Designation: C 230/C 230M – 08

Standard Specification for

Flow Table for Use in Tests of Hydraulic Cement1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 230/C 230M; 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* such a manner that it can be raised and dropped vertically

1.1 This specification covers requirements for the flow table through the specified height of 0.500 6 0.005 in. [12.76 0.13
and accessory apparatus (Note 1) used in making flow tests for mm] for new tables and of 0.500 6 0.015 in. [12.7 6 0.38 mm]
consistency of mortars in tests of hydraulic cement, such as but for tables in use, by means of a rotated cam. The table top shall
not limited to Test Method C 1437. have a fine machined plane surface, free of blowholes and
surface defects. The top shall be scribed with eight equidistant
NOTE 1—To help clarify the design of the flow table and accessory lines 25⁄8 in. [68 mm] long, extending from the outside
apparatus see the drawing in Fig. 1 [Fig. 2] . This drawing is for
circumference toward the center of the table. Each line shall
informational purposes only.
end with a scribed arc, 1⁄4 in. [6 mm] long, whose center point
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units is the center of the table top with a radius of 23⁄8 in. [59.5 mm].
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in The scribe lines shall be made with a 60° tool to a depth of 0.01
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each in. [0.25 mm]. The table top shall be of cast brass or bronze
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining having a Rockwell hardness number not less than 25 HRB with
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance an edge thickness of 0.3 in. [7.5 mm], and shall have six
with the standard. It is permissible to use an inch-pound caliper integral radial stiffening ribs. The table top and attached shaft
and mold with a SI flow table or a SI caliper and mold with an shall weigh 9 6 0.1 lb [4.08 6 0.05 kg] and the weight shall
inch-pound flow table. It is not permissible to mix a SI mold be symmetrical around the center of the shaft.
with an inch-pound caliper or an inch-pound mold with a SI 3.2 The cam and vertical shaft shall be of medium carbon
caliper. machinery steel, hardened on the end of the shaft contacting
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the the cam and the tip of the cam contacting the shaft. The shaft
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the shall be straight and the difference between the diameter of the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- shaft and the diameter of the bore of the frame shall be not less
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- than 0.002 in. [0.05 mm] and not more than 0.003 in. [0.08
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. mm] for new tables and shall be maintained at 0.002 to 0.010
in. [0.05 to 0.25 mm] for tables in use. The end of the shaft
2. Referenced Documents
shall not fall upon the cam at the end of the drop, but shall
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 make contact with the cam not less than 120° from the point of
C 1437 Test Method for Flow of Hydraulic Cement Mortar drop. The face of the cam shall be a smooth spiraled curve of
3. Flow Table and Frame uniformly increasing radius from 1⁄2 to 11⁄4 in. [13 to 32 mm] in
360° and there shall be no appreciable jar as the shaft comes
3.1 The flow table apparatus shall consist of an integrally into contact with the cam. The cam shall be so located and the
cast rigid iron frame and a circular rigid table top 10 6 0.1 in. contact faces of the cam and shaft shall be such that the table
[255 6 2.5 mm] in diameter, with a shaft attached perpendicu- does not rotate more than one revolution in 25 drops. The
lar to the table top by means of a screw thread. The table top surfaces of the frame and of the table that come into contact at
and shaft with contact shoulder shall be mounted on a frame in the end of the drop shall be maintained smooth, plane, and
horizontal and parallel with the upper surface of the table and
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C01 on shall make continuous contact over a full 360°.
Cement and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.22 on Workability. 3.3 The supporting frame of the flow table shall be inte-
Current edition approved July 1, 2008. Published August 2008. Originally grally cast of fine-grained, high-grade cast iron. The frame
approved in 1949. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as C 230/C 230M – 03.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, [Link], or casting shall have three integral stiffening ribs extending the
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@[Link]. For Annual Book of ASTM full height of the frame and located 120° apart. The top of the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on frame shall be chilled to a depth of approximately 1⁄4 in. [6
the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

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 C 230/C 230M – 08

FIG. 1 Flow Table and Accessory Apparatus (Partial) (In./Lb)

mm], and the face shall be ground and lapped square with the 3.5 The performance of a flow table shall be considered
bore to give 360° contact with the shaft shoulder. The under- satisfactory if, in calibration tests, the table gives a flow value
side of the base of the frame shall be ground to secure a that does not differ by more than 5 percentage points from flow
complete contact with the steel plate beneath. values obtained with a suitable calibration material.3,4 (See
3.4 The flow table shall be driven by a motor (Note 2), Note 3)
connected to the cam shaft through an enclosed worm gear
speed reducer and flexible coupling. The speed of the cam shaft
shall be approximately 100 r/min. The motor drive mechanism 3
Such a material can be obtained from the Cement and Concrete Reference
shall not be fastened or mounted on the table base plate or Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
frame. 20899.
4
Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may
NOTE 2—A 1⁄20-hp [40-W] motor has been found adequate. be obtained by requesting Research Report RR: C01–1006.

