THE

AND

RELATION BETWEEN

VISCOSITY

OP

WORKABILITY

FRESHLY MIXED

CONCRETE

BY.
LI
B.Sc.

IN -CIVIL

YANG

ENGINEERING, CHENG-KUNG UNIVERSITY

TAIWAN, CHINA. 1956

THESIS

SUBMITTED

THE

REQUIREMENTS
MASTER

OF

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PARTIAL .FULFILMENT OF

FOR

THE

APPLIED

THE

DEGREE OF

SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT
OF

CIVIL ENGINEERING

WE

ACCEPT

THIS

THESIS

REQUIRED

THE

UNIVERSITY

OF

AS CONFORMING

TO

STANDARDS

BRITISH

APRIL, 1965

COLUMBIA

THE

In
the

r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r an

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mission

for reference

for extensive

p u r p o s e s may

be

cation

of

written

Department

Of

and

Date

Library

study*

by

for

the

V/ /

Head

of my

Columbia.,

fulfilment

University

shall

I further

agree
for

that

of

per-

scholarly

Department

shall

of

make i t f r e e l y

or

that,copying or

f i n a n c i a l gain

ng,

the

this thesis

permission-

The U n i v e r s i t y o f B r i t i s h
Vancouver 8
Canada
5

the

I t i s understood

this thesis

w i t h o u t my

that

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degree at

copying of

granted

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this thesis

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be

by
publi-

allowed

ii

ABSTRACT
This paper describes how the author studied the "workability"
of freshly mixed concrete.
Workability i s a very important and necessary property
which forms part of the specifications f o r concrete but i t s meaning
i s rather vague. Concrete i s usually required to have a certain
slump or flow, as determined i n a standard manner, with standard
apparatus, but the readings obtained are comparative

only and have

no., absolute value.

The question which the author asks and t r i e s to answer i s ,
can we treat freshly mixed concrete as a f l u i d and measure i t s .
absolute v i s c o s i t y and i f so how are slump and flow e t c . related to
it?

What does slump and flow really mean i n terms of absolute units?
An apparatus was developed which does measure a quantity

similar to viscosity and values were obtained f o r nine different

mixes.

Readings were however obtained at only one velocity so that

the non-Newtonian behaviour of the concrete was not investigated.

iv

ACKNOY/LEDGEMEHT
The author wishes to express his appreciation to his
supervisor, Professor W. G. HQslop, f o r his interest, guidance and
advice on this experiment.

The author also expresses hie gratitude

to the staff of the C i v i l Engineering workshop f o r t h e i r assistance

throughout the experiment.
This project was made possible through the support of the
national Research Council of. Canada.
acknowledged.

A p r i l 1965
University of B r i t i s h Columbia,
Vancouver, B.C.
Canada.

This support i s gratefully

iii.

TABLE OP CONTENTS
CHAPTER

PAGE
. INTRODUCTION

HOY/ THE PROBLEM WAS APPROACHED

II

ORIGINAL APPARATUS AND IT'S BEHAVIOUR

III

MODIFICATIONS OF THE APPARATUS AND OP

THE SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION

IV

CALIBRATION OF APPARATUS AND SCOPE OF

EXPERIMENTAL WORK TO BE UNDERTAKEN

10

DESCRIPTION OF THE FINAL EJCPERIMENTAL

WORK

13

VI

CALCULATIONS

15

VII

CONCLUSIONS

19

VIII

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

21

TABLES

22

FIGURES
REFERENCES '

33
61

INTRODUCTION
Concrete has to be strong, enough to take the stresses to
which i t i s subjected and durable enough to withstand the moisture
and temperature'changes of i t s environment. To do t h i s the quality
and quantity of a l l materials used i n making concrete ha^e to be
carefully specified and controlled, along with the mixing process
and method of transportation to the forms.

These careful specifica-

tions however w i l l only produce the desired quality of concrete i f

the consistency of the freshly mixed corfrcete

i s such that i t can

be worked into a l l corners of the forms and around reinforcing steel

without

leaving a i r or water pockets or segregated

sections .

This

proper placement must also be achieved with a reasonable and

economical amount of tamping or v i b r a t i o n .
To make good concrete therefore as well as specifying good
materials i n the right quantities, a desirable "consistency" or
"workability" or "placeability" f o r the freshly mixed concrete must
also be s p e c i f i e d .
Standard tests have been developed f o r measuring this
property which .throughout this paper w i l l be referred to as workability
Some Standard Tests:
i)

The Slump. Test

ii)

The Kelly B a l l Test

iii)

The Plow Table Test

iv)
v)
vi)

Power's Remoulding Test

The Vebe Test
The Compacting Factor Test.

A l l of these tests use standardized equipment and procedure,

and produce readings which mean the same thing a l l over the world on
a l l jobs but the readings obtained have no absolute value.

They are

relative values only and though readings from the different methods
can be compared there i s no r e a l way of saying which i s the best and
over-what range each gives relative readings of acceptable accuracy.
If i t were possible to measure some absolute value of
workability similar to the viscosity, of a l i q u i d , workability could
be defined accurately and .readings from a l l the standard tests could
be assessed properly and compared'.
This thesis describes the author's attempt to develop an
apparatus to give an absolute measure of workability and to use i t
on a few samples of concrete.

Some absolute values were obtained and

compared with slump, flow and remoulding

tests.

