Fresh concrete and cement testing machine

The CTPT3 fresh concrete and cement tester is...

Fresh cement and concrete pastes have been shown to behave as Bingham fluids, that is to say that they do not flow until a characteristic Yield Stress has been exceeded. After this yield stress, they flow in a linear manner, with the shear stress being proportional to the shear rate. The level of the yield stress and the degree of proportionality between yield stress and shear rate (ie the plastic viscosity) are functions of processing parameters such as water content, sand to cement ratio and the amount and type of aggregate present.

If these parameters could be measured for each batch of fresh concrete, a pattern could be established of which batches were acceptable and which caused problems.

Download our Articles

Concrete Feb 2011, "Getting Some Science Into Workability Testing"

Concrete July 12, "Torque Transducer Improves Workability Test"

Available versions

Laboratory version

Ideal for testing cement and concrete in laboratory conditions.
Separate PC supplied with our analysis software.

Site version

Ideal for testing cement and concrete in work site conditions.
Embedded touch screen PC supplied with our analysis software.

Feature set

Robust, welded-frame construction

State-of-the art servomotor drive

Contactless independent torque sensor

Torque sensor on sample side of gearbox - eliminates need for baseline runs

Electrically interlocked guards

Automatic control of speed of rotation

Impellers may be fitted centrally or via planetary gear

Sample container mounted on wheels to ease loading & improve safety

Stainless steel impellers

Suitable for R & D, troubleshooting and QA/QC

Impeller speeds <0.01 rpm to 120 rpm Torque to 30 Nm

Torque measured electronically

Speed profile may be ramped or stepped, constant or manually varied

Working parts may be cleaned with hose Powered from single phase 230V 50Hz.

110/120V 60Hz available also Computer system logs data and analyses rapidly

Origins of the machine

In the 1970s, Dr G H Tattersall, working at the Centre for Cement and Concrete at the University of Sheffield, designed a rugged machine which would establish the two characteristic parameters. We have considerably improved the machine by adding state-of-the art automation in order to eliminate some operator variables of earlier versions, and have built in full guarding to protect the operator.