EXPERIMENT

TITLE

MORTAR TEST

OBJECTIVE

To determine the compressive strength of 1:3

cement and
mortar cubes after 7 days curing.

THEORY

The compressive strength of cement mortar is

determine in
order to verify whether the cement conforms
to the
standards

specifications

BS

l2:I97I)

and

whether it will be
able to develop the required compressive
strength of concrete.

APPARATUS

1) Universal testing machine or compression

testing
machine as per BS 1881:Part 4:1970.
2) Cubes mould (70 x70x 70) mm.
3) Vibrating machine as per BS 12:1971.
4) Sand
5) Measuring Cylinder
6) Trowel

PROCEDURE

Mix

specimens.

proportions,

mixing

and

curing

of

1. Calculate the material required. The material

for each cube shall be mixed separately and
the quantities of cement and standards and
shall be as follows :
Cement

2000 g

Standard sand

Watercement ratio

6000 g
0.6

2. Place on a non - porous plate or China dish

a mixture of cement and standard sand in the
proportion of 1:3 by weight and mix dry with a
trowel for one minute and then with water
until the mixture is of uniform colour. The
percentage of water to be used shall be water
cement ratio 0.6. The time of mixing (gauging)
shall be in any mixing not less than 3 minutes
and if the time taken to obtain a uniform
colour exceeds 4 minutes, the mixture shall be
rejected and the operation is repeated with a
fresh quantity of cement, sand and water.
3. Place the assembled mould on the table of the
vibrating machine and firmly hold it in position
by means of a suitable clamp. Securely attach
a hopper of suitable
size and shape at the top of the mould to
facilitate filling

and this hopper shall not be

removed until completion of the vibrating

period.

4.

Immediately after mixing of mortar in the

hopper of the mortar as explained above, fill

the entire quantity the cube mould and
compact by vibration. The period of vibration
shall be 2 minutes at the specified 12000 +
400 vibrations per minutes.
5.

Remove the mould from the machine and

keep it at temperature of 27 0C + 20C in an

atmosphere for at least 90% relative humidity
for 24 hours after completion of vibrations.

6.

At the end of this period, remove the

cube

from

the

mould

and

mark

for

identification and immediately submerge in

clean and fresh water and keep there until
taken out just prior to breaking. The water in
which

the

cube

are

submerge

shall

be

renewed after every 7 days and shall be

maintained at the temperature of 27 0C + 20C.
Keeping the cubes wet till they are placed in
machine for testing.
TESTING & RESULT
Remove any projecting fins and wipe surface water off the cube specimens.
The compressive strength shall be the average of the strength of three cubes
for each period respectively.

Cube
Cube 1
Cube 2
Cube 3

7days
Maximum Load in KN
Strength in N/mm2