CHAPTER^ I
HOW THE PROBLEM,WAS APPROACHED

The work required to deform a l i q u i d depends on the viscous

shearing stress and the rate of shearing s t r a i n .

In the c l a s s i c a l

development of the theory by Newton, a plate-of area A s q . f t . moves

p a r a l l e l to a fixed boundary at a distance h ( f t . ) from i t .

A force

of P l b s . gives the plate a fixed velocity V f t / s e c . and viscous

shearing forces are developed between the layers of l i q u i d lying
between the moving plate and the fixed boundary.

(See P i g . 1.) . The

unit viscous shearing stress t = P/A l b s / s q . f t . i s a function of. the

V

rate of shearing s t r a i n .

For most pure liquids T varies directly

w i t h a n d we have *c = u where u. i s a coefficient of v i s c o s i t y .

u i s defined as the dynamic or absolute viscosity and can be
P Ik Ph
calculated from u = *r- =
l b s . sec/sq.ft.
h

This i s Newton's c l a s s i c

theory of viscosity and liquids f o r which.H- i s a constant are known as

Newtonian l i q u i d s .
To study the workability or viscous behaviour of freshly
mixed concrete a question that presents i t s e l f i s , can a block of
concrete be made to deform i n a manner similar to the block of l i q u i d
l y i n g between the plate and the boundary and i f so can a property
similar to viscosity be calculated from the force and velocity involved?
The idea seemed worth investigating and a deformable box was constructed
to deform an eighth inch cube of freshly mixed concrete.
difference between the deformation

The important

of the cube of l i q u i d and the cube

4*
of concrete i s , as shown i n P i g . 1, i n how the forces are applied.
la the case of the l i q u i d the external force i s applied at the top
through the plate and i s truly horizontal and the internal forces are
a l l horizontal viscous shearing forces.

In the case of the concrete

the force i s applied by one end of the box, the d i s t r i b u t i o n of the

force i s not known and the forces exerted on the concrete have small
v e r t i c a l components. The internal forces are therefore not a l l
horizontal viscous shearing forces.
Although the force distribution,-applied to the concrete i s
not known the work required to cause the deformation i s easy to
calculate from .
(Work)
c

V (At)
c
c

In Newton's equation f o r liquids the work done i s (Work) = PV(At) and

p

(Work)

The viscosity of a l i q u i d therefore can be calculated from the formula

(Work) h
V(At) AV

and a siiailar quantity f o r the concrete can be calculated from the

formula
M =

(Work) h
c c
V (At) A V
c
'c c c

5.
P

A-

V (At)
C

. ^

(At)

A V
c

(=)
V
A V
C
c c
c

CHAPTER II
ORIGINAL APPARATUS AND IT'S BEHAVIOUR

Description of the Apparatus.

The apparatus developed i s shown i n i t s f i n a l form in Pigs.
2

to'

5.

The bottom and ends of the box are made of ply-wood and
the

sides are 2" x 1/8" brass strips which were bolted to the ends

through v e r t i c a l s l o t s .

These slots permitted the side strips to

bear on each other to provide a tight connection and enabled the

box to be deformed without any v e r t i c a l movement of the sides.

The

drive was from a reversable constant speed motor through a f l e x to

a rotating nut on along threaded drive rod. The drive rod was thus
moved back and forth at constant speed.

The velocity of the top

of the box i t s e l f could be changed by moving the whole drive

mechanisia to different vertical- positions and varying the linkage
to the box i t s e l f .
The f i n a l linkage to the box was a load c e l l which always
remained horizontal, and which was connected to a brush recorder.
Behaviour of the Apparatus.
Once the apparatus was completed the box was operated empty
and f u l l to see how i t behaved. Probably 500 readings were taken.
Some of the main observations were:
(a)

Curves on the brush recorder charts were i n general a l l of the

same shape.

7.
(b)

The force necessary to deform the box increases v/ith the amount
of

(c)

deformation.

The force necessary to deform the box increases with increased

velocity.

(d)

The force necessary to deform the box varies with the position
of the box at the start of the motion.

(e)

The characteristic curve shape was not due to the concrete.

Water, clay, mortar, and concrete a l l produce similar curves.

(f)

Even with concrete i n the box a very large percentage of the

force required to deform.the box was due to f r i c t i o n i n the
box i t s e l f .

(g)

Concrete must not be allowed to leak into any moving surfaces.

(h)

Scales available on the brush recorder do not give accurate

enough readings of forces.

(i)

Concrete mixed with Kerosene instead of water to prevent setting

bleeds too much to remain of constant consistency.

(j)

Due to the high f r i c t i o n the f l e x drive was not a strong enough

drive mechanism.

Some characteristic brush recordercurves are shown i n P i g . 6.

8.
CHAPTER I I I
MODIFICATIONS OP THE APPARATUS
AND OP THE SCOPE OP THE INVESTIGATION

To reduce f r i c t i o n i n the box the brass side strips were

pinned individually with a small clearance between s t r i p s , and
t u f f l o n washers were placed on the pinned connections.

The box was

lined with a p l a s t i c bag to bridge the space between the side strips
and prevent leakage of the concrete.

The inside of the box and a l l

moving parts were l i b e r a l l y oiled and greased.

