CE 53A, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING LABORATORY

LABORATORY ACTIVITY #3: Making, Curing and Testing of Concrete Beam

Specimen

SUBMITTED BY:
Marie Ann Terese S. Emano
GROUP #5
CENBSCE 4AX F(4:00-7:00 P.M.)

SUBMITTED TO:
Engr. Ruby G. Española
INSTRUCTOR

December 11, 2017

(1ST SEMESTER 2017-2018)
 I. INTRODUCTION

Beams are traditionally descriptions of building or civil engineering

structural elements. A beam is a structural element that primarily resists loads
applied laterally to the beam's axis. Its mode of deflection is primarily by
bending or flexing. (The Century dictionary and cyclopedia, n.d). Bending or
Flexural Strength is one measure of the tensile strength of concrete. It is
measured by loading 6 in by 6 in (150 mm by 150mm) concrete beams with a
span length at least three times the depth. The flexural strength is expressed as
Modulus of Rupture and is determined by standard test methods ASTM C 293
(center-point loading). (Fick, 2008) Knowing a beams flexural strength is
important in order to make sure that the material is strong enough to be used
in structures.
Allowing a beam to dry will yield lower strengths. Beams must be cured
in a standard manner. Curing is defined as the maintenance of a satisfactory
moisture content and temperature in concrete for a period of time
immediately following placing and finishing so that the desired properties may
develop. Curing has a strong influence on the properties of hardened
concrete; proper curing will increase durability, strength, watertightness,
abrasion resistance, volume stability, and resistance to freezing and thawing
and deicers. (Zemajtis, n.d)

II. OBJECTIVES
To determine the flexural strength of concrete beam specimens after 3 days curing. To
determine the correlation of mass, unit weight and flexural strength to the number of curing
days.

III. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

A. Materials Used
The materials used were shovel, trowel, pail bucket (container), large tin can, tamping
rod, rubber mallet, plain sheet, plastic cellophane, tie wires, oil, paint brush, two beam molds,
cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate and water. Figure 1.1 and 1.2 show some of the
materials used in this activity.

Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2 Figure

 B. Mixing of Concrete

The 0.65 water-cement ratio was first determined. Two (2) kilos of cement, four(4) kilos
of fine aggregate and eight (8) kilos of coarse aggregate were weighed according to 1:2:4
ratio. 1.3 liters of water was measured. The cement and aggregates were uniformly mixed and
a crater was formed. Water was then added slowly at the crater, mixing It carefully making a
homogenous appearance of the mixture. (See figures 2.1 and 2.2)

Figure 2.1 Figure 2.2

C. Casting of Concrete beam

Prior to casting, beam moulds were cleaned and inside surfaces were coated first with
oil for easy demolding after the initial curing period. The molds were put on an even ground
free from disturbances. During casting of concrete, each mold was divided in two equal layers,
putting equal amount o f concrete mixture. Each layer was given 63 number of blows in its
perimeter area to ensure compactness of the specimens. After each mold was filled, the
external sides of the mold were each hammered by a rubber mallet. Top layer of the molds
was smoothly leveled with a trowel. The specimen were left for 24 ± 8 hours covered with a
plastic cellophane with the help of the tie wires. (See figures

Figure 3.1 Figure 3.2 Figure 3.3

 Figure 3.4 Figure 3.5

D. Curing of Concrete Beam Specimens

After 24±8 hours, beam specimens were demolded and was submerge inside a curing
tank leaving it according the the assigned number of days which was 3. The tank was then
covered for temperature consistency inside. (See figures 4.1 and 4.2)

Figure 4.1
Figure 4.2

E. Testing of Concrete Beam Specimens

 After the assigned 3 days curing, the beam specimens were retrieved from the curing
tank and was again left on an area for air drying. After drying, each specimen were painted
with white for easy determination of the location of cracks. A vertical line was marked at the
center of each length of the specimens for the location of where the center point should be
applied to. Measurements of length width, height and mass were recorded. The beam
specimens were then subjected into three point bend test using the Universal Testing machine
for the determination of each flexural strength. Data was then recorded. (See figures

Figure 5.1 Figure 5.2

IV. Results and Discussion

Specimens Original Span Height d Width b Mass

Length Length L (m) (m) (kg)
(m) (m)
S1 0.536 0.486 0.153 0.146 29.2
S2 0.538 0.488 0.163 0.148 29.2
Table 1. 3-day curing measurements

Table 1 above shows the recorded measurements prior to actual testing. The
specimens had the same masses but had different measurements in lengths, height and
width.

