IS : 9284 - 1979

( Reaffirmed 1997 )
Indian Standard
METHOD OF TEST FOR
ABRASION RESISTANCE OF CONCRETE

( Second Reprint DECEMBER 1993)

UDC 666.972.55:620.178.14

@ Copyright 1980

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDAR-D S

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR h4ARG
NEW DELHI 110002

Gr3. February I980

 rs:9284 - 1979

Indian Standard
METHOD OF TEST FOR
ABRASION RESISTANCE OF CONCRETE

Cement and Concrete Sectional Committee, BDC 2

Chairman Representing
DR IT. C. VIYVEWARAYA Cement Research Institute of India, New Delhi

Members
A~~;AL DIRECTOR, STANDARDS Research, Designs & Standards Organization
( Ministrv of RailwavsI )I
’ D&TX DIRECTOR, STANDARDS ’
( B&S ) ( Alternate )
SHRI K. C. ACGARWAL Hindustan Prefeb Ltd, New Delhi
SHRI C. L. KASLIWAI, ( Alternate )
SRRI K. P. BANERJEE Larsen & Toubro Ltd, Bombay
SHRI HARISH N. MALANI ( Alternate )
SIIRI S. K. BANERJEE National Test House, Calcutta
SHRI R. N. BANS.~L Beas Designs Organization, Nangal Township
SRRI T. c. GARB ( il!ternate )
DR N. S. BHAL Structural Engineering Research Centre ( CSIR
Roorkee
CHIEF ENGINEER ( DESIGNS ) Central Public Works Department, New Delhi
EXECU~ZIV~ENGINEER
( DESIGNS ) III ( Alternate )
CHIEF ENGINEER ( PROJECTS ) Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab
DIRECTOR, IPRI ( Alternate )
DIRECTOR ( CSMRS ) Central Water Commission, New Delhi
DEPUTY DIRECTOR ( CSMRS ) ( Alternate )
DR R. K. GHOSH Cenj;z;hiRoad Research Institute ( CSIR ), New

SRRI Y. R. PHULL ( Alternate I )

SHRI M. DINAKARAN ( Alternate II )
DR. R. K. Gaos~ Indian Roads Congress, New Delhi
SHRI B. R. GOVIND Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch, Army Headquarters
SRRI P. C. JAIN ( Alternate )
SHRI A. K. GUPTA Hyderadad Asbestos Cement -Products Ltd,
Hyderabad
DR R. R. HATTIANGADI The Associated Cement Companies Ltd, Bombav
SHRI P. J. JANUS ( Alternate )
( Continued on page 2 )

0 Copyright 1980
BUREAU dF INDIAN STANDARDS
This publication is protected under the Indian Copyright Act (XIV of 1957) and
reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
nublisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.
LS : 9234 - 1379

( Continued frontpap 1 )
~!iemhers Representing
Dlt I~I~AL Am Engineering Rrscarch Laboratories, Hyderabad
SHRI M. T. KANSB Dircctoratc General of Supplies & Disposals, New
Delhi
SHRI S. R. KULKARNI M. N. Dastur & Co ( Pvt ) Ltd, Calcutta
SHRI S. K. LAHA The Institution of Engineers ( India ), Calcutta
Snrtr B. T. UNWALLA ( Alternate )
DR MOIIAN RAI Centr$or~~~Iding Research Institute ( CSIR ),

DR S. S. REHSI ( Allernate)
SHRI K. K. NAXBIAR In personal capacity f ‘ Ramanalaya ’ II First Crescent
Park Road, Gandhinagar, Adyar, Madras )
Dn A. V. R. RAO National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SHRI J. SPN GUPTA ( Alt&nate )
SHRI R. V. CKLAPATHI RAO Geological Survey of India, Calcutta
SIIRI S. ROY ( Alternate )
SHRI T. N. SUBRA RAO Gammon India Lrd, Bombay
SHHI S. 12. PINHEIRO ( Alternate )
SHRI ARJUN RIJHSINCHANI Cement Corporation of India Ltd, New Delhi
SHRI K. VITHAL RAO ( Alternate )
SECRETARY Central Board of Irrigation & Power, New Delhi
DEPUTY SECRETARY ( I ) ( Alternate )
SHRI N. SIVAGURU Roads Wing ( Ministry of Shipping & Transport )
SH~I J. R. K. PRASAD (Alternate)
SHRI K. A. SUBRAMANIAM The India Cements Ltd, Madras
SHRI P. S. RAMACHANDRAN ( Alternate )
SUPERINTENDING E N G I N E E R Public Works Department, Government of
( DESIGNS ) Tamil Nadu
EXECUTIVE ENGINEER ( SM&R
DIVISION ) ( Alternate )
SRRIL.SWAROOP Dalmia Cement ( Bharat ) Ltd, New Delhi
SHRI A. V. RAMANA ( Alternate )
SHRI B. T. UNWALLA The Concrete Association of India, Bombay
SHRI Y. K. MEHTA ( Alterm:e )
SHRI D. AJITHA SIMHA, Director General, BIS,( Ex-ojicio Member)
Director ( Civ Engg )

