Apparatus / Equipment Description - A metal mold in the form of a truncated cone with a

 Sieve Set top diameter of 4"(102mm), a bottom diameter of

 Balance  Vicat 8"(203mm), and a height of 12"(305mm), used to
 Graduated Beaker Apparatus fabricate
 Calculator  Electric Oven the specimen for a slump test. A 2 ft (610 mm) long
 Slump cone  Stop Watch bullet nosed metal rod, 5’’’ (16 mm) in diameter
 Various Moulds  Electric Fans CONCRETE SLUMP TEST
 Funnels - The concrete slump test is an empirical test that
 Hydrometer
 Wire Basket measures the workability of fresh concrete. More
 Universal Testing
 Brushes specifically, it measures the consistency of the concrete
Machine
 Hydraulic Jack in that specific batch. This test is performed to check the
 Concrete Mixer
 Steel Pan consistency of freshly made concrete.
 Pressure Gauge Consistency is a term very closely related to workability.
 Tamping Rod  Shovel
It is a term which describes the state of fresh concrete. It
 Thermometer  Trowel
refers to the ease with which the concrete flows. It is
 Vibrator  Wheel Barrows
used to indicate the degree of wetness. Workability of
concrete is mainly affected by consistency i.e. wetter
SIEVE SET mixes will be more workable than drier mixes, but
- A sieve, or sifter, is a device for separating wanted concrete of the same consistency may vary in
elements from unwanted material or for characterizing workability.
the particle size distribution of a sample of (aggregates, Procedure
Sand, and other soil particles The test is carried out using a mould known as a slump
The apparatus used: Balance or scale with an accuracy cone or Abrams cone. The cone is placed on a hard-non-
to measure 0.1 percent of the weight of the test sample. absorbent surface. This cone is filled with fresh concrete
The weight of sample available should not be less than in three stages, each time it is tamped using a rod of
the weight given below: standard dimensions. At the end of the third stage,
concrete is struck off flush to the top of the mould. The
mould is carefully lifted vertically upwards, so as not to
disturb the concrete cone. Concrete subsides. This
subsidence is termed as slump, and is measured in to the
nearest 5 mm if the slump is <100 mm and measured to
the nearest 10 mm if the slump is >100 mm.

