CONCRETE

S.NO APPARATUS REFERENCE BASE DIAMETER TOP DIAMETER HEIGHT

1 SLUMP CONE ASTM C 143/C 143 M 200 ± 3mm 100 ± 3mm 300 ± 3mm

DIAMETER HEIGHT

2 TAMPING ROD ASTM C 143/C 143 M 16mm 600mm

LENGTH BREATH HEIGHT

3 CUBE MOULD BS EN 12390-1 150 ± 0.5% 150 ± 0.5% 150 ± 1%

PROCEDURE
SLUMP CONE TEST : (ASTM C 143/C 143 M)
Dampen the mold and place it on a flat, moist, Non-absorbent surface and shall be held firmly in
place during filling by operator on two foot Pieces.
Fill the Cone with Concrete in 3 Layers(70mm,160mm,70mm)of Tamping each layer with
25 strokes.
After Top Layer has been rodded, strike of surface of Concrete by Screeding or Rolling Motion of
Tamping rod and remove the concrete from area surrounding base of Slump cone.
Remove the Mold Immediately from Concrete in Vertical direction of Distance 300mm in
5 ± 2s.
Complete the entire Slump Cone test within an Elapsed time of 2.5min.

CUBE CASTING : (BS 12390-1,2)

Fill the Molds with Concrete in 3 Layers(minimum 2 layers or not more than 100mm)of Tamping
each layer with 35 strokes (not less than 25strokes).
Leave the test Specimen in molds for atleast 16hrs but not longer than 3days protected against
shock, vibration and Temperature of 25 ± 5° C in hot Climates.
After removal from molds, Curing the test Specimen(Curing Tank) at Temperature of 20 ± 2° C and
Relative Humidity ≥ 95% (Regular Check should be made).
COMPRESSIVE TEST OF SPECIMEN : (BS 12390-3) & (BS 1881) :
Wipe the excess Moisture from surface of Specimen before placing in Testing machine
Position the cube Specimen that load Perpendicularly to Direction of Casting.
Centre the specimen with respect to the lower platen to an accuracy of ± 1% of designated size of
Cubic or designated dia of cylindrical Specimen.
Rate of Loading 0.2 N/mm2.s to 1.0 N/mm2.s . Apply the load to Specimen without shock and
increase Continuously at a selected constant ± 10%.
Record the readings.
 SOIL
GRADATION : (AASHTO T-88)
A Sample with a mass of about 18000 gms.

Dry the sample according to T255 at a Temperature of 110 ± 5° C.

Accurate Determination:
Material finer than the 75micron by washing should be Employed (AASHTO T-27).
After washing, Dry the Sample and Select sieves to furnish the information required by the specification
Covering Materials to be used.
For SUBGRADE, 75 micron Passing should be 5 - 18%
For GSB, Refer OHDS 2017 Table 3.2.2.1 or Project Special Specification
For ABC, Refer OHDS 2017 Table 3.3.2.1 or Project Special Specification

LIQUID LIMIT : (AASHTO T-89)

CUP
S.NO APPARATUS RADIUS THICKNESS DEPTH MOVEMENT
HEIGHT
1 CUP 54 ± 2mm 2 ± 0.1mm 27 ± 1mm 47 ± 1.5mm

LENGTH BREATH HEIGHT

2 CUP-BASE 150 ± 5mm 125 ± 5mm 50 ± 5mm

CUTTING
THICKNESS WIDTH
EDGE
GROOVING TOOL
3 10 ± 0.1mm 2 ± 0.1mm 13.5 ± 0.1mm
(CURVED END)
PROCEDURE
Adjust the height of drop of cup so that Point on the cup that comes in contact with base to
Height of 10 ± 0.2mm.
A sample with a mass of about 100gms shall be taken mixing portion of material passing 0.425mm.
The Soil sample shall be placed in mixing dish and throughly mixed with 15 to 20 ml of water by alternately and
repeatedly stirring, Kneading and Chopping with Spatula.
Further addition of water shall be made in increments of 1 to 3 ml.
Each increment of water shall be throughly mixed with the soil as previously described before another
increment of water is added.
Once test has begun, no additional dry soil should be added to Moistened soil.
If Too much moisture has been added to the sample, The sample shall be Discarded or mixed, kneaded until
natural evaporation takes place until sample into acceptable range.
When sufficient water has been added to form uniform mass of stiff Consistency, A sufficient sample shall be
placed in cup above the spot and shall be squeezed, spread with spatula to level and trimmed to a depth of
10mm.
The cup containing the sample prepared shall be lifted and dropped by turning crank at a rate of approximately
2 revolutions/second until two sides of sample come in contact at bottom of groove along a distance of about
13mm.
The object of this procedure is to obtain of such consistency will be made in each of the following ranges of
shocks : 25-35, 20-30, 15-25 so that in three determinations is atleast 10 Shocks.
PLASTIC LIMIT : (AASHTO T-90)

A sample with a mass of about 20 gms shall be taken mixing portion of material passing 0.425mm.
Place the air-dried Soil in mixing dish and throughly mix with water until the sample becomes Plastic enough to
be easily shaped into ball.
Take a portion of this ball with a mass of about 8gms for the test sample.

If both liquid and Plastic limits, take a test sample with mass of about 8gms from thoroughly wet and mixed
portion of soil prepared in accordance with T-89.
Take the sample at any stage of mixing process at which mass becomes plastic enough to be easily shaped into
ball without sticking to fingers excessively when squeezed.
If the sample is taken before completion of liquid limit test, set it aside and allow to season in air until liquid test
has been completed.
If the sample is too dry to permit rolling to a 3mm thread, add more water and remix.

