DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

CEMB 111 CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

LABORATORY
EXPERIMENT 5
CONCRETE MIX SLUMP TEST
SECTION
: 01
GROUP NO. : 04
GROUP MEMBERS
1. SARNIYA A/P KESAVALOO

CE 091831

2. MUHAMMAD ZULHUSNI BIN CHE RAZALI

CE 097466

3. SALEH MOHMAD ALOWAIDAT

CE 097303

4. AHMAD AIMAN BIN AHMAD AZLAN

CE 098730

5. SURENDER A/L RAMANATHAN

6. FATIMA ABDULAZIZ ALSEAGHY
DATE OF EXPERIMENT
DATE OF REPORT SUBMISSION
INSTRUCTOR

CE 098629
CE 097397

: 11 JUNE 2015
: 18 JUNE 2015
: En.Nazirul Mubin Bin Zahari

LAB REPORT MARKING

Performance
Cover
Summary
Table of content
Introduction
Objective
Apparatus
Material
Procedure
Results
Discussion
Conclusion

10%
1%
8%
1%
10%

20%
40%
10%

TOTAL

100%

Table of Contents
NO.

TITLE

PAGE

1.

Introduction

2.

Objective and Scope

3.

Problem statement

4.

Apparatus and materials

5.

Procedure

6.

Results

7.

Discussion

8.

Conclusion

9.

Appendices

INTRODUCTION
The Portland concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, aggregate and water. Proportions of each ingredient
are adjusted to produce a well- balanced mix. This test is performed to check the consistency of freshly made
concrete. Consistency is a term very closely related to workability. It refers to the ease with which the concrete
flows. Workability of concrete is mainly affected by consistency. For example, the wetter mixes will be more
workable than drier mixer, but concrete of the same consistency may vary in workability. The slump test is
prescribed by ASTM C 143-90a and BS 1881: Part 102: 1983
OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE
The objective of this experiment is to determine the strength and workability of concrete mixture.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

The slump test is a means of assessing the consistency of fresh concrete. It is used, indirectly, as a means
of checking that the correct amount of water has been added to the mix. Every batch of newly mixed concrete
produced at the plant shall be tested before it is recommended for concreting. One of the most watchful
properties of concrete slump testing is the workability. The test of concrete slump would be perform either
during the preparation of concrete trial batches or as the quality control check during the construction period of
any structures.
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. This test is used to ensure uniformity
for different batches of similar concrete under field conditions.

APPARATUS

1) Slump set.
2) A set of scoops and trowel.
3) Shovel.
4) Measuring tape or ruler.

MATERIALS

Basic materials:
1) Ordinary Portland cement.
2. Clean water.
3) Air-dried Fine aggregates.
4) Air-dried Coarse aggregates.
Concrete mix:
1) Proportion; Cement : Fine aggregate : Coarse aggregate = 1:2:4.
2) Water/cement ratio of 0.55

PROCEDURE

Introduction:
Each group will be assigned particular water/cement ratio for their concrete mix. Figure 5.2, Table 5.1, and
Table 5.2 should be used in understanding and reporting the test result.
Preliminary:
Make sure that the slump test equipment set is cleaned; free from any unwanted material; inside of the mould
and base plate are moistened with water; and placed on a level surface. Make sure that the aggregates are free
from any lumps and are not wet. Only dry materials are to be used.
1. The amount of cement, water, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate that are needed for making the
concrete mix is calculated as explained in the following example:
Consider that we want to make a 21kg concrete mix.
Given,

Cement: fine aggregate: coarse aggregate = 1:2:4

Water/cement = 0.55

Cement =(1/7)x21=3.0kg

Water =0.55x=kg=ml

Fine aggregate=(2/7)x21=6.0kg

Coarse aggregate=(4/7)x21=12.0kg
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2. The required amount of cement , water, fine aggregate, and coarse aggregate is collected is separate
containers
Precaution: Steps 4 to 6 shall be done within 6 minutes after water is mixed to cement , fine aggregate, and
coarse aggregate.

3. Pour the fine aggregate and coarse aggregate into the pan. Mix the aggregate thoroughly with shovel or
scoop. Pour the cement into the mixing pan and mix thoroughly. Pour water into the mixing pan and mix
thoroughly.

4. The scoop or shovel is used to fill up the mould in three (3) layers while at the same time making sure
that the mould is firmly in place. After one layer is filled up, uniformly tamp the concrete mix inside the
mould 25 times using the rounded end of the tamping rod.

