ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician - Grade I Practice Exam

After the final rodding, should the sides of the slump mold be tapped with the tamping rod?

1. True

2. False

3. Only if the concrete is too wet

4. Only if the rod is unclean

The correct answer is: False

After the final rodding during a slump test, tapping the sides of the slump mold with the tamping rod is not a necessary step. The purpose of the slump test is to determine the workability of freshly mixed concrete, and the rodding process itself is sufficient to embed the concrete in the mold and eliminate any air pockets. Tapping the sides afterward could potentially disturb the concrete and affect the accuracy of the slump measurement. Therefore, not tapping the sides maintains the integrity of the test and ensures it reflects the true workability of the concrete mix being evaluated. This is why the answer indicating that it should not be done is appropriate.