INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Material testing- it refers to an analysis of almost any kind of building material.

UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE (utm)- Hydraulic universal testing machine is mainly meeting to material
subject to Compressive Strength Test (ASTM C39), Flexural Strength Test (ASTM C78) and Tensile
Strength Test (ASTM C1557) that perform tensile, compression, bending and shearing test of non-metal
and metal materials.

The host machine- is cylinder-underneath, hydraulic loading, and hydraulic clamping specimen,
operates easily and reads correctly.

The machine controller- processes the test data, storages, displays and drawing curves (graph and
illustration) by the computer.

Main Parameter- Before conducting experiment in

laboratory, technician and operator must view the
tables presented below first, to familiarize with the
specification and limits of the machine.

Before using Universal Testing Machine, certain

condition that are listed below should be observe first to
ensure the safe of operator.

• Room Temperature at least 10ºC to 35ºC.

• Relative humidity not more that 80%.

• No quaky or vibration condition

• No caustic medium around

• Level installation on steady base, level degree

0.2
no more than .
1000
• Power Supply: 3-Phase 220V, 50/60Hz, 2.5KW.
There are two power switches additional, the bigger one with mushroom head (Stop Button) is the
emergency stop switch, and the other one (Start/Stop or On/Off Button) is the power switch.

The two hand wheels of “Load and Unload are used to control loading and unloading hydraulic oil.
“Pump” is oil pump switch to startup oil pump motor unit (inside controller cabinet). The button of
“Jaw” is tensile grip switch, the tensile grip and remote box will be able to work after pressing Jaw
Button.

When clamping samples, take a note that the upper grip should first clamp and then lower grip will be
next, otherwise the hydraulic clamps will not work well. When doing tensile test, please turn off the
tensile grip button (Jaw) to keep the electrical valve could working more long time.

• Methods for eliminating: Make the piston go back to the bottom of the cylinder, and then turn
off the oil pump and power supply. If oil leakage remains after tightening the connector, you
should change combination sealing ring or o-shape seal ring.

PREPARATION AND CURING OF CONCRETE TEST SPECIMENS

Listed below are different materials to be consider in the preparation before and after the construction,
to guarantee you chose the best one:

Fine Aggregate – This material is consisting of natural sand, screened sand or any other material with
similar characteristics that is strong and durable enough. Fine aggregate should be clean thru washing of
clean water (it should be grayish gray color) and free from any loose particle. For every 1,500m 3 of fine
aggregate, 1 sample is required subject for quality test. The sample should be randomly pick in a clean
stockpile of fine aggregate by stripping (height at least 3 meters). The sample taken should be weigh at
least 50 kg. and place on a clean container/sack. Before using this material, it should conform first to
ASTM and 2013 DPWH Standard Specification;

Coarse Aggregate – This material is consisting of round gravel, crushed stone, furnace slag, screened
gravel or any other material with similar characteristics that is strong and durable enough. Coarse
aggregate should be clean thru washing of clean water (it should be grayish gray color) and free from
any loose particle. For every 1,500m 3 of coarse aggregate, 1 sample is required subject for quality test.
The sample should be randomly pick in a clean stockpile of coarse aggregate by stripping (height at least
3 meters). The sample taken should be weigh at least 70 kg. and place on a clean container/sack. Before
using this material, it should conform first to ASTM and 2013 DPWH Standard Specification;

Water – The water to be use in mixing, casting, sampling and curing in concrete specimens, and any
designated construction application should be clean and potable water. In case of using non-potable
water, it should be tested in accordance to ASTM and 2013 DPWH Standard Specification;

Portland Cement – The only material allowed to use in construction is the TYPE I - Ordinary Portland
Cement unless otherwise provided for in special provision. Different use of brand in same mixture is not
allowed, unless it is approved by the authorize personnel. If TYPE I is not available in the market, using of
TYPE IP – Portland Pozzolan Cement is allowed to use, provided that it conforms with ASTM and 2013
DWH Standard Specification. For every 2,000 bags (40kg each) of cement, 1 sample is required subject
for quality test. The sample taken should be weigh at least 10 kg. and place on a clean and sealed
container;

Concrete Mold Specimen for Compressive Strength Test – The standard mold to be use in concrete
mold specimen for compressive strength be made from steel or in plyboard. For every 75m 3 of concrete
mixture, 1 set of 3 sample mold is required subject for compressive strength. The shape of the specimen
mold can be either cube or cylindrical type.

