Slump / Cone Test refer to Workability of Concrete OR Consistency of Concrete; this is the

most important test of fresh concrete to use in any kind of RCC structural member.

In this article you obtain and aware about, why slump test is salient test in following
manners:

1. What is consistency / workability of concrete?

2. Type of Test for determination of workability / consistency of fresh concrete.
3. Role of workability “In Design Mix Calculation”
4. Test Method & Procedure.
5. Frequency of Test.

Let’s start,

1. What are consistency / workability of concrete?

Specifically “Consistency” refers to the way in which substances holds together.

Fresh concrete basically a type of mixture having ingredients (Cement + Fine Aggregate +
Coarse Aggregate + Water + Admixture) and workability of concrete play a very significant
role for pouring of concrete into the forms and around the reinforcement steel bars without any
segregation of aggregates in flow sluggish manner.

A good consistent concrete decreases the efforts for placing and compaction as well as
increases the workability and performance during concrete works. The consistency shall
depend on condition / method for pouring of concrete whether the concrete is vibrated or
hand tamped.

That’s called “Workability of Concrete”.

2. Type of Test for determination of workability / consistency of concrete

There are following three (3) type procedures are defined in IS code – 1159: 1959, and the all
tests carried out for determination of true nature and behaviour of fresh concrete.

1. Vee-Bee Consistometer Test Laboratory Test

2. Compaction Factor Test Laboratory Test
3. Slump / Cone Test Field Test (Usually this test carried out at our construction sites)
Slump Test Concrete Procedure:

Is.7320.1974 Specification for concrete slump test Apparatus

These tests are carried out to check efficiency / workability of the fresh concrete to be used in
construction works and provide an assurance the produced concrete are under the guidelines of
design mix / nominal mix within the specified slump range with greater assurance of Water
Cement Ratio.

Important Note:

1. The size of coarse aggregate should not be more than 38 mm in concrete.

2. This test shall be done within a period of 20 minutes from the time of batching dispatch of
concrete from mixture / batching plant.

1. Each sample for slump checks in the field shall be done at least two recordings (Each
recording for 10 cum) and the average value taken as the recorded slump.

2. If concrete design mixed - for maximum free water cement ratio to less than 0.5 and
slump for normal methods of placing concrete maximum slump shall be restricted to 100
mm.

the concrete after test slumps evenly all round which may be called 'true slump

When the mixes are harsh or in case of very lean concrete one half of the cone may slide down the other
which is called a 'shear slump';

The Slump test for workability slump is carried out as per procedures mentioned in ASTM C143
in the United States, IS: 1199 – 1959 in India and EN 12350-2 in Europe.

The Consistency of concrete measured by “Slump Test / Cone Test”

In general there are three different types of slumps that occur in slump tests. They are
as follows: > True Slump > Shear Slump > Collapse Slump True Slump: This type of
slump is characterized by the general drop of the concrete mass evenly without visible signs
of deterioration or disintegration.

It shall be determined by slump test

Concreting shall be carried out continuously upto the construction joints, the position and details
of which shall be as shown in structural drawing or as indicated in Fig. 5.26 or as directed by
Engineer in-Charge. Number of such joints shall be kept to minimum. The joints shall be kept at
places where the shear force is the minimum. These shall be straight and shall be at right angles
to the direction of main reinforcement. Construction joints should comply with IS 11817.

5.4.4.2 In case of columns the joints shall be horizontal and 10 to 15 cm below the bottom of the
beam running into the column head. The portion of the column between the stepping off level
and the top of the slab shall be concreted with the beam.

5.4.4.3 When stopping the concrete on a vertical plane in slabs and beams, and approved stop
board (see Fig. 26C) shall be placed with necessary slots for reinforcement bars or any other
obstruction to pass the bars freely without bending. The construction joints shall be keyed by
providing a triangular or trapezoidal fillet nailed on the stopboard. Inclined or feather joints shall
not be permitted. Any concrete flowing through the joints of stopboard shall be removed soon
after the initial set. When concrete is stopped on a horizontal plane, the surface shall be
roughened and cleaned after the initial set.

5.4.4.4 When the work has to be resumed, the joint shall be thoroughly cleaned with wire brush
and loose particles removed. A coat of neat cement slurry at the rate of 2.75 kg of cement per
square metre shall then be applied on the roughened surface before fresh concrete is laid.

1. Frequency of Testing for Nominal Mix Concrete - 5 cum in case of column, 20 cum for
foundation, slab & beams and for Design mix Concrete - Samples for checking slump
shall be collected from every 20 cum of concrete or part thereof.
2. There is a large number of Indian Standard (IS) codes are available for civil
engineers for every aspect of civil engineering and depending on the nature
of construction work. Civil engineers are engaged in various type of
construction activities of small, medium, large scale projects.
3.
 4. IS codes are resource / tool for all civil engineers for get the specific and
right knowledge for-newbies, students as well as professionals for getting
the right technical approach and way forward in construction fields. IS
codes provide vast technical information for segments e.g. materials,
procedure, guidelines & much more for many type of project works such as
buildings, roads, steel structures, all sorts.

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THIS IS THE ONE OF THE TOP MOST INTERVIEW QUAESTION FOR QA/QC – QUALITY ENGINEERS :

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF WORKBILITY TEST FOR DESIGN MIX ..?