T 119 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING

Standard Method of Test for

Slump of Hydraulic Cement Concrete

AASHTO DESIGNATION: T 119-93

1. SCOPE Under field conditions, however, such a smooth and free from projections such as
strength relationship is not clearly and protruding rivets. The mold shall be free
consistently shown. Care should therefore be from dents. A mold which clamps to a
1.1 This test method covers taken in relating slump results obtained under
nonabsorbent base plate is acceptable
determination of slump of concrete, both field conditions to strength.
instead of the one illustrated provided the
in the laboratory and in the field. 4.2 This test method is considered clamping arrangement is such that it can
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units applicable to plastic concrete having be fully released without movement of
are to be regarded as the standard. The coarse aggregate up to 1 ½ in. (37.5 mm) the mold.
metric equivalents of inch-pound units in size. If the coarse aggregate is larger
5.2 Tamping Rod-The tamping rod shall
may be approximate. than 1 ½ in. (37.5 mm) in size, the test
be a round, straight steel rod 5/8 in. (16
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous method is applicable when it is made on
mm) in diameter and approximately 24
materials, operations and equipment. the fraction of concrete passing a 1 ½ in.
in. (600 mm) in length, having the
This standard does not purport to (37.5 mm) sieve, with the larger
tamping end rounded to a hemispherical
address all of the safety problems aggregate being removed in accordance
tip the diameter of which is 5/8; in.
associated with its use. It is the with the section titled "Additional
responsibility of the user of this standard Procedures for Large Maximum Size
to establish appropriate safety and health Aggregate Concrete" in T 141. 6. SAMPLE
practices and determine the applicability 4.3 This test method is not considered
of regulatory limitations prior to use. applicable to non-plastic and noncohesive 6.1 The sample of concrete from which
concrete. test specimens are made shall be
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS representative of the entire batch. It shall
NOTE 2-Concretes having slumps less than ½ be obtained in accordance with T 141.
in. (13 mm) may not be adequately plastic and
2.1 AASHTO Standard: concretes having slumps greater than about 9
in. (230 mm) may not be adequately cohesive 7. PROCEDURE
T 141 Sampling Freshly Mixed
for this test to have significance. Caution
Concrete should be exercised in interpreting such
results. 7.1 Dampen the mold and place it on a
flat, moist, nonabsorbent (rigid) surface.
3. SUMMARY OF TEST METHOD It shall be held firmly in place during
5. APPARATUS filling by the operator standing on the
3.1 A sample of freshly mixed concrete is two foot pieces. From the sample of
placed and compacted by rodding in a 5.1 Mold-The test specimen shall be concrete obtained in accordance with
mold shaped as the frustum of a cone. formed in a mold made of metal not Section 6, immediately fill the mold in
The mold is raised, and the concrete readily attacked by the cement paste. The three layers, each approximately one-
allowed to subside. The distance between metal shall not be thinner than No. 16 third the volume of the mold.
the original and displaced position of the gage (BWG) and if formed by the
center of the top surface of the concrete is spinning process, there shall be no point NOTE 3-One-third of the volume of the slump
measured and reported as the slump of on the mold at which the thickness is less mold fills it to a depth of 2 5/8 in. (67 tnm.);
the concrete. than 0.045 in. (1.14 mm). The mold shall two-thirds of the volume fills it to a depth of 6
1
be in the form of the lateral surface of the /8 in. (155 mm).
frustum of a cone with the base 8 in. (203
4. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
mm) in diameter, the top 4 in. (102 mm) 7.2 Rod each layer with 25 strokes of the
in diameter, and the height 12 in. (305 tamping rod. Uniformly distribute the
4.1 This test method is intended to mm). Individual diameters and heights strokes over the cross section of each
provide the user with a procedure to shall be within ± 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) of the layer. For the bottom layer this will
determine the slump of plastic hydraulic prescribed dimensions. The base and the necessitate inclining the rod slightly and
cement concretes. top shall be open and parallel to each making approximately half of the strokes
other and at right angles to the axis of the near the perimeter, and then progressing
cone. The mold shall be provided with with vertical strokes spirally toward the
NOTE 1-This test method was originally
foot pieces and handles similar to those center. Rod the bottom layer throughout
developed to provide a technique to monitor
the consistency of unhardened concrete. Under shown in Figure 1. The mold may be its depth. Rod the second layer and the
laboratory conditions, with strict control of all constructed either with or without a top layer each throughout its depth, so
concrete materials, the slump is generally seam. When a seam is required, it should that the strokes just penetrate into the
found to increase proportionally with the water be essentially as shown in Figure 1. The underlying layer.
content of a given concrete mixture, and thus interior of the mold shall be relatively
to be inversely related to concrete strength.

176
T 119 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING

7.3 In filling and rodding the top layer, NOTE 4-If two consecutive tests on a sample regarding the multi-operator precision of
heap the concrete above the mold before of concrete show a falling away or shearing off this test method.
rodding is started. If the rodding of a portion of the concrete from the mass of
the specimen, the concrete probably lacks Test Range 1.5 to 2.76 in. (38
operation results in subsidence of the to 70 mm)
necessary plasticity and cohesiveness for the
concrete below the top edge of the mold, slump test to be applicable. Total number of samples 2,304
add additional concrete to keep an excess Pooled repeatability 0.30 in. (8 mm)
of concrete above the top of the mold at Standard deviation (IS)
all times. After the top layer has been 8. REPORT 95% Repeatability Limit 0.83 in. (21 mm)
(D2S)
rodded, strike off the surface of the
concrete by means of a screeding and 8.1 Record the slump in terms of inches
rolling motion of the tamping rod. (millimetres) to the nearest ¼, in. (6 mm) Therefore, results of two properly
Remove the mold immediately from the of subsidence of the specimen during the conducted tests by different operators in
concrete by raising it carefully in a test as follows: the same laboratory on the same material
vertical direction. Raise the mold a should not differ by more than 0.83 in.
distance of 12 in. (300 mm) in 5 ± 2 Slump = 12 – inches of height after (21 mm). Due to the limited slump range
seconds by a steady upward lift with no subsidence. in the concrete used in this test program,
lateral or torsional motion. Complete the caution should be exercised in applying
entire test from the start of the filling 9. PRECISON AND BIAS these precision values.
through removal of the mold without 9.2 Bias-This test method has no bias
interruption and complete it within an since slump is defined in terms of this
elapsed time of 2'12 minutes. 9.1 Precision:
test method.
7.4 Immediately measure the slump by 9.1.1 Interlaboratory Test Method-No
determining the vertical difference interlaboratory test program has been run
between the top of the mold and the on this test method. Since it is not
displaced original center of the top possible to provide equivalent concretes
surface of the specimen. If a decided at various test sites free of errors from
falling away or shearing off of concrete sources other than the slump
from one side or portion of the mass measurement, a multilaboratory precision
occurs (Note 2), disregard the test and statement would not be meaningful.
make a new test on another portion of the 9.1.2 Multi-Operator Test Results-
sample. Extensive field data1 allow a statement

1
Baker, W. M. and McMahon, T. F., "Quality
Assurance of Portland Cement Concrete." Public Roads. Vol. 35, Nº 8. 1969.
177