Top 10 Must-Have Concrete Testing Lab Equipment

To ensure reliable and precise results, having the right equipment in your concrete lab is essential. Below is a detailed guide to the key pieces of concrete testing equipment that are indispensable for any concrete laboratory:

A key piece of equipment in any concrete testing lab is the compression testing machine which assesses the compressive strength of concrete specimens. It evaluates how much pressure concrete can withstand before breaking. UTEST’s Compression Testing Machines are popular for their accuracy, durability, and ability to handle a wide range of sample sizes.

The UTEST Automatic Compression Testing Machines (models UTC-4701.FPR, UTC-4702.FPR, and others) are designed for testing the compressive strength of materials like concrete according to ASTM and AASHTO standards. These machines ensure safety, meeting CE norms for operator health, and allow even inexperienced users to perform tests with ease.

Key features include:

• Automatic test execution with closed-loop control

• Pace rate control from 1 kN to 25 kN

• Easy setup with a touch screen display on the U-Touch PRO Control Unit

• Integration with UTEST software for enhanced reporting and test management

• High accuracy load measurement with a pressure transducer and hydraulic pump

• Safety features such as emergency stop buttons and maximum pressure valves

• Models come with different capacities (600 kN to 3000 kN) and offer additional optional frames for flexure testing. The machines are compatible with various specimen sizes and feature durable welded steel frames.

To create test specimens, you'll need a concrete mixer. Lab-scale mixers allow for the precise mixing of small concrete batches to prepare standard test specimens. These machines ensure that all components, cement, water, aggregates are mixed homogeneously.

The Pan Type Concrete Mixer is designed for efficient mixing of both dry and wet materials, ensuring high-quality concrete specimens. It complies with EN 1766 standards and features a removable mixing pan with a total volume of 108 liters, but an effective mixing capacity of 56/40 liters. The pan can tilt for easy access and emptying, and the UTC-0751 model includes a frequency controller for adjusting the pan's turning speed.

Key features include:

• Mixer head lifts for maximum access to the pan

• Constant depth mixing blades

• Rubber wheels for portability

• Non-corrosive galvanized or painted parts

• IP55 protection class

• Both models, UTC-0750 and UTC-0751, have dimensions of 950x1050x1250 mm, weigh 255 kg, and operate with a 1500W power supply.

Flexural Testing Accessories are designed to facilitate various flexural tests on concrete beams, kerbs, paving flags, and terrazzo tiles. These accessories conform to international standards such as EN, ASTM, and BS, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

Key products include:

• UTC-5501 Flexural Testing Assembly for Concrete Beams: For center or two-point (third-point loading) flexural tests on concrete beams. Adjustable roller distances and versatile loading configurations make it adaptable for multiple beam sizes.

• UTC-5502 Flexural Testing Assembly for Concrete Kerbs: Specially designed for testing concrete kerbs with adjustable roller spacing.

• UTC-5504 Flexural Test Assembly: Ideal for testing concrete paving flags, terrazzo tiles, and natural stone slabs. It features adjustable lower rollers and conforms to several standards for paving and kerb tests.

• UTC-5506 & UTC-5507 Auxiliary Testing Frames: These frames measure deflection during flexure tests on concrete beams and can be used with UTEST flexural testing frames. They support both displacement and load-controlled tests, depending on the frame model and power pack used.

Additional components, such as distance pieces, upper and lower platens, and displacement transducers, are available to customize the testing setup based on specific requirements for concrete beam or block testing.

Each accessory is designed for use with UTEST flexural testing frames, ensuring compatibility and precise results.

Drying ovens are essential in concrete labs due to their performance in drying various materials like asphalt, soil, rock, and aggregates. Their precision temperature control and fan-circulated forced convection ensure uniform drying, critical for preparing accurate test samples. The durable construction, stainless steel interior, and robust sheet steel exterior with powder coating make it resilient for long-term use in harsh lab environments.

The UTEST Digital Laboratory Ovens feature a PID digital control system, fan circulation, and a temperature range from ambient to 200°C. The oven has a stainless steel interior, adjustable shelves, and complies with industry standards like ASTM and EN.

Proper curing is critical to achieving the desired strength in concrete. Curing tanks are used to store concrete specimens at controlled temperatures and humidity levels to ensure proper hydration and curing.