The change i n the side s t r i p connections produced some
v e r t i c a l movement of the sides and to keep this to a minimum and
also to keep the clearance between the brass strips small, i t was
decided to use a much smaller displacement of the box than was
o r i g i n a l l y intended.
To improve the drive mechanism the flex was replaced by
a reducing gear box and a chain drive . The range of velocities of
a point 82 i n . above the hinges of the box was then 0 . 0 4 i n . per sec.
to 0 . 1 1 i n . per s e c .
To improve the accuracy of the force measurements the load'
c e l l was replaced by a d i a l gage reading to 0 . 0 0 0 1 inches i n s t a l l e d
i n a proving r i n g .

It was found that readings could be taken quite

easily every 2 seconds, using as a timer a 2 second pendulum and that

from these readings satisfactory force-time or force-displacement
curves could be plotted.

.9At this stage of development many more experimental

readings were taken and i t was realized that time would not permit
investigations at more than one v e l o c i t y .

10
CHAPTER I V
CALIBRATION OP APPARATUS AND
SCOPE OP EXPERIMENTAL WORK TO BE UNDERTAKEN

Since
in

t h e u l t i m a t e a i m was t o f i n d

the deformation

force

relationship

the f o r c e s involved

of the'concrete

the d i a l

gage r e a d i n g pounds

had t o be f o u n d

and t h e t a r e o f t h e box a c c u r a t e l y

established.
The
by

dead w e i g h t

values

8.

satisfactory
The

to

l o a d i n g i n both

gage were c a r e f u l l y

compression

The u n i f o r m i t y o f t h e r e a d i n g s
degree o f

indicate

of the t a r e - f o r c e , o r the f o r c e

when s u b j e c t e d t o t h e l o a d s and

i t was d e c i d e d

t o use b a l l o o n s f u l l

w e l l l u b r i c a t e d , packed i n t o
height

observed

curves i n

and c u r v e s

p r o d u c e d by t h e c o n c r e t e , was a much'more d i f f i c u l t
many t r i a l s

The

accuracy.

establishing

d e f o r m t h e box i t s e l f

calibrated

and t e n s i o n .

1 and 2 and t h e c a l i b r a t i o n

a r e shown i n T a b l e s

Pigs. 7
a

p r o v i n g r i n g and d i a l

t h e box and f i l l e d

o f 8 i n . To p r o d u c e p r e s s u r e s

necessary

pressures

problem.

of water.

After

T h e s e were

with water t o a

on t h e w a l l s o f t h e box

to

t h a t w h i c h might be d e v e l o p e d

by t h e h y d r o s t a t i c p r e s s u r e

of

c o n c r e t e , the water p r e s s u r e

i n t h e b a l l o o n s was i n c r e a s e d

a column of water of a p p r o p r i a t e h e i g h t .
t h e box were t h e n
To
box

similar
of 8 i n .
with

The t a r e f o r c e s t o d e f o r m

recorded.

duplicate the effect

on f r i c t i o n

of the weight

of a

full

o f c o n c r e t e t h e b a l l o o n s were s e a l e d f u l l , o f w a t e r t o a h e i g h t

11.
of

8 i n c h e s and

box)
box

to

then

g i v e the

loaded

same t o t a l

wer>3 a g a i n measured .

the best

with a f l a t

r e s u l t s but

load.

The

weight

(not t o u c h i n g

the

t a r e f o r c e s t o deform

the

I t was

not

known w h i c h method

fortunately

the

results

were v e r y

would

similar.

T e s t s were made a t v a r i o u s s t a r t i n g p o s i t i o n s b u t
three positions receiving
and

- 1/4

for

12

8g

i n . f r o m and

seconds,

t h e most a t t e n t i o n

at the

a l l a t the

one

velocity

i n . above t h e b o t t o m o f t h e b o x .

and

the

average d i a l

converted

into

different

starting

were s t a r t i n g

center p o s i t i o n .

l b s . of t a r e .

The

p o s i t i o n s are

of 0 . 0 4

curves

shown on P i g .

Many p r e l i m i n a r y r e a d i n g s , were t a k e n
running
time
It
box

t e s t s w i t h t h e box

about

was

1000

had

half

full

been t a k e n

decided t h e r e f o r e to l i m i t

many

and

times

weight

were

f o r the.three

9.
w i t h the

i d e a of

only l i m i t e d

the present

on

s e c . measured

as w e l l a s f u l l
and

at - l / 2 i n .

but
time

by

this

remained.

i n v e s t i g a t i o n to a

full

only.
The

s t u d y i n g and
by

readings

one

i n . per

both pressure

resulting

the

T e s t s were c a r r i e d

T e s t s were r e p e a t e d

gage r e a d i n g s f r o m

give

s c o p e o f the .present
comparing the

i n v e s t i g a t i o n then

w o r k a b i l i t y of n i n e

t h e f o l l o w i n g methods:
(a)

The

Standard

Plow T e s t

(b)

The

Standard

Slump

(c)

Power's R e m o u l d i n g

(d)

The

new

s h e a r box

Test
Apparatus
apparatus. '

batches

became
of

the

concrete

12.
W i t h t h e new

s h e a r box f r o m w h i c h i t was

hoped t o

t h e a b s o l u t e v i s c o s i t y , o n l y one v e l o c i t y and a f u l l
used;

calculate

box vas t o be

b u t t e s t s w o u l d be r u n a t t h r e e d i f f e r e n t s t a r t i n g

positions.

13.
CHAPTER V
DESCRIPTION OP THE PINAL EXPERIMENTAL WORK
AND THE DATA OBTAINED

Concrete

Mix

Design

Nine d i f f e r e n t
from

0 to 8 inches.

