BS 1881: Part 107: 1983

-. UDC 666.972.017:691.32:620.1
Reprinted, incorporating Amendments No. 1 and No. 2

British Standard

Testing concrete
Part 107. Method for determination of density of compacted fresh concrete

Essais du b&on
Partie 107. Mkhode de determination de la masse volumique du b&on frais compacte'

Priifverfahren fiir Beton

Teil 107. Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Dichte von verdichtetem Frischbeton

Foreword 3. Apparatus
This Part of this British Standard, prepared under the 3.1 Scales or balance. Scales or balance capable of
direction of the Cement, Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry weighing up to 50 kg to an accuracy of 25 g or better.
Products Standards Committee, is a revision of clause 5 of
BS 1881 : Part 2 : 1970. Testing in accordance with this The balance shall be calibrated on initial commissioning
Part of this standard will comply with ISO 6276. Together and at least annually thereafter using weights of which the
with Parts 102,103,104 and 106, this Part of BS 1881 accuracy can be traced to the national standard of mass.
supersedes BS 1881 : Part 2 : 1970, which is withdrawn. The balance shall be checked after relocation or disturbance.
If other methods of determining density are used, it needs A certificate stating the accuracy shall be obtained from the
to be demonstrated that the results obtained are comparable Organization carrying out the check.
with those obtained in the method described in this Part. 3.2 Container. A watertight container, of sufficient rigidity
No estimate of repeatability or reproducibility is given in to retain its shape, conforming to the dimensions specified
this Part of this British Standard. Reference should be made in table 1, made of metal not readily attacked by cement
to BS 5497 : Part 1 for further information on the paste, having a smooth internal face, the rim machined to a
determination of repeatability and reproducibility. plane surface, the rim and base at right angles to the axis
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself and provided with handles.
confer immunity from legal obligations.

Table 1. Dimensions of cylindrical container

1. Scope
This Part of this British Standard describes a method for
Nominal Inside inside Minimum Radius
determining the density of compacted fresh concrete. diameter height thickness between
capacity
The method applies to plain and air-entrained concrete, of metal wall and
made with lightweight, normal weight or heavy aggregates base
having a nominal maximum size of 40 mm or less, but not
to aerated concrete or very stiff concrete which cannot be m3 mm mm mm mm
compacted by vibration alone. Formulae are given for 0.01 200 zk 1.5 32Okl.5 4 20
calculating the volume of concrete per batch and the
cement content per cubic metre. 3.3 Scoop, as described in 3.1 of BS 1881 : Part 101 : 1983.
NOTE. The titles of publications referred to in this standard are
listed on page 3. 3.4 Compacting bar or vibrator. Compacting bar made
from iron or steel weighing 1.8 + 0.1 kg, at least 380 mm
2. Definitions long and having a ramming face 25.0 + 0.5 mm square, or a
vibrating hammer or table suitable for compacting the
For the purposes of this Part of this British Standard the
concrete in accordance with 7.2 or 7.3.
definitions given in BS 5328 and BS 1881 : Part 101 apply
together with the following. 3.5 Plasterer’s steel float.
density. The mass of a quantity of compacted fresh concrete 3.6 Straightedge, made of steel, not less than 300 mm in
divided by its volume, expressed in kilograms per cubic length.
metre. 3.7 Glass pipette (if required), of known volume.
 BS 1881 : Part 107 : 1983

