November 2007

MATERIALS ENGINEERING AND

RESEARCH LABORATORY
www.usbr.gov/pmts/materials_lab

Test Concrete Properties on Every Project!
Today’s the day of the big pour.
You call the batch plant and order
7 trucks of 4000 psi concrete with
a 4-inch slump, (air-entrained be-
cause your concrete will be out-
side and exposed to freezing and
thawing, right). You watch the
placement from the trailer. It
looks to have gone OK.
But why, 5 years later, is one sec-
tion falling apart? Did you get
what you asked for? How will you
know? Who is responsible for the
quality of the concrete in our
structures?
Slump Test—ASTM C 143
Concrete Corner
It’s up to us to ensure we are get-
ting a quality product. Testing
during placement is much less
expensive than repairing it later.
Testing for slump and air content
assures consistency between
loads. If a mix is designed to
reach 4000 psi at a given slump,
an increase of slump can indicate
an increase in water, and water
reduces strength. A one inch in-
crease in slump can cause
about a 200 to 300 psi decrease
in compressive strength, and
Air Test—ASTM C 231
increase shrinkage potential
about 10%. environment at 60-80oF). Cylin-
ders should not be cured with the
Air content should also be tested. placement unless they are to judge
A 1% increase in air content strength for form removal, and
can decreases the compressive then precautions should be made
strength about 5%. to prevent the cylinders from
freezing or overheating.
Cast cylinders for compressive
strength testing at 7 and 28 days In short, concrete testing should
to assure the mix is meeting always be specified and enforced
strength requirements. Cylinders on projects. Read more in the
must be cured correctly (a moist Concrete Manual 8th edition.

Tim Dolen receives Superior Service Award

Tim Dolen of the Materials Engi-
neering and Research Laboratory
(MERL) in Denver received a
Superior Service Award this
month. Tim has been involved
with many of Reclamations’ con-
crete projects over the last 29
years, and is a national expert on
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
RCC and Mass Concrete. He has
shaped the way concrete is taught
and specified internationally.
Thank You Tim!
YOUR CONCRETE STORY
We want to highlight your project
here. Send us pictures and a de-
scription of your concrete pro-
jects, successes, lessons learned,
etc. Send information to:
kbartojay@do.usbr.gov or call
303-445-2374