Vebe Test

Summary

Vebe Test - The Vebe test is used to measure the workability of fresh concrete. Also referred to as the Vee-Bee test.

Technical Information

The Vebe test measures how quickly fresh concrete flattens whilst being vibrated.

The testing apparatus consists of a hollow conical frustum placed in a larger hollow upright cylinder, a clear plastic disk, a vibrating table and a timer. The testing procedure is as follows:

Concrete is placed in the frustum, in the cylinder, which is placed on the vibrating table.
The cone is then removed.
The clear plastic disk is then placed on top of the concrete and the vibrating table is turned on.
The concrete will consolidate from the vibration.
The time taken measured for the whole of the transparent plastic disk to lie in contact with the concrete is measured. This is called the Vebe time.

The Vebe test mimics how the concrete will act as it is being compacted on site and is therefore a useful way to see how the concrete will behave during compaction.

Also, being a dynamic test, it’s useful for measuring the workability of fresh concrete samples which are too stiff to be measured by a regular slump test.

It is a much less commonly used test for concrete used in constructing industrial warehouse floors.