Holy Angel University

School of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Civil Engineering

Chapter 2
Construction Materials and Testing

Familiarization with Apparatus

and Equipment Used in Testing
of Materials

Objective
After this chapter, the student should be able to
 Understand the apparatus and equipment used in testing of materials
understand the general properties of materials

Content
This chapter focuses on:
• Apparatus and Equipment Used in Testing of Materials

Related  Schedule of minimum test requirements governing items of work of the

DPWH standard specifications for highways, bridges and airports, 1998,
(volume III). Retrieved from
Readings https://www.gppb.gov.ph/laws/laws/CPESGuidelines2011/Annex11.pdf

References
Sivakugan, N., et al. (2018). Civil engineering materials. Australia:
Cengage Learning

Henderson, P. (2019). Materials for construction: civil engineering

fundamentals. New York: Larsen & Keller

Kultermann, E. (2017). Construction materials, methods, and techniques:

building for a sustainable future (4th ed.). Australia: Cengage Learning
 Chapter 2
Familiarization with Apparatus and Equipment Used in
Testing of Materials
Apparatuses and Equipment for Testing of Construction Materials
Civil engineering testing equipment is used in the quality control processes associated with the
analysis of soils, concrete, asphalt, bitumen, cement and mortar, steel, aggregates, and other materials used
in civil engineering. Civil engineering projects largely depend on the quality of their materials; therefore
testing equipment capable of providing consumers with accurate and repeatable results is imperative. While
the mechanism in which the equipment performs analysis procedures varies depending upon the material to
be analyzed, these testing instruments are capable of analyzing the hardness, moisture content, permeability
and other mechanical properties of the material of interest.

List of Testing Equipment and Apparatuses

1. Sieve Set

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 Chapter 2
Familiarization with Apparatus and Equipment Used in
Testing of Materials
a. Sieve Analysis:

*Fineness modulus of 3.695 means, the average size of particle of given aggregate sample is in
between 3rd and 4th sieves, provided that the first sieve is the sieve with the smallest opening
among the sieves used.

2. Universal Testing Machine (UTM) - used to evaluate the tensile, compression, bend, and shear
properties of materials including and metallic materials. To have a quality test, 10000 kg of steel is
required.

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 Chapter 2
Familiarization with Apparatus and Equipment Used in
Testing of Materials

3. Gillmore Needle Apparatus - The initial setting time of concrete is when the paste starts to harden
which takes 1 hour. The initial needle weighs ¼ lb and is used to determine the initial setting time
of cement, then the final needle weighs 1 lb and is used to determine the final setting time of
cement.

4. 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.

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 Chapter 2
Familiarization with Apparatus and Equipment Used in
Testing of Materials

5. Slump cone – A metal mold in the form of a

truncated cone with a top diameter of
4"(102mm), a bottom diameter of 8"(203mm),
and a height of 12"(305mm), used to fabricate
the specimen for a slump test. A 2 ft (610 mm)
long bullet nosed metal rod, 5’’ (16 mm) in
diameter.

a. Used for concrete slump test. Where: The

concrete slump test is an empirical test
that measures the workability of fresh
concrete More specifically, it measures
the consistency of the concrete in that
specific batch. This test is performed to
check the consistency of freshly made concrete. Consistency is a term very closely related to
workability. It is a term which describes the state of fresh concrete. It refers to the ease with
which the concrete flows. It is used to indicate the degree of wetness. Workability of
concrete is mainly affected by consistency i.e. wetter mixes will be more workable than
drier mixes, but concrete of the same consistency may vary in workability.

6. Various Molds – Three types of moulds use in material testing lab for preparation of C\concrete
specimen.

a. Cube Molds

Size of Cube Molds:

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 Chapter 2
Familiarization with Apparatus and Equipment Used in
Testing of Materials
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
b. Cylinder Molds:

Size of Cylinder Molds:

6 x 12 in. (15.2 x 30.5 cm), and 4 x 8 in (10 x 20 cm)

c. Beam Molds:

Size of Beam Molds:

100x100x400
100x100x500
and 150x150x600

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 Chapter 2
Familiarization with Apparatus and Equipment Used in
Testing of Materials

7. 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.

8. Vibrator – A vibrator is a mechanical device to generate vibrations. The vibration is often generated
by an electric motor with an unbalanced mass on its driveshaft. Since concrete contains particles of
varying sizes, the most satisfactory compaction would perhaps be obtained by using vibrators with
different speeds of vibration. Poly frequency vibrators used for compacting concrete of stiff
consistency are being developed. The vibrators for compacting concrete are manufactured with
frequencies of vibration from 2800 to 15000 rpm.

a. Immersion or Needle Vibrators - 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

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 Chapter 2
Familiarization with Apparatus and Equipment Used in
Testing of Materials
diameter. The diameter of the poker is decided from the consideration of the spacing
between the reinforcing bars in the form-work.

References:

http://sknlazoce.blogspot.com/2018/08/basic-concepts-in-construction.html
https://www.slideshare.net/engrnaveedhussain1/material-testing-lab-equipments?from_action=save
https://www.azom.com/materials-equipment.aspx?cat=116

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