Construction Works
Topic: Testing of Materials
R Ram Supt Engineer Engineering Services Division CFRI
CONTENTS S.NO. Pages
Description
1.
Objective
2.
Type of Tests on Materials
3.
Standards for Material Testing
4.
Contract Provisions for Testing
5.
Testing on important material
Chapter - I
1. Object Objectiv ives es of of Testi Testing ng on on Mater Materia iall
1.1. Materia Materiall testin testing g is one one of the the most most importa important nt parame parameter ters s of Quality Assurance and Control in a Construction Project. 1.2. It ensur ensures es that that the qual quality ity of of materia materiall used used in the the work confor conforms ms to the designs parameters adopted. 1.3. It confi confirms rms that that the use use of the facili facility/ ty/ infra infrastr struct ucture ure create created d will be optimal and upto desired level. 1.4. It helps helps in in rejec rejectio tion n of Sub-st Sub-standa andard rd mater material ials. s. 1.5. Test Test results results help help in estab establis lishin hing g that the the struct structure ure will will last last its designated life.
Chapter- II
2.0 Types of Tests on Materials
2.1 Field Tests - Visual tests by checking colour, shape and size. - Physical tests like checking of dimension etc. - Preliminary tests that can be conducted in field labs. (Example: Sand, Aggregates, Bricks Etc.)
2.2 Testing in Laboratori Laboratories es -
Checkin Checking g of phys physica ical, l, chem chemica icall and struct structural ural propert properties ies of materials.
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Lab test tests s require require precisi precision on and and sophis sophistic ticate ated d machine machinery. ry.
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These These tests tests are carried carried out under under contr controll olled ed condit condition ions. s.
2.3 Testing at Manufacturer Manufacturer’s ’s Premises Premises -
Normall Normally y reput reputed ed manuf manufact acturer urers s have have thei theirr own own syst system em of quality control.
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They have in-hous in-house e labora laboratori tories es and and issue issue test test certi certific ficate ates s with every lot of materials.
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Equipmen Equipmentt manuf manufact actures ures for Elec Electri trical cal,, Lifts Lifts,, DG sets sets & HVAC works carry out tests at their own premises under the inspection of Owner’s engineers.
2.4 Materials Materials with ‘Standard ‘Standard Mark’
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Materia Materials ls are are tested tested at at manufac manufactur turer’s er’s premis premises es and and certif certified ied as “IS’ marked or any other standard implying that they conform to certain set of specifications.
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These These tests tests are carried carried out by indep independe endent nt agenc agencies ies on samples of every lot.
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The manuf manufact acturer urers s has to pay pay certif certifica icatio tion n charges charges to thes these e agencies.
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If the the lot of materi materials als bears bears a ‘Stand ‘Standard ard Mark Mark’’ then then normal normally ly itit is not be tested. However in case of doubt or with with a view to check quality, ‘Engineer’ may send samples at random for checking.
Chapter - III
3.1 Standards for Material Testing
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Materia Materials ls are are normall normally y tested tested as as per CPWD CPWD specif specifica icatio tions ns or any other ‘standard’ identified.
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CPWD CPWD speci specifi fica cati tion ons s carr carry y a list list of mate materi rial als s bear bearin ing g ISI ISI certi rtification. on.
These
spec pecifications ons
als also
contain ain
the
Dimensions and Unit weight of various building materials. This information can be used during field tests. -
In case case CPWD PWD spec pecific ificat atio ions ns are are not not avai availa labl ble e then then the materials are tested as per stipulation in IS codes.
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CPWD CPWD spec specif ific icat ation ions s lay down down a list list of Mandat Mandatory ory Tes Tests ts on materials. Similar stipulations are given in IS codes.
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For specialized materials BS codes/ DIN/ any other international codes can be specified & followed if these are not covered by IS codes.
Chapter – IV
4. Contract Provision Provision on on Material Testing
4.1 The ‘Conditions of contracts for Works’ in CSIR have a Clause on Testing Testing of Materials. Materials. The ‘Engineer’ ‘Engineer’ is required required to direct direct the the cont contra ract ctor or to get get the the mate materi rial als s test tested ed as per per CPWD CPWD specificati specifications. ons. The expenses expenses on testing testing is to be borne by the contractor. 4.2 The contractor is required to get the materials approved before testing. 4.3 As per CPWD CPWD Manual Manual 2003, 2003, the contrac contractor tor will will get the material tested & in case it conforms to specification, then the departme department nt will will bear the testing testing charges charges..
If the materia materiall is
Sub-standard then the testing charges will be borne by the contractor.
Chapter-V
5.1 Testing Testing on important important material materials s
5.1. 5.1.1 1 Wate Water r -
The test testing ing of of water water shoul should d be done periodi periodical cally ly (3 (3 months months for bore well & 6 months for Municipal supply) mainly to check Chlorides & Sulphate levels
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Even Even if the the water water is is fit fit for for drinki drinking ng & from from muni municip cipal al suppl supplies ies,, still it should be tested.
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Tests Tests on wate waterr are for for Ph Value Value,, Limits Limits of Acid Acidity ity & Alkal Alkality ity,, Percentage of Solids
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If groun ground d wate waterr is not found found confo conformi rming ng to to IS 456 then contractor has to arrange good quality water.
5.1.2 5.1.2 Cement Cement (Grade (Grade 33/43/ 33/43/53) 53) -
Cement Cement is is teste tested d for for finene fineness, ss, soundne soundness, ss, intial intial & final final setting time & comparative strength.
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Cement Cement brough broughtt to site site shall shall not be more more then then 6 weeks weeks old from the date of manufacturer.
5.1. 5.1.3 3 Sand and -
Tests Tests on sand sand can can be conduc conducted ted at site. site. The tests tests are for grading, silt constant (5), organic impurities(55), particle size distribution and building of sand.
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Fine sand shall shall be river river sand sand or or pit sand sand or combina combinatio tion n of two. Fine sand in Delhi Delhi means 2 parts of Jammu sand and 1 part of Badarpur sand.
5.1.4 5.1.4 Stone Stone Aggregat Aggregate e -
Most of the the test tests s on stone stone aggreg aggregate ate can be done done at site. site.
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These These includ include e percent percentage age of deleten deletensio sion n materia materials, ls, particl particle e size distribution, crushing strength, impact value, bulk diversity, specific gravity
5.2 5.2 RCC Tests for RCC i)
Slump test
ii)
Cube test
iii)
Steel
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Tensile strength
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Proof stress
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Elongation test
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Bend test
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Rebound test
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Chemical test
5.3 5.3 Bric Bricks ks Tests on bricks are -
Dimensions
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Comp Compre ress ssiive stre streng ngth th
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Water ab absorption
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Efflorescence
5.4 5.4 Marb Marble le
Tests are:i)
Moisture absorption
i i)
Mhos scale hardness test
5.5 Other Other Materi Materials als
5.5.1 5.5.1 Wood Wood (moistur (moisture e cement) cement) 5.5.2 Terrozo tests tests (Transverse (Transverse strength, water water absorption, absorption, Abrasion test) 5.5.3 White glazed glazed tiles (Water (Water absorption, absorption, crazing test, test, chemical chemical resistant test, impact test)