Secretary
SHRI M. N. NEELAKANDHAN
Assistant Director ( Civ Engg ), BIS

Concrete Subcommittee, BDC 2 : 2

SHRI C. R. ALIMCHANDANI Stup Consultants India Ltd, Bombay

SHRI M. C. TANDON ( Alternate )
SHRI D. CHARRAVARTY Engineers India Ltd, New Delhi
D r: p u T Y DIRECTOR, STANDARDS Research, Designs and Standards Organization
(B&S) ( Ministry of Railways )
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, STASJDARDS
( M/C ) ( Alternate )
( Continued on page 10 )

2
 IS : 9284 - 1979

Indian Standard
METHOD OF TEST FOR
ABRASION RESISTANCE OF WNCRETE

0. FOREWORD

0.1 This Indian Standard was adopted by the Indian Standards

Institution on 30 October 1979, after the ~draft finalized by the Cement
and Concrete Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil
Engineering Division Council.

0.2 Abrasion resistance of concrete can be one of the measures of its

durability. Deterioration of concrete surface may occur due to abrasion
by sliding, scraping, percussion or action of abrasive materials carried
by water. Therefore, it becomes difficult to ‘assess the abrasion resis-
tance of concrete, as the mode of abrasive action in each case may vary,
but evaluation of relative resistance of concrete surfaces is possible.

0.3 This standard describes the method of assessing the relative resis-
tance of concrete surfaces by finding the abrasion loss of the specimen
subjected to an abrasive charge. The procedure laid down in this
standard approximately simulates abrasion under physical effects suffered
by concrete pavements ( roads and air-fields ), industrial floors, railway
platforms, dock-yards, footpaths, ~etc. This applies generally for normal
weight concrete with a density of 24-26 kN/ma. Tentative suggested
values of permissible abrasion loss for different concrete surfaces are
given in Appendix A for broad guidance only.

0.3.1 The method of test covered in this standard may also be

applied to assess the abrasion resistance of surfaces made up of materials,
such as stone and cement mortar.

0.4 .‘The Committee responsible for the preparation of this standard has
taken into consideration the practices followed in this country in
conducting test for determining abrasion resistance of concrete. Due
weightage has also been given to the need for international co-ordination
among the standards and practices prevailing in different countries of the
world.

0.5 For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this

standard is complied with, the final value, observed or calculated,

3
IS : 9284 - 1979

expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accord-

ance with IS : 2-1960*. The number of significant places retained in
the rounded off value should be the same as that of the specified value
in this standard.

1. SCOPE

1.1 This standard covers determination of abrasion resistance characteris-

tics of concrete under physical effects only by subjecting it to the
impingement of air-driven silica-sand using lo-cm concrete cubes.

2. WORKING PRINCIPLE

2.1 The surface of the concrete cubes is subjected to impingement of an

abrasive charge ( see 3.3). As a result, abrasion of the concrete surface
of the cubes occurs and resulting loss in mass of the cubes is taken as the
abrasion loss of concrete.

3. APPARATUS

3.1 Scale -The scale shall have a capacity of 5 000 g or more. The
permissible variation at a load of 5 000 g shall be 15 g.