Concrete Mold Specimen for Flexural Strength Test – The standard mold to be use in concrete mold
specimen for compressive strength be made from steel or in plyboard. For every 75m 3 of concrete
mixture, 1 set of 3 sample mold is required subject for flexural strength. The shape of the specimen
mold should be in rectangular size having at least dimension of 150mm height x 150mm width x 450mm
long. This dimension is subject only for Universal Testing Machine Load Capacity of 1,000KN, it can be
adjusted as long as in accordance of ASTM Standard Specification;

Formworks in Concrete Mold Specimen– This material can be either steel or plyboard that is strong and
durable enough to hold materials. Steel and plyboard should be in smooth surface, the standard
dimension for plyboard should be at least in 4” width x 8” long x ¼“ thick having a weight per sheet of
least 22.6kg or 50lbs. The moisture content of plyboard and thickness of steel should be in accordance
of ASTM Specification.

Reinforce Steel Bar – This material is made from alloy, carbon and other elements having a unit weight
kg
of 7,850m . For every 10,000kg or 10 tons of reinforced steel bar, 1 sample is required subject for quality
3

test. For Universal Testing Machine 1,000KN Load Capacity, the standard diameter can be use in tensile
strength test are 10mm, 12mm, 16mm, and 20mm. The length of the steel to be tested should bot be
greater than 600mm long. The appearance, weight, color and dimension of reinforced steel bars should
be in accordance of ASTM, AISC and 2013 DPWH Standard Specification

Bitumen Material – Bitumen material can be either Asphalt cement, Cationic rapid setting, Ionic rapid
setting, Rapid setting, Medium setting or Slow setting whichever is available in commercial. For every
40tons or 200 drums of bitumen material, 1 sample is required subject for quality test, the sample
should be at least 5 liters. The penetration grade and type of asphalt cement, cutback bitumen and
emulsified bitumen should be in accordance with ASTM and 2013 DPWH Standard Specification.
Curing is the way wherein there must be proper amount of time allotted as well as appropriate
management is also needed for concrete to attain its with required and desired strength based on its
curing age. It is also a process that helps the concrete specimen remain hydrated before the day of test.

As mentioned, hydration of the concrete specimen is important thus to avoid to loss its moisture
content, here are the three ways of curing concrete correctly:

1. After one day of casting, concrete specimen that are in laboratory or in actual site should always
keep the surface of the concrete specimen in moist or in wet condition by means of ponding,
sprinkling, or spraying of water;

2. Covering of concrete specimen surface by polythene sheet (Gauge 500) or leaving of wet mat
(matting method) in formworks to prevent loss of moisture; and

3. Application of curing compound or use of spray in dry condition is acceptable. Just make sure
that the rate of application should be 1 gal per 12m 2 and the distance of surface of spray and
surface of concrete is 300mm to 500m away other.

LABORATORY TEST IN AGGREGATES

Scope:

A 75mm square opening sieve size to 0.0075mm will be use to separate each particle size base
on its size range. It will also determine the mass retained on each size.

Apparatus Required:

• Stack of Sieves including pan and cover

• Digital Weighing Scale (10kg. capacity-sensitive to the extent of 0.1% of total sample)

• Rubber mallet and mortar

• Mechanical sieve shaker

• Laboratory Hot Air-Oven

Safety and Precautions:

• Clean the sieves set so that no soil particles were struck in them;

• While weighing, put each sieve with soil sample on the balance in center position; and

• Always check the sieve shaker electric connection before conducting the test.

Quartering is the alternative method of reducing the size of a bulk aggregate sample where a sample
divider (riffle box) is not available. The bulk sample should be shoveled to form a cone, and turned over
to form a new cone, this being done three times.