Water cement r a t i o
fine

The

was

c o n c r e t e mixes were d e s i g n e d

to give

A . C . I , mix

used

kept

d e s i g n , method was

constant

a t 0.6.

i s g i v e n i n t a b l e s 3,

aggregate

Type I cement was

used

and

the

4,

and

c o m p l e t e mix

slumps

and

Sieve analysis

the

of

the

5 and P i g s .10a, 10b, and

10c.

designs are given i n table

6 .
Typical Test

Procedure

All

nine tests

were c a r r i e d

out

i n the

concrete laboratory

a c c o r d i n g to the f o l l o w i n g procedure:
a)

Mix

1-? c u b i c f e e t

listed

i n T a b l e 6,

setting

of c o n c r e t e t h o r o u g h l y a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
adding

a little

b i t of s u g a r

quantities

to retard

the

time.

b)

Measure the temperature

c)

Perform

the

standard

of the

slump t e s t

concrete

mix.

t h r e e times

and

o b t a i n the

average

value.
d)

Perform

the standard f l o w t e s t

e)

Perform

Power's r e m o u l d i n g

f)

Pill

the

shear deformation

three t e s t s , taking d i a l
s e c o n d s and

test
box

and

o b t a i n the percentage

and
full

o b t a i n the remoulding
o f c o n c r e t e and

gage r e a d i n g s

s t a r t i n g at the

- 1/2

flow.
effort.

c a r r y out

e v e r y 2 s e c o n d s f o r 12

i n . , -i/4

i n . and

0 i n . positions.

14.
g)

Remove t h e c o n c r e t e from the box and once more perform the slump
t e s t t o see I f I t has changed a p p r e c i a b l y *
The c o n c r e t e was c a r e f u l l y remixed each time i t was used

and p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n was p a i d t o r e d d i n g .

The

remoulding and f l o w

equipment i s shown i n F i g s * 11 t o 15*

Data
A t y p i c a l d a t a sheet showing the d i a l gage r e a d i n g s

obtained

f o r the t h r e e d i f f e r e n t s t a r t i n g p o s i t i o n s i s shown i n t a b l e 7 which

a l s o shows r e d u c t i o n of the r e a d i n g s t o l b s . f o r c e *

A l l r e a d i n g s were

obtained a t a v e l o c i t y of 0.04 i n / s e c a t a h e i g h t o f 8| i n c h e s above

the bottom of the box.

T h i s corresponds

t o a v e l o o i t y of 0.0377 i n / s e o

at the s u r f a c e of the c o n c r e t e and 0*0494 i n / s e c a t the p r o v i n g r i n g *

The t o t a l deformation f o r c e s f o r each of the t h r e e s t a r t i n g
p o s i t i o n s have been p l o t t e d and curves drawn f o r each of the nine
mixes

These are shown on F i g e 16 t o 24 i n c l u s i v e

F o r convenience

o f c a l c u l a t i o n the t a r e f o r c e curves f o r the t h r e e s t a r t i n g p o s i t i o n s

have been p l o t t e d on the same s h e e t s *
The r e s u l t s of the slump, f l o w and remoulding t e s t s a r e g i v e n
i n f a b l e 8.

CHAPTER VI
CALCULATIONS

Before calculations were started a close look wa.s taken at

the results and especially at the characteristic shape of the t o t a l
deformation force and"the tare force curves.
force with displacement and why
different starting position?

Why

the increase i n

the difference i n force with the :

It was

soon realized that both of

these are explained by the v e r t i c a l f r i c t i o n forces exerted by the

ends and sides of the box on the concrete.

When the box i s i n a

negative position and i s being displacedtowards the 0.0 i n - or dead

center position, these forces are upward and decreasing
the intensity of the internal shearing f o r c e .

thus reducing

Once the box i s

displaced to the positive side of the 0.0 i n . or dead center position,

these forces are downward and increasing and are increasing the
internal shearing force.

Similar conditions must have varied the

f r i c t i o n forces between the water f i l l e d balloons used during the

calibration of the tare forces of the box:

this i s d e f i n i t e l y a

source of error.
To calculate.the net work done to deform the concrete i n
a given period of time, we need the area between the t o t a l and

the

tare force curves and since both sets of curves are f a i r l y straight
and uniform between 4 seconds and 8 seconds, t h i s appeared to
good area to investigate.

be.a

16 .
Prom 4 seconds to 8 seconds starting at the -0.5 i n . covers
the displacement from -0.34 i n . to -0.18 i n .
Prom 4 seconds to 8 seconds starting at -0.25.in. covers the
displacement from -0.09 i n . to +0.07 i n .
Prom 4 seconds to 8 seconds starting at 0,0 i n . covers the
displacement from +0.16

i n . to +0.3 i n .
2

Since these three averaged together are p r a c t i c a l l y

symmetrical about the dead center or 0.0 i n . point, i t would appear
that averaging the three net areas between ..'r-seconds and 8 seconds.,
should give good results and compensate f o r decreased and increased
internal forces on either side of dead center.
Table 9 shows the average net force from 4 seconds to 8 seconds
required to deform the concrete f o r each of the nine mixes at each o f
the three starting positions.
also shown.

The average for the three positions i s

With the exception of the results of the last four mixes

the trend of the readings i s quite good but the experimental errors are
obviously quite large.