Select 1.5 to 2.0 gms portion from mass of soil and roll the mass between palm or fingers and the Ground-glass
plate with just sufficient pressure to roll the mass into thread of uniform diameter of 3mm within 2 minutes.
Then split the thread into six to eight pieces and placed it in oven.

MODIFIED PROCTOR'S TEST : (AASHTO T 180 - METHOD-D)

MOLDS :

INNER
S.NO APPARATUS OUTER DIAMETER HEIGHT VOLUME
DIAMETER
MOLD-150mm
1 158.75 ± 1.27mm 152.4 ± 0.66mm 116.43 ± 0.13mm 2124 ± 21 cc
(AASHTO T-180)
MOLD-150mm
2 107.95 ± 1.27mm 101.6 ± 0.41mm 116.43 ± 0.13mm 943 ± 8 cc
(AASHTO T-99)
RAMMER :

S.NO APPARATUS MASS BOTTOM DIA HEIGHT( Free fall)

RAMMER - 4.5Kg
1 4.536 ± 0.009 kg 50.42 ± 0.25 mm 457 ± 2mm
(AASHTO T-180)
RAMMER - 2.5Kg
2 2.495 ± 0.009 kg 50.42 ± 0.25 mm 305 ± 2mm
(AASHTO T-99)
PROCEDURE
If the soil sample is damp when received from field, dry it in air or by use of drying Temperature not exceeding
60°C.
Discard the Coarse material retained on 50mm sieve.
Remove the material from passing 50mm sieve to 19mm sieve retained and it can replace with equal mass of
19mm passing to 4.75mm retained material.
Take the material for replacement from remaining portion of sample.

Select a representative sample with mass of approximately 10kgs.

Thoroughly mix the selected representative with sufficient water to dampen it to approximately four percentage
points below optimum moisture content.
Divide the total sample into 5 Layers and compact each layer by 56 blows from the rammer.
Record the weight of every increments of moisture content and simultaneously collect the sample to find out
moisture content.
Water content increment should not exceed 2.5%.
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO : (AASHTO T 193)
S.NO APPARATUS DIAMETER HEIGHT EXTENSION COLLAR (HEIGHT)
152.4 ± 0.66mm
1 MOLDS 177.8 ± 0.46mm 50mm
(INNER)

2 SPACER DISC 150.8 ± 0.8mm 61.37 ± 0.25mm

Compacted Thickness of Specimen = 116.43mm

CENTRE-HOLE CENTRE-HOLE When using split
S.NO APPARATUS WEIGHT
DIAMETER DIAMETER weights, the
Annular type Slotted/Split type mass of pair shall
be
3 SURCHARGE WEIGHT Approx 54mm 149.2 ± 1.6mm 2.27 ± 0.04Kg 2.27 ± 0.04Kg

S.NO APPARATUS DIAMETER AREA HEIGHT

PENETRATION 2 Not less than
4 49.63 ± 0.13mm 1935 mm
PISTON 102mm

Rate of Loading 1.3mm/min.

Water level Maintaining at 25mm above the top of the specimen.

PROCEDURE
Discard the Coarse material retained on 50mm sieve.
Remove the material from passing 50mm sieve to 19mm sieve retained and it can replace with equal mass of
19mm passing to 4.75mm retained material.
Select a three representative sample with mass of each approximately 6.8 kgs.

Generally 10, 30 and 65blows per Layer are suitable for compacting specimen 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
Thoroughly mix the each representative sample with optimum moisture, Divide the sample into 5 Layers and compact
with 10blows.
Remove the extension collar of the mold and trim the compacted soil with top of mold using straightedge.

Surface irregularities should be patched with small-sized material.

Remove the spacer disc, place the filter paper on perforated base plate, invert the mold and compacted soil and place on
filter paper so that compacted soil is in contact with the filter paper.
Clamp the perforated base plate to the mold and attach the collar. Determine the mass of mold.

Compact the other two 6.8kgs portions following same procedure with 30 and 65 blows respectively.

Immerse the mold into water to allow Free access of water to top and bottom of specimen for 96hrs.

The water level maintain approximately 25mm above the top of specimen.
SAND EQUIVALENT VALUE : (ASTM D 2419)
Prepare the working calcium chloride by diluting 85 ± 5ml to 3.8L of water.

Obtain atleast 1.5kg of 4.75mm Passing material and split or quarter out to required mass.

Fit the siphon assembly with mixture of water and calcium chloride solution at a height of 90 ± 5cm from working surface.

Pour the working solution into Siphon upto 4 ± 0.1 inch.

Then pour the one of test specimen into plastic cylinder using funnel to avoid spillage.

Tap the bottom of cylinder sharply on heel of hand several times to release air bubbles and wetting of specimen.
Allow the wetted specimen and cylinder to stand undisturbed for 10 ± 1min.
At the end of 10min soaking, stopper the cylinder, then loosen the material from bottom by partially inverting the cylinder
and shaking it simultaneously.
After Loosening the material from bottom of cylinder, shake the cylinder 90cycles in approximately 30s using a throw of
23 ± 3cm. (Cycle is defined as complete back and forth motion).
Following the shaking operation, set the cylinder upright on the work table and remove the stopper.
Insert the irrigation tube in top of cylinder, remove spring clamp from hose and flushes the fine material into suspension
above coarse sand particles.
Continue to apply stabbing and twisting action while flushing the fines upwards until the cylinder is filled to 15inch
graduation while irrigation tube is being withdrawn.
Allow the cylinder and contents to stand undisturbed for 20min ± 15s.(after withdrawing irrigation tube)
Read the record the level of top of clay suspension(Clay Reading) and place the weighted foot assembly over cylinder and
gently lower the assembly until it comes to rest on sand.
Subtract 10inch from the level indicated by the extreme top edge of indicator and record this value as
"sand reading".