ASTM C827/C827M-23

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: C827/C827M − 16 C827/C827M − 23
Standard Test Method for
Change in Height at Early Ages of Cylindrical Specimens of
Cementitious Mixtures
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C827/C827M; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the determination of change in height of cylindrical specimens from the time of molding until the
mixture is hard.
1.2 This test method covers height change measurements at early ages for cementitious mixtures of paste, grout, mortar, and
concrete.
1.3 This test method is intended for determination of changes in height that occur from the time of placement until the specimen
is fully hard. These include shrinkage or expansion due to hydration, settlement, evaporation, and other physical and chemical
effects.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not beare not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be
used independently of the other. Combiningother, and values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the
standard.shall not be combined
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.5 The text of this test method references refers to notes and footnotes that provide explanatory information. These notes and
footnotes shall not be considered as requirements of the test method.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of
the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns
to exposed skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure. )
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.68 on
Volume Change.
Current edition approved April 1, 2016June 15, 2023. Published June 2016July 2023. Originally approved in 1975. Last previous edition approved in 20102016 as
C827 – 10.C827 – 16. DOI: 10.1520/C0827_C0827M-16.10.1520/C0827_C0827M-23.
See Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.02.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C827/C827M − 23
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C138/C138M Test Method for Density (Unit Weight), Yield, and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete
C143/C143M Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement Concrete
C185 Test Method for Air Content of Hydraulic Cement Mortar
C191 Test Methods for Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle
C192/C192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Laboratory
C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
C403/C403M Test Method for Time of Setting of Concrete Mixtures by Penetration Resistance
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction Materials
C807 Test Method for Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement Mortar by Modified Vicat Needle
C939C939/C939M Test Method for Flow of Grout for Preplaced-Aggregate Concrete (Flow Cone Method)
C953 Test Method for Time of Setting of Grouts for Preplaced-Aggregate Concrete in the Laboratory
C1437 Test Method for Flow of Hydraulic Cement Mortar
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—The terms used in this test method are defined in Terminology C125.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 early-age change in height, n—the measured increase or decrease in height of a laterally confined cylindrical test specimen
from the time of molding to when the mixture becomes hard. The user may want to define this age as the time when a companion
specimen of the same batch has reached the time of final setting by Test Method C191 (paste), C953 (mortar or grout),
C403/C403M (concrete), or establish a predetermined age in minutes from the time the specimen is cast as the defined age to record
the final measurement. Changes in height are measured and expressed as a positive or negative change in the height of a test
specimen that is restrained from lateral movement.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method provides a means for comparing the relative shrinkage or expansion of cementitious mixtures. It is
particularly applicable to grouting, patching, and form-filling operations where the objective is to completely fill a cavity or other
defined space with a freshly mixed cementitious mixture that will continue to fill the same space at time of hardening. It would
be appropriate to use this test method as a basis for prescribing mixtures having restricted or specified volume change before the
mixture becomes hard.
4.2 This test method can be used for research purposes to provide information on volume changes taking place in cementitious
mixtures between the time just after mixing and the time of hardening. However, the specimen used in this test method is not
FIG. 1 Apparatus for Early Change in Height
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
C827/C827M − 23
completely unrestrained so that the measurements are primarily useful for comparative purposes rather than as absolute values.
Further, the degree of restraint to which the specimen is subjected varies with the viscosity and degree of hardening of the mixture.
5. Apparatus (see Fig. 1)
5.1 Projected Light Source, a lamp and a condensing lens of sufficient intensity to adequately project a light beam on a wall about
5 m [15 ft] 5 m [15 ft] from the light source. Protect the test specimen from heat from the light source and limit air movement (Note
1).
NOTE 1—Placing a sheet of transparent glass or plastic between the light source and the test specimens may be beneficial.
5.2 Indicator Ball, a spherical ball of nonabsorptive material with a density that is 55 6 5 % 55 % 6 5 % of the density of the
5 1
cementitious mixture being tested, having a diameter not more than 16 mm [ ⁄8 in.] nor less than 6 mm [ ⁄4 in.], and composed of
materials that have no reaction with the cementitious mixture during the test period.