Sieve Analysis
- Sieve analysis helps to determine the particle size
distribution of the coarse and fine aggregates. This is
done by sieving the aggregates as per IS: 2386 (Part I) –
1963.
Procedure to determine particle size distribution of
Aggregates.
i) The test sample is dried to a constant weight at a
temperature of 110 + 5oC and weighed.
ii) The sample is sieved by using a set of IS Sieves.
iii) On completion of sieving, the material on each
sieve is weighed.
iv) Cumulative weight passing through each sieve is
calculated as a percentage of the total sample
weight.
v) Fineness modulus is obtained by adding
cumulative percentage of aggregates retained on
each sieve and dividing the sum by 100.
Reporting of Results
The results should be calculated and reported as:
i) the cumulative percentage by weight of the total
sample
ii) the percentage by weight of the total sample
passing through one sieve and retained on the
next smaller sieve, to the nearest 0.1 percent.
The results of the sieve analysis may be
recorded graphically on a semi-log graph with
particle size as abscissa (log scale) and the
percentage smaller than the specified diameter
as ordinate.
SLUMP CONE
VARIOUS MOULDS
3 Types of Moulds
1.) Cube Moulds
Size of Cube Moulds
Cube Mold: 150 mm x 150 mm x150 mm Cube mold:
100 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm Cube mold: 70.6 mm x
70.6 mm x 70.6 mm
2.) Cylinder Moulds - 6 x 12 in. (15.2 x 30.5 cm), and 4
x 8 in (10 x 20 cm)
3.) Beam Moulds
Size of Beam Moulds
Three sizes available: 100x100x400, 100x100x500
and 150x150x600
HYDROMETER
- A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the
specific gravity (or relative density) of liquids ; that is,
the ratio of the density of the liquid to the density of
water
A hydrometer is usually made of glass and consists of
a cylindrical stem and a bulb weighted with
mercury or lead shot to make it float upright. The liquid
to be tested is poured into a tall container, often
a graduated cylinder, and the hydrometer is gently
lowered into the liquid until it floats freely. The point at
which the surface of the liquid touches the stem of the
hydrometer is noted. Hydrometers usually contain a
scale inside the stem, so that the specific gravity can be
read directly. A variety of scales exist, and are used
depending on the context
UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE
- An instrument so designed that it is capable of exerting
a tensile, compressive, or transverse stress on a specimen
under test. Further, it can be adapted for the
determination of Brinell hardness, ductility, cold bend,
and other properties. The machine consists essentially of
three systems: loading, weighing, and indicating, the
loading being applied either mechanically or
hydraulically.
DESCRIPTION OF UTM
The Universal Testing Machine consists of two main
parts, viz. the loading unit and the control panel.
THE LOADING UNIT
- The loading unit consists of a robust base at the centre
of which is fitted the main cylinder and piston. A rigid
frame consisting of the lower table, the upper cross head
and the two straight columns is connected to this piston
through a ball and socket joint. A pair of screwed
columns mounted on the base pass through the main nuts
to support the lower cross-head. This cross head is
moved up or down when the screwed columns are
rotated by a geared motor fitted to the base. Each cross-
head has a tapering slot at the centre into which are
inserted a pair of racked jaws. These jaws are moved up
or down by the operating handle on the cross-head face
and is intended to carry the plate (grip) jaws for the
tensile test specimen. An elongation scale, which
measures the relative movement between the lower
table and the lower cross-head, is also provided with the
loading unit.
THE CONTROL PANEL
The control panel contains the hydraulic power unit, the
load measuring unit and the control devices.
1. The Hydraulic Power Unit
- The Hydraulic Power Unit consists of an oil pump
driven by an electric motor and a sump for the hydraulic
oil. The pump is of the reciprocating type, having a set
of plungers which assures a continuous non-pulsating oil
flow into the main cylinder for a smooth application of
the test load on the specimen. Hydraulic lines of the unit
are of a special design to enable them to perform
various functions.
2. The Load Measuring Unit
- The load measuring unit, in essence is a pendulum
dynamometer unit. It has a small cylinder in which a
piston moves in phase with the main piston under the
same oil pressure. A simple pendulum connected with
this small piston by a pivot lever thus deflects in
accordance with the load on the specimen and the pivot
ratio. This deflection is transmitted to the load pointer
which indicates the test load on the dial.
The pivot lever has four fulcrum -knife-edges, giving
fo4ir ranges of test load, (viz. 0-100 kN ; 0-250 kN; 0-
500 kN and 0-1000 kN). The required range can be
selected by just turning a knob provided for the purpose.
The overall accuracy of the machine depends mainly on
the accuracy of the measuring unit.
3. Control Devices
- These include the electric control devices, the hydraulic
control devices and the load indicating devices.
The Electric Control Devices
- are in the form of four switches set on the left side of
the panel face. The upper and lower push switches are
for moving the lower cross-head up and down