The accuracy of the results could be improved

i f a smooth curve could be drawn through the plotted experimental values,

but against what other quantity should they be p l o t t e d ?

I t was

thought

, that of the othejr workability measurements obtained probably the r e moulding effort should give -the closest co-relation'.-"Power s test does
1

measure. the energy to remould the sample but i t doesv-omit the work done
by gravity and by the 4 . 3 lb-, rider p l a t e .

It was decided therefore

to examine and calculate the t o t a l work done during the Power's.test

17.
and

u s e t h e s e v a l u e s t o check t h e s h e a r box r e s u l t s .
Referring

seen that

work i s done by l i f t i n g

r i d e r plate
of

t o a diagram of the apparatus i n P i g . 2 5 , i t i s

gravity

each r e v o l u t i o n

+ wj

it

(7

+ W_

Total

and a l s o

by g r a v i t y

i n lowering the centers

o f t h e c o n c r e t e and t h e r i d e r p l a t e .
T o t a l work = (w

(30.2

and d r o p p i n g t h e c o n c r e t e and t h e

7 + W

(y

- y j

+ 8.8 - S)

+ 4.3>| + 30.2(3.16) + 4.5^ + 4.3(8.8) - 4.3S

work

= 9.70 n +133.3 - 4.3-3 ( i n . l b s . )

where n = number

o f l / 4 i n . d r o p s and S = slump ( i n . )

T a b l e 10 shows t h e c a l c u l a t i o n s and t h e t o t a l
e a c h mix d u r i n g

Power's r e m o u l d i n g t e s t .

Plotting P

work done on

against

these

values
but

( P i g . 2 6 ) on l o g l o g p a p e r good c o - r e l a t i o n s

the l a s t

could

two m i x e s .

I t was f e l t

be i m p r o v e d by a d j u s t i n g

that

a r e found f o r a l l

the experimental

them t o t h e s t r a i g h t

line

readings

on t h e l o g l o g

plot.
T h e s e a d j u s t e d v a l u e s a r e shown i n t a b l e
for

the f i n a l

11

and were u s e d

c a l c u l a t i o n s o f t h e v i s c o s i t y o f t h e c o n c r e t e w h i c h were

made a s f o l l o w s :

a _ JI
*c ~ / c

h
AY

_ p
T *

(.0494N
8
^.0377
(64)(.0377)
;

13.
= 4*34 F

l b s . sec/sq.in.
!

= 625 P l b s . sec/sq.ft.
c
Tha calculated values of u f o r a l l nine mixes are shown i n
c
Table 8 and Table 11.

19.
CHAPTER V I I
CONCLUSIONS

- 4.'

Values
absolute

were o b t a i n e d

viscosity

good b u t p r o b a b l y
the apparatus.
at

of f r e s h l y

w h i c h probably do a p p r o x i m a t e t h e .
mixed c o n c r e t e .

would i m p r o v e w i t h more e x p e r i e n c e

The a u t h o r

a displacement

i s not

i n handling

a g a i n p o i n t s out t h a t v a l u e s were

o n l y o n e . s p e e d , d e p t h and d i s p l a c e m e n t

over

The accuracy

o f .0188 r a d s ) .

(V / h =

Nothing

.0047

obtained

rads/sec.

therefore, was l e a r n e d o f

t h e N e w t o n i a n o r non-Newtonian v i s c o u s p r o p e r t i e s o f f r e s h l y
concrete.

A vital

a s s u m p t i o n i s made a l s o i n a s s u m i n g t h a t

small displacements
internal

mixed
with

o f t h e box n e a r t h e dead c e n t e r p o s i t i o n t h e

f o r c e s i n the concrete a r e mostly

h o r i z o n t a l viscous

shearing f o r c e s .
One r e a s o n

f o r t r y i n g t o measure t h e v i s c o s i t y

of f r e s h l y

m i x e d c o n c r e t e was t o o b t a i n a n a b s o l u t e v a l u e t o a s s e s s p r o p e r l y t h e
various
values

w o r k a b i l i t y m e a s u r i n g d e v i c e s w h i c h now e x i s t .
obtained

viscosity
end,

they

i n t h i s r e s e a r c h a r e not t r u e v a l u e s
should

serve

this

slump, f l o w and r e m o u l d i n g

viscosity

of absolute

purpose s a t i s f a c t o r i l y .
effort

Even i f the

have b e e n p l o t t e d

To t h i s
against

on o r d i n a r y g r a p h p a p e r i n P i g . 27 and on l o g l o g g r a p h

paper i n P i g . 28.
The
suspected

Slump.
2

" r e s u l t s c o n f i r m t h i n g s w h i c h a r e a l r e a d y known o r

and p e r h a p s p r o v i d e

The slump t e s t

some new i n f o r m a t i o n .

a p p e a r s t o be most s e n s i t i v e

i n . and t o be s a t i s f a c t o r y

a t a slump o f

only i n the 1 i n . t o 4 i n . range.

20.
Slump

below 1 i n . cannot

viscosity

The f l o w t e s t

The t e s t

measured.

appears

satisfactory

54000 u- ~
c

results

t o be most

sensitive

quite

a t about

i n .to 7

slump.)

