Plastic State Concrete Data Entry for Commercial Testers
- Mark Elkomos
QEST Platform 5.0 Documentation
Applies to QESTField Tests
This article and the articles linked to from here describe the data entry process for plastic state concrete tests and measurements in QESTField Tests.
Contents
Overview
Plastic state concrete results are entered into QESTField through the use of the New Concrete Field Testing workflow. This workflow is quite flexible and fully featured, allowing results to be entered for different types of concrete as well as the registration of specimens created.
The data entry process for plastic state concrete results and measurements is broken up into a number of phases, presented on different pages of the workflow and described in further detail below:
- Product Information (PI)
- Field Data (FD)
- Technician Summary (TS)
Additionally, there are a number of optional phases that can be used to enter data:
- Mass per Unit Volume (MPUV)
- Consistency of Self Consolidating Concrete (SC, SCC)
- Consistency of High Workability Concrete (HWC)
Product Information
The first phase of the workflow allows for the entry of data related to the mix under test as well as general information about the testing itself.
| Field Prompt | Expected Information |
|---|---|
| Sample ID | Automatically generated ID for the sample under test. |
| Standard | The standards body that the sample and any specimens will be tested to. Examples:
|
| Consistency Measured By | See the Consistency Testing section for more information about this field. |
| Supplier | The supplier of the concrete. From QESTLab's concrete supplier list. |
| Plant | The plant that the concrete was batched at. From QESTLab's concrete plant list. |
| Product | The concrete product that was purchased. From QESTLab's concrete mixes list. Data associated with the selected product will be imported to the sample. |
| Mix Code | The underlying mix code of the purchased product, if known. From QESTLab's concrete mix code list. |
| Grade | The grade of the concrete under test |
| F'c (MPa) | The required compressive strength of the concrete under test |
| Flexural Grade | The flexural grade of the concrete under test, if applicable. |
| Flexural F'c (MPa) | The required flexural strength of the concrete under test, if applicable. |
| Design Strength (MPa) | Design strength of the concrete under test, can be higher than required strength. |
| Maximum Aggregate Size (mm) | The maximum aggregate size used in the concrete mix. |
| Design Slump (mm) | Shown if the Consistency Measured By field is set to Slump. Numeric field for the design slump value for the delivered mix in mm. |
| Design Grout Flow (s) | Shown if the Consistency Measured By field is set to Slump. Numeric field for the design grout flow value in seconds, if applicable (i.e. grout is under test). |
| Design Slump Flow (mm) | Shown if the Consistency Measured By field is set to Slump Flow (AS 1012.3.5), SCC (RMS B80) or HWC (RMS B80). Numeric field for the design slump flow value in mm. |
| Design T350 (s) | Shown if the Consistency Measured By field is set to Slump Flow (AS 1012.3.5) or SCC (RMS B80) Numeric field for the T500 value in seconds. |
| Design T500 (s) | Shown if the Consistency Measured By field is set to HWC (RMS B80) Numeric field for the T350 value in seconds. |
| Date Batched | The date batched. Setting the date batched (automatically or manually) will also set date cast to the same value if date cast is blank when date batched is set. |
| Time Batched | The time the concrete was batched. |
| Date Cast | The date cylinders were cast. This value may be set automatically to the work order work date, today's date or be left blank depending on the value of the concrete sample document level option named Default Date Using QESTField. Setting the date cast (automatically or manually) will also set date batched to the same value if date batched is blank when date cast is set. Document Level Options System Administrator user rights and access to the QEST Administrator Console are required in order to change the value of the Default Date Using QESTField concrete sample option. |
| Sampled By | The technician that sampled the fresh concrete. Automatically set to the currently logged in user but can be changed. The list is composed of People records in QESTLab that also have Field Technician status. A QESTLab login is not required for the name to appear in the list. |
| Sampling Location | Sampling location per AS 1012.1 Clause 6. |
| Sampling Procedure | The sampling procedure used. From QESTLab's Concrete Sampling Procedures list. |
| Compaction | Compaction method used for compressive strength specimens. From QESTLab's Concrete Compaction Method list. |
| Flexural Compaction | Compaction method used for flexural strength specimens. From QESTLab's Concrete Compaction Method list. |
| Grout Compaction | Compaction method used for grout specimens. From QESTLab's Concrete Compaction Method list. |
| Weather | The weather at time of test. From QESTLab's Weather list. |
Field Data
The field data phase of the workflow allows for the entry of test results, location information as well as information related to the creation of laboratory testing specimens.
