ASTM C780-00

Designation: C 780 – 00
Standard Test Method for
Preconstruction and Construction Evaluation of Mortars for
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Plain and Reinforced Unit Masonry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 780; 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 standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
INTRODUCTION
This test method provides a standard procedure for sampling and testing mortars for composition
and plastic and hardened properties, either before or during actual construction. The procedures
outlined in the Annexes are considered applicable for evaluating various combinations of portland
cement, lime, and masonry cement for mortars common to plain and reinforced unit masonry
construction.
The test procedures describe methods for the measurement of mortar composition and mortar
properties. No attempt is made to claim or substantiate specific correlations between the measured
properties and mortar performance in the masonry. However, data from these test methods can be
combined with other information to formulate judgments about the quality of the masonry.
Testing using these procedures is limited to the preconstruction evaluation of masonry mortars
within the laboratory, to the evaluation of masonry mortars at the construction site, and in establishing
the degree of quality control exercised during mortar production at the construction site.
1. Scope 1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This test method covers procedures for the sampling and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
testing of mortars for composition and for their plastic and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
hardened properties, either before or during their actual use in
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazards
construction.
statements, see Section 8.
1.2 Preconstruction evaluation of mortars facilitates a com-
parison of mortar systems and an approximation, by more
2. Referenced Documents
complete identification, of the mortar mixture which will be
2.1 ASTM Standards:
produced at the construction project. The preconstruction
C 39 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical
laboratory investigation allows establishment of the compat-
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Concrete Specimens
ibility of the individual materials in the mortar and the general
C 109/C 109M Test Method for Compressive Strength of
strength characteristics of the mixture.
Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. or 50-mm Cube
1.3 Construction-site testing procedures allow to establish
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Specimens)
conformance to the proportion specifications and quality con-
C 128 Test Method for Specific Gravity and Absorption of
trol of mortar production. Mix-composition measurements
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Fine Aggregate
allow the rapid assessment of conformance with the proportion
C 173 Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed
specification and quality control, whereas later-age strength
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Concrete by the Volumetric Method
testing provides verification that the mortar ingredients are
C 187 Test Method for Normal Consistency of Hydraulic
compatible and are performing normally.
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Cement
1.4 The test results obtained under this test method are not
C 231 Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed
required to meet the minimum compressive values in accor-
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Concrete by the Pressure Method
dance with the property specifications in Specification C 270.
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C 270 Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry
C 470 Specification for Molds for Forming Concrete Test
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C12 on Mortars
for Unit Masonry and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C12.02 on
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Research and Methods of Test. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
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Current edition approved Sept. 10, 2000. Published November 2000. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01.
e1 4
published as C 780–74. Last previous edition C 780–96 . Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.05.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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C 780
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Cylinders Vertically batches are sampled and used in establishing the plastic and
C 496 Test Method for Splitting Tensile Strength of Cylin- hardened properties of the mixtures. Because all the trial
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drical Concrete Specimens mixtures are prebatched by weight, additional characteristics of
C 511 Specification for Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and the mortars may be calculated and used in an analysis of mortar
Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of Hydraulic performance.
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Cements and Concretes
4.2 During actual construction, evaluation of
...