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 C 230/C 230M – 08

FIG. 1 Flow Table and Accessory Apparatus (Partial) (In./Lb) (continued)

NOTE 3—Some causes of and solutions to unsatisfactory performance the bottom, 25 to 30 in. [625 to 750 mm] in height, and shall
of the flow table may be found in the section on flow tables in the ASTM be of monolithic construction, cast from concrete weighing at
Manual of Cement Testing. least 140 lb/ft3 [2240 kg/m 3]. A stable gasket cork padding, 1⁄2
4. Flow Table Mounting in. [13 mm] thick and the same size as the pedestal bottom or
four pieces of padding 1⁄2 in. [13 mm] thick and approximately
4.1 The flow table frame shall be tightly bolted to a cast iron
4 in. [100 mm] square, shall be inserted under the pedestal or
or steel plate at least 1 in. [25 mm] thick and 10 in. [250 mm] the four corners, respectively. The flow table shall be checked
square. The top surface of this plate shall be machined to a frequently for levelness of the table top, stability of the
smooth plane surface. The plate shall be anchored to the top of pedestal, and tightness of the bolts and nuts in the table base
a concrete pedestal by four 1⁄2-in. [13-mm] bolts that pass
and the pedestal table. (A torque of 20 lb·ft [27 N·m] is
through the plate and are imbedded at least 6 in. [150 mm] in
recommended when tightening those fastenings.)
the pedestal. The pedestal shall be cast inverted on the base
4.3 The table top, after the frame has been mounted on the
plate. A positive contact between the base plate and the
pedestal, shall be level along two diameters at right angles to
pedestal shall be obtained at all points. No nuts or other such
each other, in both the raised and lowered positions.
leveling devices shall be used between the plate and the
pedestal. Leveling shall be effected by suitable means under
the base of the pedestal. 5. Flow Table Lubrication
4.2 The pedestal shall be 10 to 11 in. [250 to 275 mm] 5.1 The vertical shaft of the table shall be kept clean and
square at the top, and 15 to 16 in. [375 to 400 mm] square at shall be lightly lubricated (See Note 4) with a light oil

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 C 230/C 230M – 08

FIG. 2 Flow Table and Accessory Apparatus (Partial) [SI]

(SAE-10). Oil shall not be present between the contact faces of integral collar for convenient lifting of the mold. All surfaces
the table top and the supporting frame. Oil on the cam face will shall be machined to a smooth finish. A circular shield
lessen wear and promote smoothness of operation. The table approximately 10 in. [255 mm] in diameter, with a center
should be raised and permitted to drop a dozen or more times opening approximately 4 in. [100 mm] in diameter, made of
just prior to use if it has not been operated for some time. nonabsorbing material not attacked by the cement, shall be
NOTE 4—It has been demonstrated that an absence of lubrication on the used with the flow mold to prevent mortar from spilling on the
table shaft will significantly reduce the flow reading. table top.
6.2 A caliper consisting of one fixed jaw and one jaw
6. Mold and Caliper
movable along a permanent scale shall be provided for
6.1 The conical mold for casting the flow specimen shall be measuring the diameter of the mortar after it has been spread
of cast bronze or brass. The Rockwell hardness number of the by the operation of the table. The scale shall be machine
metal shall be not less than 25 HRB. The height of the mold divided into 40 increments with 0.16 in. [4.0 mm] between
shall be 2.00 6 0.02 in. [50.0 6 0.5 mm]. The diameter of the
divisions with major division lines every 5 divisions and the
top opening shall be 2.756 0.02 in. [70.0 6 0.5 mm] for new
increment number every 10 divisions (Note 5). The construc-
molds and 2.75 + 0.05 in. [70.0 + 1.3 mm] and –0.02 in. [–0.5
tion and accuracy of the caliper shall be such that the distance
mm] for molds in use. The diameter of the bottom opening
shall be 4.00 6 0.02 in. [100.0 6 0.5 mm] for new molds and between the jaws shall be 4 6 0.01 in. [100 6 0.25 mm] when
4.00 + 0.05 in. [+ 1.3 mm] and –0.02 in. [–0.5 mm] for molds the indicator is set at zero.
in use. The surfaces of the base and top shall be parallel and at NOTE 5—The caliper is graduated to indicate one fourth of the actual
right angles to the vertical axis of the cone. The mold shall flow percentage, so that the readings of four measurements on the caliper
have a minimum wall thickness of 0.2 in. [5 mm]. The outside may be added to give the flow value without the necessity of calculating
of the top edge of the mold shall be shaped so as to provide an the average of four individual measurements of the total flow.

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 C 230/C 230M – 08

FIG. 2 Flow Table and Accessory Apparatus (Partial) [SI] (continued)

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 C 230/C 230M – 08

FIG. 2 Flow Table and Accessory Apparatus (Partial) [SI] (continued)

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee C01 has identified the location of selected changes to this specification since the last issue,
C 230/C 230M – 03, that may impact the use of this specification. (Approved July 1, 2008)

(1) Revised 1.1 and added new 1.3.

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