What is the purpose of a concrete slump test?

When ensuring that a building is structurally sound, various tests are conducted to ensure that all areas of the structure meet a set of requirements, including the Concrete Slump Test. This article will explain the purpose of the concrete slump test and how Streval can help you. 

What is the Concrete Slump Test?

This test examines the consistency of fresh concrete to evaluate its workability and confirm whether it has been mixed correctly. It will ensure that the ratio of water to cement is as it should be to verify the strength of the concrete before pouring. 

What is the purpose of the Concrete Slump Test?

The primary purpose of this test is to determine whether the concrete, once poured, will be susceptible to cracking or deterioration. The more water added to the cement, the less durable the concrete will be, and the faster it will break down and become unsafe. It will also imply the workability of the concrete. Workability defines how easily the mixed concrete will be placed, consolidated, and finished. Considering the loss of homogeneity. 

How is the slump test performed?

The slump test is a simple procedure that proves whether the ratio of water to cement is unbalanced. The cement is poured inside a cone, which is lifted to reveal whether the concrete holds the cone shape or whether it completely collapses. Each result of this test is useful in some way, excluding ‘collapsed’ but some consistencies may not be beneficial for your purposes.

The slump you need

As mentioned above, if your mixture completely collapses, it is useless. There are no needs that could require watery concrete, so your mixture will need to be fully amended. 

Furthermore, if your concrete has been poured into the cone and retains the shape of the cone, it is known as ‘zero’ concrete slump. This indicates that the mixture is dry and will be best used for road construction. 

Thirdly, if you remove the cone and you find that one side of it has lifted and subsided dramatically, then you have a shear slump. This implies that the workability of concrete is good, but there might be too much water. 

The ideal concrete slump is one that mostly retains the shape of the cone but bulges out at the sides slightly. This is the perfect ratio of water to concrete and demonstrates cohesion and workability that will be desirable for your project. 

How can Streval help?

Here at Streval, we can help you to evaluate the workability of your concrete, and ensure that you lay the foundations of a sturdy building. We work closely with our clients to provide a customised testing solution that works for you and hold the structural integrity of your building to the highest priority. Our concrete slump tests follow the British and European standard of BS EN 12350-2, which specifies the method for determining the consistency of fresh concrete. 

Enquire today if you’d like to learn more about our structural testing services or even height safety inspections and ground site investigations.