(The Vebe t e s t

the t e s t s

appears t o r e l a t e t o

The r e l a t i o n s h i p

(drops) = 0.56

a *
c

appears
0

f r o m 130 t o
t o be

the three standard workability

devices considered are s a t i s f a c t o r y

p a t h become l a r g e

o n l y when t h e d e f o r m a t i o n

a s s o o n a s o t h e r components o f t h e f l o w
loose t h e i r

sensitivity

and u s e f u l n e s s .

i n v o l v i n g a s h o r t e r f l o w p a t h s h o u l d be b e t t e r

than the remoulding t e s t . )

At very

t o 7000 p. ~
c

t o have good s e n s i t i v i t y

In general i t appears that

inaccuracy

i n . t o 4 i n . slump.)

remoulding t e s t

I t appears

m o s t l y v e r t i c a - l and t h a t

satisfactorily.

40$ (2 i n . slump) a n d

with a general trend

well.

. Remoulding E f f o r t

measuring

a p p e a r s . t o be

Remoulding; E f f o r t . The Power's

30 d r o p s , (i

d i d not r e l a t e t o v i s c o s i t y

Plow'$ = 54000 ,u
c

viscosity

i n t h e 2 0 $ t o 60$ r a n g e . (2

small flows the r e l a t i o n s h i p

is

The r e l a t i o n s h i p t o

a p p e a r s t o be
Slump(in)

Plow.

be a c c u r a t e l y

A l l the standard tests

c a u s e d by t h e way t h e c o n c r e t e i s p l a c e d

still

s u f f e r from the
i n the cone.

'

21
CHAPTER V I I I
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

Although' t h e v i s c o s i t y
certain

fundamental

measuring

apparatus

d e v e l o p e d has

weaknesses and i n a c c u r a c i e s .the a u t h o r has f e w

ideas f o r improving i t .

I t might

however be m o d i f i e d t o o p e r a t e

on i t s .side .
W i t h t h e same a p p a r a t u s , some w o r t h w h i l e p r o j e c t s

which

come t o mind a r e :
a)

Viscosity
of

b)

V/h r a t i o s

t h e non-Newtonian v i s c o u s p r o p e r t i e s

The r e l a t i o n s h i p
factor"

c)

measurements a t d i f f e r e n t

o f Vebe t e s t

to find

of f r e s h l y

some

mixed c o n c r e t e .

r e a d i n g s and t h e " c o m p a c t i n g

to viscosity.

The e f f e c t

of aggregate

g r a d i n g and p r o p o r t i o n i n g on w o r k a b i l i t y .

CALIBRATION OP
I
Weight
(lbs)

PROVING

RING

DIAL GAGE READING

IT

III

(Tension)
Average

Elongation
(in)

Elongation
(in)

Elongation
(in)

0.0500 .

0.0500

0.0500

0.0500

1.0

o.0477

0.0475

0 .0476

0.0476

2.0

0.0452

0.0452

0.0451

0.0452

3.0

0.0428

0.0426

0.0426

0.0427

4 .0

0.0403

0.0402

0.0402

0.0402

5.0

0.0379

0.0377

0.0376

0.0377

6 .0

0.0355

0.0354

0.0354

0.0354

0.0331

0.0330

0.0330

0.0330

3 .0

0.0306

0.0306

0.0305

0.0306

9.0

0.0283

0.0282

0.0281

0.0282

10 .0

0.0258

0.0259

0.0259

0.0259

11.0

0.0236

0.0235

0.0234

0.0235

12.0

0.0213

0.0212

0.0212

0.0212

13.0

0.0189

0.0189

O.0189

0.0189

14 . 0

0 .0167

0.0166

o .016;-

0.0166

15.0

0.0143

0.0144

0.0143

0.0143

Elongation
(in)

,-3

.7.0

TABLE 1

4 . 8 x 10
7.3 x 10
9.8 x 10
12 . 3 x l O
14.6 x 10
17.0 x l O
19.4 x 10
21.8 x l O
24.1 x l O
26.5 x 10
28.8 x l O
31.1 x l O
33.4 x l O
35.7 x l O

-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3

CALIBRATION OP

PROVING

RING

(Compression)

DIAL GAGE READING

III
n
Contraction
Contraction
(in)
(in)

Average
Contraction

Weight
(its)

Contraction

0.0600

0.0600

0.0600

0.0600

1.0

0.0623

0.0623

. 0.0624

0.0623

2.0

0.0648

0.0648

0.0550

0.0649

3.0

0.0673

0.0673

0.0674

0.0673

4.0

0.0700

0.0698

0.0699

0.0699

5.0

0.0722

0.0723

0.0724

0.0723

6.0

0.0749

0.0748

0.0749

0.0749

7.0

0.0775

0.0775

0 .0775

0.0775

8.0

0.0798

0.0799

0.0799

0.0799

9.0

0.0825

0 .0824

0.0825

0.0825

10.0

0 .0849

0 .0849

0.0851

0.0850

11 .0

0.0875

0 .0875

0.0875

0.0875

12.0

0.0899

0.0898

0.0900

0.0899

13.0

0.0924

0.0924

0.0925

0.0924

14 .0

0.0951

0.0950

0.0952

0.0951

15.0

0.0976

0.0975

0.0977

0.0976

(in)

'

TABLE 2

(in)

2.3 x 10

4.9

x 10"

7.3 x 10

9 .9 x 1 0 ~
12.3 x 10

14.9

x 10~

17.5

x 10 "

19.9

x 10~

22.5

x 10

25.0

x 10

27.5

x 10

29.9

x 10

32.4 x 10

'

35 .1 x 10*"

37.6

x 10

24

SIEVE-ANALYSIS - COARSE SAND

Screen No.
4

Individual
. Weight
Retained

Individual
Percentages
Retained

6 .01

1.20

Cumulative
Percentage
Retained
1.20

72.81

14.57

14

61.41

12.28

. 28*05

30

125 .81

25.15

53.20

50

. 128.76

25.75

78.95

100

80.42

16 .10

95.05

Pan

24.78

4.95

Total

500 .00

l&v00

TABLE 3

15.77

272.22

25

SIEVE ANALYSIS

S c r e e n No.