• Using digital weighing scale, determine accurately the mass of sample and label it as total
weight (Wt);
 • Prepare a stack of sieves correctly. Make sure that the larger opening size will be place on top of
the smaller one (see table 1.0) and put pan in the bottom;

• Make sure that each sieve is clean. If you notice that soil particle is stuck in the openings, brush
it until soil particle is remove in the opening;

• Determine the initial weight of each sieve and pan. (In table 1.1, record the weight of each size
in column 3);

• Put the weighted soil (from step 3) into the stack of sieve from the top and place the cover;

• Place the stack of sieve in the sieve shaker and lock the two (2) side clump to make sure that
stack of sieve will not move before operating;

• Operate the sieve shaker for at least 5 to 10mins;

• When sieve shaker stop shaking, determine the mass of each sieve with retained soil using
digital weighing scale and record it in table 1.1 in column 4;

• Calculate the percent finer using the obtain data; and

• Plot the points (in figure 1.0) of each sieve size between particle size and Percent finer.

  Calculation:

1. Calculate the Mass of Soil Retained for each Sieve Number:

Column5=( Column 4 )− (Column 3 )

 

2. Determine the Percentage on Sieve Number

 Column5
Column6= x 100
Total Mass∈Step 3
3. Calculate the Cumulative percent of soil retained on the n th sieve;

 CPR=Σ R n=R 1+ R 2+ …+ Rn¿

4. Calculate the Cumulative Percent Passing through the n th sieve.

Percent Finer =100−( Column7 )

SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF COARSE AGGREGATE (ASTM C127)

Apparatus Required:

• Sieve No. 4 (opening size of 4.75mm) • Flask Basket

• Container/Mold • Brush

• Water • Laboratory Hot-Air Oven

• Trowel • Weighing scale with clamp tared

• Clean Dry Towel/Mat • Digital Weighing Scale (10kg. capacity-

sensitive to the extent of 0.1% of total
• Metal Tray
sample)

Safety and Precautions:

• Use hand gloves, safety shoes & apron at the time of test;

• Properly brush sieve no. 4 and flask basket so that no soil particles were stuck in them before
and after using it;

• To avoid machine in harmful particle, always clean the laboratory hot-air oven before and after
using it;

• Make sure that the flask basket is properly tared under the weighing scale;

• After test switch off the apparatus; and

• Before conducting the test, make sure that no one is around (1-meter radius from testing
machine)

Test  Procedure:

• Prepare at least 70kg of aggregates (when picking sample, take a strip at least 3 meters);

• Place the 70kg specimen into the container full of water and let it soak for about 24 hours;
• Make sure to clean sieve no. 4 using brush before using so that no any particle is stuck in the
opening of sieve;

• After 24 hours of soaking, randomly take at least 10kg of specimen and pour it in the sieve no. 4
and shake it until fine aggregate separate from the specimen;

• After sieving, place the retained specimen/coarse aggregate into the metal tray;

• Put the coarse aggregate by portion into the towel and rub it until it attains its saturated surface
dry (SSD) condition (observe the surface of the aggregate, aggregate is in ssd condition when no
water exist on its surface);

• Weigh the container to be use were the specimen be placed and mark it as W 1 in the table 2.0;

• Place the SSD coarse aggregate into the container and cover the top of container using the wet
towel; Continue doing it until the SSD coarse aggregate reach at least 5kg;

• After reaching it, take the container with SSD coarse specimen and weigh it in digital weighing
scale. Mark it as W2 in the table 2.0;

• Set-up the flask basket under the second weighing scale. Make sure that the flask basket is
empty when it is tare while submerge in water.

• After setting up, take the flask basket and gently pour the SSD coarse aggregate specimen into it.
Make sure that no aggregate is lose/drop around to avoid errors.

• Carefully lift the filled basket and attach it under weighing scale (submerged in water);

• Make sure that all particle of specimen inside the basket are under the water surface;

• Record the weight of the SSD coarse aggregate under water;

• After reading and recording data, take out the coarse aggregate from the basket and place them
on the metal tray (spread into entire space of metal tray);

• Place the metal tray filled with coarse aggregate into the laboratory hot-air oven at a constant
temperature of 110ºC ±5ºC for at least 24 hours;

• After 24 hours, take out the metal tray from the laboratory hot-air oven and let it be cool at the
room temperature.

• When the specimen is cool, place the coarse aggregate into the container;

• Weigh the container with coarse aggregate specimen and record the data.

• Determine the specific gravity (apparent), bulk specific gravity and water absorption of coarse
aggregate.
Calculation:

Calculate the Water Content/absorption of Aggregate.

w=¿ ¿
 

Determine the specific gravity (apparent).

