1 | P a g e T i r t h P a t e l U C 1 6 0 9 S c h o o l o f B u i l d i n g S c i e n c e a n d T e c h n o l o g y
About GERI
Ever since the dawn of civilization, construction activities have
thrived. The early constructional works comprehensively used
naturally available stone being strong as well as durable.
Subsequently use of more compact and easy to handle materials like
bricks came into being. The research activities in the field brought
forth cement and steel and a combination of the two as reinforced
cement concrete. The Gujarat Engineering Research Institute (GERI)
made a humble beginning as a sub-division in 1950, and developed
into a research division by 1957. Keeping pace with the development
activities and on formation of Gujarat State in 1960, it attained a
status of a state research institute. It progressively increased its
activities and has now 17 divisions.
GERI is one of the leading state research institutes in the country. It
had the distinction of being adjudged as one of the best research
stations in the country, by Central Board of Irrigation and Power
(CBIP) in the year 1989. The institute aims at providing research and
development inputs to the activities of Gujarat State in the fields of
Water Resources and Roads and Buildings. The activities of the
institute are centred on investigation and testing, research and
development, constancy and training in various areas listed earlier.
The institute extends its activities to both Government and
Public/Private sector bodies.
GERI is working under the Narmada Water Resources & Water
Supply Department of Government of Gujarat. The institute is
headed by 'Chief Engineer & Director' an officer of the rank of the
State Chief Engineer. Two joint Directors of the rank of state
Superintending Engineer and one Superintending Engineer assist the
Chief Engineer & Director. The research work in various
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divisions/units is organized by Research Officers of the rank of
Executive Engineers with the supporting engineering & scientific
staff.
Being a Government premier research and testing institute, it was
the demand of the situation to streamline the processes to achieve
quality assured testing, better Customer Relationship Management
(CRM) and to enhance market share by competing with
mushrooming private laboratories. GERI's management was
determined to acquire ISO certification to combat this challenge.
GERI's intention was not only to get recognized as an ISO certified
organization but to have a quality consciousness arising from ground
level upwards and quality commitment from the bottom to top and
enter in to a state of self-sufficiency two marches towards true
Autonomous Institute
SWOT Analysis carried out for identifying strength, weakness,
opportunities and threats.
All the testing Laboratories of GERI up to District level have ISO
9001:2008 accreditation for Testing Engineering Construction
Materials with validity up to 15-5-2011
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Materials:
Burnt Clay Building Bricks
Hydraulic Cement
Concrete
Steel
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Materials: BURNT CLAY BUILDING BRICKS
IS Code: IS 3495 (Part 1 to 4): 1992
Part 1: Determination of compressive strength
Part 2: Determination of water absorption
Part 3: Determination of Efflorescence
Part 4: Determination of Warpage
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Test 1:
Determination Dimension and Tolerance
IS:
IS 1077 - 1992
Apparatus:
25 random bricks from 20,000
Steel Tape
Procedure:
Align all the bricks in a row as per its dimensions.
Measure the total length, breadth and width
And then divide by total bricks of the sample.
Acceptance:
For 19 x 9 x 9 cm
Length: 4520 4680 mm
Breadth: 2160 to 2240 mm
Height: 1360 to 1440 mm
Purpose:
Uniform bricks need minimum thickness of joints and hence less mortar bonds
improve.
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Test 2:
Determination of compressive strength
IS:
3495 (Part 1): 1992
Apparatus:
Compression Testing Machine
Water tank
Preparation of Test Sample:
Remove unevenness observed in the bed faces to provide two smooth and parallel
faces by grinding.
Immerse in water at room temperature for 21 hours. Remove the specimen and
drain out any surplus moisture at room temperature. Fill the frog ( where provided )
and all voids in the bed face flush with cement mortar ( 1 cement, clean coarse sand
of grade 3 mm and down ).
Store under the damp jute bags for 24 hours followed by immersion in clean water
for 3 days.
Remove, and wipe out any traces of moisture.
Procedure:
Place the specimen with flat faces horizontal, and mortar filled face facing upwards
between two 3-ply plywood sheets each of 3 mm thickness and carefully centred
between plates of the testing machine.
Apply load axially at a uniform rate of 14 N/mm2 (140 kgf/cm2) per minute till failure
occurs and note the maximum load at failure.
The load at failure shall be the maximum load at which the specimen fails to produce
any further increase in the indicator reading on the testing machine.
NOTE - In place of plywood sheets plaster of Paris may be used to ensure a uniform
surface for application of load.
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Calculations:
The report shall be as given below:
Compressive strength in N/mm2
(Kgf/cm2) = Maximum load at failure in N (kgf)
Average area of the bed faces in mm2 (cm2)
Acceptance:
The Compressive strength shall not be less than 3.5 N/mm2.
Purpose:
Strong and durable masonry is ensured.
More loads can be laid on the wall.
High strength bricks are ideal for hollow brick masonry.
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Test 3:
Determination Water Absorption
IS:
3495 (Part 2): 1992
Apparatus:
Balance 1000 1 g.