- MEDIUM SAND

Individual
Weight
Retained

Individual
Percentages
Retained

Cumulative
Percentage
Retained

1.70

0.56

0.56

14

13.58

4.51

5.07

30

77.30

25 .80

30.87

50

108.10

36 .10

66.97

100

76.32

25.38

' 92.35

Pan

2 3.00

7.65

300.00

100.00

Total

195.82

TABLE U

1.958

26

SIEVE ANALYSIS

Screen No.'

- F I N E SAND

Individual
Weight
Retained

Individual
Percentages
Retained

Cumulative
Percentage
Retained

14

30

24.83

12.43

12.43

50

93.33

46 . 6 2

59.05

100

73.80

36 .92

95 . 7 9

Pan

8.04

4.03

200.00

100.00

Total

167.2?

1.67

TABLE 5

CONCRETE M I X P R O P O R T I O N ( l c u b i c y a r d )
A . C . I , M i x D e s i g n Method
W/C i s c o n s t a n t = 0.60 by w e i g h t
.WATER
(LBS)

CEMENT
(LBS)

275 .00

MIX
NO .

COARSE AGGREGATE ( L B S )

SAND ( L B S )
P .S.
C.S.

TOTAL ( L B S )

3/4 i n

1/2 i n

Gap

3/8 i n

458 .00

425.00

425.00

425.00

425.00

710.00

868.00

4,011.00

291.40

486 .00'

425.00

425.00

425.00

425.00

670 .60

819 .40

3,967.40

308.00

514.00

425.00

425.00

42 5.00

425.00

648.45

792.55

3,96 3.00

317.00

541.00

425.00

425.00

425.00

425.00

627.75

767.25

3,953.00

325.00

555 .00

425.00

425.00

425.00

425.00

612 .00

748 .00

3,9/ O .00

6 '

342.00

584.00

425.00

425.00

425.00

425.00

581.40

712.60

3,920.00

359.00

612 .00

425.00

42 5.00

425.00

425.00

551.70

674-30

3,897.00

375 .00

625 .00

425.00

425.00

425.00

425.00

526 .00

644.00

3,870.00

392 .00

6 54.00

425.00

425.00

425.00

425.00

496.00

614.00

3,846 .00

Specific

gravities

o f cement, C .A. e F .A, a r e 3.15,

TABLE 6

2.68

2.64

respectively.

28.
SAMPLE DATA SHEET

Starting
Point

Dial
in.x

- l/4 'in.

10

-3

Deformation
in.x

Force
lbs .

1.50

5.3

4.7

1.96

4.4

'5.6

2.34

.4

3.3.

6.7

2.79

2.3

7.7

3.21

1.6..

8.4

3.50

6.7

3.3

1.38

6.2

3.8

1.58.

5.6

4.4

1.83

4.5

5.5

2.29

3.5

6 .5

2.71

8.1

3.38

3.4

1.42

5.0

2 .08

3.5

6.5

2.71

1.3

8.7

3.6 3

10.9

4.54

14.5

6.05

1.9

6 .6

5.0

0.0 i n .

10

-3

3.6

- 1/2 i n .

Gage

9.1
5.5

TA3LE 7

TABLE 8

SLUMP
(in.)

PLOW
/o

MIX
NO

WATER CONTENT
lbs/cu.yd

1.

275 .00

16.6

2.

291 . 4 0

3.

308.00

4.

REMOULDING
EFFORT
(drops)

ABSOLUTE
VISCOSITY
ii l b s .
c
sec/sq.ft.

130

5620

28.7

90

3060

45.8

65

1875

317.00

49.6

55

1405

5.

325.00

60.4

46

1075

342 .00

67.5

42

925

7.

359 ,00

6-6g

69.1

37

750

8,

375.00

7-7

92.0

33

638

9*

392.00

98.0

25

425

30

TABLE 9

Average ^
' Mix
Kb.

s
Mean

Displacement i n .

-0.34 t o -0.18

- 0 . 0 9 t o +0.07

7.17

8.60

3.60

6 .20'

3-10

2.93

1.533

2 .40

2.40

2 .11

1.47

3.13

1.80

1.80

1.30

1.73

1.40

1.48

1.40

1.233

0.97

1.20

1.37

1.73

1.50

1.50

1.23

1.503.

1.033

1.26

+0.16

t o +0.32

11.17

8 .98

6 .03

5.28

3.01

TABLE 10

Mix No.

...

Slump.
in.

9.70n

-4-35

Work
(in .lbs .)

-0

' 1393

130

1260

90

873

-4.3

1002

65

630

-8.6

755

55

533

-12.9

653

+133.3

46

446

-17.2

562

42

407

-21 5

519

37

359

-25.8

466

33

320

-30.1

423

25

242

-34 A

341

32.

TABLE 11

Mix No.

F
c
Measured (lbs)

c
Adjusted (lbs)

u = 625 P
c
c
lbs .sec/sq .ft .