NOTE 2—A density of approximately 1.2 Mg/m has been found appropriate for most uses of this test method. The density of the cementitious mixture
may be calculated from values for “unit weight” obtained using Test Method C138/C138M (concrete) or C185 (mortar, grout, or paste).
5.3 Magnifying Lens System, a magnifying lens system such that the image of the indicator ball produced by the projected light
source is cast on the indicating chart about 5 m [15 ft] 5 m [15 ft] away at a magnification of 90–110×, 90× to 110×, mounted so
as not to touch the test specimen when a test is in progress (see Note 3), and having a separate magnifying lens system for each
specimen tested simultaneously.
NOTE 3—One magnifying lens system that has been found acceptable consists of two lenses: a projection and a relay lens enclosed in a sealed tube. In
this system, the relay lens is located nearer the test specimen and has a focal length of 50.8 mm [2 in.] and is located approximately 115 mm [4 ⁄2 in.]
5 1
from the indicator ball. The projection lens has a focal length of 41.4 mm [1 ⁄8 in.], and relative aperture of f1.6 and is 133.1 mm [5 ⁄4 in.] from the relay
lens.
5.4 Indicating Charts, composed of stiff material approximately 600 mm [24 in.] high by 250 mm [10 in.] wide, with a white
surface and a vertical black line 2 mm [ ⁄16 in.] wide, centered and running the complete length of the chart, and a horizontal black
line 1 mm [ ⁄32 in.] in width midway on the chart, identified as the zero (0) or starting line, and 2-mm [0.1-in.]2 mm [0.1 in.]
horizontal graduations above and below the zero line on the entire length of the vertical line, and a means for attaching this chart
vertically and firmly to a distant wall.
5.5 Molds, rigid, watertight molds with a smooth interior surface made of steel, cast iron, or other nonabsorbent material
nonreactive with the cementitious mixture being tested, cylindrical in shape, with internal height twice the internal diameter. Three
sizes of molds are used in this test method with heights of 100, 150, 300 mm [4, 6, 12 in.].100 mm, 150 mm, 300 mm [4 in., 6 in.,
12 in.].
5.6 Rods, two straight, steel tamping rods: one 10 mm 10 mm [ ⁄8 in.] in.] in diameter and approximately 300 mm [12 in.] in length
and the other 16 mm [ ⁄8 in.] in.] in diameter and approximately 600 mm [24 in.] in length. The 10-mm10 mm rod shall be used
with paste, grout, and mortar. The 16-mm16 mm rod shall be used with concrete.
6. Test Specimen
6.1 Unless otherwise specified, prepare two test specimens from each batch to be tested simultaneously using duplicate test
apparatus. For cement pastes, grouts, and mortars where all the aggregate will pass through a 4.75-mm4.75 mm (No. 4) sieve, use
the 100-mm [4-in.]100 mm [4 in.] mold. For cementitious mixtures containing aggregate that will not all pass through a
4.75-mm4.75 mm sieve, but which will all pass the 12.5-mm12.5 mm [ ⁄2-in.] in.] sieve, use the 150-mm [6-in.]150 mm [6 in.]
mold. For concrete mixtures having particles retained on the 12.5-mm12.5 mm [ ⁄2-in.] in.] sieve or larger, use the 300-mm
[12-in.]300 mm [12 in.] mold.
4 7
An 11-mm11 mm [ ⁄16-in.] in.] nylon plastic indicator ball has been found acceptable for most tests and is available from U.S. Plastics Corp., 1390 Neubrecht Rd., Lima,
OH 45801.
C827/C827M − 23
7. Calibration
7.1 General—Minimize any sources of light not required for the tests. Locate the test equipment and specimens on a surface
substantially free of vibration during the test. If desired, use a single projected light source for both test specimens with duplicate
magnifying lens systems and indicating charts.
7.2 Apparatus Calibration—Calibrate the entire apparatus prior to the start of each test. Darken the room, illuminate the projected
light source, and place the dummy test specimens (preferably hardened test specimens) in the light beam before each of the
magnifying lens systems. Adjust the location of each test specimen until a sharp, clear image of th
...