Building Materials Testing
Cement Testing
Cement is a water-based binder used to bind other building materials together. It is used in the production of mortar and concrete during the construction process. The reason cement is one of the most common construction ingredients among other is its ability to hold the structure together. Compressive strength is one of the most important properties of concrete and mortar. The strength of the binder (cement) therefore has a significant effect on the performance characteristics of the mixture and ensures the overall quality of the finished product.
- ➢ Ordinary Portland Cement OPC, 33 43, 43S & 53, 53S Grade
- ➢ Sleeper Grade, 43S Grade & 53S Grade (43 Sleeper Grade, 53 Sleeper Grade)
- ➢ Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
- ➢ Fly ash based cement
- ➢ Portland Slag cement
- ➢ Sulphate resistance cement (SRC)
- ➢ Rapid Hardening Cement
- ➢ Masonry Cement
Physical Test
The Following tests are conducted on Cement.
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Fineness By Dry Sieving |
IS 4031 (Part-1) |
2 |
Fineness By Specific Surface By Blaine Air Permeability |
IS 4031 (Part-2) |
3 |
Soundness By Le-Chatelier Method |
IS 4031 (Part-3) |
4 |
Soundness By Autoclave Method |
IS 4031 (Part-3) |
5 |
Normal Consistency |
IS 4031 (Part-4) |
6 |
Initial Setting Time |
IS 4031 (Part-5) |
7 |
Final Setting Time |
IS 4031 (Part-5) |
8 |
Compressive Strength of Hydraulic/Masonry Cement |
IS 4031 (Part-6 & 7) |
9 |
Drying Shrinkage |
IS 4031 (Part-10) |
10 |
Density |
IS 4031 (Part-11) |
Chemical Test
Chemical analysis of hardened concrete can provide information about the mix constituents and possible causes of deterioration. Standard methods can be used to find the cement content and the original water/cement ratio, but many other properties can also be established; Cement Content and Aggregate Cement Ratio, Cement Content and Pulverized fuel ash/fly ash (PFA) content, Cement Content and Slag content, Water/Cement Ratio, Aggregate Grading, Determination of the presence of High-Alumina Cement (HAC) are some of the tests we conduct under chemical analysis.
Test Method: IS: 4032
Sr no. |
Chemical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Potassium Oxide |
IS 4032 |
2 |
Sodium Oxide |
IS 4032 |
3 |
Alumina as Al2O3 |
IS 4032 |
4 |
Calcium Oxide as Cao |
IS 4032 |
5 |
Chloride as Cl |
IS 4032 |
6 |
Ferric Oxide as Fe2O3 |
IS 4032 |
7 |
Insoluble Residue |
IS 4032 |
8 |
Loss On Ignition |
IS 4032 |
9 |
Mangnesia as MgO |
IS 4032 |
10 |
Silica as Sio2 |
IS 4032 |
11 |
Sulphuric Anhydride as So3 |
IS 4032 |
Aggregate Testing.
Construction aggregate, or simply "aggregate", is a broad category of coarse to medium grained particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined materials.
- ➢ Coarse Aggregate (75 mm to 4.75 mm)
- ➢ Fine Aggregate (4.75 mm to 75 micron)
- ➢ Physical Tests
- ➢ Chemical Tests
Physical Test
The Following tests are conducted on Coarse Aggregate.
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
10% Fines Value For Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 4) |
2 |
Abrasion Value Of Coarse Aggregate By Los Angeles Machine |
IS 2386 (PART 4) |
3 |
Alkali Aggregate Reactivity For Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 7) |
4 |
Angularity Number For Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 1) |
5 |
Unit Weight And Voids ( Bulk Density) Of Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 3) |
6 |
Aggregate Crushing Value Of Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 4) |
7 |
Elongation Index For Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 1) |
8 |
Deleterious Materials For Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 2) |
9 |
Flakiness Index For Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 1) |
10 |
Unit Weight And Voids ( Bulk Density) Of Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 4) |
11 |
Fractured Particles Test On Coarse Aggregate |
ASTM D 5821 |
12 |
Sieve Analysis Of Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 1) |
13 |
Resistance To Disintegration (Soundness) Of Coarse Aggregate By Magnesium Sulphate Solution |
IS 2386 (PART 5) |
14 |
Resistance To Disintegration (Soundness) Of Coarse Aggregate By Sodium Sulphate Solution |
IS 2386 (PART 5) |
15 |
Specific Gravityof Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 3) |
16 |
Stripping Value Test For Coarse Aggregate |
IS 6241 |
17 |
Water Absorption Of Coarse Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 3) |
18 |
Aggregate Impact Value Of Soft Coarse Aggregate |
IS 5640 |
The Following tests are conducted on Fine Aggregate.