( w6 )
s . g .=
(w 6−w 4 )

Determine the bulk specific gravity.

(w6)
s . g .=
(w 3−w 4 )
TIME OF SETTING OF PORTLAND CEMENT (ASTM C191-USING VICAT APPARATUS)

Testing objectives: This time of setting of portland cement aims to determine the time of cement to
react or hydrate completely in water. It can also determine the initial and final set of time of cement
with respect to its plasticity and gained strength.

Scope: This test is limited only for determination of time of setting of cement using Vicat needle having a
room temperature of 27°C+2 °C and humidity of 65±5%. This test also observes the proper procedure on
how to conduct with respect to ASTM C191.

Apparatus Required:

1. Vicat Apparatus
2. Needle for initial setting time
3. Needle for final setting time (with annular)
4. Container/Mold
5. Mixing bowl
6. Trowel
7. water
8. Glass plate
9. Stopwatch
10. Digital Weighing Scale (10kg. capacity-sensitive to the extent of 0.1% of total sample)

Safety and Precautions:

1. Before conducting test, use safety gloves, safety shoes & apron at the time of test;

2. Do not use needle when in wet condition;

3. Equipment should be cleaned thoroughly before testing & after testing; and

4. Before conducting the test, make sure that no one is around (1-meter radius from testing machine)

Test Procedure: The following procedure was adopted in ensuring that the data to be record from time
of setting of Portland cement test specimens was taken in an organized and consistent manner.

1. Prepare 500g of Portland cement and put it in the clean container;

2. Take the stopwatch and set it in zero;

3. Place the 500g cement in the mixing bowl and 425g of water (85% of total weight of cement) to
produce cement paste in standard consistency;
4. Immediately start the stopwatch when water added to cement;

5. When cement paste is in standard consistency, place the cement paste into the mold within 3 to 5
minutes;

6. Place the 500g cement in the mixing bowl and 425g of water (85% of total weight of cement) to
produce cement paste in standard consistency;

7. Immediately start the stopwatch when water added to cement;

8. When cement paste is in standard consistency, place the cement paste into the mold within 3 to 5
minutes;

9. Immediately release the plunger and allow it to penetrate into specimen test block/mold;

10. Repeat the test every 2minutes until it reaches the reading of 25mm±0.5mm;

11. The time period elapsed between the moment when water is added to the cement and the time at
which the needle penetrates the test block to a depth equal to 25mm±0.5mm from the top is taken as
Initial Setting Time;

12. For Final Setting Time, remove the needle for initial setting time and replace it with needle for final
setting time;

13. Upon lowering circular annular attachment for repeatedly multiple intervals of time (5 minutes
interval) at some particular point, the needle makes an impression while circular cutting edge fails;

14. The time period elapsed between the time when water is added to the cement and the time at
which the circular attachment fails to make an impression is taken as Final Setting Time; and

15. Gather and record the data to the given table.

Tabulation of Data: Table 4.0 are example of data gathered from the Time of Setting of Portland
cement. Take note that the amount of water to be in every test is 85% of the given weight of the
cement. Thus, the amount of water depends on the cement weight, they do have a direct relationship
meaning if the weight of cement increases, the water needed in the test definitely increases too.

Thus, a change in weight of the cement affects the amount of water. And as to initial and final time of
setting you need to use stopwatch and the Vicat apparatus, which can be directly get from cement
paste.
Setting Time Test of Cement

 Initial Setting Time

 Final Setting Time

Initial Setting Time: The initial setting time is regarded as the time elapsed between the moments that
the water is added to the cement, to the time that the paste starts losing its plasticity.

Final Setting Time: The final setting time is the time elapsed between the moment the water is added to
the cement, and the time when the paste has completely lost its plasticity.

The time period elapsed between the time when water is added to the cement and the time at
which the needle penetrates the test block to a depth equal to 5.0 ± 0.5 mm from the top is taken as
initial setting time.

At some particular point, the central needle makes an impression makes the impression while
circular cutting edge fails.

The time period elapsed between the time when water is added to the cement and the time at
which the circular attachment fails to make an impression is taken as final setting time.

Goodluck pii!! :)