3.8 Sampling tray, minimum dimensions 900 mm x 7. Procedure

900 mm x 50 mm deep of rigid construction and made 7.1 General. Fill the container with concrete in such a way
from a non-absorbent material not readily attacked by as to remove as much entrapped air as possible (without
cement paste. significantly reducing the amount of entrained air, if present)
3.9 Square mouthed shovel, size 2 in accordance with and to produce full compaction of the concrete with neither
BS 3388. excessive segregation nor laitance. For this purpose,
by means of the scoop, place the concrete in the container
4. Calibration of the container in six layers approximately equal in depth and compact
Weigh the empty container, place it on a horizontal surface each layer by using either the compacting bar or the vibrator
and fill with water at a temperature of 20 ?: 5 ‘C so that no in the manner described in 7.2 or 7.3. After the top layer
meniscus is above the rim. If necessary, remove by means of has been compacted, smooth it level with the top of the
a pipette, sufficient known volume of water to allow the container, using the plasterer’s float, skim the surface with
container to be lifted and placed on the balance platform the straightedge and wipe clean the outside of the container.
without loss of water. Weigh the container and water. Weigh the container and its contents to the nearest 10 g,
Add the mass of any removed water to the mass of the and by subtracting the mass of the empty container calculate
water remaining in the container. Calculate the capacity of and record the mass of the fullycompacted concrete to the
the container by dividing the mass of water, to the nearest nearest 10 g.
0.01 kg, required to fill the container, by 1000 kg/m3. 7.2 Compacting with compacting bar. When compacting
Express the capacity to nearest 0.00001 m3. each layer with the compacting bar, distribute the strokes
Calibrate the container before initial use and at least of the compacting bar in a uniform manner over the cross
I annually thereafter . section of the container, and ensure that the compacting
bar does not penetrate significantly any previous layer nor
5. Sampling forcibly strike the bottom of the container when compacting
Obtain the sample of fresh concrete by the procedure given the first layer. The number of strokes per layer required to
produce full compaction will depend upon the workability
in BS 1881 : Part 101 or Part 125. Commence the deter-
mination of the density as soon as possible after sampling. of the concrete but in no case shall the concrete be
subjected to fewer than 80 strokes per layer. Record the
number of strokes.
6. Preparing the sample for test
7.3 Compacting with vibrator. When compacting each layer
Empty the sample from the container(s) onto the sampling
by means of the vibrating hammer or table use applied
tray. Ensure that no more than a light covering of slurry is
vibration of the minimum duration necessary to achieve full
left adhering to the container(s).
compaction of the concrete. Over-vibration may cause
Thoroughly mix the sample by shovelling it to form a cone excessive segregation and laitance or loss of entrained air,
on the sampling tray and turning this over with the shovel if present. The required duration of vibration will depend.
to form a new cone, the operation being carried out three upon the workability of the concrete and the effectiveness
times. When forming the cones, deposit each shovelful of of the vibrator and vibration shall cease as soon as the
the material on the apex of the cone so that the portions surface of the concrete becomes relatively smooth and has a
which slide down the sides are distributed as evenly as glazed appearance. Record the duration of vibration.
possible and so that the centre of the cone is not displaced.
Flatten the third cone by repeated vertical insertion of the
shovel across the apex of the cone, lifting the shovel clear 8. Calculation and expression of results
of the concrete after each insertion. 8.1 Calculation of density. Calculate the density, D,
NOTE. The following modifications to the mixing procedures may (in kg/m3) from the formula:
be necessary when preparing samples of very high workability
m
concrete (e.g. superplasticized concrete) for test. D=v
.,r

(a) Sampling tray. The vertical lips on the edges of the tray may
have to be larger to contain the sample without spillage during where:
mixing.
(b) Mixing the sample. The coning procedure is not suitable for m is the mass of the concrete sample in the container
very high workability concrete and the following alternative (in kg);
method of mixing is recommended. Having poured the concrete V is the capacity of the container (in m3 I.
onto the sampling tray, use the shovel to turn the concrete from
the outside toward the centre, working progressively once round Express the result to the nearest 10 kg/m3.
all sides of the sampling tray.

Caution. When cement is mixed with water, alkali is 8.2 Precision. Precision data are given in table 2. These
apply to density measurements made on concrete taken
released. Take precautions to avoid dry cement entering
from the same sample and when each test result is
the eyes, mouth and nose when mixing concrete. Prevent
obtained a single density determination.
skin contact with wet cement or concrete by wearing
suitable protective clothing. If cement or concrete enters
the eye, immediately wash it out thoroughly with clean
water and seek medical treatment without delay. Wash wet
concrete off the skin immediately.

2
 BS1881 :Part 107: 1983

Table 2. Precision data for density of fresh 8.4 Calculation of cement content. If the cement content, 1
concrete measurements C, (in kg/m3 ) of the fresh concrete is required, calculate it
from the formula (see 8.2 for definition of symbols):
Range Repeatability Reproducibility Dmc
conditions conditions orC=
c=z m, tm, +m, +m,
Sr r SR R Express the result to the nearest 5 kgh3.