The Perfa-Cure Concrete Curing Box is a lightweight, portable storage solution for maintaining optimal initial curing temperatures of concrete test specimens. Designed to comply with ASTM C31 and AASHTO T 23 standards, it ensures temperatures between 60° to 80°F (16° to 27°C).

This durable curing box has tie-down slots for secure transport and a rubber gasket to maintain stable internal temperatures. It features easily replaceable heater panels and cooling units, along with a max-min thermometer for temperature monitoring. The Elite Xtreme model provides both heating and cooling, making it suitable for year-round use by automatically switching between heating and cooling based on external conditions. It has a 165qt (156L) capacity, holding up to ten 6x12in or forty-eight 4x8in concrete cylinders.

Key features include reliable temperature control, ASTM and AASHTO compliance, and portability. 

The Vicat Apparatus is part of this list due to its ability to determine the setting times of cement, mortar, and gypsum. It measures the depth of needle penetration into a sample, which decreases as the material hardens. This measurement helps assess the material’s initial and final setting times, ensuring quality control and adherence to standards.

The Automatic Vicat Apparatus by UTEST features a needle that drops into a cement sample at fixed intervals, with penetration depth measured by a sensor. It conforms to various standards and offers a large touch screen, remote PC connectivity, and optional integrated printer. The machine’s advanced electronics and ergonomic design simplify use, while its network capability allows up to 32 units to be controlled remotely, enhancing lab productivity.

The Splitting Tensile Test Device is crucial in a concrete lab because it assesses the tensile strength of concrete, which is vital for determining the material's durability and performance under tension. This device measures the splitting tensile strength of cylindrical specimens (Ø150x300 mm and Ø160x320 mm) and concrete block pavers. It complies with standards like EN 1338, 12390-6, and ASTM C496, and attaches easily to compression machines without removing the upper platen or spherical seat.

TheConcrete Permeability Test Apparatus is designed to measure the permeability of concrete, which is crucial for assessing its durability and resistance to water and ion penetration. Permeability tests help determine how easily fluids or ions can pass through the concrete, providing insights into its overall quality and longevity in various environmental conditions.

Rapid Chloride Permeability Test Equipment (RCPT) is used to assess the resistance of concrete to chloride ion penetration. This test is particularly important for understanding how well concrete can resist corrosion caused by chloride ions, which are commonly found in de-icing salts and seawater.

Key Features:

• Function: The RCPT evaluates concrete's chloride permeability by measuring the amount of charge passed through a concrete sample. The test involves placing a 100 mm diameter concrete cylinder in a cell •filled with a 3.0% salt solution and a 0.3 N sodium hydroxide solution.

Voltage: A constant DC voltage of 60 V is applied across the sample.

Measurement: The equipment records the total charge passed through the concrete, which is used to rate its permeability qualitatively.

Standards: Conforms to ASTM C 1202 and ASTM C 1760.

Temperature Measurement Range: 0-100°C

This apparatus provides a comprehensive method for assessing concrete's resistance to chloride ion penetration, ensuring that the material meets required durability standards.

The Aggregate Crushing Value Apparatus is crucial in a concrete lab because it measures the resistance of aggregate to crushing under a compressive load. This test provides an indication of the aggregate's strength and durability, which are essential properties for concrete's performance. A lower ACV indicates better resistance to crushing and thus better aggregate quality, which contributes to the overall strength and longevity of the concrete mix. Ensuring aggregates have high resistance to crushing helps in producing durable and reliable concrete structures.

TheAggregate Crushing Value (ACV) Test Set includes a steel cylinder, plunger, base plate, cylindrical measure, and tamping rod, all of which are made from powder-coated or galvanized steel and are heat-treated and ground for enhanced durability and reliability. For aggregates smaller than 10 mm, a specialized 75 mm diameter cylinder and associated equipment are available. The ACV Test Set adheres to the standards BS 812:110 and BS 812-11 and is also used for determining the Ten Percent Fines Value (TFV) according to BS 812:111. The set is provided in two versions: the UTA-0630, with dimensions of 250x250x600 mm and a weight of approximately 29 kg, and the UTA-0640, with dimensions of 120x120x350 mm and a weight of around 6 kg.