BRITISH STANDARD BS 1881-107:

1983
Reprinted,
incorporating
Amendments No.1
and No.2

Testing concrete —
Part 107: Method for determination of
density of compacted fresh concrete

UDC 666.972.017:691.32:620.1
BS 1881-107:1983

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

This British Standard was published under the direction of the Cement,
Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Committee CAB/-. Its
preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee CAB/4 upon which the
following bodies were represented:

British Aggregate Construction Materials Industries

British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd.
British Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Cement Admixtures Association
Cement and Concrete Association
Cement Makers’ Federation
Concrete Society Limited
County Surveyor’s Society
Department of the Environment (PSA)
Department of the Environment (Building Research Establishment)
Department of the Environment (Transport and Road Research Laboratory)
Department of Transport
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Wales
Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors
Greater London Council
Institute of Concrete Technology
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Highway Engineers
Institution of Municipal Engineers
Institution of Structural Engineers
Institution of Water Engineers and Scientists
National Federation of Building Trades Employers
Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Sand and Gravel Association Limited
Society of Chemical Industry

The following bodies were also represented in the drafting of the standard,
through subcommittees and panels:

British Civil Engineering Test Equipment Manufacturers’ Association

Coopted members

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Cement,
Gypsum, Aggregates and
Quarry Products Standards
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Board of BSI and comes
into effect on Amendments issued since publication
31 May 1983

© BSI 11-1998 Amd. No. Date of issue Comments

6085 July 1989

The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard: 6722 July 1991 Indicated by a sideline in the margin
Committee reference CAB/4
Draft for comment 81/12319 DC

ISBN 0 580 11926 2

 BS 1881-107:1983

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 Apparatus 1
4 Calibration of the container 1
5 Sampling 1
6 Preparing the sample for test 1
7 Procedure 2
8 Calculation and expression of results 2
9 Report 3
Table 1 — Dimensions of cylindrical container 1
Table 2 — Precision data for density of fresh concrete measurements 3
Publications referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 11-1998 i
BS 1881-107:1983

Foreword

This Part of this British Standard, prepared under the direction of the Cement,
Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Committee, is a revision of
clause 5 of BS 1881-2:1970. Testing in accordance with this Part of this standard
will comply with ISO 6276. Together with Parts 102, 103, 104 and 106, this Part
of BS 1881 supersedes BS 1881-2:1970, which is withdrawn. If other methods of
determining density are used, it needs to be demonstrated that the results
obtained are comparable with those obtained in the method described in this
Part.
No estimate of repeatability or reproducibility is given in this Part of this British
Standard. Reference should be made to BS 5497-1 for further information on the
determination of repeatability and reproducibility.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 4, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