Specimens Volume Density Unit Weight Load P Flexural Strength

(m3) (Kg/m3) (KN/m3) (Kpa) fb (MPA)
S1 0.011973 2438.786 23.9245 18.72 3.992984785
S2 0.012979 2249.838 22.07091 20.14 3.749156963
Table 2. 3-day curing calculated values

Table 2 above shows the calculated data obtained from Table 1 and values during the
testing of beams in the Universal Testing Machine. Load P was the given point on the load
 deflection curve. Specimen 1 got higher flexural strength than specimen 2 as the same as
to its volume, density, unit weight and load.

Flexural Strength was calculated with the formula:

3𝑃𝐿
𝑓𝑏 =
2𝑏𝑑 2

Ave.Flexural
CURING Ave. Ave.Volume Ave.Density Ave. Unit
Strength fb
DAYS Mass (kg) (m3) (Kg/m3) Weight(KN/m3)
(MPa)
Group 1 28 29.85 0.012284866 2429.842803 23.8367579 6.067754717
Group 2 21 30.5 0.012563673 2427.794279 23.81666188 5.748291914
Group 3 14 28.25 0.01174539 2405.152504 23.59454607 5.07259498
Group 4 7 28.8 0.011853375 2431.617442 23.85416711 4.736463932
Group 5 3 29.2 0.01247594 2344.312251 22.99770318 3.871070874
Table 3. Data according to the number of curing days

Table shows the summary of data according to the number of curing days. The 3 day
curing gained the lowest flexural strength and the 28 days gained the highest flexural
strength. Except for the average flexural strength part, It can be seen that values varied,
they are not in a descending order nor ascending.

Mass VS. Curing Days

30
25
Ave. Mass (kg)

20
15
10
5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Curing Days

Graph 1. Mass Vs. Curing Days

Graph 1 shows the correlation of mass to the number of curing days. It can be seen
that mass is directly proportional to curing days. As the number of curing days got longer,
the mass got higher.
 Unit Weight Vs. Curing Days
24
23.8
Unit Weight

23.6
23.4
23.2
23
22.8
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Curing Days

Graph 2. Unit weight Vs. Curing days

Graph 2 shows the correlation of unit weight to the number of curing days. It can be
seen that between the 5 days and 10 days curing, high unit weight was achieved. Unit
weight was as not as consistent to the number of curing days compared to the relation of
mass to curing days.

Flexural Strength Vs Curing Days

7

6
Flexural Strength Mpa

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Curing Days

Graph 3. Flexural Strength Vs. Curing Days

Graph 3 shows the correlation of flexural strength to the number of curing days. It can
be seen that as curing days got longer, flexural strength gained got higher meaning flexural
strength is directly proportional to the number of curing days.
 V. Conclusion

Based from the results, the average flexural strength gained by the 3 days curing was
3.871 Mpa. It got the lowest flexural strength gained and it makes sense as the correlation between
curing days and flexural is directly proportional to each other. The correlation of mass and curing days
was the same as the flexural strength to curing days relationship, they are also directly proportional.
As to the unit weight to curing days, it was not that consistent with curing days.

VI. Problems Encountered

The improper handling may have gained inaccurate results.

VII. Recommendations

Proper following of procedure should be applied to prevent inaccurate results.

VIII. Reference

Flexural Strength Concrete. (2000). Retrieved from National Concrete Ready Mixed Concrete
Association: www.ncrma.org

Flexural Strength Concrete Wait, why and how? (n.d). Retrieved from Nevada Ready Mix:
http://www.nevadareadymix.com/concrete-tips/flexural-strength-concrete/

Aboutcivil.org. (2017). Flexural Strength of Concrete | Why Test Flexure? | How to Use Flexural
Strength?. [online] Available at: https://www.aboutcivil.org/flexural-strength-of-concrete.html
[Accessed 10 Dec. 2017].

Slutter, R. G. and Driscoll, G. C. Jr., "Flexural strength of steel and concrete composite beams,
" (1963). Fritz Laboratory Reports. Paper
1806.
http://preserve.lehigh.edu/engr-civil-environmental-fritz-lab-reports/1806

ScienceStruck. 2017. What is Flexural Strength and Why is it Important?. [ONLINE] Available at:
https://sciencestruck.com/flexural-strength. [Accessed 10 December 2017].