Technological University of the Philippines

Ayala Boulevard, Ermita, Manila

College of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering



CE 49L 4A
Construction Materials and Testing, Lab.






Experiment No. 4

COMPRESSIVE AND FLEXURAL STRENGTH TEST
OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT MORTAR







Fesalbon, Mayson R.
10-205-041


Date of Submission: September 19, 2013






Engr. Reynaldo O. Baarde
Instructor

EXPERIMENT NO. 4
COMPRESSIVE AND FLEXURAL STRENGTH TEST
OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT MORTAR


I. OBJECTIVE

To determine the compressive and flexural strength of hydraulic cement mortar

II. MAIN PRINCIPLE

Strength of cement usually gives an overall picture of the quality of the resulting concrete. The
strength of concrete structure is directly related to the strength of hardened cement paste.
Strength gain in concrete is the result of hardening of the cement paste. Direct compressive test
of mortar specimen is a form of evaluation to determine the quality of cement.

Flexural stress is expressed in terms of the modulus od rupture that corresponds to the maximum
tensile strength at peak flexural load. Prior to this, a mortar mix is prepared and then molded to
form beam specimens. These specimens are then cured for different ages. After the specimens
attained the specimen age, they are then subjected to flexural strength test. The ages are usually
24 hours, 3 days, 7 days and 28 days.


III. APPARATUS NEEDED

1. Universal Testing Machine (UTM) and accessories
2. Upper spherical block and fixed lower seat block
3. Mechaelis Flexure tester
4. Weighing Scale


IV. PREPARATION

1. Proper accessories of UTM should be attached (upper spherical seat, lower fixed seat block)
prior to zero calibration of the machine.
2. All test specimens shall be tested within the permissible tolerance.

Test Age Tolerance (hr.)
24 Hours + 0.5
3 Days + 1.0
7 Days + 3.0
28 Days + 12.0


3. All surfaces of the specimen where the load will be applied must be flat and smooth.
4. The operator of the UTM must have thorough knowledge of the machine.

V. TEST PROCEDURE

A. Preparation of UTM
1. Attach the accessories. Warm-up the machine for at least 5 minutes in order to
ensure smooth circulation of oil in the hydraulic system.
2. Calibrate to zero the UTM as follows:
a. Move the lower crosshead by pressing the UP/DOWN crosshead button to a
significant clearance from the table (preferably not less than 5cm)
b. Adjust the load control knob to OPEN position to raise the UTM table to a
height of about 2cm, and then put knob in HOLD position.
c. Set the zero knob at the bottom of the dynamometer such that the pointer will
be in zero position.
d. It is preferably to keep the UTM table in this raised position and the load
control knob in HOLD position.
p
B. Compression Test Using the UTM
1. Position the specimen between the raised table and lower crosshead. There should
be enough clearance of about 2 to 3mm between the specimen and the lower
crosshead. It is very important to prevent sudden contact between the crossheads or
the lower crosshead and specimen for this will result in a gear lock-up.
2. Load is applied by raising the UTM table gradually. This is done by adjusting the load
control knob beyond LOAD markto raise the table. As soon as the lower crosshead
touches the specimen, the load control knob should be returned to LOAD mark. Initial
loading is indicated by the movement of the auxiliary pointer to the center.
3. Adjust the loading rate by turning the load control knob. See to it that the desired
loading rate is attained immediately while the specimen is still at its elastic stage.
Make no more adjustment in the load control when the specimen is already yielding.
If a load pacer is available, the loading rate at the elastic range should be in
accordance to the movement of the pacer.
4. As the pointer goes back to zero, return also the control knob to zero. This is an
indication that the specimen had already failed. Record the reading indicated by the
maximum load pointer. The load is divided by the area will give the strength in force
per unit area units.
5. The report shall include the following:
a. Specimen identification, age, diameter, length and cross-sectional area
b. Maximum load
c. Compressive strength
d. Remarks