ii © BSI 11-1998
 BS 1881-107:1983

1 Scope 3.4 Compacting bar or vibrator. Compacting bar

made from iron or steel weighing 1.8 ± 0.1 kg, at
This Part of this British Standard describes a
least 380 mm long and having a ramming
method for determining the density of compacted
face 25.0 ± 0.5 mm square, or a vibrating hammer
fresh concrete. The method applies to plain and
or table suitable for compacting the concrete in
air-entrained concrete, made with lightweight, accordance with 7.2 or 7.3.
normal weight or heavy aggregates having a
nominal maximum size of 40 mm or less, but not to 3.5 Plasterer’s steel float.
aerated concrete or very stiff concrete which cannot 3.6 Straightedge, made of steel, not less
be compacted by vibration alone. Formulae are than 300 mm in length.
given for calculating the volume of concrete per
3.7 Glass pipette (if required), of known volume.
batch and the cement content per cubic metre.
NOTE The titles of publications referred to in this standard are 3.8 Sampling tray, minimum
listed on inside back cover. dimensions 900 mm × 900 mm × 50 mm deep of
rigid construction and made from a non-absorbent
2 Definitions material not readily attacked by cement paste.
For the purposes of this Part of this British 3.9 Square mouthed shovel, size 2 in accordance
Standard the definitions given in BS 5328 and with BS 3388.
BS 1881-101 apply together with the following.
density
4 Calibration of the container
the mass of a quantity of compacted fresh concrete Weigh the empty container, place it on a horizontal
divided by its volume, expressed in kilograms per surface and fill with water at a temperature
cubic metre of 20 ± 5 °C so that no meniscus is above the rim. If
necessary, remove by means of a pipette, sufficient
3 Apparatus known volume of water to allow the container to be
lifted and placed on the balance platform without
3.1 Scales or balance. Scales or balance capable of loss of water. Weigh the container and water. Add
weighing up to 50 kg to an accuracy of 25 g or better. the mass of any removed water to the mass of the
The balance shall be calibrated on initial water remaining in the container. Calculate the
commissioning and at least annually thereafter capacity of the container by dividing the mass of
using weights of which the accuracy can be traced to water, to the nearest 0.01 kg, required to fill the
the national standard of mass. The balance shall be container, by 1 000 kg/m3. Express the capacity to
checked after relocation or disturbance. A certificate nearest 0.00001 m3.
stating the accuracy shall be obtained from the Calibrate the container before initial use and at
organization carrying out the check. least annually thereafter.
3.2 Container. A watertight container, of sufficient
rigidity to retain its shape, conforming to the 5 Sampling
dimensions specified in Table 1, made of metal not Obtain the sample of fresh concrete by the
readily attacked by cement paste, having a smooth procedure given in BS 1881-101 or BS 1881-125.
internal face, the rim machined to a plane surface, Commence the determination of the density as soon
the rim and base at right angles to the axis and as possible after sampling.
provided with handles.
Table 1 — Dimensions of cylindrical container 6 Preparing the sample for test
Nominal Inside Inside Minimum Radius Empty the sample from the container(s) onto the
capacity diameter height thickness between sampling tray. Ensure that no more than a light
of metal wall and
base covering of slurry is left adhering to the
container(s).
m3 mm mm mm mm

0.01 200 ± 1.5 320 ± 1.5 4 20

3.3 Scoop, as described in 3.1 of

BS 1881-101:1983.

© BSI 11-1998 1
BS 1881-107:1983

Thoroughly mix the sample by shovelling it to form 7.2 Compacting with compacting bar. When
a cone on the sampling tray and turning this over compacting each layer with the compacting bar,
with the shovel to form a new cone, the operation distribute the strokes of the compacting bar in a
being carried out three times. When forming the uniform manner over the cross section of the
cones, deposit each shovelful of the material on the container, and ensure that the compacting bar does
apex of the cone so that the portions which slide not penetrate significantly any previous layer nor
down the sides are distributed as evenly as possible forcibly strike the bottom of the container when
and so that the centre of the cone is not displaced. compacting the first layer. The number of strokes
Flatten the third cone by repeated vertical insertion per layer required to produce full compaction will
of the shovel across the apex of the cone, lifting the depend upon the workability of the concrete but in
shovel clear of the concrete after each insertion. no case shall the concrete be subjected to fewer
NOTE The following modifications to the mixing procedures than 60 strokes per layer. Record the number of
may be necessary when preparing samples of very high strokes.
workability concrete (e.g. superplasticized concrete) for test.
a) Sampling tray. The vertical lips on the edges of the tray 7.3 Compacting with vibrator. When compacting
may have to be larger to contain the sample without spillage each layer by means of the vibrating hammer or
during mixing. table use applied vibration of the minimum
b) Mixing the sample. The coning procedure is not suitable for duration necessary to achieve full compaction of the
very high workability concrete and the following alternative
method of mixing is recommended. Having poured the concrete. Over-vibration may cause excessive
concrete onto the sampling tray, use the shovel to turn the segregation and laitance or loss of entrained air, if
concrete from the outside toward the centre, working present. The required duration of vibration will
progressively once round all sides of the sampling tray. depend upon the workability of the concrete and the
CAUTION. When cement is mixed with water, effectiveness of the vibrator and vibration shall
alkali is released. Take precautions to avoid dry cease as soon as the surface of the concrete becomes
cement entering the eyes, mouth and nose when relatively smooth and has a glazed appearance.
mixing concrete. Prevent skin contact with wet Record the duration of vibration.
cement or concrete by wearing suitable protective
clothing. If cement or concrete enters the eye, 8 Calculation and expression of results
immediately wash it out thoroughly with clean
water and seek medical treatment without delay. 8.1 Calculation of density. Calculate the density,
Wash wet concrete off the skin immediately. D, (in kg/m3) from the formula:
m
7 Procedure D = -----
V
7.1 General. Fill the container with concrete in where:
such a way as to remove as much entrapped air as m is the mass of the concrete sample in the
possible (without significantly reducing the amount container (in kg);
of entrained air, if present) and to produce full
compaction of the concrete with neither excessive V is the capacity of the container (in m3).
segregation nor laitance. For this purpose, by means
of the scoop, place the concrete in the container in Express the result to the nearest 10 kg/m3.
six layers approximately equal in depth and
compact each layer by using either the compacting
bar or the vibrator in the manner described in 7.2
or 7.3. After the top layer has been compacted,
smooth it level with the top of the container, using
the plasterer’s float, skim the surface with the
straightedge and wipe clean the outside of the
container. Weigh the container and its contents to
the nearest 10 g, and by subtracting the mass of the
empty container calculate and record the mass of
the fully-compacted concrete to the nearest 10 g.