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Bulking Of Sand For Fine Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 3) |
2 |
Estimation Of Deleterious Materials & Inorganic Impurities For Fine Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 2) |
3 |
Fineness Of Fine Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 1) |
4 |
Aggregate Moisture Content Of Fine Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 3) |
5 |
Materials Finer Than 75 Micron For Fine Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 1) |
6 |
Sieve Analysis Of Fine Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 1) |
7 |
Soundness Of Fine Aggregate By Magnesium Sulphate Solution |
IS 2386 (PART 5) |
8 |
Soundness Of Fine Aggregate By Sodium Sulphate Solution |
IS 2386 (PART 5) |
9 |
Specific Gravity of Fine Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 3) |
10 |
Unit Weight And Voids ( Bulk Density) Of Fine Aggregate |
IS 2386 (PART 3) |
Chemical Test
The Following tests are conducted on Coarse Aggregate.
Sr no. |
Chemical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Chloride Of Coarse Aggregate |
IS:14959 (PART 2) |
2 |
Ph Value Of Coarse Aggregate |
DOTD TR 122- 11 |
3 |
Sulphate Of Coarse Aggregate |
IS 4032 |
The Following tests are conducted on Fine Aggregate.
Sr no. |
Chemical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Chloride Of Coarse Aggregate |
IS:14959 (PART 2) |
2 |
Ph Value Of Coarse Aggregate |
DOTD TR 122- 11 |
3 |
Sulphate Of Coarse Aggregate |
IS 4032 |
Bricks Testing
Bricks are categorized as the building blocks of any structure building. Thus, the quality of each and every brick needs to be good in order to avoid any serious damage in the building.
A brick is a single unit made from Clay bearing soil, lime and sand or it may also be made up of concrete material. Bricks are named depending upon their composition.
- ➢ Burnt Clay Bricks.
- ➢ Fly ash Bricks.
- ➢ Acid resistance Bricks.
- ➢ Heavy Duty Bricks.
- ➢ Sand Lime Bricks.
- ➢ Pulverised Fuel ash-lime Bricks.
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Acid Resistance Test |
IS 4860 |
2 |
Compressive Strength Of Acid Resistant Bricks |
IS 4860 |
3 |
Flexural Strength Of Acid Resistant Bricks |
IS 4860 |
4 |
Resistance To Wear Of Acid Resistant Bricks |
IS 1237 |
5 |
Water Absorption Of Acid Resistant Bricks |
IS 4860 |
6 |
Compressive Strength For Burnt Clay/ Burnt Clay Fly Ash/ Heavy Duty Burnt Clay Building Bricks |
IS 3025 Part-32 |
7 |
Efflorescence For Burnt Clay/ Burnt Clay Fly Ash/ Heavy Duty Burnt Clay Building Bricks |
IS 3495 (PART 3) |
8 |
Water Absorption For Burnt Clay/ Burnt Clay Fly Ash/ Heavy Duty Burnt Clay Building Bricks |
IS 3495 (PART 2) |
9 |
Dimensions Test And Tolerances For Burnt Clay/ Burnt Clay Fly Ash Building Bricks |
IS 1077 |
10 |
Compressive Strength For Burnt Clay/ Burnt Clay Fly Ash/ Heavy Duty Burnt Clay Building Bricks |
IS 2180 |
11 |
Dimensions Of Heavy Duty Bricks |
IS 2180 |
12 |
Dimensions Test And Tolerances For Pulverized Fuel Ash-Lime Bricks |
IS 12894 |
Tiles, Granite & Marble Testing
Tiles
Tiles are the construction materials or the manufactured pieces of materials like stone, ceramics, glass, or metals. Their major application is for covering the floors, roofs, walls, tabletops etc.
Tiles are categorized on the basis of the applied manufacturing process and their application.