respectively. The remaining two are the ON and OFF
switches for the hydraulic pump.
The Hydraulic Control Devices
- are a pair of control valves set on the table or the
control panel. The right control valve is the inlet valve.
It is a pressure compensated flow control valve and has
a built-in overload relief valve. If this valve is in the
closed position, while the hydraulic system is on, oil
flows back into the sump. Opening of the valve now,
cause the oil to flow into the main cylinder in a
continuous non- pulsating manner. The left control
valve is the return valve. If this valve is in the closed
position, the oil pumped into the main cylinder causes
the main piston to move up. The specimen resists this,
movement, as soon as it gets loaded up. Oil pressure
inside the main cylinder (and elsewhere in the line) then
starts growing up until either the specimen breaks or the
load reaches the maximum value of the range selected.
A slow opening of this valve now causes the oil to drain
back into the sump and the main piston to descent.
The Load Indicating Devices
- consist of a range inflating dial placed behind a load
indicating dial. The former move and sets itself to the
range selected when the range adjusting knob is turned.
The load .on the specimen at any stage is indicated by
the load pointer which moves over the load indicating
dial and harries forward with it a dummy.
CONCRETE MIXER
- A concrete mixer (also commonly called a cement
mixer) is a device that homogeneously combines
cement, aggregate such as sand or gravel, and water to
form concrete. A typical concrete mixer uses a revolving
drum to mix the components. For smaller volume works
portable concrete mixers are often used so that the
concrete can be made at the construction site.
Two Different Types of Concrete Mixers
1. Mobile Concrete Mixers
- This first type of concrete mixer is ideal for you if you
need to use concrete in more than one place in the same
area. You can move this concrete mixer around from
place to place without any difficulty. These mixers are
usually used to make sidewalks and in projects where
concrete needs to be used in multiple locations. You can
manipulate the dose of concrete required in each area
and there is no need to add more water to the mixture if
you decide to put more rocks and mix them up with the
concrete.
2. Stationary Concrete Mixers
- Unlike the previous type, stationary concrete mixers
cannot be moved because they are fixed in only one
place. This type of concrete mixer is mostly used for
construction purposes. Builders use the concrete and
pour it into molds when they are constructing a
building. Usually, if you are using a stationary concrete
mixer, you may require using some cement to act as a
pre-caster for your construction project. A stationary
concrete mixer is ideal for you if you are staying in one
place and you do not have to move from place to place.
PRESSURE GAUGE
- Many techniques have been developed for the
measurement of pressure. Instruments used to measure
pressure are called pressure gauges.
Types of Pressure Gauge
Standard pressure gauges
- This type of pressure gauge is probably the one most
often used. The pressure gauge is simply screwed into
the available thread (e.g. onto the pressure
regulator) . It is generally sealed using a compression
seal.
Integrated pressure gauge
- The special feature of the integrated pressure gauge is
that it has no outward-facing interfering contours. A
side-effect of this is the design. It wouldn't damage the
machine/system if, apart from the function, it was made
to look more attractive.
Flange pressure gauge
- This is used if the customer wishes to integrate the
pressure gauge, for example into a control cabinet.
Red-green pressure gauge
- Using the adjustable red-green areas, a permissible and
impermissible range can easily be indicated.
Plug-in pressure gauge
- Instead of a thread, this pressure gauge has a smooth
sleeve with a groove and a seal. This makes it easy to
mount it onto existing fixtures. Dismantling and
assembly is very quick with this type of pressure gauge.
TAMPING ROD
- Tamping rods are dimensionally accurate rods used to
tamp fresh concrete into cylinder molds and slump cones
to eliminate voids and excess air.
Measures: 5/8" diameter x 24" length
For use with slump cones, 6" x 12" concrete cylinder
molds and pressure meters
Also available; 3/8" diameter x 12" length, 5/8" diameter
x 12" length, and graduated 5/8" diameter x 24" length
THERMOMETER
- an instrument for measuring and indicating
temperature, typically one consisting of a narrow,
hermetically sealed glass tube marked with graduations
and having at one end a bulb containing mercury or
alcohol which extends along the tube as it expands.
CONCRETE VIBRATOR
- A concrete vibrator is a mechanical device to generate
vibrations. The vibration is often generated by an electric
motor with an unbalanced mass on its driveshaft.
TYPES OF CONCRETE VIBRATORS FOR
COMPACTION
( i ) Immersion or Needle Concrete Vibrators
- This is perhaps the most commonly used vibrator. It
essentially consists of a steel tube (with one end closed
and rounded) having an eccentric vibrating element
inside it. This steel tube called poker is connected to an
electric motor or a diesel engine through a flexible tube.
They are available in size varying from 40 to 100 mm
diameter. The diameter of the poker is decided from the
