ISSN: 0149-6123
CODEN: CCAGPD
Page Count: 4

Mortar Workability Apparatus: A New Approach
Gajda, JW
Consultant, principal engineer, and assistant engineer, Materials Research and Consulting, Construction Technology Laboratories (CTL), Inc., IL

Tresouthick, SW
Consultant, principal engineer, and assistant engineer, Materials Research and Consulting, Construction Technology Laboratories (CTL), Inc., IL

Dubovoy, VS
Consultant, principal engineer, and assistant engineer, Materials Research and Consulting, Construction Technology Laboratories (CTL), Inc., IL

Abstract

The ability to accurately determine the workability and board life of mortars has been an important goal of the cement industry. This paper describes a new approach for more accurate determinations of the workability and board life, as well as other mortar properties, which has recently been developed. This simple approach uses a computerized mechanical apparatus to numerically measure the properties of fresh mortar. Data derived from this method have been shown to correlate well with characteristics observed by a professional mason during parallel tests. This new device provides results that are more reproducible, reliable, and accurate than results from periodic penetration tests.

Keywords:
board life, center line average, fresh mortar, masonry, mortar properties, workability, workability apparatus, workability curve

Paper ID: CCA10592J
DOI: 10.1520/CCA10592J
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