C. Flexural Test Using the Mechaelis Flexure Tester
1. Place the Mechaelis flexure tester flat on a rigid spot.
2. Each part of the tester must be cleaned and checked.
3. Remove the beam specimen from the curing tank within the permissible tolerance
time for the given test age.
4. Wipe the specimen with damp cloth to remove the dirt.
5. Weigh each specimen.
6. Detach the bucket and upper roller from the main unit so that the specimen can be
positioned to the specimen attachment. In positioning the specimen, the observing
hole should be in line with the central line of the specimen. Note that the specimen
should be turn to its side with respect to its position as molded.
7. Adjust the balance weight so that the lever where the bucket is attached would be
horizontal. After balancing the lever, do not re-adjust the balance weight until the test
for that particular specimen is finished.
8. Insert the upper roller to its position.
9. Attach the bucket to the main unit. Balance the adjusting handle so that the lead
shots will directly fall in the bucket during the loading operation.
10. To start loading, the loading lever should be pulled up and quickly released.
Immediately after the loading lever is pulled, the lead shots will start to fall to the
bucket.
11. When the specimen breaks the bucket drops to the bucket receiver causing the time
gate to close and stops the loading. Weigh the bucket together with the lead shots.
The resulting weight multiplied by 11.71875 would give the flexural strength of the
specimen.
12.

VI. CALCULATIONS

Compressive Strength

Where: = Compressive strength (kg/cm
2
)
P

= Maximum applied force (kg)
A = Cross-sectional area of the specimen (cm
2
)

Flexural Strength

Where: f

= Flexural strength (kg/cm
2
)
W = Weight of bucket and and the lead shots
b,h =Dimensions of the cross-sectional area of the
beam (cm)












VII. DATA AND RESULTS

For Compressive Strength


Weight
(kg)
Length
(cm)
D
1

(cm)
D
2

(cm)
D
ave

(cm)
Area
(cm
2
)
UTM
Reading
(kgf)
Compressive
Strength
(kgf/cm
2
)
Cylinder
1
0.43808 10.20 5.20 5.20 5.20 21.237 1810 85.228
Cylinder
2
0.43600 10.30 5.10 5.20 5.15 20.831 1460 70.089



Weight
(kg)
Sides
(cm)
Area
(cm
2
)
UTM
Reading
(kgf)
Compressive
Strength
(kgf/cm
2
)
Cube 0.29070 5.20 27.04 2900 107.249



For Flexural Strength


Weight
(kg)
Length
(cm)
Width
(cm)
Depth
(cm)
W
(kg)
Flexural
Strength
(kgf/cm
2
)
Beam 1 0.55200 16.30 4.10 4.10 3.185 34.659
Beam 2 0.55639 16.25 4.20 4.10 2.995 31.816
Beam 3 0.55408 16.30 4.10 4.10 2.970 32.320











VIII. SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS


For Compressive Strength

Cylinder 1

Cylinder 2

Cube

For Compressive Strength


Beam 1

Beam 2

Beam 3

IX. DISCUSSION AND OBSERVATION

A. Discussion

Compressive Strength Test. The test comprises of the determination of the maximum applied
force by the Universal Testing Machine (UTM) which causes failure on the specimen. As
exhibited in real-life scenario, mortar acts as a binder so that materials will be intact. Consider
a wall which is applied by a compressive force. The force was transmitted to the hollow
blocks that makes up the wall and then transmitted to mortar. Failure for the mortar to resist
the load means a failure in the whole structure. But this test cannot assure the real strength
of a mortar. It is just only one of the many parameters that can measure how strong a mortar
is.

Flexural Strength Test. This test accounts for the resistance of beam to bending. In real-life
scenario, structures must also resist applied moments acted on them. Since these moments
are also transmitted to the joints of the structure, the flexural strength of the mortar must be
determined. This can be determined using the Mechaelis flexure test where the total weight
of the lead shots material that causes the beam to break serves as the moment applied on
both ends of the beam.

B. Observations

During the experiment, the following was observed:

1. The mode of failure of the cubic and cylindrical specimen is cracking at its
surface at about equal to its height
2. Lead shots in the Mechaelis flexure test are very small and cannot be
magnetized.
3. The mode of failure of beams in Mechaelis flexure test is breaking at about the
midspan of the beam.
4. Compression Test in the UTM takes more time than the flexural test using the
Mechaelis flexure test.

X. CONCLUSION

The compressive strength is determined as the maximum applied force per unit area of the that
cause the specimen to crack.

Where: = Compressive strength (kg/cm
2
)
P

= Maximum applied force (kg)
A = Cross-sectional area of the specimen (cm
2
)

The flexural strength is determined as the maximum applied moment that causes rupture of the
beam in the Mechaelis flexure apparatus

Where: f

= Flexural strength (kg/cm
2
)
W = Weight of bucket and and the lead shots
b,h =Dimensions of the cross-sectional area of the
beam (cm)