kg/m’ kg/m3 kg/m3 kg/m3 kg/m3 9. Report

2300 t o 2400 5.5 15 10.2 29 9.1 General. The report shall affirm that the density was
determined in accordance with this Part of this British
NOTE 1. The precision data were determined as part of an Standard. The report shall also state whether or not a
experiment carried out in 1987 in which precision data were certificate of sampling is available. If available a copy of the
obtained for several of the tests described in BS 1881. The certificate shall be provided.
experiment involved 16 operators. The concretes were made
using en ordinary Portland cement, Thames Valley sand, and 9.2 Information to be included in the report
Thames Valley 10 mm and 20 mm coarse aggregates. 9.2.1 Mandatory information. The following information
NOTE 2. The difference between two test results from the same shall be included in the test report:
sample by one operator using the same apparatus within the
shortest feasible time interval will exceed the repeatability valuer (a) date, time and place of sampling and sample identity
on average not more than once in 20 cases in the normal and correct number;
operation of the method. (b) time and place of test;
NOTE 3. Test results on the same sample obtained within the
shortest feasible time interval by two operators each using their (c) capacity of container and date of latest calibration:
own apparatus will differ by the reproducibility value R on average (d) method of compaction (hand or vibration) including
not more than once in 20 cases in the normal and correct operation
type of equipment used, the number of strokes of the
of the method.
compacting bar or the duration of vibration;
NOTE 4. For further information on precision, and for definitions
of the statistical terms used in connection with precision, see (e) density of compacted sample;
BS 5497 : Part 1. (f) name of person carrying out test.
8.3 Calculation of volume of concrete per batch. If the 9.2.2 Optional information. If requested the following
volume of concrete produced per batch, vb, is required, information shall be included in the test report:
calculate it (in m3) from the formula: (a) name of project and place where concrete was used;
m,+m,tm,+m, (b) name of supplier and source of concrete;
v,, =
D (c) date and time of production of concrete or delivery
where: to site;
ma is the mass per batch of coarse aggregate in (d) specification of concrete mix (e.g. strength grade and
condition used (in kg); nominal air content);
m, is the mass per batch of cement (in kg); (e) workability of the concrete;
(f) volume of concrete per batch;
---i m, is the mass per batch of fine aggregate in condition
used (in kg); (g) cement content of the concrete.
m, is the mass of mixing water added to batch (in kg);
D is the density of fully-compacted fresh concrete
(in kg/m3 ).
Express the result to an accuracy of 1 %.

Publications referred to
BS 1881 Testing concrete
Part 101 Sampling fresh concrete on site
*Part 102 Method for determination of slump
*Part 103 Method for determination of compacting factor
*Part 104 Method for determination of Vebe time
*Part 106 Methods for determination of air content of fresh concrete
Part 125 Methods for mixing and sampling fresh concrete in the laboratory
BS 3388 Forks, shovels and spades
BS 5328 Methods for specifying concrete, including ready-mixed concrete
BS 5497. Precision of test methods
Part 1 Guide for the determination of repeatability and reproducibility for a standard test method
IS0 6276, Concrete, compacted fresh - Determination of density

*Referred to in the foreword only.

3
 BS 1881: Part 107: 1983
This British Standard, having been prepared under the direction of implementing the standard, of necessary details such as symbols and
the Cement, Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards size, type or grade designations. Enquiries should be addressed to
Committee, was published under the authority of the Board of BSI the Publications Manager, BSI. Linford Wood, Milton Keynes
and comes into effect on 31 May 1983. MK14 6LE. The number for telephone enquiries is 0908 220022
0 British Standards Institution, 1983 and for telex 825777.
ISBN 0 580 11926 2 Contract requirements. A British Standard does not purport to
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Committee reference CAB/4 Draft for comment 81/1 2319 DC Standards are responsible for their correct application.

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Committees responsible for this British Standard

This British Standard was published under the direction of the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors
Cement, Gypsum, Aggregates end Quarry Products Standards Greater London Council
Committee CAB/ - . Its preparation was entrusted to Technical Institute of Concrete Technology
Committee CAB/4 upon which the following bodies were Institution of Civil Engineers
represented: Institution of Highway Engineers
British Aggregate Construction Materials Industries Institution of Municipal Engineers
British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd. Institution of Structural Engineers
British Ready Mixed Concrete Association Institution of Water Engineers and Scientists
Cement Admixtures Association National Federation of Building Trades Employers
Cement and Concrete Association Royal Institute of British Architects
Cement Makers’ Federation Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Concrete Society Limited Sand and Gravel Association Limited
County Surveyor’s Society Society of Chemical Industry
Department of the Environment (PSA)
Department of the Environment (Building Research Establishment) The following bodies were also represented in the drafting of the
Department of the Environment (Transport and Road Research standard, through subcommittees and panels:
Laboratory) British Civil Engineering Test Equipment Manufacturers’
Department of Transport Association
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Wales Coopted members

Amendments issued since publication

Amd. No. Date of issue Text affected

6085 31 July 1989 Indicated by a line in the margin

6722 31 July 1991 Indicated by a line in the margin

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