PROCEDURE

BLEEDING TEST ON CONCRETE 3 pages

ASTM CONTAINER C232

SB.LAB.PPQ.407.C

Date : 22/10/2015 Rév :C (Engl)

1. PRESENTATION

• This test is used to determine the relative quantity of mixing water that will bleed from a sample of
concrete following ASTM standard C232.
• The present procedure describes the method in which the sample is consolidated by tamping.

2. APPARATUS

• Cylindrical container (standard) of approximately 14L capacity

• Scale of sufficient capacity to determine the mass of concrete plus the container with an accuracy of
0.5 % (≥ 40 kg)
• Pipet or syringe for drawing off free water from
the surface of the concrete
• 10 or 20 ml graduated cylinder for measuring
the quantity of water withdrawn
• Picking rod (similar to slump test)
• Hand scoop
• Trowel
• Measuring tape
• Stopwatch
• Wheelbarrow

3. TESTING PROCEDURE

• Ambient temperature must be between 18 and 24 °C (record the temperature),

• Measure the mass of the container,
• Make a mark in the container 254mm above the bottom (± 3mm),
• Fill the container with fresh concrete up to the mark in three equal layers, rodding each layer 25 times,
• Level the surface using the trowel,
• Immediately after, record the time (t0) and determine and write down the mass of the "container +
concrete",
• Place the "container + concrete" on a flat surface without noticeable vibrations and cover the container
to prevent evaporation of bleed water. Keep the lid on between sampling,
• Draw off the water that has accumulated on the surface after 10-20-30-40 minutes and then at 30-min
intervals. To facilitate the collection of water, tilt the specimen by placing a 5cm thick block under one
side of the container 2 minutes prior to each time the water is withdrawn,
• Draw off the water using the syringe or pipet. Measurements can be made by mass or volume (0.1 mL
ou 0.1 g). Write down the result,
• At the end of the test, empty and clean the container.
 SB.LAB.PPQ.407.C

4. CALCULATION
Three ways of calculation can be used to determine the concrete bleeding. The first one is recommended by the
Materials Laboratory and corresponds to the threshold of 0.1 ml/min. The two others are described in the
Standard but are less relevant for interpretation.

Calculation RECOMMANDED BY THE LABORATORY

1. Remove the first result nonzero
2. The bleeding rate is the addition of individual results during (divided by) 120 minutes (or closer the 120
minutes).
Example : End of mixing @ 9 :00
Intervals
(approx) Hours Bleeding(ml)
00:10 9 :10 0

00:20 9 :20 0

00:30 9 :30 0

00:40 9 :40 0

01:10 10 :10 2

01:40 10 :40 3

02:10 11 :10 4

02:40 11 :40 2

03:10 12 :10 3

Bleeding rate = (3+4+2+3)/ 120 = 0.1 mL/ min

Standard Option 1 : Volume of bleeding water (cumulative) per unit area of surface.

Bleeding per unit area (ml /cm²) = V / S Where:

V = total volume of bleeding water (ml)
S = area of concrete (cm2)

Standard Option 2 : Accumulated bleeding water, expressed as a % of the net mixing water contained
within the concrete.

Volumic bleeding (%) = (Mbleeding / Mwater) x 100 With:

Mwater = (w/W) x Mconcrete Where:
Mbleeding = Total mass of bleeding water (g) Mwater = Mass of water in the concrete (g) w = Net
mixing water in batch = Total amount of water - the water absorbed by the aggregates (kg)
W= Total mass of the batch (kg)
Mconcrete = Mass of the concrete sample in the container (g)
SB.LAB.PPQ.407.C

4. PRECISION DATA

Precision data Bleed rate – SB laboratory method

Level Repeatability conditions Tests
mL/ min Sr r
0,038 0,008 0,028 9
* The precision data were obtained on the repeat of 9 identical batches in laboratory conditions