3.2 Pneumatic Sand Blasting Cabinet

3.2.1 T$e pneumatic sand blasting cabinet consists of a wooden cabinel

with a tightly closing door ( see Fig. 1 ). A high carbon steel nozzle, the
axis of which is vertical, shall fit through the top of the cabinet. While
the inside ~diameter of the nozzle shall be 1.7 & *006 cm, the internal
diameter of the nozzIe tip shall be 0.8 & ‘003 cm. The body of the nozzle
tip shall be push-fit to the body of the nozzle and be replaceable. The
length of the nozzle along with the tip shall be 15 cm and shall be fitted
on the cabinet such that the distance between the tip of the nozzle and
the surface of the concrete sample shall be 5 f -02 cm. An ZUXIUlaJ
copper or brass air tube of 0’48 cm in diameter shall be provided inside
the nozzle. Beyond the nozzle, the diameter of the air tube shall changt
smoothly to a diameter of I.7 cm. Inside the nozzle, the tube shal
end at a distance of 2 cm from the tip of the nozzle. Four
number 0.48 cm diameter holes shall be provided on the side of the nozzh
immediately below the collar of the nozzle for passing sand into the nozzle.
Sand is drawn into the nozzle by suction caused by the high air velocit)
at the nozzle tip.

*Rule for rounding off numerical valuw ( revised).

4.
 IS:9284-1979

FIG. 1 PNEUMATIC SAND BLASTING CABINET SHOWING THE CRADLE

3.2.2A conical galvanized iron hopper shall be provided at the top of

the cabinet for holding the charge of sand driven by air pressure. The
nozzle shall be passed through the bottom of the hopper and also through
the top of the cabinet such that the sand inlet holes are located at the
bottom of the hopper. Where the nozzle passes through the top of the
cabinet, the pertinent portion there shall be threaded. A lock nut and
washer combination fixes the whole nozzle assembly to the cabinet. A
pressure gauge shall be fitted to the copper or brass air tube to record
accurately the air pressure as close to the nozzle as possible. The tube
shall be connected to a compressor with pressure control device giving a
supply of air at a pressure of 0‘14 N/mm2 as recorded in the pressure
gauge. The angle of the cone of the hopper shall be such that the sand
runs down the sides on its own as it is being fed into the cabinet. The
dimensions of the apparatus are given in Fig. 2.

5
IS : 9284 - 1979

SAND
--- ----
CONTAINER

0RASS
FERRULE -

4 HOLES
EQUI-SPACED,+ b.8

WASHER FACED /’
-LOCK NUT -

‘$r6 COPPER TUBE -

All dimensions in millimetrcs.

l%. 2 DIMENSIONS OF THE NOZZLE

..
 IS : 9284 - 1979

3.2;3 The specimen carrier shall be mounted on a cradle, that can

be moved below the nozzle between two fixed points by means of a
manually operated handle ( see Fig. 1 ). The distance between the fixed
points for movement of the cradle shall be 17 cm. The angle of the
c,rrrier and the cradle shall be 10 degrees to the horizontal SO that the
face of the concrete specimen under test is presented to the direction of
th- nozzle jet at an angle of 10 degrees to vertical. The position of the
cradle shall be such that the tip of the nozzle remains approximately
2.5 cm away from the edge of the specimen (10 cm cube). This will
enable making two impingements on the same surface by rotating the
spdcirnen by 180”.

3.2.4 Provisions shall be made to collect the used charge of sand and
the dust emanated from the concrete wear from the bottom of the
c:!binct.

3.8 Abrasive Charge - The charge of sand driven by air pressure and
used for abrading the concrete surface is termed as the abrasive charge.
It’ shall conform to IS : 650-1966* but graded to Ipass l.OO-mm IS sieve
and retained on O-50-mm IS sieve. The charges can be reused after
deving through 0*50-mm IS sieve.

4. OPERATING CONDITIONS

4.1 The following operating conditions shall be kept for determining the
abrasion loss of concrete:

a) Operating air pressure shall be 0.14 N/mmz,

b) Abrasive charge shall be as stipulated in 3.3,
cl The quantity of charge shall be 4 000 g for each impingement,
and

4 Abrasion loss of specimen shall be taken as the loss in mass in

grams for two separate impressions on the same face of the
concrete cube under test.

5. PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS

5.1 The 10 cm cube concrete specimens, duly cured for 28 days or as

received, shall be placed in an oven at 50°C for 24 hours and thereafter
removed for test. The scrrface of the specimen shall be rubbed with
emery paper to remove cement laitance and expose aggregate grains,
before conducting the test.

*Standard sand for testing of cement (first rez,ision).