Water Tank
Oven
Preparation of Test Sample:
Dry the specimen in a ventilated oven at a temperature of 105 to 115C till it attains
substantially constant mass.
Cool the specimen to room temperature and obtain its weight (M1). Specimen warm
to touch shall not be used for the purpose.
Procedure:
Immerse completely dried specimen in clean water at a temperature of 27 2C for
24 hours.
Remove the specimen and wipe out any traces of water with a damp cloth and weigh
the specimen.
Complete the weighing 3 minutes after the specimen has been removed from water
(M2).
Calculation:
Water absorption, percent by mass, after 24-hour immersion in cold water is given
by the following formula:
(M2 M1) x 100
M1
Acceptance:
Not more than 20 % or as relevant specifications
Purpose:
More absorption means inadequate burning and less durability
Excess leads to dampness, leaching of salts.
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Test 4:
Determination of Efflorescence
IS:
3495 (Part 3): 1992
Apparatus:
A shallow flat bottom dish containing sufficient distilled water to completely saturate
the specimens. The dish shall be made of glass, porcelain or glazed stoneware and of
size180 mm x 180 mm x 40 mm depth for square shaped and 200 mm diameter x 40
mm depth for cylindrical shaped.
Procedure:
Place the end of the bricks in the dish, the depth of immersion in water being 25
mm. Place the whole arrangement in a warm ( for example, 20 to 30C ) well
ventilated room until all the water in the dish is absorbed by the specimens. And the
surplus water evaporates.
Cover the dish containing the brick with suitable glass cylinder so that excessive
evaporation from the dish may not occur.
When the water has been absorbed and bricks appear to be dry, place a similar
quantity of water in the dish and allow it to evaporate as before.
Examine the bricks for efflorescence after the second evaporation and report the
results.
Reports:
The liability to efflorescence shall be reported as nil, slight, moderate, heavy or
serious in accordance with the following definitions:
Nil - When there is no perceptible deposit of efflorescence.
Slight - When not more than 10 percent of the exposed area of the brick is
covered with a thin deposit of salts.
Moderate - When there is a heavier deposit than under slight and covering up
to 50 percent of the exposed area of the brick surface but unaccompanied by
powdering or flaking of the surface.
Heavy - When there is a heavy deposit of salts covering 50 percent or more of
the exposed area of the brick surface but unaccompanied by powdering or
flaking of the surface.
Serious - When there is a heavy deposit of salts accompanied by powdering
and/or flaking of the exposed surfaces.
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Purpose:
Excess efflorescence causes disintegration and defacement.
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13 | P a g e T i r t h P a t e l U C 1 6 0 9 S c h o o l o f B u i l d i n g S c i e n c e a n d T e c h n o l o g y
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Materials: HYDRAULLIC CEMENT
IS Code: IS 4031 (Part 1 to 8): 1996
Part 1: Determination of fineness by sieve analysis
Part 2: Determination of fineness by blain air
permeability method
Part 3: Determination of soundness
Part 4: Determination of consistency of standard
Cement paste
Part 5: Determination of initial and final setting time
Part 6: Determination of compressive strength of
hydraulic cement other than masonry cement
Part 7: Determination of compressive strength of
masonry cement
Part 8: Determination of transverse and compressive
strength of plastic mortar using prism
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Test 1:
Determination of consistency of standard cement paste
IS:
4031 (Part 4) 1988
Apparatus:
Vicat Apparatus (IS: 5513 1996)
Balance 1000 1 g.
Standard weights
Gauging Trovel 100 to 150 mm long weighing 210 10 g.
Temperature and Humidity:
27 2 C @ 65 5 % Humidity
Definition:
The standard consistency is defines as that consistency which will permit the Vicat
plunger G to penetrate to a point 5 to 7 mm from the bottom of the Vicat mould
when the cement paste is tested
Procedure:
Prepare a paste of weighed quantity of cement with a weighed quanity of potable
distilled water. Time of gauging shall not be less than 3 minutes nor more than 5
minutes. Gauging shall be completed before any sign of cement paste is tested.
Fill the Vicat mould E with this paste, the mould resting upon a non-porous plate.
Smoothen the surface of the plate; make it level with the top of the mould. Expel the
air by slightly shaking the mould.
Place the test block in the mould, together with the non-porous resting plate, under
the rod bearing the plunger: lower the plunger gently to touch the surface of the test
block, and quickly release, allowing it to sink into the paste. This operation shall be
carried immediately after filling the mould.
Prepare the trial paste with varying % of water and test as describes above until the
amount of water necessary for making up the standard consistency as defined
above.
Calculation:
Express the amount of water as a % by mass of dry cement to the first place of
decimal
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Test 2:
Determination of initial and final setting time
IS:
4031 (Part 5) 1988
Apparatus:
Vicat Apparatus (IS: 5513 1996)
Balance 1000 1 g.
Standard weights
Gauging Trovel 100 to 150 mm long weighing 210 10 g.
