Yarmouk University

AL Hajjawi faculty for engineering technology

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPERTMENT
CE 326 Material of laboratory

Experiment #2: Mechanical Properties of Mortar

NAME : Mohammad Mu'away Hijazi
Submission data: 18 / 3 / 2015
Submitted to : Eng Muna Abu Lebdeh

GROUP # 2

-:TABLE OF CONTENTS

-INTRODCTION 1
OBJECTIVE -2
TEST SPECIMENS -3
PROCEDURE -4
RESULTS -5
DISCUSSION -6
CONCLUSION -7
APPENDIX -8
REFRENCE -9
ASTM SPECIFICATION -10

-INTRODCTION: - 1
Mechanical test of cement is a package of tests we do to see
the properties of cement like how much the cement can hold
compressive stress and tensile stress and flexural-stress and
an other properties How-ever in our exp we use mortar
(cement ,sand ,water) because the cement will shrink and we
replace the shrinkage by adding agg (sand ,Fine agg)
In this exp we will test compressive strength and flexural
.strength and compressive strength (pop)

-:OBJECTIVE -2
Our goal in this experiment to measure the magnitude of the
compressive and flexural strength of the specimen and make
students connects these magnitudes with structural properties
.of the cement

-:TEST SPECIMNE -3
* STANDERS ( 50*50*50) mm
* PRISMS : (40 *40 *160 ) mm

CUBES : BRITISH

4-Apparatus and Materials:

Balance
Mixer
Flow table
Mold for the flow table
Caliper
Specimen molds
Machine to test comp and flexural strength *

Materials:
Mortar (cement + sand + water).

:PROCEDURE -5

Mixing Mortar .
(Weight 800 g of cement, 2200 g of sand, and 560 g of
water) By ASTM then place all the mixing water in the bowl
and add cement to the water then start mixing at slow speed
for 30 sec when the machine mix add sand slowly over 30 sec
then change to high speed and mix for additional 30 sec. Stop
the mixer and in 15 sec period and quickly scrape down into
the batch any mortar that may have collected on the side of
the bowl. Finish mixing for 60 sec at high speed.

The 2nd step of our exp to do flow table test and this test
consist:
1. Wipe the table and make sure it is dry and clean then
place the flow mold at the center.

2. Place a layer of mortar about 1 in. thickness in the mold

and tamp 20 times then fill the mold and tamp this second
layer 20 times.
3. Cut the excess mortar at the top of the mold with trowel
with sawing motion.
4. Wipe and clean the table around the mold, then remove
the mold.
5. Drop the table through 0.5 in. height 25 times in 15 sec
period.
6. According to ASTM, The flow should equal 1105mm , if
the flow did not meet the standards adjust the water content
and remix for another 15 sec at medium speed until getting
the standard flow value.

The 3rd part of exp is prepare specimens and we have two

types
1. Compressive Test: Fill the cube-specimen molds in two
layers , with compacting each layer 16 times.
2. Flexural Test: Fill the mold in two layers , with
compacting each layer 12 times.
And cover the specimen to keep it wet and left it for 24 hour
and take the specimen and then left them for 7 days.

** The final part of this experiment

. After 7 days interval we take the specimen and test it

: RESULTS -5

:DISCUSSION -6
As seen in the results, even when using same cement and sand
amount and type, strength values will vary a lot due to
difference in water amount used, curing environment, and
compaction efforts made which is the most important when
preparing the specimens . These differences shows the
importance of having unified standards for tests procedure
.and the interpretation process of tests data
From the differences in strength values above, and taking into
account the procedure of the test and the surrounding
environment, this indicates that compaction has major effect
.on the sample structure and strength
Curing also is important; it prevents the dryness of sample
which is a factor that leads to crack formation due to drying
.shrinkage
However, errors always will arise, and some of the errors
:here may arise from

Error from rounding off and approximation process in the -1

.calculations
Non-implementation of the ASTM standards about used -2
.materials
-Error in the Calibration of devices used in the test..3
Error when we applied load due to specimen there is pieces -4
we havent applied the load on the vertical surface of
.compact

Conclusion -7 :
The strength of mortar depends on many factors like: -1
degree of compaction, void ratio, temperature, relative
.humidity, ratio of ingredient, etc
The results in this experiment are not representative, -2
.because of the large effect of human factor
Compression strength is not 100% true due to the effects -3
of lateral tensile forces which affects in normal direction to
.that of the applied load

:APPENDEX -8

:REFRENCE -9
INERNET, ASTM

ASTM SPECIFICATIONS -10

ASTM C305
ASTM C 109
ASTM C 348

ASTM C 19O
ASTM C 349