General Data
| Field Prompt | Expected Information |
|---|---|
| Sample ID | Automatically generated ID for the sample under test. |
| Field Sheet Number | The field sheet number for the sample which will be used as the prefix for the individual specimen IDs for any specimens created on this concrete sample. This number can be automatically generated and may be read-only depending on the configuration used. The field sheet number can be
Field Sheet Number The behavior for the field sheet number field will be determined by configuration present in the QEST Administrator Console, which requires system administrator rights to access and the chosen setting will apply system wide. The desired behavior can be achieved by completing the following configuration:
|
| Truck | The truck number of the truck delivering the concrete. |
| Docket | The docket number for the batch. |
| Load Size (m³) | The load size in the truck in cubic metres. |
Progressive Load (m³) | The cumulative/progressive load size in cubic metres. |
| Location | The location that the concrete is being placed. |
| Water Added Before Test (L) | The amount of water, in litres, that was added to the concrete prior to sampling and testing. |
| Water Added After Test (L) | The amount of water, in litres, that was added to the concrete after sampling and testing. |
| Time Sampled | The time of sampling of the concrete. |
| Time Moulded | The time that specimens (if any) were moulded. |
| Thermometer | The thermometer used, from QESTLab's equipment registry. |
| Slump Cone | The slump cone used, from QESTLab's equipment registry. |
| Air Meter | The air meter used, from QESTLab's equipment registry. |
| Measured Slump (mm) | See the Consistency Testing section for more information about this field. |
| Second Slump (mm) | See the Consistency Testing section for more information about this field. |
| Super Plasticised Slump (mm) | See the Consistency Testing section for more information about this field. |
| Measured Grout Flow (s) | If grout is under test, the flow in seconds, if applicable. |
| Air Content Compaction | See the Air Content Testing section for more information about this field. |
| Air Pressure Gauge Reading 1 & 2 | See the Air Content Testing section for more information about this field. |
| Apparent Air Content (%) | See the Air Content Testing section for more information about this field. |
| Aggregate Correction (%) | See the Air Content Testing section for more information about this field. |
| Air Content (%) | See the Air Content Testing section for more information about this field. |
| Air Temperature (°C) | The measured air temperature, in degrees Celcius. |
| Concrete Temperature (°C) | The measured concrete temperature, in degrees Celcius. |
| Measured Density Method | See the Mass per Unit Volume Testing article for more information on this feature. |
| Sample Remarks | Remarks on the concrete sample. These will appear on the concrete test report. |
| Internal Remarks | A field for internal remarks that will not appear on the concrete test report. |
Specimens
For more information on the addition of specimens see Adding Specimens.
Consistency Testing
Slump Test
The most common consistency test is the slump test. Slump fields are available when Consistency Measured By is set to Slump on the Product Information phase. The slump test is the default test selected for the concrete field testing workflow.
| Field Prompt | Expected Information |
|---|---|
| Measured Slump (mm) | The measured slump. |
| Second Slump (mm) | The measured slump of a second slump test if the first test is invalid. This result will be taken as the slump measurement if it is present. |
| Super Plasticised Slump (mm) | The measured slump when a super plasticiser has been used. |
Slump Flow
Consistency testing for self-consolidating concrete, is available in the form of slump flow and related tests either according to AS 1012.3.5 or the RMS B80 specification using ASTM standards.
Availability
The availability of these other types of consistency testing is based on the tests licensed and made available at the laboratory where data entry is taking place.
For details on how to enter results for the relevant slump flow tests, refer to the articles below.
Slump Flow Testing (AS Standards)
Slump Flow Testing (per RMS B80)
Air Content Testing
The following fields permit data entry for air content results in accordance with AS 1012.4.2 Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete.
Field Prompt | Field Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Air Content Compaction | Dropdown | Sets the air content compaction method based on the Concrete Compaction Method list. AS 1012.4.2 requires that the type of compaction is recorded along with the number of strokes per layer if compacting by hand. The appropriate number of strokes per layer is dependent on the size of the bowl used as well as the slump result. |
| Air Gauge Readings | Number | Allows for entry of two air meter gauge readings. A warning is displayed if the readings are not within 0.2 of each other. Rounded to the nearest 0.1. |
| Apparent Air Content (%) | Number | The average of the Air Gauge Readings when calculated. Only calculates if both values are set and within 0.2 of each other. Rounded to the nearest 0.1. |
| Aggregate Correction (%) | Number | The aggregate correction factor determined in line with Clause 9 of AS 1012.2.4.2. Rounded to the nearest 0.1. |
| Air Content (%) | The difference between the Apparent Air Content (%) and the Aggregate Correction (%). Rounded to the nearest 0.2. |
Samples with Directly Entered Air Content Values
If a sample with a directly entered Air Content value is opened in QESTField, the Aggregate Correction is read-only to avoid overwriting existing data.
If both air gauge readings are entered the data will be overwritten and a new Air Content value calculated. The Aggregate Correction also becomes editable again. Similarly, if an air content child test had been added to the sample in QESTLab, these fields are read-only.
Technician Summary
The technician summary will present to the user the observation/test results entered on the previous phases. This phase is intended as a double check of entered data prior to continuing with further samples. It also provides some control around whether or not optional results are reported.
| Field Prompt | Expected Information |
|---|---|
| Report Air Content | If checked, the air content results will be reported on the concrete test report. |
| Report Air Content Compaction | If checked, the air content compaction procedure will be reported on the concrete test report. |
| Report Concrete Temperature (## °C) | If checked, the concrete temperature will be reported in the remarks section of the concrete test report. |
| Report Water Added Before Test (## L) | If checked, the remarks section of the concrete test report will state that water was added before testing. |
| Report Water Added After Test (## L) | If checked, the remarks section of the concrete test report will state that water was added after testing. |
| Report Slump Flow (### mm) | If slump flow testing was carried out, the user will have the option to report the slump flow. |
| Report T350 (#.# s) | If slump flow testing per the RMS B80 definition of HWC was carried out, the user will have the option to report the T350 result. |
| Report T500 (#.# s) | If slump flow testing per the AS or RMS B80 SCC definition was carried out, the user will have the option to report the T500 result. |
| Report VSI | If slump flow testing was carried out per RMS B80, the user will have the option to report the VSI result. |
| Report J-Ring Passing Ability (## mm) | If slump flow testing was carried out, the user will have the option to report the J-Ring result. |
| Report EN J-Ring Passing Ability (## mm) | If slump flow testing was carried out, the user will have the option to report the EN J-Ring result. |
| Report Penetration Depth (# mm) | If slump flow testing was carried out, the user will have the option to report the Penetration Depth result. |
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