- ➢ Cement concrete Flooring tiles
- ➢ Ceramic Tiles
- ➢ Chequred Tiles
- ➢ Ceramic Unglazed Vitreous Acid Resistance
Cement concrete Flooring tiles
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Resistance to wear |
IS 1237 |
2 |
Water Absorption |
IS 1237 |
3 |
Wet Transverse Strength |
IS 1237 |
Ceramic Tiles
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
4 |
Crazing Resistance |
IS 13630 (PART 9) |
5 |
Breaking Strength |
IS 13630 (PART 6) |
6 |
Modulus Of Rupture |
IS 13630 (PART 6) |
7 |
Resistance To Deep Abrasion |
IS 13630 (PART 12) |
8 |
Scratch Hardness |
IS 13630 (PART 13) |
9 |
Water Absorption |
IS 13630 (PART 2) |
Ceramic Unglazed Vitreous Acid Resistance
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
10 |
Acid Resistance |
IS 4457 |
11 |
Modulus Of Rupture |
IS 4457 |
12 |
Resistance To Deep Abrasion |
IS 4457 |
13 |
Water Absorption |
IS 4457 |
Chequred Tiles
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
14 |
Resistance to wear |
IS 13801 |
15 |
Water Absorption |
IS 13801 |
16 |
Wet Transverse Strength |
IS 13801 |
Granite & Marble
Granite is an igneous rock, which means it was once molten and formed as it cooled deep within the earth. The minerals contained in granite usually appear as small flecks throughout the stone. Marble, on the other hand, was once limestone that changed due to intense heat and pressure.
The following tests are conducted on Granite & Marble:
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Water Absorption Test |
IS 1124, IS 13030 |
2 |
Hardness Test |
IS 13630 (PART-13) |
3 |
Modulus Rapture Test |
IS 1578 (PART-5) |
4 |
Dimension Testing |
IS 1130, IS 3316 |
5 |
Thermal Shock Test |
IS 13630 (Part-5) |
6 |
Breaking Strength |
IS 13630 (PART 6) |
7 |
Chemical Resistance Test |
|
Lime, Fly ash, Silica fume, Micro silica & GGBS
Lime
Lime in which the constituents like silica, alumina and iron oxide are present as calcium compounds capable of reacting with water and giving rise to strength giving compounds.
A lime whose chemical and physical characteristic and method of processing make it suitable for construction purpose, also known as construction lime and Building lime
Lime obtained by hydrating Class A, B and E lime, and containing all the hydraulic components that is lime combined with silica, alumina and iron as hydroxide is known as Hydrated Hydraulic lime.
A dry powder obtains by treating quick lime with water enough to satisfy its chemical affinity for water under the condition of its hydration is known as Hydrated lime.
The following tests are conducted on Lime:
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Ball test for building lime |
Is 1624 |
2 |
Determination of compressive strength of building lime |
Is 6932 (part- 7) |
3 |
Determination of fineness of hydrated lime |
Is 6932 (part- 4) |
4 |
Determination of hydrochloric acid |
Is 1624 |
5 |
Impurity test for building lime |
Is 1624 |
6 |
Plasticity test on blotting paper for building lime |
Is 1624 |
7 |
Determination of popping and pitting of building lime |
Is 6932 (part- 10) |
8 |
Determination of final setting time of building lime |
Is 6932 (part- 11) |
9 |
Determination of initial setting time of building lime |
Is 6932 (part- 11) |
10 |
Determination of soundness of building lime |
Is 6932 (part- 9) |
11 |
Visual examination test |
Is 1624 |
12 |
Workability test for building lime |
Is 1624 |
Fly Ash
A finely divided residue that result from the combustion of ground or pulverized or crushed or lignite fired boiler by any suitable process, such as by cyclone separation or electrostatic precipitation, bottom ash from the boilers shall not be added to the fly ash. Fly ash collected at later stages of electrostatics precipitator is finer than the fly ash collected at initial stages of electrostatics precipitator.
