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Cement Testing and Evaluation

Comparing the Compressive Strength and Flow of Hydraulic Cements Using Fly Ash

Tested by Elijah Echols

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Scope:

Comparing the compressive strength and flow of hydraulic mortars using type 1 cement,

type C fly ash, and type F fly ash. Fly ash is a pozzolan that can be used in concrete. The flow of

the mortar made is important because it can drastically effect the strength and durability of the

concrete.

Warning:

Hydraulic press in dangerous. Projectiles can shoot out and hurt you. Do NOT

breathe in cement or fly ash. Do NOT put hand in mixer. Do NOT break glass, it will hurt

you.

Materials:

 Type 1 Portland cement

 Type C fly ash

 Type F fly ash

 Natural silica sand

 Water

Equipment:

 Scale

 Glass Graduates

 Cube Molds

 Spatula

 Kitchen-aid mixer (not up to specs), bowl, and paddle

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 Flow table

 Tamper

 Temperature and humidity-controlled room

Procedure:

Mixing Type 1 Cement Morter

1. Assemble mixer, paddle, and mixing bowl.

2. Pour 242mL of water in the mixing bowl.

3. Place 500g of type 1 cement into the bowl and allow to stand for 30s.

4. Start the mixer and mix at a slow speed for 30s.

5. Add the sand slowly over a 30s period.

6. Change the mixer speed to medium to 30s.

7. Stop the mixer and let the mortar stand for 90s. During this time scrape down the mortar

that has collected on the sides of the bowl.

8. Finish by mixing for 60s at medium speed.

Mixing Type 1 Cement and Type C Fly Ash

1. Assemble mixer, paddle, and mixing bowl.

2. Pour 242mL of water in the mixing bowl.

3. Place 5400g of type 1 cement and 100g of Type C fly ash into the bowl and allow to

stand for 30s.

4. Start the mixer and mix at a slow speed for 30s.

5. Add the sand slowly over a 30s period.

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6. Change the mixer speed to medium to 30s.

7. Stop the mixer and let the mortar stand for 90s. During this time scrape down the mortar

that has collected on the sides of the bowl.

8. Finish by mixing for 60s at medium speed.

Mixing Type 1 Cement and Type F Fly Ash

Procedure is the same as mixing type 1 cement and type C fly ash, just substitute type C fly ash

for type F fly ash.

Flow Test

1. Make sure the flow table is clean and dry.

2. Center the flow mold on the flow table

3. Place type 1 cement mortar in the flow mold about halfway and tamp it down with the

tamper. Repeat process until the mold is full. Take the mold off the mortar.

4. Turn on the flow table and let it drop 25 times in 15s.

5. Use the caliper to measure the diameter of the mortar on the four lines on the flow table.

Estimate to the nearest millimeter. Record each measurement.

6. Clean table and repeat process with type C and type F cement mortars.

Cube Mold

1. Lubricate and assemble the cube molds.

2. Put type 1 cement, type C fly ash, and type F fly ash cement mortar in separate cube

molds.
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3. Put around 1in of mortar in the mold and tamp on top four times on each half. Repeat

process until molds are barely over filled.

4. Level the top of the molds.

5. Put molds in a temperature and humidity-controlled room for 7 days.

6. After the 14 days remove the mold and measure the surface area of the top. Weigh the

mortar cubes.

Crushing Mortar Cubes

1. Get the hydraulic press ready for the compressive strength test. Set the cubes with the top

facing you.

2. Apply a load rate within the range of 200 to 400lbs. When the cube breaks record the

data.

Data:

Cement type Type 1 cement Type C fly Type F fly

Cement in grams 500 500 500
Sand in grams 1375 1375 1375
Water in mL 242 242 242
Water temp in F 76 76 76
Flow test

Type 1 11mm 11mm 11m 12mm 45%

cement
Type C fly 17mm 16mm 18mm 17mm 68%
Type F fly 11mm 10mm 9mm 10mm 40%
Measurements

Type 1 Length in Width in Weight in Max load in Compressive

Cement inches inches grams lbs strength psi
Cube 1 2.0010 2.0130 286.7 10,844 2,690
Cube 2 2.0010 2.0215 287.0 13,265 3,280
Cube 3 2.0035 2.0125 287.5 9,498 2,260
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Type C fly Length in Width in Weight in Max load in Compressive

ash inches inches grams lbs strength psi
Cube 1 2.0015 2.0045 286.6 12,682 3,160
Cube 2 2.0020 2.0120 287.0 6,912* 1,720
Cube 3 2.0010 2.0090 289.9 11,695 2,910

Type F fly Length in Width in Weight in Max load in Compressive

ash inches inches grams lbs strength psi
Cube 1 2.0055 2.0045 289.5 11,780 2,930
Cube 2 2.0000 2.0230 289.6 14,998** 3,710
Cube 3 2.0055 2.0110 285.3 11,320 2,810
*Cube wasn’t centered on hydraulic press

**Hydraulic press malfunction

Calculations:

 Area: A=LW

 Compressive strength: fm=P/A

o fm: compressive strength

o P: total maximum load

o A: area of loaded surface in square inches

 Flow percent: Add up all the measurements recorded during the flow test. Divide the

number by 100 and turn into a percent.

Conclusion:

According to the data, both type C and F fly ashes affected the compressive strength and

the flow of the mortar. Type C fly ash flow compressive strength was a lot greater than the

control, but type F was about the same. The type F mortar was a little bit stronger than the other

mortars.
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References:

 ASTM C305-20 Standard Practice of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic
Consistency
 ASTM C109/C109M-20 Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in
or [50mm] Cube Specimens)
 ATSM C311/C11M-18 Sampling and Testing Fly Ash or Natural Pozzolans for Use in
Portland-Cement
 ASTM C618-19 Standard Specification for Coal Fly and Raw or Calcined Natural
Pozzolan for Use in Concrete