7
IS : 9284- 1979

6. PROCEDURE

6.1 The weighed, dry specimen shall be placed on the specimen carrier
( see 3.2.3) with the surface ( any one out of the four smoother vertical
surfaces of the cube, that were in contact with the mould ) to be tested
facing the nozzle tip. The nozzle tip shall be at the middle of the half
side of the cube ( that is, 2.5 cm away from the edge of the specimen ).
The surface shall then be exposed to blast for the full charge of sand
( 4 000 g ). During the process, the cradle shall be moved slowly between
the two fixed points ( see 3.2.3 ) by the handle provided there for. The
test shall be repeated on the same surface after rotating the sample by
1809 on the horizontal plane thus enabling two impressions to be made
on the same surface. After the test is over, the sample shall be removed,
cleaned and weighed to determine the loss of mass in grams for one
surface of the sample.

6.2 This procedure shall be repeated on the other three vertical surfaces
( see 6.1) of the same sample.

6.3 Three cube specimens ( of the same lot or as received ) shall be tested
to determine the abrasion loss of concrete.

7. CALCULATION

7.1 The loss in mass of the sample for each surface shall be calculated
as follows:

where

m- loss in mass in g,

ml = mass of the specimen before each test in g, and

m2 = mass of the specimen after each test ( on one surface

with two impressions ) in g.

8. REPORT

8.1 The abrasion loss of concrete shall be reported as the average of the
results obtained for the 12 surfaces ( that is 4 surfaces each of 3 cubes ),
to the nearest 0.01 g and expressed as percent loss.

8
 IS : 9284 - 1979

APPENDIX A
( Clause 0.3 )

TENTATIVE SUGGESTED VALUES OF ABRASION LOSS

A-l. The following maximum values of abr;tsion loss for the different
categories of concrete surfacings have been tentatively suggested for broad
guidance only.

s-1No. Surfacing Category Maximum Values of ,lBlnsif/:i

Loss, Percent Loss

i\ Concrete Pavement:
a) With mixed tra& including il.on-
tyred traffic 0.16
b) With pneumatic tyred traffic only 0.2.4

ii) Factory floors 0.16

iii) Dockyard 0.16

iv) Railway platform O-24

v) Footpath 0.40

9
IS t 9284 - 1979
( Continuedfrom page 2 )

Members Representing
DIRECTOR Engineering Research Laboratories, Hyderabad
DIRECTOR ( C&MDD ) Central Water Commission, New Delhi
DEPUTY DIRECTOR ( C&MDD ) ( Alternatc )
SHRI V. K. GHANEKAR Structural Engineering Research Centre ( CSIR ).
Roorkee
SIIRI A. S. P~asavr RAO ( Alternate)
DR R. K. GHOSH Cent;ilhyoad Research Institute ( CSIR ), New

SHRI M. R. CI~A-J’TERJXE( Alternate)

SHXI V. K. GUPTA Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch, Army Headquarters
SHRI S. V. TIGAI~ ( Aflrrmale )
Snar J. S. HINGO~ANS Associated Consulting Services, Bombay
SHRI A. P. REMEDIOS ( Alternate )
SHRI P. J. JAGUS The Associated Cement Companies Ltd, Bombay
SHRI M. R. VIN.\YAKA f .Ilternatc J
SHRI K. K. Klrarr~a fiational Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SHRI K. S. SRINIVAS.\N (Alternate 1
SHRl K. K. NAhlnlAR rh personal capacity ( ‘ Ramanala~a ’ II First
Crescent Park Road, Gandhinagar, Aajar, Madras )
SHRI S. R. PIN IIB~RO Gammon India Ltd, Bombay
SHRI G. P. SAJIA ( .4lteruatc )
SHRl N. S. Ranr.4sw.mv Roads Wing ( Ministry of Shipping & Transport )
SHIU R. P. STKKA ( .lltcmntc )
SHRI M. P. ~AJAP.4’l’HP R.40 Public Works and Housing Department, Bombay
s I~PERINTI~N I)IS(: E N G I N E & R Central Public Works Department, New Delhi
i DE~IONS 1
lkIwUT;vK ENGINEER
( Tlxs~sas ) III ( .iZtcrnate )
DR c:. .\. T.\w.l.4 Cent;~or~t~lding Research Institute ( CSIR ).

Saw B. S. Gt;lv.4 ( .Uternate )

ssJ1HI B. ‘r. UN\YAI.L.\ The Concrete Association of India, Bombay
Smtr Y. K. MEJ~TA ( :llternate )
DIX H. C. VISVESV.4 I(AYA Cement Research Institute of~ladia, New Delhi
L)J~ A. K. MULLIC’K ( dlternate )

10
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