Precaution: Tamping of the second and subsequent layers shall penetrate into the underlying layer.
5. After filling and tamping is completed, the top surface of the concrete mix is struck off by means of a
sawing and rolling motion of the tamping rod.

6. The mould is removed from the concrete vertically and slowly raising it from the base plate. The mould
is placed upside down beside the concrete mix.

Precaution: If the slump is a shear slump (refer Figure 5.1), repeat Step 4 to 6.However, the slump test is still
recorded in Table 5.2 but without the measurement of the slump.

7. After the concrete mix has stop subsiding, the slump is measured immediately. This can be done by first
placing the trowel or ruler on top of the mould. Then use a tape or ruler to measure downwards from the
trowel or ruler to the top of the subsided concrete mix.

Attention: Repeat steps 4 to 7 after 15, 30 , and 45 minutes from the time water is added to the cement, fine
aggregate and coarse aggregate.

8. Finally, a graph of time vs. slump based on the data in Table 5.2 is plotted.
Water/cement
Slump test
Slump
Sketch of
ratio
measured
slump
(mm)
No. 1
(after 6 min)

140

No. 2
(after 15 min)

125

No. 1
(after 6 min)

178

No. 2
(after 15 min)

173

No. 1
(after 6 min)

155

No. 2
(after 15 min)

135

No. 1
(after 6 min)

75

No. 2
(after 15min)

13

0.45

0.55

0.65

0.75

RESULTS

Type of slump
4

Table 1: Test Data Results for Concrete Mix Slump Test

(Slump measurement values for water/cement ratios of 4.5, 6.5, and 7.5 are obtained from other groups)

Slump measured (mm) vs Time (min)

200
180
178
160
155

173

140
140

135
125

120
Slump measured (mm)

100
8075
60
40
20
0

13
6

15
Time (MIN)

0.45

0.55

0.65

0.75

Graph 1: Slump Measured (mm) vs Time (min)

DISCUSSION

1) Comment on the possibility of committing errors and mistakes in performing the tests based on the given
procedures.
Firstly, one possibility of committing errors and mistakes is present because the water, cement, fine
aggregate, and coarse aggregate might be accidentally mixed for longer or shorter than the required time (6,15,
etc. minutes). Secondly, the tamping process might not be spread uniformly or applied with the proper force
which might cause problems for subsequent layers to penetrate into the underlying layer. Thirdly, the slump test
equipment might not be ensured to be free from any concrete that may have dropped during the previous steps
before removing the mould from the concrete.

2) Comment on possible ways to improve the accuracy of the test results.

Firstly, a possible way to improve the accuracy of the test results is to ensure the amount of water, cement,
fine aggregate, and coarse aggregate are measured accurately to be used to ensure correct concrete proportions
and also water/cement ratio. Secondly, ensure the mixing of concrete to be of the exact required time. Thirdly,
carry out the tamping process with the proper uniformity and force. Fourth, it must be ensured the slump test
equipment is free from any dropped concrete before removing the mould from the concrete. The mould should
be removed vertically and slowly and the slump should be measured immediately. Finally, it must be ensured
that the aggregates are free from any lumps and are not wet; only dry materials should be used.

3) What could be the reason for the change in the slump and the characteristic of the change of the slump
for different time of testing? Please explain your answer.
The reason for the change in the slump and the characteristic of the change of the sump for different time of
testing is that after mixing the concrete mix for a longer period of time, the concrete begins to set and harden.
Thus, the slump measurement may decrease and the type of slump may change due to the concrete becoming
more rigid.
4) Comment on the workability of the concrete mix for each slump test that you have done.
Based on Table 5.1: Description of workability and magnitude of slump on page 35 of the lab manual and
the results of the experiment, our concrete mix with water/cement ratio of 5.5 has very high workability.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the strength and workability of concrete mixture is managed to be determined. Wetter
mixes will be more workable than drier mixer, but concrete of the same consistency may vary in workability.

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Our group (5.5 water/cement ratio) mixing the concrete mix

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Appendix 2: First slump after 6 minutes of mixing

Appendix 3: Second slump after 15 minutes of mixing

Appendix 4: Measuring slump

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Appendix 5: Slump for concrete mixture with 4.5 water/cement ratio

Appendix 6: Slump for concrete mixture with 6.5 water/cement ratio

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