Designation: C 939 – 97

Standard Test Method for

Flow of Grout for Preplaced-Aggregate Concrete (Flow Cone
Method)1
This standard is issued under the fixe designation C 939; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This specificatio has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope 4. Significanc and Use

1.1 This test method covers a procedure, used both in the 4.1 This test method is applicable to the determination of
laboratory and in the field for determining the time of efflux of the fluidit of various flui grout mixtures.
a specifie volume of flui hydraulic cement grout through a
standardized flo cone and used for preplaced-aggregate (PA) 5. Interferences
concrete; however, the test method may also be used for other 5.1 The presence of solid particles retained on the 2.36-mm
flui grouts. (No. 8) sieve or lumps of unmixed material in the grout may
1.2 It is for use with neat grout and with grouts containing cause the grout to flo unevenly through the discharge tube of
fin aggregate all passing a 2.36-mm (No. 8) sieve. the flo cone or stop the flo completely. Uneven flo will
1.3 This test method is intended for use with grout having result in slower transit of the grout, thereby indicating a false
an efflux time of 35 s or less. consistency.
1.4 When efflux time exceeds 35 s, flowabilit is better
determined by flo table, found in Test Method C 109, using 5 6. Apparatus
drops in 3 s. 6.1 Flow Cone, with dimensions as shown in Fig. 1. The
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the discharge tube shall be stainless steel. The body can be
standard. stainless steel, cast aluminum, or other essentially noncorrod-
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the ing metal.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the NOTE 1—Cones with high-density polyethylene bodies are acceptable
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- for fiel use in situations where precision as described in this test method
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- is not required.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 6.2 Receiving Container, capacity 2000 mL, minimum.
2. Referenced Documents 6.3 Ring Stand or other device, capable of supporting the
flo cone in a vertical, steady position over the receiving
2.1 ASTM Standards: container.
C 109/C109MTest Method for Compressive Strength of 6.4 Level, carpenter’s or similar.
Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. or 50-mm Cube 6.5 Stop Watch, least reading of not more than 0.2 s.
Specimens)2 6.6 Grout Mixer, conforming to Practice C 938.
C 938 Practice for Proportioning Grout Mixtures for
Preplaced-Aggregate Concrete3 7. Test Sample
3. Summary of Test Method 7.1 The grout test sample shall be in excess of 1725 mL and
shall be representative of the grout in the mixer.
3.1 The time of efflux of a specifie volume of grout from a
7.2 When sampling and testing is being done for the
standardized flo cone is measured.
purpose of proportioning or comparing mixes or for qualifying
materials, the temperature of the dry materials and mixing
water shall be such that the temperature of the freshly mixed
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committe C-9 on Concrete grout is 73.4 6 3°F (23 6 1.7°C), unless otherwise specified
and Concrete Aggregatesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C 09.41 on
Concrete for Radiation Shielding. 8. Calibration of Apparatus
Current edition approved July 10, 1997. Published June 1998. Originally
published as C 939 – 81. Last previous edition C 939 – 94a. 8.1 Mount the flo cone firml in such a manner that it is
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01. free of vibration. Level the top to assure verticality. Close the
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 C 939

NOTE 1—Other means of indicating grout level may be used as long as accurate indication of grout level on volume is obtained.
FIG. 1 Cross Section of Flow Cone

outlet of the discharge tube with a finge or a stopper. Introduce into the top of the cone; if the grout has passed sufficiently,
1725 6 5 mL of water into the cone. Adjust the point gage to such that light is visible through the discharge tube, the time
indicate the level of the water surface. Then allow the water to indicated by the stop watch is the time of efflux of the grout. If
drain. light is not visible through the discharge tube, then the use of
8.2 Before firs use of the flo cone with grout and the flo cone is not applicable for grout of this consistency. At
periodically thereafter, check the accuracy of the cone by least two tests having times of efflux within 1.8 s of their
fillin it with water as described in 8.1. After checking or average shall be made for each grout mixture.
adjusting the point gage, start the stop watch and simulta- 9.2 The test for time of efflux shall be made within 1 min of
neously remove the finge . Stop the watch at the firs break in drawing of the grout from the mixer or transmission line. When
the continuous flo of water. The time indicated by the stop grout is being placed over a significan period of time, the time
watch is the time of efflux of water. If this time is 8.0 6 0.2 s, of efflux may be determined at selected intervals to demon-
the cone may be used for determining the time of efflux of strate that the consistency is suitable for the work.
grout.
10. Report
9. Procedure
10.1 Report the following information:
9.1 Moisten the inside of the flo cone by fillin the cone
with water and, 1 min before introducing the grout sample, 10.1.1 Identificatio of sample,
allow the water to drain from the cone. Close the outlet of the 10.1.2 Identificatio of materials in the sample, the propor-
discharge tube with a finge or a stopper. Introduce the grout tions, and whether laboratory-prepared or taken from the fiel
into the cone until the grout surface rises to contact the point production mix,
gage, start the stop watch, and simultaneously remove the 10.1.3 Average time of efflux to nearest 0.2 s and time
finge or stopper. Stop the watch at the firs break in the interval from completion of mixing at which the test was made,
continuous flo of grout from the discharge tube, then look and

2
 C 939
10.1.4 Temperature, ambient and of the sample at the time differ by more than 2.49 s.
of test. 11.2 Bias—No statement on bias can be prepared because
there are no standard reference materials.
11. Precision and Bias
11.1 Precision—The following within-laboratory, multiple- 12. Keywords
operator precision applies. The single laboratory standard
deviation has been found to be 0.88 s. Therefore, results from 12.1 flo cone; grout; preplaced—aggregate concrete; time
two properly conducted tests on the same material should not of efflux

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