then the mould was removed from the concrete by raising it vertically, slow and carefully in
5 to 10 seconds.
-immediately after the mould was removed, the slump was measured to the nearest 5mm by
using rule to determine the difference between the height of the mould and of the highest
point of the specimen.
RESULTS:

Slump = 75 mm

DISCUSSION:

This test provides a control of the workability in the field, so that if the cement and
aggregates have been batched properly, slump tests carried out will indicate whether or not
the water content of the mix is correct.

A rough idea of workability can be had by performing what is known as slump test. The
vertical settlement is known as slump. The usual values of the slump of concrete used for
various purposes are given below and depend upon the method of compaction possible at site
in each case. Smaller sump is required where the concrete can be rammed hard where there is
no obstruction by way of reinforcement etc.

The decrease in the height of the centre of the slumped concrete is called slump, and is
measured to the measured to the nearest 5mm. In order to the influence on slump of the
variation in the surface friction, the inside of the mould and its base should be moistened at
the beginning of every test, and prior to lifting of the mould the area immediately around the
base of the cone, should be cleaned from concrete which may have dropped accidentally. And
also the entire operation from the start of filling to removal of the mould should be carried
out without interruption and should be completed within 150 seconds.

If instead of slumping evenly all round, as in a true slump one half of the cone slides down
can incline, a shear slump is said to have taken place, and the test should be repeated. If shear
slump persists, as may be the case with harsh mixes, this is an indication of the lack of
cohesion of the mix.

Mixes of stiff consistence have a zero slump, so that in the rather dry range no variation can
be detected between mixes of different workability. A true slump can be easily changed to the
shear type, or even to collapse. An increase in slump may mean that the moisture content of
aggregate has unexpectedly increased, another cause would be a change in the grading of the
aggregate, such as deficiency of sand

Dry mixes may give no slump at all, so that the zero is recorded. It is possible to have two
mixes both with zero slumps and yet one drier than other. This is the one of the disadvantages
of the test, since for dry concrete, such as may be used in vibrated work, it is possible to
distinguish between concrete with correct consistency and one which is rather wetter. This
test is however, very useful for more normal mixes as a means of reducing the variations in
workability. It should not be used to compare the workability of mixes with different
proportions or types of aggregate, as the results may be very misleading.

REFERENCE:

1. Concrete practice by R H Elvery.

Filling Slump Test Mould with concrete Lifting Slump Test Mould

Slump obtained at Slump Test Measuring slump