8 .98

9.0

5620

5.28

4.9

3060

3.01

3.o

1875

2 .11

2.25

1405

1.80

1.72

1075

1.48

1.48

925

1.20

1.20

750

1.50-

1.02

6 38

1.26

0 .68

425

'

A 2.#
s

FIGURE 1.

34

FIGURE 3

FIGURE

kh

k-

-11

-A
C=3

jojt:

-A

I+ 9

(Mi .

a-

j."

'7*

PIGURB 5

37

Clay

PIGURE 6

PROVING RING CALIBRATION - COMPRESSION

DIAL GAGE READING

FIGURE 8

40

A A A

s t a r t i n g it

starting t

1/4"

oo

starting t

1/2"

"
Total

<>

Defoi mation
o rc G

^ "

Tare

6
Time

(seconds)

FIGURE 9

< >^-

F o r i ;e

10

12

t
41

42

SIEVE ANALYSIS - MEDIUM SAND

40

M.S. = F.M . = 1.96

30-

20

-/
r3

r-l

Pan

No.100

No.50

No.30
Screen

Size

FIGURE 10b.

No.14

No .8

No .4

43

SIEVE ANALYSIS - PINE SAND

50
F.S.

P.M.

1.67

40
R

30
o
P-.

20

M
>

-/

10

PAN

No. 100

No.50

No,30
Screen Size

FIGURE 10c.

No. 14

No .8

No .4

44

FIGURE

FIGURE

11

12

45

FIGURE 15b

47.

FIGURE 15c

16
A

starting

at 0

starting E t

1/4"

<5

starting a t

1/2"

MIX

NC). 3

14

12

1
s

Total

Defo rmation
Pore i

<

^^^^^
6

>

i
i

/
/

;
]

/<
/ '
I

/
1

'

'
Tare

Pore*

_'

// ^

1 /

>

4
Time

6
(seconds)

PIG-TIRE 18

10

12

51

12

i;

AAA

starting a t 0

starting a t - i / 4 "

starting a b - 1/2"

oo

MIX NO. 4

10

8
r t a l Defon aation
Force
0

0}

o
M

o
<

^_ >

sir

- '

'**

Tare F orce

6
Time (seconds)

FIGURE 19

10

12

52

Time (seconds)
FIGURE 20

10

12

starting at 0'

MIX NO. 6

starting at - 1/4"

yy<><

starting at - 1/2"

Total Defoi mation

Pore e

<

^^^^^
jS^f

/<?

a
>

'

Tare Po::ce

///^
2

6
Time (seconds)
FIGURE 21

10

12

54

AAA

starting at 0

v/
A

starting at - 1 / 4 "

W
A

\y
A

starting at -

MIX NO , 7

1/2"

/ \

Total Defoi mation

Fore e

y
x

>

Tare

Time (seconds)
FIGURE 22

I?03 ce

10

12

Arr-A

starting at 0

x*

starting at t 1/4"

HIX

KO.

starting at - 1/2"

<>

Fore e

'

)
/

i i

S -

>

"1

Tare oi *ce

Time (seconds)
FIGURE 2 3

'

56

10

starting at 0
starting at - 1/4

MIX KG* 9

starting at - 1/2"

Total Sexor raation

6

Fore s

^-^ '
J

/?
\

'

^
i

4
o
u
o

yy

///

///

:
f

yy

// /y~

Tar #01

>

6
Time (aocondd)
FIGURE 24

10

12

-0

REFERENCES
A 'Study o f t h e F l o w - t a b l e and t h e Slump T e s t .
George A . S m i t h and S a n f o r d W. Benham
J a n . 1931, p .p .420-438 A .C .2 . p r o c e e d i n g v .27 .
A Study

o f F l o w and F l o w o f C o n c r e t e .

I n g e l y s e and W.R.

Johnson

J a n . 1931,'p.p .439-467 A .C .2 p r o c e e d i n g v . 2 7 .
A d m i x t u r e s and - W o r k a b i l i t y o f C o n c r e t e .
G. M. W i l l i a m s
F e b . 1931, p.p.647-653 v . 2 7 .
Determining C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s

of C o n c r e t e i n t h e Mixed

Drum.

Emory D. R o b e r t s
S e p t . 1931, p.p .59-72 v.28
Studies

of W o r k a b i l i t y of C o n c r e t e .

T.C. P o w e r s
F e b . 1932, p . p . 419-448 v . 2 8 .
Factors

o f W o r k a b i l i t y o f P o r t l a n d Cement

Concrete.

V/. H. H e r s c h e l and E.A. P i s a p i a

May - J u n e . 1936 , p . p . 641-658 v . 3 2 .
The A p p l i c a t i o n o f Some o f t h e Newer C o n c e p t s
of Concrete Mix.
W. M. Dunagan
June 1940, p . p . 649-684 v.36 .
Admixtures

t o the Design

f o r Concrete.

A . C . 2 Committee 212 - Nov. 1944, p . p . 73-88 v . 4 1 .

Entrained A i r - A Factor i n the Design

of Concrete

Mixes.

W. A . C o r d o n
J u n e 1946, p . p . 605-620 v . 4 2 .
Effect

o f M i x i n g S e q u e n c e on t h e P r o p e r t i e s o f C o n c r e t e .

F . L . F i t z p a t r i c k and W. S e r k i n
O c t . 1949, p . p . 1 3 7 - 1 4 0 v . 4 6 .