2 © BSI 11-1998
 BS 1881-107:1983

8.2 Precision. Precision data are given in Table 2. 8.4 Calculation of cement content. If the cement
These apply to density measurements made on content, C, (in kg/m3) of the fresh concrete is
concrete taken from the same sample and when required, calculate it from the formula (see 8.2 for
each test result is obtained a single density definition of symbols):
determination.
m D mc
Table 2 — Precision data for density of fresh C = -------c- or C = --------------------------------------------------------
-
concrete measurements Vb mc + ms + ma + mw
Range Repeatability Reproducibility Express the result to the nearest 5 kg/m3.
conditions conditions

sr r sR R 9 Report
kg/m3 kg/m3 kg/m3 kg/m3 kg/m3 9.1 General. The report shall affirm that the
density was determined in accordance with this
2 300 to 2 400 5.5 15 10.2 29 Part of this British Standard. The report shall also
NOTE 1 The precision data were determined as part of an state whether or not a certificate of sampling is
experiment carried out in 1987 in which precision data were available. If available a copy of the certificate shall
obtained for several of the tests described in BS 1881. The be provided.
experiment involved 16 operators. The concretes were made
using an 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
NOTE 2 The difference between two test results from the same
sample by one operator using the same apparatus within the information shall be included in the test report:
shortest feasible time interval will exceed the repeatability value a) date, time and place of sampling and sample
r on average not more than once in 20 cases in the normal and
correct operation of the method.
identity number;
NOTE 3 Test results on the same sample obtained within the b) time and place of test;
shortest feasible time interval by two operators each using their
own apparatus will differ by the reproducibility value R on c) capacity of container and date of latest
average not more than once in 20 cases in the normal and correct calibration;
operation of the method.
d) method of compaction (hand or vibration)
NOTE 4 For further information on precision, and for
definitions of the statistical terms used in connection with including type of equipment used, the number of
precision, see BS 5497-1. strokes of the compacting bar or the duration of
8.3 Calculation of volume of concrete per vibration;
batch. If the volume of concrete produced per batch, e) density of compacted sample;
Vb, is required, calculate it (in m3) from the formula: f) name of person carrying out test.
mc + ms + ma + mw 9.2.2 Optional information. If requested the
V b = --------------------------------------------------------
-
D following information shall be included in the test
report:
where:
ma is the mass per batch of coarse aggregate in a) name of project and place where concrete was
condition used (in kg); used;
mc is the mass per batch of cement (in kg); b) name of supplier and source of concrete;
c) date and time of production of concrete or
ms is the mass per batch of fine aggregate in
delivery to site;
condition used (in kg);
d) specification of concrete mix (e.g. strength
mw is the mass of mixing water added to batch
grade and nominal air content);
(in kg);
e) workability of the concrete;
D is the density of fully-compacted fresh
f) volume of concrete per batch;
concrete (in kg/m3).
g) cement content of the concrete.
Express the result to an accuracy of 1 %.

© BSI 11-1998 3
4 blank
 BS 1881-107:1983

Publications referred to

BS 1881, Testing concrete.

BS 1881-101, Sampling fresh concrete on site.
BS 1881-102, Method for determination of slump1).
BS 1881-103, Method for determination of compacting factor1).
BS 1881-104, Method for determination of Vebe time1).
BS 1881-106, Methods for determination of air content of fresh concrete1).
BS 1881-125, 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 methods1).
BS 5497-1, Guide for the determination of repeatability and reproducibility for a standard test method1).
ISO 6276, Concrete, compacted fresh — Determination of density.

1) Referred to in the foreword only.

© BSI 11-1998
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