Opportunities at the lab

Construction professionals looking to investigate properties of concrete with low environmental impact can contact Circular Concrete Centre to conduct the tests below. Below is an overview of what we have on hand.

Granulate testing

Resistance to abrasion

The Micro-Deval test is used to determine the resistance to abrasion of granulates according to NBN EN 1097-1 (2011).

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Crush resistance

The Los Angeles test is used to determine crush resistance according to NBN EN 1097-2 (2020).

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Sieve tower

With the sieve tower, the grain distribution of different types of granulates can be determined according to NBN EN 933-1 (2012).

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Mechanical properties of hardened concrete

Compressive strength

Compressive strength on specimens of hardened concrete is determined according to NBN EN 12390-3 (2009) based on the ratio of the maximum fracture load at axial pressure to the surface area of the specimen perpendicular to the direction of the compressive force.

Technical details:

  • Automax Pro
  • 2000 kN capacity
  • Welded frame with four columns with high rigidity, tested for stability according to EN 12390-4
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Flexural strength

The flexural strength on specimens of hardened concrete is determined according to NBN EN 12390-5 (2009). Prism-shaped specimens are subjected to bending by applying a load through rollers at the top and bottom of the specimens. The maximum load is recorded during the test.

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Durability testing on hardened concrete

Climatic chamber freeze-thaw resistance to chipping

With the slab test, the freeze-thaw resistance to chipping is tested according to the technical specification CEN /TS 12390-9. The surface of test pieces of hardened concrete is saturated and covered with a salt solution, then subjected to 56 freeze-thaw cycles. The freeze-thaw resistance is evaluated from the measured mass losses.

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Climatic chamber internal frost

The resistance of concrete to internal frost is tested according to CEN TR 15177 (2006).

The concrete test specimens are subjected to prescribed cycles of frost and thaw. The mechanical properties of the concrete specimens are tested and compared before and after the cycles. The reduction in properties is a measure of the concrete's resistance to internal freezing.

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Climatic chamber carbonation

The carbonation rate in hardened concrete is measured according to NBN EN 12390-10.

A concrete specimen is placed in a controlled environment where it is exposed to an elevated concentration of CO2. Over time, the CO2 penetrates the concrete and reacts with the calcium hydroxide in the presence of water, forming calcium carbonate. This reaction causes a lowering of the pH in the concrete, which in turn can affect the passivation layer of the reinforcing steel and increase the corrosion rate.

To determine the degree of carbonation, the concrete sample is crushed and an indicator solution is added that changes colour in the presence of calcium carbonate. By measuring the depth of colour change, the degree of carbonation can be determined.

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Chloride penetration meter

The chloride migration coefficient is tested according to NT Build 492 (1999).

An external electrical potential is applied across the sample, forcing the chloride ions to migrate outwards into the sample. After a specified test time, the sample is split axially and a silver nitrate solution is sprayed onto one of the freshly split sections. The depth of chloride penetration can be measured from the visible white precipitate of silver chloride, and then the chloride migration coefficient can be calculated from this depth of penetration.

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