- ➢ Physical Tests
- ➢ Chemical Tests
The following tests are conducted on Fly ash:
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Compressive Strength Of Fly Ash |
IS 1727 (CLAUSE 10) |
2 |
Consistency Of Fly Ash |
IS 4031 (PART 4) |
3 |
Drying Shrinkage Of Fly Ash |
IS 1727 (CLAUSE 12) |
4 |
Fineness By Sieving Of Fly Ash |
IS 1727 |
5 |
Initial And Final Setting Time Of Fly Ash |
IS 4031(PART5) |
6 |
Moisture Content Of Fly Ash |
IS 1727 |
7 |
Soundness (Autoclave Method) Of Fly Ash |
IS 4031 (PART3) |
8 |
Soundness (Le-Chatelier Method) Of Fly Ash |
IS 4031 (PART 3) |
9 |
Specific Gravity Time Of Fly Ash |
IS 1727 (CLAUSE 7.1) |
10 |
Fineness By Blaine Air Permeability Apparatus Of Fly Ash |
IS 1727 (CLAUSE 7.1) |
11 |
Particles Retained On 45 Micron Is Sieve Test For Fly Ash |
IS 1727 (CLAUSE 6.2.5) |
Chemical Tests
Sr no. |
Chemical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Sodium Oxide (Na2o) |
IS 3812 (PART -2) |
2 |
Alumina |
IS 1727 (CLAUSE 5.8) |
3 |
Calcium Oxide |
IS 1727 |
4 |
Ferric Oxide |
IS 1727 (CLAUSE 5.6) |
5 |
Loss On Ignition |
IS 1727 (CLAUSE 5.3) |
6 |
Magnesium Oxide |
IS 1727 (CLAUSE 5.9) |
7 |
Silicon Dioxide (Sio2)/ Silica |
IS 3812 (PART -1) |
8 |
Sulphuric Anhydride |
IS 1727 (CLAUSE 5.10) |
9 |
Chloride |
IS 1727 |
Silica Fume
Very fine pozzolanic materials, composed mostly of amorphous silica produced by electric are furnaces as a byproduct of the production of elemental silicon or Ferro-silicon alloys.
Silica fume shall confirm the requirement as per IS 15388.
- ➢ Physical Tests
- ➢ Chemical Tests
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Compressive Strength Of Silica Fume |
IS 1727 |
2 |
Oversize Retained On 45 Micron Is Sieve Of Silica Fume |
IS 1727 |
3 |
Specific Gravity Of Silica Fume |
IS 1727 |
Sr no. |
Chemical Tests |
Test Method |
4 |
Potassium Oxide Of Silica Fume |
IS 4032 |
5 |
Sodium Oxide Of Silica Fume |
IS 4032 |
6 |
Loss On Ignition Of Silica Fume |
IS 1727 |
7 |
Moisture Content Of Silica Fume |
IS 15388 |
8 |
Silica Content Of Silica Fume |
IS 1727 |
GGBS (Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag)
Blast furnace slag is a non-metallic product consisting essentially of glass containing silicates and alumino-silicates of lime and other bases, which is developed simultaneously with iron in blast furnace. Granulated blast furnace slag is obtained by further processing the molten slag by rapidly chilling or quenching with water or steam.
GGBS shall comply with the requirement as per IS 16714.
- ➢ Physical Tests
- ➢ Chemical Tests
Sr no. |
Physical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Fineness By Blain Air Permeability |
IS 4031 (PART-2) |
2 |
Slag Activity Index |
IS 16714 |
Sr no. |
Chemical Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Acidity of water |
IS 3025 Part-22 |
2 |
Alkalinity of Water |
IS 3025 Part-23 |
3 |
Alumina Of GGBS |
IS 4032 |
4 |
Calcium Oxide Of GGBS |
IS 4032 |
5 |
Chloride Of GGBS |
IS 4032 |
6 |
Insoluble Residue Of GGBS |
IS 4032 |
7 |
Magnesia Oxide Of GGBS |
IS 4032 |
8 |
Magnesia Of GGBS |
IS 4032 |
9 |
Moisture Content Of GGBS |
IS 16714 |
10 |
Silica Of GGBS |
IS 4032 |
11 |
Sulphuric Sulphur Of GGBS |
IS 4032 |
12 |
Sulphuric Anhydride Of GGBS |
IS 4032 |
Admixture Testing
A material other than water, aggregates, and hydraulic cement and additives like pozzolana or slag and fiber reinforcement used as an ingredient of concrete or mortar and added to the batch immediately before or during its mixing to modify one or more of the properties of concrete in the plastic or hardened state.
Admixture shall comply with the requirement as per IS 9103.
Sr no. |
Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Ash Content Of Admixture |
Is:9103 (annex: e-2) |
2 |
Chloride Ion Content Of Admixture |
Is 6925 |
3 |
Dry Material Content Of Admixture |
Is:9103 (annex: e-1) |
4 |
Ph Value Of Admixture |
Is:9103 (annex: e-1) |
5 |
Relative Density/ Specific Gravity Of Admixture |
Is:9103 (annex: e-3) |
Paint & Coating Test
Paint
A pigmented material, which when applied in a liquid form to, a surface, forms after a time a dry adherent film.
