A Guide to Writing an Engineering Laboratory (Lab) Report

In Concrete Technology

University of Duhok
College of Engineering
Civil Department
2018-2019

A good lab report should address the following questions:

 “Why?” – Why did I do this particular experiment?

 “How?” – How did I actually carry it out?
 “What?” – What did I find? What were my results?
 “So What?” – What does my result mean? What is the significance of the
result? What are my conclusions?

Any concrete technology report must contain the

following pages:
 Page -1

UNIVERSITY OF DUHOK
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL DEPARTMENT
CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY –PRACTICAL
CONCRETE LABORATORY

A REPORT ABOUT

“REPORT NAME”

SUBMITTED BY:

LAB. NO.
GROUP NAME.

TESTING DATE:
SUBMITTING DATE:

2018-2019
 Page-2

1-References:

The references section becomes very important if the student have used any
outside materials in their lab report. Information obtained from any source, including
the Internet, is covered by copyright law.

2-Introduction:

The introduction sections in a report states the objectives of the experiments and
provide the reader with the background to the experiment. In addition, a good
introduction also provides the reader with justification for why the work was carried
out. And some further information of the theoretical principle involved in the
experiments.
 Page-3

3-Purpose:

4-Materials:

5-Equipment:
 Page-4

6-Sketches:
 Page-5
7-Procedures:

Explain how you actually carried out the experiment in chronological order.
Using clear paragraph structure, explain all steps in order they actually happened.
 Page-6
8- Results:

The results section consists of calculations, graphs and tables. But student must
use the calculations, graphs and tables to explain the results from their experiment. On
a further note, the graphical representation (graphs and tables) must be clearly labeled.
 Page-7
9-Discussion and Conclusions:

Discussion:
This is usually considered the most important part of the lab report. In this section,
students are required to show an understanding of the experiment. This part of the lab
focuses on question of understanding.

Strategies you can use in your discussion are:

 Compare expected results with those obtained.

 Analyze experimental error.
 Explain your results in terms of theoretical issues.
 Relate results to your experimental objectives.
 Compare your results to similar investigations or Standards.

Conclusions:
In most undergraduate laboratory report, the conclusion can be very short.
Additionally, the conclusion can also be used to express your views on the weakness
of the experimental design (if there is any!), or what is the implication of your
conclusion.
UNIVERSITY OF DUHOK
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL DEPARTMENT
CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY - PRACTICAL

DATA SHEET

Test Name: Student Name:

No. of Test: Group No. :
Date of Test: Supervisor Signature:

Observations

Student Name:

Test No.:
Group Name:
Date of Testing:
Syllabus:
Part-1\ Cement Tests:
Normally two types of cement tests are conducted as given below:
 Field tests
 Laboratory tests
A-Laboratory Tests:
1. Specific Gravity of Cement.
2. Fineness of Cement.
3. Standard consistency of cement.
4. Initial and final setting time of cement paste.
5. Compressive strength of ordinary Portland cement mortar.
6. Soundness test.
7. Chemical composition.

Part-2\ Aggregate Tests:

1. Specific gravity and absorption of fine and coarse aggregate.
2. Bulk density (unit weight) and voids in aggregate.
3. Sieve analysis of fine and coarse aggregate.

Part-3\ Fresh and Hardened Concrete Test:

1. Workability tests of fresh concrete.
2. Air content in fresh concrete.
3. Compressive strength of hardened concrete.
4. Flexural strength of hardened concrete.
5. Stress-strain test of hardened concrete.
6. Non Destructive Tests (Hammer test, and UPV test).

`
B- Field Tests:
1. Date of manufacture:
It is important because the strength reduces with age. Date of manufacture
should be seen on the bag. A rough indication of reduction in strength with age
is given in Table-1.
Period of Storage Strength w.r.t. 28 days strength
Fresh 100%
3 months 80%
6 months 70%
12 months 60%
24 months 50%

2. Open the bag and take a good look at the cement. There should not be any
visible lumps. The color of the cement should normally be greenish grey.
3. Thrust your hand into the cement bag. It must give you a cool feeling. There
should not be any lump inside.
4. Take a pinch of cement and feel between the fingers. It should give a smooth
and not a gritty feeling.
5. Take a handful of cement and through it on a bucket full of water. The particles
should float for some time before they sink.
6. If it contains clay and silt as adulterant, it gives earthy smell.