consideration of the spacing between the reinforcing
bars in the form-work.
The frequency of vibration varies up to 15000 rpm.
However a range between 3000 to 6000 rpm is
suggested as a desirable minimum with an acceleration
of 4g to 10g.
The normal radius of action of an immersion vibrator is
0.50 to 1.0m. However, it would be preferable to
immerse the vibrator into concrete at intervals of not
more than 600mm or 8 to 10 times the diameter of the
poker. The period of vibration required may be of the
order of 30 seconds to 2 minute. The concrete should be
placed in layers not more than 600mm high.
(ii) External or Shutter Concrete Vibrators
- These vibrators are clamped rigidly to the form work
at the pre-determined points so that the form and
concrete are vibrated. They consume more power for a
given compaction effect than internal vibrators. These
vibrators can compact up to 450mm from the face but
have to be moved from one place to another as concrete
progresses.
These vibrators operate at a frequency of 3000 to 9000
rpm at an acceleration of 4g.
The external vibrators are more often used for pre-
casting of thin in-situ sections of such shape and
thickness as can not be compacted by internal vibrators.
(iii) Surface Concrete Vibrators
- These are placed directly on the concrete mass. These
best suited for compaction of shallow elements and
should not be used when the depth of concrete to be
vibrated is more than 250 mm .
Very dry mixes can be most effectively compacted with
surface vibrators. The surface vibrators commonly used
are pan vibrators and vibrating screeds. The main
application of this type of vibrator is in the compaction
of small slabs, not exceeding 150 mm in thickness, and
patching and repair work of pavement slabs. The
operating frequency is about 4000 rpm at an
acceleration of 4g to 9g.
(iv) Concrete Vibrating Table
- The vibrating table consists of a rigidly built steel
platform mounted on flexible springs and is driven by
an electric motor. The normal frequency of vibration is
4000 rpm at an acceleration of 4g to 7g.
The vibrating tables are very efficient in compacting stiff
and harsh concrete mixes required for manufacture of
precast elements in the factories and test specimens in
laboratories.
VICAT APPARATUS
- is used to find out the consistency, initial setting time
and final setting time of the cement. In the normal
consistency test we have to find out the amount of water
to be added to the cement to form a cement paste of
normal consistency.
Vicat's apparatus consists of an arrangement to hold the
plunger of 10 mm diameter and two other needles
which are made to freely fall into a mould filled with
the cement paste and the amount of penetration of the
needles of plunder can can be noted using the vertical
graduations from 0 mm to 50 mm.
Consistency Test:
To find out the consistency test you have to take a
sample of dried cement of about 400 g weight which
must pass through the 90 micron IS Sieve. Then mix in it
about 25% of water by weight a form a uniform paste
within 2 minutes of time.
Fill the Vicat's mould with this paste and make the 10
mm plunger fixed to the arrangement to just touch the
top surface of the cement paste. Make it freely fall and
note the amount of penetration.
When the penetration is of about 42 to 45 mm or when
the reading on the vertical graduation is about 5 mm to
7 mm that means cement is of normal consistency.
Generally the water required to form a paste of normal
consistency is 30%.
Initial Setting Time:
Initial time of Cement is the time required by the cement
for its early setting. Cement must be applied to the place
of its use before its initial setting so it is necessary to
find out the initial setting time that is available with us.
Vicat's apparatus is the standard apparatus used to find
out this initial setting time. Look in the figure above,
there is a needle of diameter 1 mm. This needle is fixed
to the movable rod weight.
The cement paste of normal consistency is formed and is
filled in the mould. Now the needle is made just touch
the top surface of the cement paste and made freely fall
in it. Initial setting time is the time from the mixing of
the cement and the water to the time when the
penetration of the needle is just above 5 mm from the
bottom of the base plate or mold. First Aid Box
Generally the initial setting time of the ordinary Portland
cement is 30 minutes. For Slow setting cement this time
may be increased by adding the admixtures or Gypsum
up to 60 minutes.
Similarly, for the FINAL SETTING TIME we have to
use the third needle which has a enlarged 5 mm hollow
cylindrical base. The final setting time is the time from
the mixing of the water to the time when this needle just
makes the impression on the surface of the cement but
do not penetrate into it. Generally the final setting time
of cement (OPC) is 10 hrs to 12 hrs

ELECTRIC OVEN
- Laboratory ovens are ovens for high-forced volume
thermal convection applications. These ovens generally
provide uniform temperatures throughout. Process
applications for laboratory ovens can be for annealing,
die-bond curing, drying, Polyimide baking, sterilizing,
and other industrial laboratory functions. Typical sizes
are from one cubic foot to 0.9 cubic meters (32 cu ft)
with temperatures that can be over 340 degrees Celsius.

WIRE BASKET

HYDRAULIC JACK

STEEL PAN

TROWEL

WHEEL BARROWS