Tinius Olsen Concrete Compression Machine – Operating Checklist

1. Predict how high a load the concrete cylinder specimen will take and
open the appropriate range select valve.
2. Use your micrometer to measure the diameter of the cylinder 9 times.
Thrice toward the top, thrice in the middle, and thrice toward the
bottom.
3. Place a load cap on the bottom of the concrete cylinder.
4. Place the assembly in the testing machine. Center it on the Bull’s Eye.
5. Place a load cap on the top of the concrete cylinder.
6. Turn the height adjustment wheel to “lock” the specimen in place.
7. Put on your goggles (if you haven’t already).
8. Turn the machine on using the lever on the right side of the machine.
9. Verify that both the automatic and dummy needles are at zero.
10. Press the start button.
11. Make sure the unload wheel is closed. Very slightly “load” by turning the
load wheel. To unload, close the load wheel and open the unload wheel.
These wheels open and close valves to apply or release pressure on the
specimen.
12. Upon failure, the load will drop. The automatic needle will drop, while
the dummy needle will freeze in place. Record this maximum load, Pmax,
from the dummy needle.
13. Close the load wheel and open the unload wheel to bring the load back
down to zero.
14. Press the stop button.
15. Turn the machine off using the lever on the right side of the machine.

Pmax
Concrete sample compressive strength: f cs =
Ai
(i.e. Failure load/Specimen area)

Typical failure modes:

 LAB #6 WORKSHEET

Name: ________________________________________________________

Date: _____________________________

Day (age of cylinder): ____________

Data: 0 120 240

Top diameters: ____________ ____________ ____________

Middle diameters: ____________ ____________ ____________

Bottom diameters: ____________ ____________ ____________

Average of all diameters = ____________

Average radius = ri = ____________

Failure load = Pmax = ____________

Failure mode: ___________________

A i = π r i = ____________
2

Pmax
f cs = = ____________
Ai

f c ' = ____________ (Look on the bag of concrete.)

Calculations:

Design Modulus of Elasticity: E = 57,000 f c ' = ____________ (6-1)

Experimental Modulus of Elasticity: E = 57,000 f cs =____________ (6-1)

AE
Stiffness (using experimental E): K = =____________ (6-2)
L