The following main types are recognized
- ➢ Oil paint: A paint that contains drying oil or oil varnish as the basic vehicle ingredient.
- ➢ Water paint (emulsion paint): A paint that contains a water emulsion or dispersion as the vehicle.
- ➢ Paste paint: A paint in which the pigment is sufficiently concentrated to permit a substantial reduction with vehicle before use.
Coating
A liquid, liquefiable for mastic composition, that is converted to a solid protective, decorative or functional adherent film after application as a thin layer.
The following tests are conducted on Paint & Coating
Sr no. |
Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Abrasion Resistance Test |
IS 101 (PART-5, SEC-2) |
2 |
Alkali Resistance Of Paint |
IS 427, IS 428 |
3 |
Chemical Resistance Test |
IS 13630 (PART-8) |
4 |
Coating Hardness Test |
IS 101 (PART-5) |
5 |
Coating Thickness Test |
IS 6745 |
6 |
Condensing Humidity Test: |
IS: 101 (P-6) |
7 |
Drying Time Test: |
IS: 101 (P-3) |
8 |
Falling Weight Test: |
IS 3025 Part-23 |
9 |
Flexibility Test: |
IS 3025 Part-32 |
10 |
Free Falling Sand Abrasion Test: |
ASTM D968 |
11 |
Hardness Test |
ASTM D3363 / ASTM D1474 |
12 |
Penetration Resistance Test |
IS 3025 Part-32 |
13 |
Scratch Resistance Test |
ISO 1518 |
14 |
Water Resistance Test |
IS 101(P-7) |
Autoclave Aerated Concrete Blocks (AAC Block)
Autoclaved aerated concrete blocks are used for both load bearing and non load bearing internal walls or as backing to brick masonry and panel walls, inner leaf of cavity walls or as panel walls in steel or reinforced concrete frame construction when protected from weather by rendering or by some other efficient treatment.
Sr no. |
Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Compressive strength test |
IS 6441 (Part-5) |
2 |
Density test |
IS 6441 (Part-1) |
3 |
Dimension test |
IS 6441 (Part-1) |
4 |
Moisture content test |
IS 6441 (Part-1) |
5 |
Drying shrinkage test |
IS 6441 (Part-1) |
Paver Block Testing
Recommended grades of paver blocks to be used for construction of pavements having different traffic categories are given in Table 1 of IS 15658. Since zero slump concrete is used in production of paver blocks, the quality of blocks produced will depend upon various parameters like the capacity of compaction and vibration of machine, grade of cement used, water content, quality of aggregates used, their gradation and mix design adopted, additives used, handling equipment employed, curing methods adopted, level of supervision, workmanship and quality control achieved, etc.
Paver Block shall comply with the requirement as per IS 15658.
Sr no. |
Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Compressive strength test |
IS 15658 |
2 |
Abrasion Resistance |
IS 15658 |
3 |
Flexural Strength |
IS 15658 |
4 |
Tensile Splitting Strength |
IS 15658 |
5 |
Water Absorption |
IS 15658 |
6 |
Dimensions & Visual Inspection |
IS 15658 |
7 |
Thickness of wearing layer |
IS 15658 |
Foam Cellular Block
Cellular Concrete - The cellular concrete referred here is concrete which contains stable air or gas cells uniformly distributed in the mix. It is a product consisting of Portland cement, silica, po zzolana or pastes containing blends of these ingredients and having homogeneous void or cell structure, attained with preformed stable foam. The air cells are usually added at the mixer as stable preformed foam metered from a calibrated nozzle and thoroughly blended into the mix. In preformed foam cellular concrete the density control is achieved by substituting macroscopic air cells for all or part of the fine aggregate. Normal weight coarse aggregate is usually not used.
Sr no. |
Tests & Parameters |
Test Method |
1 |
Compressive strength test |
IS 2185 (Part-4) |
2 |
Block Density |
IS 2185 (Part-4) |
3 |
Dimension And Tolerances |
IS 2185 (Part-4) |
4 |
Water Absorption |
IS 2185 (Part-4) |
5 |
Drying Shrinkage |
IS 2185 (Part-4) |
6 |
Thermal Conductivity |
IS 2185 (Part-4) |