Temperature and Humidity:
27 2 C @ 65 5 % Humidity
Procedure:
Prepare a neat cement paste by gauging the cement with 0.85 times the water
required to give a paste of standard consistency. Potable or distilled water shall be
used in preparing the paste.
Immediately after moulding, place the test block in the moist closet or moist room
and allow it to remain there except when determinations of time of setting being
made.
Determination of initial setting time:
1. Use the rod bearing the needle C: Lower the needle gently until it comes in
contact with surface of the test block and quickly release, allowing it to
penetrate into the test block. In the beginning the needle will completely
pierce the test block. Repeat this procedure until the needle, when brought
in contact with the test block till fails to pierce the block beyond 5 5 mm
measured from the bottom of the mould.
2. The period elapsing between the time when water is added to the cement
and the time at which the needle fails to pierce shall be the initial setting
time.
Determination of final setting time:
1. Replace the needle ( C ) of the vicat apparatus by the needle with an annular
attachment ( F ). The cement shall be considered as finally set when, upon
applying the needle gently to the surface of the test block, the needle makes
an impression there on, while the attachment fails to do so.
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2. The period elapsing between the time when water is added to the cement
and the time at which the needle makes an impression on the surface if the
test block while the attachment fails to do so shall be the final setting time
Calculation:
The results of initial and final setting time shall be reported to the reported to
nearest five minutes.
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Test 3:
Determination of soundness by Le Chatelier Method
IS:
4031 (Part 3) 1988
Apparatus:
Le - Chatelier Apparatus (IS: 5514 1969)
Balance 1000 1 g.
Water bath : Temp 27 2 C to boiling Temperature in 27 + 3 minutes
Procedure:
Prepare cement paste forming by gauging cement with 0.78 times water required to
give paste of standard consistency.
Place the lightly oiled mould on a lightly oiled glass sheet and fill it with above
prepared cement paste. Cover the mould with another piece of glass-sheet and
immediately submerge the whole assembly in water in water at temperature of 27
2 C and keep for 24 hours.
Measure the distance separating the indicator points to the nearest 0.5 mm.
Submerge again in water. Bring the temperature of water to boiling in 25 to 30
minutes and keep it boiling for 3 hours.
Remove from the water, allow cooling and measuring the distance the distance
between two of indicator points.
The difference between two measurements indicated the expansion of cement.
Calculation:
Calculate the mean of two values to the nearest 0.5 mm to represent the expansion
of cement.
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Test 4:
Determination of soundness by compressive strength of hydraulic cement other than
masonry cement
IS:
4031 (Part 6) 1988
Material:
Standard Sand IS : 650 1966
Apparatus:
Vibration machine
Balance 1000 1 g.
Poking Rod
Cube Mould ( IS 10080 1982) of size 70.6 mm
Gauging Trovel
Graduated Glass Cylinders
Temperature and Humidity:
27 2 C @ 65 5 % Humidity
Procedure Mixing:
Cement 200 gms, - Standard and 600 gms water (P/4 + 3.0) % of combined weight of
cement and sand. Where P is the consistency as per IS: 4031 (Part 4) 1988.
Mixing Time:
Not less than 3 min, and not more than 4 minutes.
Vibration:
Shall be 2 minutes at rate of 12000 40 vibrations per minutes.
Curing:
Keep the filled mould in Humidity Chamber for 24 hours after completion of
vibration. After this remove from moulds and immediately submerge in clean fresh
water till date at a temperature of 27 2C.
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Testing:
The cubes shall be tested on the sides without any packing between the cube and the steel
plates of the testing machine.
Rate of loading 35 N/mm2, / min.
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Test 4:
Determination of fineness by specific surface by blain air permeability method
IS:
4031 (Part 2) 1988
Apparatus:
Variable flow type air permeability apparatus (Blaine Type) (IS : 5516 1969)
Timer
Balance with last count 0.001 gm.
Temperature and Humidity:
27 2 C @ 65 5 % Humidity
Calibration of Apparatus:
Standard reference material SRM 1000
Bulk Volume of compacted Bed of Power
Preparation of Sample
Mass of Sample
Mass of Sample
Preparation of Bed of Cement
Permeability
Procedure:
Size of Test Sample
Preparation of the bed of Test Sample
Permeability Test
Calculation:
S = Sn T
Ts
T = measured time interval in seconds of manometer drop for test sample
Ts = measured time interval in seconds for manometer drop for standard sample used in
calibration of the apparatus
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S = specific surface in m2/kg of test sample
Sn = specific surface in m2/kg of the standard sample used in calibration of apparatus.
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25 | P a g e T i r t h P a t e l U C 1 6 0 9 S c h o o l o f B u i l d i n g S c i e n c e a n d T e c h n o l o g y
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Materials: Steel
IS Code: IS: 1786 - 1985
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Materials: Concrete
IS Code: IS: 456 - 1985
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Reference:
IS Codes:
IS: 3495 (Part 1 to 4): 1992
IS: 4031 (Part 1 to 8): 1996
IS: 1786 1985
IS: 456 - 1985